Did You Know...? - Edition 13

October 16, 2009

That… As we approach our country’s 150th anniversary, we want to ensure young Canadians have even more opportunities to get personally involved in activities that strengthen their attachment to Canada. Heritage Minister James Moore announced this week that our Conservative Government will provide $60 million for youth programs over the next 3 years. Our Government will provide funding to youth-service organizations across the country with a proven track record in activities that include history and heritage, civic engagement, arts and culture, and economic activities. New and renewed funding means that even more young people across the country will benefit from our Government’s investments, from elementary school to university. This year alone, our Government is providing approximately 70,000 youth across Canada with opportunities to connect with one another and increase their understanding of our country. Our investments today will contribute to building a stronger Canada.

That… Canada and Russia are creating ground-breaking new opportunities for agricultural trade and cooperation between the two countries. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced progress on a number of agricultural issues from Moscow this week. Russia and Canada agreed to a certificate to open market access for Canadian bone-in beef from animals under 30 months of age. The certificate finalized an agreement-in-principle negotiated during Minister Day’s June mission. Russia and Canada built on that success by agreeing to market access for Canadian boneless beef from animals over 30 months of age. Canada and Russia also agreed to have technical officials work within this calendar year to move toward giving Russian importers access to Canadian beef offal. The Canada Beef Export Federation (CBEF) estimates the value of under-30-month beef and over-30-month boneless beef will be worth up to $32 million. CBEF also estimates fully reopening the Russian market to Canadian offal will be worth up to $10 million. Russia is expanding its sheep and goat production and opening market access for high-quality Canadian small ruminant breeding stock. The Canadian Sheep Federation estimates the Russian market will be worth up to $8 million over three years. Russian officials also committed to send a technical team to work with Canadian officials and industry to complete meat plant approvals within this calendar year.
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The Canadian industry participated in the Moscow Golden Autumn Agricultural Fair and finalized key agreements with Russian industry to provide high-quality beef breeding stock and technical training. Hawkeye Land & Livestock Ltd. of Canada signed a deal to ship up to 10,000 head of pure-bred beef breeding stock to the Russian-owned Northern Agro Industrial Company. Another Canadian company, Alta Exports International, signed another agreement with Inter-Regional Beef Breeding Cattle Development Fund, to support the establishment of a beef-breeding training centre to make sure Russian buyers can maximize production from Canadian breeding stock.

That… If you happen to be travelling and find yourself in Ottawa, be sure to stop and visit the centre stage of Canadian democracy by taking a guided tour of the Centre Block of Parliament! All tours and programs are offered free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours range in length from 20 minutes to 60 minutes depending on parliamentary activity. Tours are shorter and do not go to the Senate and House of Commons Chambers when they are in use. Tours are cancelled in times surrounding question period. Instead, visitors may visit the public galleries of both the Senate and House of Commons. If you know when you will be in Ottawa, be sure to call our office, either in Claresholm or Ottawa, to let us know when you will be visiting. We can assist with arrangements for you to attend Question Period, or to have a visit with Ted!

That… Canada Post interacts with Canadians on a daily basis and the postal service is a vital part of the Canadian economy, helping businesses thrive and keeping the engines of commerce humming. The Government of Canada wants to ensure the Canadian postal service remains strong in the 21st century, and has created the Canadian Postal Service Charter, which will require Canada Post to provide postal services citizens can count on; maintain rural postal services; and protect the mail. This charter outlines the Government’s commitment to a universal, effective and economically viable postal service. Rural postal services are an integral part of Canada Post’s universal service, and as such, the Government of Canada is maintaining the moratorium on the closure of rural post offices. The Charter also sets out the expectation that Canadians will receive frequent and reliable delivery; protection of their mail at all times during its collection, transport and delivery; and convenient access to postal services. In addition, Canada Post will inform customers and communities at least one month before planned changes to local delivery. Every five years, the Charter will be reviewed, making sure it also adapts to changing requirements. Canada Post has established a Community Outreach process to address situations that may arise with rural post offices due to retirements, illnesses, deaths or fires. Their approach is to consult with community leaders and to find practical solutions that are satisfactory to the community and its needs. Members of Parliament are kept informed whenever the Community Outreach process is engaged for a rural community’s post office. For further information, please see the Government of Canada’s Canada Post Service website http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/infosheets/canadapost.htm

That… The proposed new Canada Consumer Product Safety Act is a key component of Canada’s Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan.  The Plan is a comprehensive set of new measures to help make Canadian products safer by strengthening and modernizing the legislative framework that regulates food, health and consumer products.  Closer co-operation with both suppliers and consumers is also a key component. The proposed Canada Consumer Product Safety Act would replace Part I of the Hazardous Products Act and introduce a new regulatory regime. The Government of Canada will continue its efforts to protect the health and safety of Canadians by developing new regulations, including those on lead and phthalates in consumer products, together with suppliers and other stakeholders. For more information, read more here: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/legislation/acts-lois/bill_c6-loi-eng.php

That… As part of the Economic Action Plan’s commitment to invest in projects that will provide stimulus and jobs to the economy, funding was provided for the renewal of the National Historic Sites of Canada Cost-Sharing Program with a total budget of $20 million. The next deadline for applications for Parks Canada’s National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program will be November 13, 2009. The Government is proud to provide the support to organizations across the country seeking to maintain and improve our National Historic Sites.  These celebrated places are the source of great national pride, making the need to preserve them for future generations an important one. The National Historic Sites of Canada Cost-Sharing Program is a contribution program whereby up to 50 percent of eligible costs incurred in the conservation and presentation of a national historic site are paid by the program in the form of reimbursements to the site owner.  A recipient can be eligible to receive a maximum of $1 million over five years. Eligible recipients are incorporated not-for-profit organizations, other levels of government and not-for-profit Aboriginal organizations. For further information, please consult the Parks Canada Website at www.pc.gc.ca/progs/lhn-nhs/ppf-csp/index_e.asp

That… The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) Program was announced in September 2007 with the purpose of supporting festivals and anniversaries that celebrate local historical heritage, as well as local artists and artisans, across Canada. The BCAH has three components: Component I (Local Festivals) provides funding for recurring festivals and related actives that celebrate one or several aspects of local historical heritage, or that present works or performances by local artists and artisans. Up to $200,000 will be provided to approved recurring festivals. Component II (Community Anniversaries) provides funding for non-recurring events, related activities and minor capital projects that commemorate a local historical event or that pay tribute to a local historical personality. Historical commemorations must mark 100th anniversaries or great, in increments of 25 years.  This component provides up to $200,000 in funding for non-recurring
events and can include up to $25,000 for minor capital projects.  Component III (Legacy Fund) provides funding for community capital projects that commemorate a local historical event or personality, as well as encourage local arts and/or local heritage. It must also mark 100th anniversaries or greater, in increments of 25 years.  It will provide funding of up to 50% of eligible expenses – to a maximum of $500,000 – for the capital projects. Please note that the majority of the grants will be under $200,000 due to limited resources; a total of $4.6 million to be available for distribution. More detailed information on the Program is available on the Minister of Canadian Heritage Department’s website at http://www.pch.gc.ca/communities