Proud to be Canadian Contest

Canada Day is just around the corner and this year I am hoping all of you will show us you are Proud to be Canadian!

I am kicking off a fun contest on Facebook, asking the people of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex to show their Canadian Pride by dressing up their home, car, family, even their dog…for Canada Day!

The picture with the most likes wins a Canadian flag in a decorative wooden box and, of course, bragging rights. We are incredibly fortunate to live in this amazing country…so let us show it!

My offices in Wallaceburg and Strathroy are happy to distribute paper Canadian flags to hang in your windows, so stop in, grab one and show you are Proud to Be Canadian!

Please send the photos to [email protected]. To be eligible, you need to be from Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and include your name, postal code, and phone number along with your photo.

Submissions will be posted to my Facebook and the voting by “likes” will begin!! Make sure you let your aunts, uncles, cousins, best friends, and anyone else know to check out the photos and “like” their favourite by end of day on July 3rd !!

The constituent who gets to take home the prize will be announced on July 4th.

Olympic/Paralympic Day on the Hill

What a wonderful day it was last week as we welcomed Canada’s Paralympic and Olympic athletes to Parliament Hill! A great opportunity to express how proud we are of all of these incredible young men and women. It was nice to run into several from Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, including Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, our Ice Dance Champions and Mark Ideson, a member of the Paralympic Men’s Curling Team, who curls out of Ilderton. Tyler McGregor from Forest, who is on the Men’s Sledge Hockey Team, was also on hand. Congratulations to all of you!

70th Anniversary of D-Day

Our government, on behalf of all Canadians, marked the 70th Anniversary of D-Day with events in Ottawa and in France. A stirring emotional tribute was held at Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-Mer with 1,000 Canadian youth and cadets and more than 100 Canadian Veterans of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy in attendance. Similar events were organized in communities across the country to mark the important date, celebrating the monumental achievement of Canadian Veterans in the Second World War, and honouring the sacrifices made by men and women of that generation.

Maternal Health Care Summit

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called on other countries to follow Canada’s lead in boosting funding for maternal and child health in Third World countries. Following a recent three-day summit on maternal and child health in Toronto, Prime Minister Harper said he would work to keep the issue on the agenda and press other countries to renew their commitments. The Prime Minister’s pledge was greeted with praise from the heads of the World Bank, the World Health Organization, the United Nations and Philanthropist Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Gates Foundation. Gates said Canada has become an important partner in finding innovative ways to help the world’s poorest people. Thanks to the maternal and child health initiative and subsequent global action, maternal mortality rates are declining and the lives of millions of children are being saved.

Australian Prime Minister Pays a Visit

The Prime Minister of Australia spent a couple of days in Ottawa this week and he, too had high praise for our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. Tony Abbott called Harper “a beacon” for conservative political leaders around the world, adding he is an exemplar of a contemporary, centre-right prime minister. Abbott said he wanted to let North American investors know Australia is “open for business.” On top of trade, the two leaders also touched on regional and international issues of interest. And with Ottawa on the verge of balancing its books, Abbott has been eyeing our government’s moves to cut spending and bureaucracy.

Unwavering Support for Ukraine

There was more proof of Canada’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people last week at the G7 Summit in Brussels. Leaders at the Summit, from which Russian President Vladimir Putin was excluded, condemned Russia for “continuing violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.” Prime Minister Harper has been one of the most outspoken leaders in his support for the people of Ukraine. Mr. Harper said he and his fellow G7 leaders had a very detailed discussion of the messages that need to be sent to Putin about ending illegal occupations, provocative actions, the supporting of violent actions in eastern Ukraine and the necessity of the G7 taking further actions if those things are not done.

Honouring Dear Ol’ Dad

This Sunday is Father’s Day. From the time we’re just kids to our adult years, dads always play an important role in our lives. I fondly remember my own dad each Father’s Day and always use the occasion as a great opportunity to get together with family. Happy Father’s Day to all you dads, granddads and great-granddads out there!

Did You Know?

-The FIFA World Cup begins this Thursday, with 32 teams taking part. Be sure to download a schedule from my website www.bevshipley.ca
-Only 7 nations have ever won the World Cup; Brazil, Italy, West Germany, Argentina, Uruguay, England, France and Spain.
-India left the World Cup competition for an interesting reason. They were not allowed to play in BARE FEET!

Until next time,

Bev Shipley, M.P., Lambton-Kent-Middlesex