OTTAWA REPORT

August 14, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Lois Brown, MP
Newmarket-Aurora

Call for Proposals

A Call for Proposals to the Enabling Accessibility Fund – Workplace Accessibility Stream has been opened. Proposals are being accepted until October 1, 2014.
Small businesses may receive grants of up to $50,000 for projects that will increase accessibility for persons with disabilities in workplaces across the country. Projects must address the objective of removing barriers, improving accessibility and enabling those with disabilities to participate in, and contribute to, their local economies. Projects may include:
• renovating, retrofitting or constructing workplaces in which job opportunities for people with disabilities could be created or maintained;
• retrofitting motor vehicles for work use; and
• providing information and communications technologies for work use.
To be considered eligible for funding, projects must be directly related to maintaining or creating job opportunities for people with disabilities. All projects must also respond to funding priorities identified during calls for proposals, including support from their community.
Economic Action Plan 2013 extended the Enabling Accessibility Fund on an ongoing basis at $15 million per year to improve accessibility in facilities across Canada, including workplaces. For more information, visit
http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/disability/eaf/workplace.shtml.

70th Anniversary of the Italian Campaign
The Government of Canada will provide a $2,000 travel subsidy to Veterans of the Italian Campaign who want to attend commemorative events marking the 70th anniversary in Italy. An official Government of Canada delegation will include Veterans and will honour the sacrifices made by those who served, and participate in commemorative ceremonies from November 24 to 28, 2014.
During the Second World War, more than 93,000 Canadians fought to liberate Italy, and almost 6,000 lost their lives. Veterans of the Italian Campaign wishing to apply for a travel subsidy are encouraged to do so as soon as possible by contacting 1-866-522-2122, visiting veterans.gc.ca or e-mailing vac-italy-italie2014-acc@vac-acc.gc.ca.

Protecting communities in the event of a rail incident
The Government of Canada is strengthening the liability and compensation regime to ensure railways and shippers are held accountable in the event of an incident. Insurance requirements for federally regulated railways will be enhanced and supplementary compensation for incidents involving dangerous goods will be established.
Consultations began last winter and a second stage has been launched which will involve discussions with key stakeholders to help define specifics of the new regime. Once finalized, the new regime will ensure that sufficient funds are available to compensate potential victims and pay for clean-up costs in the event of a catastrophic incident. The railway disaster in Lac-Mégantic, and the insurance coverage carried by Montreal, Maine and Atlantic (MM&A) Railway at the time of the accident, highlighted the importance of strengthening the current rules.
The new regime will ensure that polluters pay, that those who suffer damages are compensated and that taxpayers do not bear the burden of cost if a serious rail incident should happen.

National Peacekeepers’ Day
August 9 was National Peacekeepers’ Day, an opportunity to celebrate Canada’s long and proud tradition of contributing to international security and to honour those who have served, past and present.
Since the mid-1950s, Canada has participated in dozens of international security missions around the world, helping to prevent or contain conflicts and contributing to global and regional stability. Our brave peacekeepers, which have included tens of thousands of Canadian Armed Forces members, police officers and civilians, have put their lives on the line around the globe, placing themselves between hostile forces, supervising ceasefires and the withdrawal of opposing troops, providing valuable training and development, protecting and assisting civilians in need, and supporting international security operations and stability efforts.
Today, Canadians continue to play a vital role in places like Haiti, the Sinai, Cyprus and South Sudan. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those from Newmarket-Aurora and across the land who have served for their remarkable contributions to greater peace, security and stability.

Canada-EU Text Reached
Last October, Canada, with the unanimous endorsement of all provinces and territories, reached a historic Agreement-in-Principle on a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU). On August 5, Canada and the European Union announced that officials have reached a complete text, allowing translation and final legal review to commence.
The EU is the world’s largest integrated economy, with more than 500 million consumers and a GDP of $17 trillion. Out of more than 9,000 EU tariff lines, approximately 98 percent will be duty-free for Canadian goods when the Canada-EU trade pact comes into force. A joint study concluded that the trade agreement with the European Union would be of significant benefit to Canada, resulting in a 20-per cent boost in bilateral trade and a $12-billion increase in Canada’s annual income (GDP), the equivalent to creating almost 80,000 new jobs or increasing the average Canadian household’s annual income by $1,000.
Gaining preferential access to the world’s largest economy is excellent news for Newmarket-Aurora. CETA will open new opportunities for many of our businesses such as manufacturers, food processors and financial services providers.

If you would like to contact me on any issue, please call 905-953-7515 or visit my website at www.loisbrown.ca. I look forward to hearing from you.