With the new session in full swing, I’ve been getting lots of calls and e-mails asking what the government’s agenda is going to be.
Our government is planning a budget bill that will include, among other things, a small business hiring tax credit to make it easier for small businesses to create jobs. The government will also move ahead with its plans to increase exports and forge more free trade agreements.
We’ve also listened to Canadians and have heard that we need to make some changes to Employment Insurance. Our government will look to ensure that the program is there for families in times of need — specifically for families of murdered and missing children. We will also continue with our tough on crime agenda, including bills that will increase the amount criminals must pay to support the victims of their crimes, enhance accountability within the RCMP, give more powers to police to track terrorists, and make it easier to remove foreign criminals from Canada.
Our government also introduced new amendments to the Helping Families in Need Act that will support parents by making them eligible for sickness benefits, should they fall ill while collecting parental benefits. The amendments proposed in the Helping Families in Need Act will allow us to offer new support measures to Canadian families at times when they need it most.
As always, our government remains committed to our seniors and veterans who helped build and defend this great country. That is why we recently introduced the Helmets to Hardhats Canada Program (helmetstohardhats.ca) that is dedicated to helping our veterans and men and women in uniform find jobs in the building and construction industry as they transition to civilian life. This new website will help connect our veterans and men and women in uniform with quality apprenticeships and well-paid, rewarding career opportunities that they deserve after serving our country with dignity and pride. This is the result of a tremendous partnership between Helmets to Hardhats Canada, our Government, the provinces, the building trades unions and the private sector.
Please contact my constituency office if you have any questions or concerns on any federally related matters, postage free, at: Bay #6A, 4612 - 50th Street, Ponoka, AB T4J 1S7; tel: 403-783-5530; toll free: 1-800-665-0865 or visit my web site: www.blainecalkinsmp.ca or on twitter at www.twitter.com/blainecalkinsmp
Blaine Calkins is MP for Wetaskiwin.