Pleased to announce that I will be hosting a Passport Clinic in Baldur on Saturday, April 22nd at the Baldur Memorial Hall from 10:00AM to 2:00PM. 

Yesterday afternoon I met with representatives from Canadian Blood Services in my Parliamentary office to stress the need for the Brandon clinic to remain open and for rural mobile clinics to continue to be made available.  I reiterated my position that they should reverse their decision to permanently close the clinic and layoff the staff.

Every day from now until Budget 2017, I’ll release an idea that I would like to see included in the Minister of Finance’s budget.

I am inviting Westman residents to nominate leaders from the not-for-profit, voluntary and business sectors or to apply individually, to become a member of Canada’s Volunteer Awards National Advisory Committee.

I am encouraging Westman teachers to apply to participate in the Teachers Institute on Canadian Parliamentary Democracy conference from November 5th to 10th in Ottawa. This will be the 21st edition of the Teachers Institute and eighty-five educators will be selected to experience this professional development opportunity that offers insight into the workings of Parliament.

Regardless of whether you think Canada needs a carbon tax, the Liberals owe Westman taxpayers the cold hard truth about what it will cost.  No taxation without information. It’s not a revolutionary idea: if the government wants to introduce a new tax they have an obligation to tell you what it’s going to do to your wallet and our economy.

I am encouraging students in Westman to mark Canada’s 150^th anniversary of Confederation, by entering the Speakers’ Speech Writing Contest. Through this national contest, students are being asked to mark this special occasion, our sesquicentennial anniversary, by writing a speech of their own by answering: “What does Parliament mean to you?”

Recently there have been a couple stories in the news that have peaked the interest of taxpayers.

I am fully in support of Bill C-323, which is currently before Parliament and if passed, would provide financial assistance for the restoration of heritage properties.