Did You Know Edition 107

December 02, 2011

Did You Know That… The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, announced further tariff relief for Canada’s manufacturers, which will eliminate 70 tariff items and is expected to save Canadian businesses about $32 million annually.  Our Government remains committed to helping Canadian businesses have the tools they need to succeed and grow. This is why the government is furthering its Budget 2010 commitment to make Canada a tariff free zone for industrial manufacturers. Eliminating tariffs on goods used in manufacturing helps Canadian companies lower their production costs and increases their competitiveness. This contributes to a stronger economy, creates jobs and growth here at home and reinforces our G 20 leadership in the fight against protectionism.   For more information: http://www.fin.gc.ca/n11/11-123-eng.asp

Did You Know That… The Government highlighted important legislation coming into force on December 2nd that will make our streets and communities safer.  Our Government is committed to making our streets and communities safer by getting tough on crime. For over 40 years, our criminal justice system was going in the wrong direction focussing more on the rights of criminals instead of the rights of victims.  We committed to change things and we have delivered.  That is why we are pleased to announce legislation to end sentence discounts for multiple murders and legislation to end the faint hope clause will come into force on December 2nd.   Our Government is standing up for victims of crime and their families by making sure that criminals receive sentences that reflect the severity of their crimes   Our Government will continue our efforts to pass important legislation to toughen our laws and make our streets and communities safer.  For more information: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/news-nouv/nr-cp/2011/doc_32675.html

Did You Know That… The Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment, announced the renewal of the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda.  Our Government is balancing the need for a cleaner and healthier environment with protecting jobs and economic growth.  We remain committed to reducing Canada's greenhouse gas emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020, and we are making good progress. That is why our Government invested an additional $600 million in Canada’s Clean Air Regulatory Agenda, which is our plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  This plan has served as our framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality since 2006. Renewed funding for the Clean Air Regulatory Agenda emphasizes our Government’s commitment to protecting the health and environment of Canadians.  For more information: http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE-1&news=DE890E46-EEA1-46BB-8A25-BBEEC0C40604

Did You Know That… The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, launched a formal consultation process that will bring together all levels of government and stakeholders to develop a new long-term plan for public infrastructure.  Our Government’s top priority remains the economy.  Investments in infrastructure have been a cornerstone of this priority. Through programs like the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, the Building Canada Fund and the Gas Tax Fund, we have created jobs and growth across Canada.  Partnerships with provinces, territories, municipalities, and key stakeholders, including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, have been key to the success of our investments and we want these partnerships to continue.  Together, we will develop an effective, sustainable, long-term, job-creating infrastructure plan for decades to follow.   For more information: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/media/news-nouvelles/2011/20111130ottawa-eng.html

Did You Know That… Statistics Canada announced Canada’s economy grew +3.5% in the third quarter. Our Conservative Government is squarely focused on what matters to Canadians – jobs and economic growth.   Canada’s economic growth in the third quarter, along with the nearly 600,000 net new jobs created since July 2009, is an encouraging sign we are on the right track for the economy and hardworking Canadian families.   Indeed, only this week, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also declared Canada will have the strongest economic growth among all G-7 countries over the 2011-13 period.  But we know the global recovery is fragile – especially in the United States and Europe, Canada is not immune to global economic turbulence.  That’s why we are working hard in Parliament to 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.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/111130/dq111130a-eng.htm

For further information, please contact:The office of Ted Menzies at (613) 995-8471