Did You Know...? - Edition 59

September 24, 2010

Did You Know That…  The Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, announced that new rules are now officially in effect to extend the lobbying limitations of the Government’s Accountability Act to all members of Parliament, Senators and senior staff in the offices of the Leader of the Opposition, both in the House of Commons and the Senate. Your Government believes in accountability and transparency for Canadian taxpayers.  That’s why, when it comes to accountability and transparency, we are levelling the playing field for all parliamentarians and their senior staff.  The Sponsorship Scandal severely undermined public confidence in the government and that is why the Government proposed and passed tough new legislation in the Accountability Act, which, among many other reforms, modified the financing of political parties and banned secret donations to political candidates, and required that lobbyist contact with Ministers and their staff be recorded.  This announcement expands on the Accountability Act to include all Parliamentarians, Senators and senior staff personnel on the list of public office holders, along with Ministers and ministerial staff, who are subject to the prohibitions on lobbying and requirements for reporting by lobbyists.  This is good news for Canadian families, workers and small business-people, who can be confident that their Parliament is fully accountable to them, and not to special interest groups.  For more information:  http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/media/nr-cp/2010/0920-eng.asp

Did You Know That…  The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, addressed the Canadian Club of Ottawa on the state of Canada's economy, and highlighted the successes of Canada's Economic Action Plan.  The economy remains the number one priority of Canadians and of your Government.   On the international stage, Canada's economy is envied for its strength during the global economic downturn. As Minister Flaherty highlighted: we have the lowest debt burden of the major advanced economies; we have rock-solid banks; and, Canada's Economic Action Plan (EAP), is delivering results and jobs for Canadians from coast to coast to coast - almost 430,000 new jobs since July 2009.   In the coming months, your Government will seek the wisdom and guidance of the Canadian people in crafting the next phase of our economic action plan for Canada. The stakes remain high, and now more than ever, we must make the right decisions in order to map out the long term direction of the Canadian economy. 

Did You Know That…  The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, announced the first of a series of concrete actions the government will be taking in the coming weeks to address gaps in the way Canada cares for our Veterans and their families.     Ensuring our Veterans and their families have the support they need, when they need it, is a non-negotiable priority for the Government of Canada.   That's why the Government of Canada is taking immediate action to update the current support system to better reflect the needs of Veterans of modern-day conflicts and their families.  We will increase financial support for seriously injured Veterans, and ensure ill and injured Veterans have an adequate monthly income by enhancing the earnings loss benefit.  These measures will benefit more than 3,500 Veterans over the next five years.  We will also increase to $40,000 the minimum annual income Veterans receive who participate in our rehabilitation program.   This measure will benefit 2,320 Veterans over the next five years. These announcements are part of a series of other measures that will be ready to be introduced in the coming weeks.  The Government has worked hard to ensure that major stakeholder groups are supportive of these improvements and of those to come.   And we will continue to work with Veterans organizations and advisory groups to ensure programs and services meet the needs of Canada’s Veterans and their families.  There can be no higher call than that of the duty to serve ones country and uphold its most treasured values in the face of evil.  Our duty in return to those who answer that call is to provide the tools and support they need both to do the job we ask of them, and to live a full and complete life upon completion of that job. Your government intends to do just that.   For more information:  http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=department/press/viewrelease&id=959

Did You Know That… The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, tabled legislation to implement the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement. Minister Van Loan also highlighted Canada’s leading position in the Fraser Institutes Economic Freedom of the World Index. Your Government is following through on a commitment made in the Speech from the Throne by introducing legislation to implement a free trade agreement with Panama, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.  In less than four years, the Government has launched an ambitious trade agenda, opening doors to Canadian business by concluding new free trade agreements with Colombia, Peru, Jordan, Panama and the European Free Trade Association states.  At the same time, your Government has also launched discussions on economic partnership with two of the world's largest economies: the European Union and India.  In this year’s Economic Freedom of the World Index, Canada maintained its position as one of the leading nations in opening new markets for businesses and workers to compete in by promoting free trade.  As evident at our G-8 and G-20 Summits, Canadians can count on their government to oppose protectionism and defend free trade on the world stage - an essential driver of jobs and growth.  Canadian businesses and workers can compete with the best in the world, confident that your Government will continue to pursue an ambitious free trade agenda and entrench economic recovery through freer trade and open markets.  For more information: http://www.international.gc.ca/media_commerce/comm/news-communiques/2010/309.aspx?lang=eng