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OTTAWA REPORT

By Lois Brown, MP
Newmarket-Aurora

The Legacy of Terry Fox
The Government of Canada has announced a new partnership agreement between the Friends of the Terry Fox Collection and the future Canadian Museum of History.
The story of Terry Fox and his “Marathon of Hope” exhibit will open in 2015 in conjunction with the 35th anniversary of the Marathon of Hope.
The exhibit will feature some of the key artifacts from Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope, which he undertook in 1980 to raise funds for cancer research after losing his leg to cancer at age 18. That journey began in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, on April 12, 1980 and ended 143 days later in Thunder Bay, Ontario, when his cancer returned.
He had completed 5,373 kilometres of his remarkable journey. To date, more than $600 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry's name through the annual Terry Fox Run, held across Canada and around the world, including the Aurora Terry Fox Run which this year takes place September 15 at Sheppard's Bush.
The Marathon of Hope inspired millions worldwide and this exhibition will ensure Terry Fox's legacy continues and that as many Canadians as possible learn the story. For more information on Terry Fox visit TerryFox.org.

New option for Old Age Security available
Effective July 1, 2013, seniors can now choose to delay receiving their Old Age Security (OAS) pension for up to five years, allowing them to receive a higher monthly amount in the future. For every month they delay receipt of their OAS pension, they will receive an increased monthly benefit of 0.6 percent per month, up to a maximum of 36 percent at age 70.
People can defer their OAS pension for as little as one month, or as many as 60 months. For example, if you were to turn 65 today and decided to delay receiving your OAS pension for one year, your monthly amount would increase by 7.2 percent (0.6 percent x 12 months).
The OAS is funded through general tax revenues and is indexed to the Consumer Price Index. It enhances the quality of life of Canadian seniors by providing a modest base upon which to build additional income for retirement. In 2012–2013, it provided 5.2 million seniors with an estimated $40.4 billion in benefits.
People should consider their personal situations when deciding when to start receiving their OAS pension, including their financial status, life expectancy, and wants and needs.
It is important to note that if people delay their OAS pension, they will not be eligible to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement and their spouse or common-law partner will not be eligible to receive the Allowance until their OAS pension begins.
For more information on voluntary deferral and how it may affect your retirement plans, visit: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/oaschanges.

Reducing the costs of wireless services
I am pleased to report that our government's actions to increase competition in the wireless sector and to deliver lower prices are working. Last week CRTC released a comprehensive report showing that the average price of wireless services has decreased by 18 percent since 2008.
In order to provide Canadians with access to the latest technology at better prices, our government, under the leadership of Prime Minster Stephen Harper, has:
Set aside Advanced Wireless Services for new entrants to help them break into the market.
Provided new entrants with access to capital by lifting foreign investment restrictions for companies with less than a 10-percent market share.
Introduced strong roaming and tower sharing policies to limit tower proliferation and deliver better services to consumers.
Ensured that at least four players in every region would be able to acquire spectrum in the upcoming spectrum auctions.
Put in place clear rules to govern the transfer of spectrum licenses with the objective of promoting a more competitive environment by limiting undue concentration of spectrum.
Rest assured we will not let this progress be lost or undermined and will continue to protect consumers and promote wireless competition in every region of the country.

Travelling? Check out Travel.gc.ca
Summer is in full swing and so is the travel season. The newly revamped Travel.gc.ca website provides you a single, authoritative and comprehensive source for all government-related travel information—from smart packing tips to Canada-United States border waiting times, and from travel advice and advisories to fact sheets on health and more.
Travellers also have access to a new mobile application called Travel Smart, enabling you to find Government of Canada information and services related to international travel from anywhere in the world. This year before you travel, check out Travel.gc.ca to help ensure a safe and rewarding travel experience.

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.

Post date: 2013-07-17 16:47:23
Post date GMT: 2013-07-17 20:47:23
Post modified date: 2013-07-31 10:07:08
Post modified date GMT: 2013-07-31 14:07:08