Did You Know...? - Edition 16

November 06, 2009

That… Statistics Canada is reporting that Canada’s economy contracted slightly in August.  This is roughly in line with market expectations. As we have said from the start of the year, this has been and will continue to be a difficult year for the Canadian and global economies. Despite positive signs that a recovery is underway, it remains tentative and fragile. That is why our Government’s number-one priority is the economy and implementing Canada’s Economic Action Plan. Canada’s Economic Action Plan is creating jobs and providing tax relief.  It continues to assist those who have been hardest hit by the global recession, so together we can build a stronger future for all Canadians.

That… Six projects to improve recreational services in Calgary and Southern Alberta communities are moving forward thanks to the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, a major job-creating investment from Canada’s Economic Action Plan. In the riding of Macleod, more than 4,600 children, youth and families who visit the Dr. Lander Memorial Pool in the Town of Turner Valley will benefit from upgrades to the facility. Activities include enhancements to the change rooms, replacement of the pool decking and installation of a pool liner.
   
That… Over the last 3 weeks, six million doses of adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine have been delivered to the provinces and territories. That is currently more H1N1 vaccine per capita than any other country in the world. There will be sufficient H1N1 vaccine available in Canada for everyone who needs and wants to be immunized. Unfortunately GlaxoSmithKline, the H1N1 vaccine supplier, overstated its delivery capabilities, and they have informed the Government of Canada that the vaccine supply being shipped to the provinces and territories next week will be lower than expected because they had one line of production that was used to produce the unadjuvanted vaccine a few weeks ago.  This has resulted in reduced adjuvanted vaccine availability for the week of November 2. The Government of Canada will continue to press GlaxoSmithKline to adhere to its delivery schedule and we will continue to inform the provinces of production levels so they can plan their vaccine rollouts accordingly. The media has also reported that private medical clinics may have received a shipment of H1N1 vaccine. The federal government does NOT provide H1N1 vaccine to private medical clinics. Vaccine is provided to provincial and territorial governments for distribution.

That… In these tough economic times, our government is focused on getting Canadians back to work. Blue-collar workers, along with self-employed Canadians, are the backbone of our economy and essential aspects of Canada's economic recovery. Recently, Minister Diane Finley introduced important changes in the EI system to help self-employed Canadians. We will be keeping our commitment to provide maternity and parental benefits to self-employed Canadians. This change compliments steps that our Conservative Government has already taken to get Canadians back to work such as unprecedented investments in skills training to help Canadians hardest hit get back into the workforce. We will also introduce legislation to extend EI regular benefits for unemployed long-tenured workers. These individuals have paid EI premiums for years and made limited use of the program but now need additional support while they retrain and look for jobs in a recovering economy. Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is helping those hardest hit by the economic downturn by providing longer EI benefits while protecting jobs through Work-Sharing agreements.

That…  There is a NATIONWIDE process being launched for new National Parole Board (NPB) Members. The process will launch online (www.appointments-nominations.gc.ca) on Monday, October 26, and remain open for 3 weeks only (closes November 16). Remember, the NPB process only opens based on need, generally once every 12-18 months. To be appointed to the NPB for either full or part time positions, candidates must be screened through the application process and are invited to write the test and successfully complete the written test and in-person interviews. Those candidates are then put into a pool from which they can be chosen for appointment.

That…  Minister Diane Finley announced the introduction of the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act which provides self-employed Canadians with voluntary access to all EI special benefits – maternity and parental benefits, sickness benefits, and compassionate care benefits. Our Conservative government is not only delivering on our commitment to self-employed Canadians, we are exceeding it. Our Conservative Government knows that families are the foundation of our great country.  We believe that self-employed Canadians should not have to choose between their family and their business responsibilities. Extending access to special benefits is the fair and right thing to do.  It is yet another way our government is supporting families and represents one of the most significant enhancements to the EI program in the last decade. There are approximately 2.6 million self-employed Canadians who have long asked for this support. They include small business owners, farmers, construction workers, professionals, and those who own a home business, among many others.

That…  The Government of Canada encourages Canadians to recognize 4-H by supporting National 4-H Month this November. The Canadian 4-H Council has a long history of attracting new farmers to agriculture, helping to develop responsible citizens, and building confidence in youth as they learn a wide variety of skills through hands-on projects. The Government of Canada has helped fund the Canadian 4-H Council since it was established in 1933, and it recently announced its continued support with an additional $3 million investment. In addition to funding for 4-H, the Economic Action Plan has delivered changes to the Canadian Agricultural Loans Act that have improved access to credit for new farmers. For more information about the Canadian 4-H Council, Show Your 4-H Colours day and National 4-H Month activities, visit www.4-h-canada.ca. For more information about Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada programs and services that support young farmers, visit www.agr.gc.ca.

That…  The House of Commons voted at Second Reading to repeal the wasteful and ineffective long-gun registry. We’re pleased that a majority of MPs have supported this Private Members’ Bill, which is clear and straightforward and reflects our government’s long-standing position to repeal the long-gun registry. The registry is not cracking down on crime like the Liberals promised it would.  It unfairly targets law-abiding farmers and hunters, not criminals. However, this is only the first step in the legislative process.  The bill still needs to go to committee and third reading in the House of Commons, and then through a similar process in the Senate. It’s important for those Opposition MPs who have supported this Private Members’ Bill at second reading to continue their support for ending the long-gun registry as it makes its way through Parliament.

That…  Wars have touched the lives of Canadians of all ages, all races, all social classes. Fathers, sons, daughters, sweethearts: they were killed in action, they were wounded, and thousands who returned were forced to live the rest of their lives with the physical and mental scars of war. The people who stayed in Canada also served - in factories, in voluntary service organizations, wherever they were needed. By remembering their service and their sacrifice on November 11 each year, we recognize the tradition of freedom these men and women fought to preserve. They believed that their actions in the present would make a significant difference for the future, but it is up to us to ensure that their dream of peace is realized. On Remembrance Day, we acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of those who served their country and acknowledge our responsibility to work for the peace they fought hard to achieve. Mr. Menzies will be attending the services in Fort Macleod this year and will have local representatives laying the wreath on behalf of the Federal Government at other services in the Macleod constituency.