Did you know...? - Edition 98

September 23, 2011

Did You Know That… The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Government House Leader, highlighted your Government’s legislative priorities for the fall parliamentary session of the House of Commons.  The Government’s top priority remains completing the economic recovery.  With the global economy still fragile, we have received a strong mandate from Canadians to implement our low-tax plan to create jobs and economic growth – a plan that is working.   This fall, your Government will introduce legislation to implement the remaining measures from the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.   We will also move forward on our ambitious trade agenda by reintroducing legislation to implement important free trade agreements that help open new markets for Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs. These measures will help Canada’s economic recovery, which has seen nearly 600,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. Canadians expect us to back up our commitments with action. That is exactly what our government will be doing – keeping our commitments and staying focused on the economy.  In addition to the Budget Implementation Act, our Government will move forward with legislation that will: keep our communities and neighbourhoods safe; improve our democratic system by moving closer to the principle that every vote cast should be of equal value; eliminate the wasteful and ineffective long-gun registry; and prevent human smugglers from abusing Canada’s immigration system.

Did You Know That… Your Government introduced the Safe Streets and Communities Act, comprehensive legislation that will target crime and terrorism, and provide support and protection to victims of crime.  Your Government received a strong mandate from Canadians to continue making our streets and communities safe.  The legislation introduced will help us do that.  By moving quickly to reintroduce comprehensive law-and-order legislation, your Government is fulfilling our commitment by takinge action to protect families and hold criminals accountable.  Canadians want and deserve to be able to feel safe in their homes and communities and that means that criminals need to be off our streets.  Your Government is committed to ensuring criminals are held fully accountable for their actions, and that the safety and security of law-abiding Canadians and victims comes first in Canada’s justice system.  We will continue to fight crime and protect Canadians so that our communities are safe for people to live, raise their families and do business.  For more information: http://justice.gc.ca/eng/news-nouv/nr-cp/2011/doc_32631.html


Did You Know That… The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasted Canada will have the strongest overall economic growth among Group of Seven (G-7) countries over the next two years.  Your Government is focused on what matters to Canadians – creating jobs and promoting economic growth.  The IMF’s forecast of Canada’s overall economic growth will lead the G-7 over the next two years – another example of our global economic leadership, which features: the strongest job growth record in the G–7, with nearly 600,000 net new jobs created since July 2009; the World Economic Forum ranking Canada’s financial system the soundest in the world for the fourth consecutive year; and Moody’s renewing Canada’s AAA credit rating due to our “economic resiliency, very high government financial strength, and a low susceptibility to event risk”.  The IMF also praised Canada for our “relatively healthy economic fundamentals” and our “sounder fiscal and financial position.” While these are encouraging signs, Canada is not immune to the economic turbulence facing the global economy – especially Europe and the United States. That is why we need to stay the course and implement the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan – and its job-creating measures like the Hiring Credit for Small Business. For more information: http://www.fin.gc.ca/n11/11-083-eng.asp

Did You Know That… The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, recently backed the Ottawa Protocol on Combating anti-Semitism.  Your Government is proud that Canada is a world leader in combating anti-Semitism.   Our approach to combating racism, discrimination, and anti-Semitism is a key to our overall policy to build an integrated and socially cohesive society that reflects Canada’s long tradition of pluralism.  The Ottawa Protocol compliments what Canada is already doing to combat hatred and discrimination, including anti-Semitism.  Such initiatives demonstrate Canada’s continued commitment to lead a coordinated global effort to fight anti-Semitism and all forms of racism.  Our zero tolerance of anti-Semitism and our actions to combat it are part of a larger effort to address racism and discrimination affecting other communities. For more information: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2011/2011-09-19.asp