Getting Things Done for Canada: Menzies Proud of Canada’s Accomplishments

September 13, 2006

OTTAWA — After a summer full of accomplishments, Ted Menzies, Member of Parliament for Macleod and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation, is looking forward to the fall session in the House of Commons. The upcoming session begins sitting on Monday, September 18, 2006.

“While Canadians enjoyed the summer months, their government was hard at work moving forward and getting things done,” said Mr. Menzies. “One of the accomplishments made was at the Stockholm conference on Lebanon’s early recovery, which I attended in August. In Stockholm, our Government had a chance to join our international partners to help secure peace and move Lebanon from conflict to recovery. Whether it is at home or abroad, our Government has delivered for Canadians.”

This summer, Canada’s government made a number of notable accomplishments, including:

• Completing negotiations of a softwood lumber deal supported by industry, all main producing provinces and the national governments of Canada and the United States.
• Successfully evacuating over 14,000 Canadians from Lebanon and announcing a new $25 million Lebanon Relief Fund to assist with recovery and stabilization in that country.
• Lowering the GST from 7% to 6% and delivering over $20 billion in tax relief to individual Canadians.
• Made our communities safer by arming Border Officers and delivering major investment into RCMP training and recruitment.
• Made significant investments in Canada’s armed forces, including investments in new ships, trucks, helicopters and aircraft totalling more than $11 billion.
• Worked to introduce greater accountability and democracy by introducing Bill S-4, which proposed to limit senate terms to eight years for new Senators.
• This fall, the government will continue get things done for Canada, including:
• Bringing the softwood lumber deal’s enabling legislation to the House, ending the uncertainty of trade conflict and litigation that has crippled the industry and will reimburse over US$4 billion to Canadian companies.
• Bringing forth new Made-In-Canada solutions to our environment.
• Continuing to tackle crime in this country by combating illegal drugs, implementing tougher laws and protecting youth from sexual predators by raising the age of protection.

“The summer’s accomplishments deliver on the promises our Government has made to Canadians,” said Mr. Menzies. “This fall, I look forward to a productive session in the House of Commons and will work hard to ensure this Government continues to deliver for Canadians.”

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For further information, please contact:

The office of Ted Menzies at (613) 995-8471