Did you know...? - Edition 4

August 07, 2009

Did You Know....?  

That…The Olympic Torch prototype has been in our riding recently, making appearances at local parades in Nanton and Claresholm?  On August 3rd, I was lucky enough, along with former Olympians Andrea Nugent and Glenys Bakker, to participate in the Nanton Days Parade and showcase the Olympic torch prototype.  The event was a great success and the Olympic Relay Committee held a fundraiser at Centennial Park with the torch.

That…On Friday, August 7, 2009, the Olympic Torch prototype will be shown at our Open House at the Constituency Office in Claresholm? The Open House will be a chance for our constituents to stop in, talk about local and federal items and enjoy a hot dog, smokie or snack with our staff. On Saturday, August 8, 2009, I will also have the torch with me in the Claresholm parade and at the local Lions Beef on a Bun event held at the Community Centre in Claresholm.

That...Our Conservative Government is now providing five extra weeks of EI benefits to assist Canadians who lose their jobs.  More than 240,000 Canadians have already received additional benefits and they are providing essential support to workers in some of the hardest hit sectors and regions.

That…Our Government invested more than $60 million to hire and train over 750 additional claims processing staff and an additional 280 agents answering calls to help even more Canadians receive their EI cheques as quickly and as efficiently as possible.  Even with the increase in EI claims, Canadians are receiving their first EI cheque within an average of 24 days.


That… As of July 18, almost 5,000 Canadian firms are currently participating in work-sharing agreements; benefiting more than 150,000 Canadians. Work-Sharing, an element of the EI program, can assist businesses experiencing a temporary slowdown caused by factors beyond their control. 

That… Canadian athletes continue to do well at the 2009 World Water Ski Championship taking place this week at Predator Bay just south of Calgary. Canada is a super-power in the sport of water skiing, having won more than 50 medals in world competition, 19 of them gold. The Canadian team is led by Jaret Llewellyn from Innisfail, Alberta. He is the defending World Overall Champion and is one of the greatest skiers in the history of the sport. Canada has hosted the World Championships on three previous occasions. All of them were unqualified successes, however this time we have something special, the best man-made water ski site on the planet within minutes of downtown Calgary. Check out the website at www.waterskiworlds.com for the schedule and all of the information. I was thrilled to attend the opening function for this event Monday, August 3, at Lynnwood Ranch, and look forward to the medal ceremonies being held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 9, 2009.