David Son

Ottawa – Today in Ottawa, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty tabled the 2011-2012 Federal Budget.  This represents the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, a balanced approach designed to keep Canada’s economy on the right track in the midst of a turbulent global economy.

Supporting the next phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, saying it will have positive benefits for families, seniors, and job-creating businesses across the riding of Sarnia-Lambton. It also contains a focused approach to a balanced budget by 2015, as planned.

“This budget hits all the right notes, with a special focus on helping our seniors, students, families and businesses”. “It covers a wide spectrum of important issues and will have an immediate impact on our community, in a very positive way.”

The federal budget contains a variety of measures designed to spur innovation in the Canadian economy, to create jobs, to ensure that the jobs of tomorrow are in place for young professionals and a response to the need for greater financial assistance for Canada’s seniors and students.

A breakdown of the federal budget finds spending highlights in the following areas:

Supporting Job Creation

• Extending the Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance
• Renewing the “Best 14 Weeks Program” and other programs to assist the unemployed find work
• Providing a one-time credit of up to $1,000 to encourage additional hiring in the small business sector

Strengthening our Families and Communities

• Enhancing the GIS for low-income seniors, including an increase in benefits of $600 dollars to single seniors and up to $840 for couples – this will help 680,000 seniors across Canada and literally hundreds if not thousands of seniors in Sarnia-Lambton
• A new family Caregiver Tax Credit of $2,000 for caregivers of loved ones with debilitating health issues, including for the first time, spouses, common-law partners and young children
• the introduction of the Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit, providing tax relief for volunteer firefighters who bravely serve their community and country
• Student Load Forgiveness for Doctors and Nurses Working in Rural and Remote Areas, a new program through the Canada Student Loans Program to forgive a portion of student loans for new doctors and nurses, in an effort to encourage more to practise in Canada’s rural areas

Investing in the economy of Tomorrow

• Providing $80 million in new funding over three years through the Industrial Research Assistance Program to help small and medium-sized businesses accelerate their adoption of key information and communications technologies through collaborative projects with colleges.
• Establishing 10 new Canada Excellence Research Chairs, some of which will be active in fields relevant to Canada’s Digital Economy Strategy.
• Extending and expanding Canada Student Loans and Grants for part-time and full-time post-secondary students.

Investing in Canadian Farmers

• Announcing a two-year, $50-million Agricultural Innovation Initiative to support knowledge creation and transfer and increased commercialization of agricultural innovations.
• Providing an additional $100 million over five years to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to improve food inspection capacity.
• Providing $24 million over two years to extend the Initiative for the Control of Diseases in the Hog Industry

Background

Supporting Job Creation

• Providing a temporary Hiring Credit for Small Business to encourage additional hiring by this vital sector.
• Supporting the manufacturing and processing sector by extending the accelerated capital cost allowance rate for investment in manufacturing or processing machinery and equipment for two years.
• Legislating a permanent annual investment of $2 billion in the Gas Tax Fund to provide predictable, long-term infrastructure funding for municipalities.

Supporting Families and Seniors

• Enhancing the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) for those seniors who rely almost exclusively on their Old Age Security and the GIS and may be at risk of experiencing financial difficulties. This measure will provide a new top-up benefit of up to $600 per year for single seniors and $840 per year for couples. This measure represents an investment of more than $300 million per year and will improve the financial security of more than 680,000 seniors across Canada.
• Attracting more health care workers to under-served rural and remote communities by forgiving up to $40,000 of the federal component of Canada Student Loans for new family physicians and up to $20,000 for nurse practitioners and nurses.
• Introducing a new $2,000 Family Caregiver Tax Credit amount that will provide tax relief to caregivers of infirm dependent relatives including, for the first time, spouses, common-law partners and minor children.
• Introducing a $3,000 Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit amount for volunteer firefighters who perform at least 200 hours of service in their communities.
• Providing nearly $870 million over two years to address climate change and air quality, including the extension of the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program that will help homeowners make their homes more energy efficient and reduce the burden of high energy costs.

Investing in Innovation, Education and Training

• Providing $80 million in new funding over three years through the Industrial Research Assistance Program to help small and medium-sized businesses accelerate their adoption of key information and communications technologies through collaborative projects with colleges.
• Establishing 10 new Canada Excellence Research Chairs, some of which will be active in fields relevant to Canada’s Digital Economy Strategy.
• Extending and expanding Canada Student Loans and Grants for part-time and full-time post-secondary students.
• Encouraging skills certification by making all occupational, trade and professional examination fees eligible for tax relief.

Preserving Canada’s Fiscal Advantage

• Delivering more than $500 million in new ongoing savings from the 2010 round of strategic review.
• Protecting the integrity and fairness of the Canadian tax system by closing loopholes.
• Launching a comprehensive one-year Strategic and Operating Review of departmental spending across all of government in 2011-12.

Helping Canadian Farmers

The Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan continues our Conservative Government’s strong  record of supporting for Canada’s farmers and farm communities and new initiatives such as:

• New Agricultural Innovation Initiative $50 million to help Canada’s farmers remain on the cutting edge of agriculture innovations
• Control of Diseases in the Hog Industry $24 million to fund national bio-security and best practices initiatives to combat hog diseases.
• Plumb Pox Virus Strategy: $17 Million to contain Plumb Pox Virus in a peach, plum, apricot and nectarine trees in the Niagara region
• Strengthening the Food Safety System: $100 Million for inspector training, additional science capacity and tools for front line inspectors to ensure Canada has the safest food possible.
• Extending the Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance: This measure will help reduce costs for new investments in machinery and equipment in the agriculture industry

Supporting Canada’s Seniors

The Next Phase of the Economic Action Plan builds on the support in place for seniors by announcing new measures to improve the quality of life and expand opportunities for older Canadians, including those living in Ontario:

A new Guaranteed Income Supplement top-up benefit targeted to the most vulnerable seniors. Effective July 1, 2011, seniors with little or no income other than OAS and the GIS will receive additional annual benefits of up to $600 for single seniors and $840 for couples. Single recipients with an annual income (other than OAS and the GIS) of $2,000 or less, and couples with an annual income of $4,000 or less, will receive the full amount of the benefit. Above these income thresholds, the amount of the top-up will be gradually reduced and will be completely phased out at an income level of $4,400 for singles and $7,360 for couples.

$10 million over two years to increase support for the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which provides funding to organizations that help ensure that seniors, including those in Ontario can benefit from, and contribute to, the quality of life in their communities through active living and participation in social activities.

Proposed amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act and Canada Labour Code will ensure that federally regulated employees across Canada, including those in Ontario will be able to choose how long they wish to remain in the labour force based on their individual circumstances.

Promoting Education & Training

The Next Phase of the Economic Action Plan is enhancing Canada’s student financial assistance to ensure that more students are able to upgrade their existing skills and education qualifications so that they can make the most of their abilities and prosper in today’s changing economy.

The Next Phase of the Economic Action Plan will enhance and expand eligibility for Canada Student Loans and Grants for full and part-time post-secondary students. Post-secondary students from across Canada, including those in Ontario will benefit from:

An increase in the in-study income exemption from $50 per week to $100 per week. This will benefit approximately 100,000 students each year. This represents an ongoing investment of approximately $30 million per year.

The budget will also extend tax relief for skills certification exams.  This will make all occupational, trade and professional exam fees eligible for tax relief through the Tuition Tax Credit.

The budget will provide a higher income eligibility threshold for part-time Canada Student Loan recipients. The eligibility threshold for loans will be increased and harmonized with the threshold used in calculating need for full-time students. This represents an ongoing investment of $2 million per year and means that more part-time students will have access to Canada Student Loans.

An increase to the income eligibility threshold for part-time students used to determine eligibility for the Canada Student Grant to align it with the threshold for full-time students from low-income families. The new parameters will result in an ongoing $2.2-million investment per year.

In addition, the Next Phase of the Economic Action Plan provides approximately $5.6 million per year to reduce the in-study interest rate for part-time Canada Student Loan recipients from prime plus 2.5 per cent to zero. This brings it in line with full-time students, making part-time study more affordable for more Canadians.

The Government of Canada will work with its provincial and territorial partners to put these improvements in place as soon as possible. The Government’s goal is to have benefits flowing to students in the 2011 academic year.

Supporting Vibrant Communities

The Next Phase of the Economic Action Plan provides $15 million in ongoing funding to the Canada Periodical Fund to continue to support the distribution of publications in Ontario, and across the country.

The Next Phase of the Economic Action Plan provides $60 million to the CBC/Radio-Canada in 2011–12, to provide radio and television services in French and English, in Ontario and across the country.

The Next Phase of the Economic Action Plan provides $52 million over the next two years to support programs for Aboriginal communities across the country including those in Ontario. These investments include support to assist First Nations upgrade and replace their essential fuel tanks on reserve, and support for the First Nations Policing Program which supplements existing policing services in First Nation communities.

First Nations in Ontario can also benefit from the commitment in this Budget to reallocate up to an additional $20 million over two years to support the First Nations land management regime, which improves conditions for economic growth on reserve for participating First Nations.

Aboriginal Canadians in Ontario may also benefit from the announcement of $8 million over two years to promote clean energy in Aboriginal and northern communities.

I nvesting in Innovation, Education & Training

Canada’s Digital Economy Strategy, to be released this spring, responds to nationwide consultations held in the summer of 2010 to seek the views of Canadian industry, creators and consumers on how Canada can build a globally competitive digital economy by 2020. The Next Phase of the Economic Action Plan announces new and renewed initiatives that will set the stage for the strategy, and will provide support for communities across the country, including
Ontario:

$80 million in new funding over three years for a pilot initiative, delivered through the Industrial Research Assistance Program, to support collaborative projects between colleges and small and medium-sized businesses to accelerate their adoption of information and communications
technologies;

$60 million in funding reallocated over the next three years by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) to: promote increased student enrolment in key disciplines related to the digital economy such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates; and

$100 million per year to the Canada Media Fund, which invests in the creation of digital content across multiple platforms, and includes television and leading edge applications for Internet, wireless and other emerging platforms.

In addition, as part of the Government’s effort to strengthen Canada’s Research Advantage, the Next Phase of the Economic Action Plan proposes to invest $53.5 million over five years to support the creation of 10 new Canada Excellence Research Chairs. Some of these research chairs will be active in fields relevant to the Digital Economy Strategy.

The Government is also renewing the Community Access Program for an additional year.

Federal Transfers to Provinces and Territories

In addition to these measures, Ontario will continue to receive support through increased federal transfers in 2011-12.

Federal support to provinces and territories will reach an all-time high of over $56 billion, which is almost $2.2 billion more than last year. Total amounts for each major transfer will see year-over-year growth again in 2011-12.

For Ontario, this totals $17.7 billion in 2011-12 or $1,326 per capita. This long-term,
growing support helps ensure that Ontario has the resources required to provide essential public services, and contributes to shared national objectives, including health care, post-secondary education and other key components of Canada’s social programs.

Almost $2.2 billion through Equalization; an increase of over $1.2 billion from last year.

Over $10.7 billion through the Canada Health Transfer, an increase of $707 million from last year. CHT will continue to grow annually through a 6 per cent escalator.

Close to $4.5 billion through the Canada Social Transfer. For Ontario, this payment represents an increase of almost $1.3 billion since 2005-06 – an increase of 41.0 per cent – due mainly to the move to an equal per capita cash allocation of the CST.

Ontario will also benefit from continued direct targeted support in 2011-12, including:

$197 million for labour market training as part of a commitment of $500 million a year in new funding to provinces and territories, beginning in 2008-09.

$97 million for the wait times reduction fund as part of the 10-year Plan to Strengthen Health Care.

Reducing the Tax Burden on Canadians

Building on the ambitious agenda of tax relief implemented by the Government since 2006, the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan takes additional steps to reduce taxes for Canadians and Canadian businesses.

These tax relief measures will provide taxpayers in Ontario with approximately $970 million in tax relief over 2010-11 and the following five fiscal years. This includes a new Family Caregiver Tax Credit which will provide almost $320 million in relief and a new Children’s Arts Tax Credit which will provide almost $246 million in relief.

The Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan also takes steps to improve the fairness, neutrality and integrity of the tax system, close tax loopholes and limit tax planning opportunities.

A powerful 8.9 magnitude earthquake with a depth of 24.4 km, struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on March 11, 2011 at 14:46 local time. A series of significant aftershocks, ranging in size from 5.8 to 7.1 magnitude, have already struck the same area.

Officials at Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Ottawa and at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo are closely monitoring the situation, are actively working to determine whether any Canadians have been injured in the earthquake or tsunami and to determine how best Canada might support Japan in responding to this disaster as needed.

Shortly after the earthquake, Prime Minster Harper spoke with Japan’s Ambassador to Canada to express condolences and to offer any support which the Government of Japan may require.

Canada is offering an array of expertise and technical assistance to the Government of Japan as part of international efforts to help Japan respond to and recover from the devastating earthquake.

These include a 17-member Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team, as well as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) technical expertise and equipment. Canada is offering Canadian Forces assets—including strategic airlift and personnel—to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts in addition to relief stocks, and emergency medical and engineering capabilities.

In total, some 13 Canadian federal departments and agencies are collaborating within Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Task Force on Natural Disasters Abroad.
In addition, Canadian government officials have been in contact with the United Nations and the International Red Cross, as both organizations have dispatched disaster-assessment teams to Japan.

The Government of Canada is also working in close coordination with provincial and territorial authorities and stands ready to respond to other specific requests for assistance.
Canadians often feel strongly about helping to support communities affected by this tragic natural disaster. Often the best way to help is to donate money to experienced humanitarian organizations that are raising money to support relief efforts or that are active in the emergency response.

So far, the DFAIT Emergency Operation Centre has fielded more than 6,600 calls from Canadians concerning the earthquake. We are working closely with local authorities to identify Canadian citizens in need of assistance following the earthquake. Mission staff are ready to provide consular assistance as required.

There are currently more than 2,700 Canadian citizens registered with the Canadian embassy in Japan. Very few are registered in the affected area. There are an estimated 11,000 Canadians in Japan. We are aware of the death of one Canadian citizen as a result of the earthquake at this time.

Canadians who believe that they have Canadian friends or family who may be affected to call the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade at 613-944-2471 (613-943- 1055), or toll free within Canada at 1-800-606-5499 (or 1-800-387-3124), or email [email protected].
Canadians in the area should contact and reassure their loved ones, even if they have not been affected by this event. Canadians should register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) service.

Canadian citizens in Japan requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo at 011-81-3-5412-6200, or call DFAIT’s Emergency Operations Centre collect at 613-944-2471 (or 613-996-8885). An email can also be sent to [email protected].

Canadians planning to travel to Japan are advised to confirm their travel arrangements with their airline, tour group, or travel agent before heading to the airport. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against non-essential travel to Tokyo and surrounding areas, as well as the prefectures of Chiba, Miyagi, Ibaraki, Iwate, Aomori and Fukushima, due to damages caused by the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunamis. Sendai City, Fukushima City and Aomori City have been hardest hit.
The Government of Canada extends its condolences to all those affected by this significant natural disaster.

The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs), today urged Canadians preparing to travel abroad during spring break to visit Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Consular Services website for advice on planning a safe trip. Minister of State Ablonczy pointed out that between January and April of last year, consular offices handled approximately 2,500 cases of Canadians in distress abroad.
“As spring break approaches, many Canadian families and students will be taking advantage of the opportunity to travel,” said Minister of State Ablonczy. “All Canadians need to inform and prepare themselves before considering international travel. We encourage them to consult the Travel Reports & Warnings we offer, to sign up with our Registration of Canadians Abroad service, and to keep Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s emergency contact information close at hand.”

Travel reports contain current information on more than 200 countries worldwide, including safety and security, health precautions, entry requirements, laws and customs, and other travel-related issues, as well as contact numbers for Canadian government offices. Close to 30 travel warnings were issued in 2010.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad service is free and confidential. Consular officials use this service to contact and assist Canadians in the event of an emergency abroad. This service played a key role in informing Canadians about evacuation flights during the recent crisis in Egypt and about the current security situation in Libya.

Canadians who require assistance while abroad may contact the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate and should keep the following contact information on hand: the telephone number of the local Canadian embassy and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Emergency Operations Centre in Ottawa at 613-996-8885 (collect calls accepted); they may also send an email to [email protected].

Canadians should be aware of the services that consular officers can and cannot provide. For example, if legal issues arise, consular officers can provide a list of local lawyers but cannot intervene in private legal matters or pay legal fees.

“We encourage Canadians to arrange for health and travel insurance that covers out-of-country health care, medical evacuation, flight cancellation and trip interruption,” said Minister of State Ablonczy. “With careful preparation, Canadians can meet unexpected events with greater confidence and a lot less inconvenience.”

Here are a few more tips to keep in mind for a safe and trouble-free trip abroad:

• Pack a copy of the safe-travel booklet Bon Voyage, But….
• Carry a Canadian passport that is valid well beyond the date of your anticipated return to Canada.
• Check whether dual citizenship is an issue for you.
• Carry a consent letter certifying your right to accompany any children travelling with you.
• Do not travel to destinations for which an official travel warning is in place. If you choose to do so, ensure that you have adequate financial resources to cover medical emergencies, since your health insurance may be invalid in those countries.

Consular information is also available at 1-800-267-6788 (in Canada and the United States) or 613-944-6788 (worldwide).

It is with great honour and respect that I call on constituents to celebrate International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8, on behalf of women across the globe.  I always appreciate when I hear about women taking leadership roles across our community, and I always want to do my part to encourage more active participation across the political spectrum as well from young women.

This is why I was excited to recently sponsor Jessica Boyle, a young woman from the community of Forest, to attend the Equal Voices Tenth Anniversary leadership summit on my behalf, in which young women from across Canada will have a chance to meet and interact with national and international female leaders.

Jessica recently met with me in my Ottawa office to discuss this opportunity and to fill me in on her work with the International Institute on Sustainable Development, where she works as a policy director.  I would like to wish Jessica good luck with her endeavours, and I call on all young women in our community to work hard to realize their dreams.

What is International Women’s Day?

In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling on member states to proclaim a day for women’s rights and international peace.  Following the United Nation’s lead, Canada chose March 8 as International Women’s Day.

Each year at this time, Canadians celebrate progress toward equality for women and their full participation, reflect on the challenges and barriers that remain, and consider future steps to achieving equality for all women, in all aspects of their lives.

Over time, International Women’s day has grown into a weeklong series of commemorative events and activities across the country.  International Women’s Week 2011 begins on Sunday March 6 and wraps up on Saturday March 12.

We encourage all Canadians – women and men, girls and boys – to promote International Women’s Day / International Women’s Week.

What is the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day?

The theme for International Women’s Day and Week 2011 – Girls’ Rights Matter/Les droits des filles comptent – focuses on the importance of equality and access to opportunity for all girls and women throughout their lives.  This theme encourages us to reflect on the situation of girls in Canada, and to look beyond women’s relative privilege domestically, to the international context.

This theme is being celebrated in conjunction with  the United Nations theme for International Women’s Day 2011: Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women .  A girl who enjoys equality has a greater likelihood of being self-confident and aware of her own potential, and of being empowered to access the education, training and career opportunities that will contribute to her success in life.

On Friday, February 4, Prime Minister Harper and US President Obama issued a declaration on a shared vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness.  This is important for Sarnia-Lambton considering our location on the border.

The declaration focuses on four areas of co-operation: increasing economic growth and job creation; addressing mutual security threats earlier; easier trade access across our border; and increased critical infrastructure and cyber-security.

In addition a working border group will be established, something that has been called for by many in our community for some time now.  I have worked with various local groups who have lobbied Ottawa for increased attention to the issue of border thickening, and the announcement by Prime Minister Harper that a border working group will closely examine these issues is welcomed by the groups in Sarnia I have worked with.

Please contact my office if you have any questions about this vision for Perimeter Security and economic competitiveness.

Constituents of Sarnia-Lambton,

I wish to extend my condolences to the island nation of Haiti and to Canadians that have family or loved ones who have been effected  by this event. They are all certainly in our thoughts and prayers. The Canadian Government is issuing a swift response to this urgent crisis and will provide international leadership in the humanitarian response that is now required from Canada and other global leaders. I will be updating my website to inform my constituents of any breaking government news in terms of the Government’s response .

Currently, the Prime Minister is receiving in-depth briefings on this issue and has pledged assistance to Haiti.  The Cabinet, including Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, Public Safety Minister Peter van Loan, Minister of Defence Peter MacKay and Minister of the Americas Peter Kent all met in a series of high-level meetings on Wednesday to further discuss Canada’s response – “Operation Hamlet”. The  Government of Canada is working hard to ensure an appropriate emergency response is undertaken and that all Government agencies are able to coordinate their efforts in terms of humanitarian assistance in the devastated region of Haiti, which continues to be hit by aftershocks after the initial quake struck late in the afternoon on January 12.

My office has been monitoring this situation since it occurred and will remain steadfast in ensuring we are kept up to date on all aspects of the Canadian humanitarian mission that now begins in the aftermath of this terrible disaster.

For any constituents who are impacted by this event and may perhaps have family or other loved ones in Haiti, below you will find all emergency contact numbers applicable for this crisis.  The Canadian Government ensures that an experienced official is always able to respond to such emergencies.

Emergencies

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/contact/emergency_urgence-eng.asp

The Operations Centre of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An experienced officer is always available to respond to emergency calls from anywhere in the world.

Emergency Contact Info

Canadian citizens outside Canada can call collect to (613) 996-8885 (where available).

For calls originating in Canada, call 1 800 267-6788 or (613) 944-6788.

In a number of countries, you can also call the 24/7 Operations Centre toll-free
You can also communicate with us via TTY by dialing
1 800 394-3472 (in Canada and the U.S.) or (613)944-1310

Contact us directly via our secure online e-mail form

You can also reach the Operations Centre by e-mail at: [email protected]

Fax: (613) 943-1054

The Operations Centre receives approximately 190,000 calls a year, and is busiest in the early evening, Eastern Time. The Centre uses a modern Automatic Call Distribution system. Your call will be automatically sequenced and will be answered as quickly as possible in the order in which it entered the call-waiting queue. It may be necessary, due to a large number of incoming calls, to request that you leave a message. Please do so by listening carefully to the instructions on the voice-mail system and ensure you provide the area code and telephone number where you can be reached. An Operations Officer will return your call within 15 minutes.

As the sun rose over the beaches of Normandy 65 years ago, Canadian Forces from land, air and sea came together on D-Day in the pursuit of freedom. By the time the sun set that day, the Canadians had progressed farther than any other Allied troops.

The Canadian triumph at D-Day and the Battle of Normandy was not without sacrifice. Of the more than 90,000 Canadians who served in the Battle of Normandy, more than 5,000 would lay down their lives defending the values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law that we cherish today.

Canada remembers June 6, 1944. Across Canada and at Juno Beach in France, Canadians will join together to salute our Veterans of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy whose contributions and sacrifices led to the end of the Second World War.

For a list of events in your community, and for information on events in France, visit www.vac-acc.gc.ca .

On June 6, Canada Remembers. Canada Remembers D-Day.