Householder Summer 2009
-
Upload
calvin-g-foote -
Category
Documents
-
view
219 -
download
1
description
Transcript of Householder Summer 2009
Dear Constituents:
Before updating you on what is happening around our
riding, I would like to take this opportunity to thank
you for electing me to represent you in Ottawa this past
October. The result of the last federal election
humbled me like never before. I am deeply honoured
that you have entrusted me to represent you and I will
make every effort to ensure you receive the
representation that all of you deserve.
Since then, some major issues have come to the fore
that will challenge us to face these troubled economic
times. But we will adapt and persevere for our future
generations. I pledge to you that I will work with you
to seek a brighter future.
This is a particularly difficult time for our forestry and
newsprint industries and the closure of our mill in
Grand Falls-Windsor. We cannot pretend that this
closure will not affect us greatly because we all know it
will. I continue to work closely with union officials,
displaced workers, government, and company officials
as well as provide support and direction.
In March, I met with the Fisheries Advisory Commit-
tee where a number of important issues were discussed.
I will be addressing some points raised at upcoming
meetings with our NL caucus and DFO officials. We
must challenge Ottawa to ensure a viable and profitable
fishery that supports our communities both big and
small.
In April, I travelled to Europe as part of the Canada-
Europe Parliamentary Association to participate in
meetings with the European Union on the seal hunt.
Unfortunately, our words fell on deaf ears and shortly
thereafter, the ban on seal products was announced.
We will continue with the fight; however, it does not
look promising.
With the recent Cougar helicopter disaster, there has
been an outcry for the establishment of a Search and
Rescue presence in St. John’s. My position is and has
always been that the SAR services of 103 Squadron is
best and properly situated in Gander. Ninety-nine per
cent of the rescue calls for service, I am told, are not
related to offshore oil. I believe that the service needs
to be improved by providing 24-7 coverage from
Gander much as we would expect from fire depart-
ments and other emergency responders. I will continue
to lobby the federal government for improvements.
I am anticipating a very busy summer with community
events and festivals. I will see you there.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I look
forward to hearing from you. As always, it is an
honour to be working for you.
Sincerely,
SCOTT SIMMS, MP
Simms Tables Seal Motion in Parliament
Ottawa, April 6, 2009
Scott Simms MP for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-
Windsor tabled a motion in Parliament on March 25,
2009 calling on the European Union (EU) to comply
with International Trade rules which would continue to
allow Canadian seal exports in their territory.
Simms’ motion also asks the European Union Member
States that manage sealing operations within their
national waters to join Canada in development of a
Universal Declaration that will provide sustainable,
respectful hunting practices and professionalism
amongst all hunters.
“If the EU is serious about animal rights, which I
sincerely doubt, and not merely bowing to pressure
from the extreme lobbying of the animal rights
activists, then they will partner with Canada on this
initiative,” said Simms.
“I am appalled that the EU will ban seal products from
entering Europe. Before they take that step they should
clean up their own back yard first,” stated Simms.
The ultimate hypocrisy and irony of the EU position is
that within the EU Member States - Britain and
Sweden among others - not only hunt seals but do so
with the active support of the EU Commission. The
Dutch and the Belgians do not hunt seals however
annually they kill about a million muskrats and burn
them. The Germans have active boar and deer hunts
that kill thousands of animals, including very young
boar, purely for sport. The French, among others
within the EU, consider it acceptable to kill and eat
horses, the younger the better and of course the
Spanish continue their cultural ritual killing of bulls in
the name of sport.
SIMMS calls on government to increase
funding for Search and Rescue
February 7, 2008
Ottawa, ON - Scott Simms, MP for Bonavista-
Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor, today presented a
petition in the House of Commons calling on the
Conservative government to increase funding for
Search and Rescue across the country.
An increase to the Department of National
Defence, Search and Rescue budget would ensure
that there is 24-hour staffing to respond to
emergency calls in a timelier manner than is
currently possible. The ability of Search and
Rescue personnel to reach disaster scene promptly
would increase their ability to save more lives.
Following the Ryan’s Commander disaster,
Johanna Ryan Guy, sister of the Ryan brothers lost
during the sinking of Ryan’s Commander, initiated
a cross-Canada petition to have the after-hours
response time changed from 2 hours to 30
minutes.
To have crews ready 24 hours a day will require a
moderate increase in the Search and Rescue
budget. This is not an unreasonable request; there
is no price that we can put on saving lives.
In addition to increased funding to the Department
of National Defence budget for rescue squadrons
across the country, I am calling on the government
to increase the Canadian Coast Guard budget. This
would enable them to place lifeboats in strategic
locations on the Northeast coast of Newfoundland
and on the Labrador coast. The Coast Guard
website indicates there are 41 lifeboats littering the
coasts of Canada however there is not one lifeboat
on the Northeast coast of Newfoundland and
Labrador.
“This is unacceptable,” said Simms. “As we have
witnessed in recent years, the North Atlantic is
unforgiving, and time saved in responding to an
emergency means lives will be saved.”
“We in Newfoundland and Labrador, and indeed
in all of Atlantic Canada, live in a harsh
environment. For hundreds of years we have been
exploiting the resources of the sea and we need to
be ready to respond on very short notice when
disaster strikes,” stated Simms.
SCOTT SIMMS Member of Parliament
Working For You!
Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor
Summer 2009
WORKING FOR YOU!
40th Parliament - Swearing In Ceremony
2 Scott Simms, MP Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor
WORKING FOR YOU!
STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Frederick Gordon Bradley
February 2, 2009 Mr. Scott Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on December 10, 2008, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and in particular, the historic town of Bonavista, was deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Frederick Gordon Bradley. Mr. Bradley was the son of the late Senator F. Gordon Bradley and Ethel Louise Bradley. He was successful in business but devoted much of his life to community service. He was a long time town councillor and mayor of Bonavista. He also formed the town's volunteer fire department in the 1960s. History and heritage con-sumed much of his interests. He was an avid storyteller, researcher and collector of information about the past. Mr. Bradley was a long time member of the executive of the Newfoundland Historical Society and served a term on the board of the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2006 Mr. Bradley received the distinguished Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Award in recognition of his longstanding contribution to the preservation of the province's history and heritage.
Ted Patey March 5, 2009 Mr. Scott Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to pay tribute to and honour a fellow Newfoundlander, Ted Patey of Badger, who passed away on December 6, 2008. He was 66 years old. He was known as a cheerful sports reporter across the province, who hosted a popular sports program in the 1980s for nearly 400 episodes. His most memorable event was the play-by-play commentary for the 1991-92 Herder Memorial championship hockey series that was won by his beloved Badger Bombers. In 2006, he was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Hall of Fame. The same year he was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the town of Badger for his outstanding dedication, love and support of the town. Ted took great pride in his community and was always there to lend a helping hand. In April of this year, a heritage park will be named and dedicated to his many accomplishments in the town of Badger. It will be named the Ted Patey Heritage Park.
H O U S E
O F
C O M M O N S
QUESTION PERIOD
March 27, 2009
Mr. Scott Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, in Newfoundland and Labrador, the govern-ment's refusal to offer CBC bridge financing has resulted in job losses in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor.
The minister knows that, as a crown corporation, CBC cannot secure a bank loan. So, with further job losses hitting small towns, and certainly in the rural regions, why is the government refusing to offer the bridge financing to CBC when it appears so willing to helps its commercial competitors in this economic crisis?
Hon. James Moore (Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I will take a third run at it.
Richard Stursberg, Executive Vice-President of CBC, said, “If the government had given us bridge financing, we still would have had to cut 800 jobs”. This is a decision by the CBC, in order to make ends meet. With regard to the CBC, we made a very specific campaign commitment. We kept our campaign commitment. We stand by the public broadcaster with record funding.
When the Liberal government was in office, it cut 4,000 jobs at the CBC, and now the Liberals stand and claim to be defend-ers of the CBC. It is pathetic.
Mr. Scott Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, since the minister likes to trade quotes, I would like to trade a quote with him. I hearken back to the year 1995--please note--when the Prime Minister called the CBC a “government sponsored loser” and argued it should be placed in a situation where subsidies are “weaned away”.
So, perhaps he would like to answer those issues. Today, he is using the economy as a pre-text to watch the CBC bleed. Will the Conservatives admit that this is what they really mean by an opportunity to slash in an economic crisis?
Hon. James Moore (Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, CPC): Mr. Speaker, if my hon. colleague wants to trade quotes, we can go all day. Here is what a for-mer Liberal cabinet minister said, not in 1995, in 2004. Stan Keyes said, “CBC has become a monster, quite frankly”.
The Liberal MP for Pickering—Scarborough East, a current member of the Liberal caucus, said, “It's my belief that the Canadian people have had enough and they don't want the CBC”. That is what the Liberal member for Pickering—Scarborough East said right now.
So, again, the Liberals are trying to have it both ways. They say publicly they support the CBC. However, when it comes time to walk the talk, all they have done over the years is cut the CBC $400 million, 4,000 jobs. Shame on them.
3 Scott Simms, MP Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsorn
WORKING FOR YOU!
RIDING EVENTS/MEETINGS
September Relay for Life-Lewisporte Dietrac Graduation-Lewisporte Men’s Fellowship Dinner-
Bishop’s Falls 50th Anniversary-Bethany
United Church-Pleasantview Bonavista Relay for Life Special Olympics-Gander Exploits Valley Economic
Development Corporation-AGM-Grand Falls-Windsor
October Special Olympics Bowling-
Gander Firefighter’s Ball-Bishop’s Falls Certificate Presentation-Bishop’s
Falls Pentecostal Church Owen Grimes Memorial Walk-
Grand Falls-Windsor Kiwanis Luncheon-Grand Falls-
Windsor November Eid-ul-fitr 2008 Dinner-Grand
Falls-Windsor 50th Anniversary Royal
Canadian Legion-Eastport Bonavista Area Visit Firefighter’s Ball-Joe Batt’s Arm 50th Anniversary-Ostomy
Association-Gander
Riding Photos
December Seniors’ Christmas Party-
Appleton Veteran’s Commemoration
Award-St. John’s-Rev. Ray Cole and Jim Molloy
Town Scape Presentation-Bonavista
Seniors’ Christmas Party– Bonavista
Keep Christ in Christmas-Grand Falls-Windsor
50+ Christmas Party-Botwood Firefighters Medal Presentation-
Northern Arm Presentation of Awards-Leo
Burke Academy-Bishop’s Falls Salvation Army Christmas Kettle
-Gander Mall Santa Claus Parade-Badger Salvation Army Christmas Kettle
-Exploits Valley Mall Little Stepping Stones Christmas
Party-Bishop’s Falls Christmas Social–Gander
Women’s Centre January 100th Anniversary Launch-Town
of Bishop’s Falls AbitibiBowater Meetings-Grand
Falls-Windsor Chamber of Commerce
Luncheon - Gander
January (Cont’d) Roundtable Discussion-Marine
Atlantic-Gander Gander and Area Chamber of
Commerce Roundtable-Economic Outlook
Minor Hockey Week-Lewisporte February Harbour Authority-Musgrave
Harbour Bishop’s Falls Winter Carnival Botwood Winter Carnival-
Sculpture Judge Saunders Shield Hockey Game-
Bishop’s Falls Port Rexton Lions Charter
Dinner Winter Special Olympics-Gander March Marina Conference Committee
Meeting Fisheries Advisory Committee
meetings-Gander April Kiwanis Music Festival-Grand
Falls-Windsor-Adjudicator Local Service District Meeting-
Brown’s Arm Firefighter’s Ball-Charlottetown
April(Cont’d) Fallsview Annual Figure Skating
Ice Show-Bishop’s Falls Community Economic
Development Association-Lewisporte
Town Council Meeting-Point Leamington
SPCA Telethon-Grand Falls-Windsor
New-Wes-Valley Visit Marina Committee Meeting-
Botwood Pee Wee “B” Hockey Closing
Ceremonies-Gander Town Council Meeting-Joe
Batt’s Arm Town of Tilting-Meeting Fogo-island Co-operative
Society Town of Seldom-Little Seldom Town of Fogo Fogo Harbour Authority May Firefighter’s Ball-Peterview 103 Search and Rescue-Change
of Command Parade-Gander Bonavista Visit Patron Event-100th Anniversary-
Bishop’s Falls
Marina Committee Members-Front Row-Perry Pond, Mayor Jerry Dean, Scott Simms, Mayor Bill Hooper, Fred Dalley, Back Row-Ken Hoyles, Gordon Young, Tony Sceviour, Philip Patey,
Rev. Art Elliott, Harold Edison
With Pat Kearney, Gander &
Area Chamber of Commerce and Wayne
Follett, CEO
Marina Atlantic
With Fraser
Warren
as John Cabot
and
Nancy Tilley as
Mattea
Bonavista
With Keith Johnson—Bonavista
Seniors’ Christmas Party-Appleton
Winter Games-Special Olympics-Gander-Opening Ceremonies-Gander
With Special Olympic Participants—Grand Falls-Windsor
With Lydia Jankowski—Eastport Harvest Queen
With Audrey Jewer Northern Arm
2008 Appleton Winterfest
4 Scott Simms, MP Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor
New Home Renovation Program
The Home Renovation Program is a tax credit program where you can claim up to
$10,000 of renovations on your 2009 income tax return. This is a one year program
only and is effective from January 27, 2009 - February 1, 2010. There is no
application process, just save your receipts for the eligible expenses. A new line will be incorporated in the 2009 personal income tax return to allow you to claim the credit.
Some examples of eligible and ineligible
expenditures include the following:
Eligible
Renovating a kitchen, bathroom or basement
New carpet or hardwood floors
Building an addition, garage, deck, garden/storage shed, fence
Re-shingling a roof
A new furnace, woodstove, boiler, fireplace, water softener or water heater
Painting of interior or exterior of a house
Window Coverings directly attached to the window frame and whose removal would alter the nature of the dwelling
Laying new sod
Swimming Pools (Permanent-in ground and above ground)
Fixtures—lights, fans, etc.
Associated costs such as permits, professional services, equipment rentals and incidental expenses
Ineligible
Furniture, appliances, and audio and visual electronics
Purchasing of tools
Cleaning carpets
House cleaning
Maintenance contracts (e.g. furnace cleaning, snow removal, and lawn care)
Financing costs
For more information please call
1-800-959-8281 or visit the Canada Revenue
Agency website at www.cra-arc.gc.ca
CONTACT INFORMATION
With Reverend Ray Cole and Jim Molloy—Veteran’s
Commemoration Award
WORKING FOR YOU!
Congratulations—Town of Bishop’s Falls
100th Anniversary Launch—January
I am most proud to be a lifelong resident of Bishop’s Falls and I was honoured to be part of the launch of the 100th Anniversary celebrations in January. Planning events for a full year to celebrate our history and culture is a major undertaking and I thank and commend the organizing committee, the volunteers, and all of those involved in these celebrations. There are many excellent events planned for our centennial and I encourage everyone to get out, participate and enjoy the celebration of our community.
Parliamentary Office
237 West Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Phone: (613) 996-3935 Fax: (613) 996-7622 E-mail: [email protected] Gander Polaris Building 61 Elizabeth Drive Gander, NL A1V 1G4 Phone: (709) 256-3130 Toll Free: 1-877-256-3130 Fax: (709) 256-3169 E-mail: [email protected]
Grand Falls-Windsor 1A Pinsent Drive Grand Falls-Windsor, NL A2A 2S8 Phone: (709) 489-8470 Toll Free: 1-877-489-8470 Fax: (709) 489-8478 E-mail: [email protected] Bonavista 1-866-663-2626
Leading Tickles Fire Department
Long Term Service Awards
Riding Photos
Ottawa Office—West Block
I hope you enjoy the pictures in this newsletter. With over 170 communities in the
riding, it is impossible to include them all. If you haven’t seen your community or
special citizens of your community in past newsletters, I invite you to submit com-
munity photos for consideration for future newsletters. I would be honoured to
include them. Please e-mail them to my Gander office.
Centenary Khilafat
Ahmadiyya - Grand Falls-
Windsor
With Dr. Mohamed Boodhun
and Dr. Ghulan Dogar at the
centenary event
Royal Canadian Legion
103 Search & Rescue Change of Command Parade
With Rodney - 103 Search and Recue Mascot With Major Stephen Reid - New Commanding Officer