At long last, the long-gun registry is officially a thing of the past! The Senate voted in favour of scrapping the registry last night and today, Bill C-19 is expected to receive Royal Assent making it law. The records that came along with the registry will be destroyed. Law-abiding farmers, hunters, and rural Canadians will no longer be subjected to this wasteful, ineffective registry and taxpayers won’t be left footing the bill for something that did nothing to reduce crime or strengthen our efforts to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
The Federal Budget-A Plan for Now and for the Future
Economic Action Plan 2012 is focused on creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity; the three things Canadians have been telling us matter most to them. This document was not the doom and gloom budget many were fearing and there’s good reason for that. Our government has done a responsible job in managing the economy over the past six years and as a result we have one of the strongest economies in the industrialized world. Here’s a recent article from the Wall Street Journal that hammers that point home quite well.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303816504577319743650637600.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Because of our strong economy, there was no need to impose some of the drastic cuts we’ve been seeing in countries like Greece, Spain, and Italy.
- We have been able to keep taxes low; decreasing them in every area where the federal government collects taxes. Our tax relief means the average family of four is paying $3,100 less per year than when we took office in 2006.
- We continue to increase transfer payments to the provinces for health care, social programs, and education. Ontario will receive major federal transfers in 2012-13 totaling $19.2 billion – an increase of nearly $8.4 billion or 77% from the previous Liberal government.
- We’re expanding trade so our manufacturers, producers and industry have new growth opportunities that will translate into new jobs and investment. In fact, Canada is currently working on over 50 trade agreements with other countries, in particular, China.
- We’re investing in training, infrastructure and opportunity for Canadians by extending the Hiring Credit for Small Business; investing in programs that help workers over 50, youth, Canadians with disabilities and aboriginals get into the workforce.
- We are ensuring vital social programs and services will be there for Canadians over the next generation by making gradual, responsible adjustments to Old Age Security.
- These are just some of the highlights of the federal budget. If you’d like more information head to my website www.bevshipley.ca and click on Budget 2012.
A Penny Here, A Penny There, Makes For Better Hospital Care
We’ve decided to embrace our Canadian penny in its final year of production, by kicking off a penny-pinching fundraiser in support of our local hospitals. As you likely heard in the federal budget, production of the penny (each of which costs 1.6 cents to make) will end in the fall of this year. We’ll be collecting thousands and thousands of pennies at various events, with the help of local businesses and individuals. Funds raised will go to the hospital auxilliaries in Strathroy, Newbury and Wallaceburg, all of which are as excited about the venture as we are! Our goal is 100,000 pennies for each hospital. If your organization or business would be interested in helping us collect pennies for the hospitals, please give our Strathroy office a call at 519-245-6561.
Senator Pamela Wallin helping me kick off our penny fundraiser March 31st at a fundraising dinner in Ailsa Craig.
NDP Obstructs Passage of Human Trafficking Bill
Many of us were shocked last week when Bill C-310, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons) was voted down by the NDP, when we expected it to pass unanimously in the House of Commons and move on to the Senate. The Bill will now be delayed until the end of May. Bill C-310 will strengthen Canada’s efforts to combat human trafficking and this should not be a partisan matter. In fact, both the Liberals and NDP had been fully supportive up until the vote. Canadians are being urged to write or call NDP members for an explanation of why they would vote against such an important, bipartisan Bill and deliberately hold it up.
Scott and Tessa Do it Again
Congratulations to Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue! Canada’s Olympic Ice-Dancing Champions reclaimed their world title in Nice, France last week to the absolute delight of everyone in their hometowns of Ilderton and London as well as the rest of the country.
Happy Easter!
At this special time of the year, I’d like to wish you the many blessings of Easter. While we may celebrate the day in different ways, with our own traditions and family gatherings, the day is first and foremost a reminder to us of the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ, but also his triumphant resurrection on Easter Sunday. I hope that you are able to take some time off to reflect over the Easter break and share this special time with family and friends.
Until next time.
Bev Shipley, M.P.
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex
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