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The Auroran https://www.newspapers-online.com/auroran/ottawa-report-30/ Export date: Sat Dec 27 2:43:14 2025 / +0000 GMT |
OTTAWA REPORTBy Lois Brown, MP Newmarket-Aurora Saving Every Woman, Every Child Summit In my role as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, I occasionally have the opportunity to meet some very interesting people. On these occasions, it is rare for me not to extend them an open invitation to visit our great community. I recently had an interesting assignment within my Parliamentary Secretary portfolio. I was honoured to emcee the recent Saving Every Woman, Every Child: Within Arm's Reach summit on maternal, newborn and child health. Leaders and delegates from all over the world attended. Co-hosted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the event provided renewed global momentum to advance maternal, newborn and child health as a global priority beyond 2015. With the support of global leaders, including Jakaya Kikwete, Summit Co-Chair and President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, His Highness the Aga Khan, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group, Dr. Margaret Chan of the World Health Organization, Anthony Lake of UNICEF, and Melinda Gates of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Canada called on all global partners to renew efforts to end all preventable maternal and child deaths. We heard from experts across the spectrum that reducing maternal and child deaths in the world's poorest countries can be as simple as reaching them with Vitamin A capsules (that cost just pennies each), bed nets or vaccines. The near eradication of polio, thanks in large part to our local Rotary clubs, is a great example. Private and non-profit partnerships to deliver simple and cost effective interventions, is another. Not only is reducing preventable deaths the right thing to do, it is also an investment in local economic development within the context of an increasingly expanding global market. Working with Municipalities I was also recently honoured to represent the Government of Canada at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual conference where I spoke on the growing role of local governments in international development. For over 25 years, FCM has been a valued partner for Canada's development program in developing countries. It works in a coordinated and collaborative fashion with local government partners in developing countries to help bolster local economic development by adding their knowledge and experience to the equation. In Ukraine, Haiti, the Caribbean region, Africa and Asia, dedicated leaders and staff have taken on difficult challenges in uncertain situations to help bring stability and good government to the people in those countries. I am proud of the federal government's support of FCM and municipal governments, as evidenced by our responding to their requests to double, index and expand the Gas Tax Fund. It is essential that all levels of government work together for those we serve, the taxpayers. National Conservation Plan The Prime Minister recently announced our landmark National Conservation Plan. It provides a long-term vision for conservation efforts across Canada by conserving and restoring Canada's ecosystems, and connecting Canadians to nature. Funding of $252 million over five years will be used to conserve ecologically sensitive lands, support voluntary conservation and restoration action, restore wetlands, strengthen marine and coastal conservation, and improve access to wildlife areas and green spaces for Canadians. The Plan will also expand opportunities for municipalities, environmental interest groups, hunters and anglers, landowners and community groups, to take practical actions to safeguard the land and water around them in the priority areas of land and water conservation, ecosystem restoration and connecting Canadians to nature. Nature matters to all of us and the National Conservation Plan will encourage and enable Canadians to take action in their own communities. Call for Proposals – New Horizons for Seniors The Government of Canada is seeking applications for projects that will help Canadian seniors use their leadership abilities, skills and experience to continue to make a difference in their communities through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP). NHSP community-based projects help empower seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others and support communities by increasing their capacity to address local issues. The call for proposals will close on Friday, July 4, 2014. Organizations may receive up to $25,000 in grant funding. Projects must address one or more of the program's five objectives: volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse, social participation and capital assistance. For more information visit esdc.gc.ca/seniors. 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. |
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Post date: 2014-06-11 18:12:45 Post date GMT: 2014-06-11 22:12:45 Post modified date: 2014-06-18 17:41:32 Post modified date GMT: 2014-06-18 21:41:32 |
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