Edmonton, Alberta – Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre & Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced today federal funding to strengthen economic opportunities in Edmonton, Alberta. Funding for this investment is being provided under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, a major job creating investment from Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
“This critical investment will help put Canadians to work, encourage greater participation in physical activity and use of recreational facilities, and ensure that communities across Canada have access to the essential infrastructure we need today and in the future,” said Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre. “Our Government, through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program, is providing a timely, targeted stimulus to the economy and helping reduce the impacts of the global recession.”
The RInC program will help the Laurier Heights Community League with $275,632 for upgrading their outdoor recreational facility which includes a hockey rink and tennis courts. This project was unique in that it was funded through Laurie Heights Community and RInC. “The Laurier Heights Community is very pleased to acknowledge the upgrade and replacement of our outdoor recreational facilities which include a hockey rink and tennis courts. This upgrade will create new recreation opportunities for all residents, and in particular, for our families. The RInC stimulus funding will allow us to proceed with the next phase of redevelopment of our community league park site and continue with our ultimate goal of providing our community with a new centre. The residents of Laurier Heights appreciate and applaud the support provided to our community by the Federal Government.” Mr. Ray Jacobson, President of the Laurier Heights Community League.
The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program will invest $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. It will provide a temporary economic stimulus that will help reduce the impacts of the global recession while renewing, upgrading and expanding recreational infrastructure in Canadian communities.
RInC is part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada’s multi-faceted stimulus plan that will ensure a quick recovery from the current economic downturn. Western Economic Diversification Canada is delivering the initiative in the four western provinces.
For information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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For additional information, contact:
Oula Sanduga, Constituency Assistant
Laurie Hawn, MP Edmonton Centre Telephone: (780) 442-1888
Edmonton, Alberta – Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre & Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced today federal funding to strengthen economic opportunities in Edmonton, Alberta. Funding for this investment is being provided under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, a major job creating investment from Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
“This critical investment will help put Canadians to work, encourage greater participation in physical activity and use of recreational facilities, and ensure that communities across Canada have access to the essential infrastructure we need today and in the future,” said Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre. “Our Government, through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program, is providing a timely, targeted stimulus to the economy and helping reduce the impacts of the global recession.”
The RInC program will help the Central McDougall Community League with upgrading the light standards, improve the landscaping with new trees and walkways, and install new gazebos, an all-weather rubberized volleyball court, a small information kiosk, four picnic tables, seventeen new waste receptacles, eleven heritage benches and a water play stations. “Inner-city communities such as Central McDougall have a real shortage of recreation opportunities for their residents, particularly families. The construction of one of the city’s finest community parks will help address that shortage, while declaring that the community is turning the corner to a more stable, sustainable future. The RINC stimulus funding grant is the final and crucial domino that will help bring the project to fruition. Central McDougall residents appreciate and applaud the support shown to our community by the Federal Government” said, Mr. Warren Champion, President of Central McDougall Community League.
The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program will invest $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. It will provide a temporary economic stimulus that will help reduce the impacts of the global recession while renewing, upgrading and expanding recreational infrastructure in Canadian communities.
RInC is part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada’s multi-faceted stimulus plan that will ensure a quick recovery from the current economic downturn. Western Economic Diversification Canada is delivering the initiative in the four western provinces.
For information on Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Edmonton (Alberta), January 13, 2010 - On behalfof the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport), Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre & Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, today will celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Flame in the City of Edmonton as part of the Olympic Torch Relay’s journey across our country.
MP Hawn said, "This is an exciting and historic event that touches all Edmontonians and all Canadians in the lead-up to the Vancouver Winter Olympics. It's a great opportunity to show our Olympic spirit and our support for the dedicated athletes who have trained for years to wear the maple leaf and represent Canada on the world stage. Go Canada Go!"
The events and activities organized by each celebration community highlight Canadian pride in our athletes, culture, and country. Canadians from coast to coast to coast have the unique opportunity to take part in an unforgettable Olympic experience and celebrate the talent and dedication of our Canadian athletes as they own the podium in 2010. Over $90,000 has been provided to the City of Edmonton for the Torch celebrations. Each celebration community is different and offers unique opportunities for all Canadians to welcome the Olympic Flame.
“The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay is the longest domestic relay in Olympic history,” said Minister of State Lunn. “Through its journey, the Olympic Flame will be carried by 12,000 torchbearers through more than 1,000 communities across our country. I invite all Canadians to participate and embrace the Olympic spirit.”
At the end of its journey, the flame will arrive in Vancouver on February 12, 2010 for the Opening Ceremony signalling the start of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The flame burns for the entire duration of the Games and is extinguished during the Closing Ceremony on February 28, 2010.
MP Laurie Hawn presented to the municipality of Edmonton a commemorative plaque for welcoming the Olympic Flame in their community. The plaque symbolizes the legacy that will endure in communities long after the flame is extinguished.
For more information on our Government’s support for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay or the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, visit www.Canada2010.gc.ca.
There was no shortage of Christmas spirit and Olympic excitement in Afghanistan in December.
I joined Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Walt Natynczyk, Secretary of State (Sport) Gary Lunn, and U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Jacobsen in bringing Christmas cheer to our troops. We brought some excellent Canadian talent in singer-songwriter Melanie Dekker and comedian Mike MacDonald, and this was my fourth chance to spend Christmas with thousands of incredibly courageous and committed Canadians from military, police and civilian organizations.
It took 22 hours of flying to make the four hops from Edmonton to Kabul. We spent the first day with Canadian Embassy staff and international leaders. The briefings we heard were encouraging, though there remains much work to be done.
Our entertainers did the first of many shows that evening for troops while we delivered some Olympic spirit to every soldier in the form of red Olympic mitts. The Bay supplied 3,000 pairs, and Air Canada ensured the 17 large hockey bags carrying them -- weighing in at half a ton -- got there.
The evening finished with dinner and discussion with ambassadors to Afghanistan or their deputies from Canada, the United States, Great Britain and The Netherlands. As well, we heard the sad news that we had lost Lt. Andrew Nuttall from Edmonton's Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
With morning prayers echoing from nearby mosques on Christmas Eve, it was down to Kandahar to join up with the folks at the pointy-end of the mission. The first stop is always Tim Hortons for a double-double. The long lineup is a great place to meet soldiers of all nationalities.
This is a letter from Ehsanullah Ehsan, director of the Afghan-Canadian Community Centre in Kandahar, “a school that owes its existence to the sacrifices of the Canadian people.”
To the Highest Esteemed Families of Ms. Michelle Lang, Sgts. George Miok, Kirk Taylor, Cpl. Zachery McCormack, and Pte. Garrett Chidley,
I am writing to extend my deepest sympathies to you, the families of Ms. Michelle Lang, Sgts. George Miok, Kirk Taylor, Cpl. Zachery McCormack, and Pte. Garrett Chidley, and the government and the great people of Canada, on behalf of the Afghan men, women children who have been given the chance to live a peaceful and prosperous life by virtue of the ultimate sacrifices paid by the Canadian men and women in uniform serving in Afghanistan. As an Afghan who has had the privilege of aiding in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, I was deeply saddened and outraged to hear that the soul of such heroic figures had departed this world, but deeply believe that their spirit will live on forever in the legacy of honor, dignity and integrity that they left for the Afghan people, the Canadians and the world at large. May you know that your grief is deeply shared by all of us. With every such tragic loss, we bleed in our hearts.
We have the greatest respect and appreciation for the ultimate sacrifices made by these heroes, and will always remember their brave and noble efforts. We admire their sincere and caring services for the love of humanity, the love of children and the love of the Afghan people, as well as for the noble purpose of ending the scourge of terrorism, oppression, extremism and human rights violations in Afghanistan and around the world. As the Director of the Afghan-Canadian Community Center in Kandahar, a school that owes its existence to the sacrifices of the Canadian people, the Canadian heroes, I will do my utmost to ensure that our students honour Ms. Michelle Lang, Sgts. George Miok, Kirk Taylor, Cpl. Zachery McCormack, and Pte. Garrett Chidley’s legacy and that our teachers and students dedicate themselves to a more peaceful and prosperous future for us all.
Please let me know whether there is anything I can do to help during this difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We will continue to pray for their eternal soul, and that you receive the strength and courage you require in your time of need. God is with you and may you receive His blessings of peace, solace and prosperity.
Sincerely, Ehsanullah Ehsan, Director, Afghan-Canadian Community Center.
Edmonton, Alberta – Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre & Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced today federal funding to strengthen economic opportunities in Edmonton, Alberta. Funding for this investment is being provided under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, a major job creating investment from Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
“This critical investment will help put Canadians to work, encourage greater participation in physical activity and use of recreational facilities, and ensure that communities across Canada have access to the essential infrastructure we need today and in the future,” said Laurie Hawn, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre. “Our Government, through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program, is providing a timely, targeted stimulus to the economy and helping reduce the impacts of the global recession.”
Welcome to The Hawn Report, which is my online newsletter to keep Edmonton Centre constituents up-to-date on important legislation as well as the events and activities I have been participated in.
Edmonton Centre Events
It has been another busy few weeks at home and in Ottawa. Last weekend I had the pleasure to attend the Citadel's Theatre Production of A Christmas Carol with my wife Judy, which we enjoyed immensely. As well, I attended the Royal Artillery Band Concert, the North Glenora Turkey Dinner, and went to the Commemoration of the 1932-33 Holodomor in Ukraine and laid wreath at City Hall.
Statistics Canada reported this morning that employment in Canada increased by nearly 80,000 jobs in November, considerably better than market expectations of a 15,000 job increase. This helped lower the unemployment rate from 8.6% to 8.5%.
Today’s numbers confirm that Canada’s Economic Action Plan is having a positive impact on creating and maintaining jobs.
By comparison, the United States lost 11,000 jobs in November. This is the 23rd straight month of job losses in the U.S. For the first time in a generation, the U.S. unemployment rate is nearly 2 percentage points higher than Canada’s.
Canada is weathering the current global economic challenges better than nearly every other industrialized country, and Our Government’s economic stewardship is the envy of the world.
Yet despite these positives, the global economic recovery remains fragile and tentative. As Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has said, the Canadian economy is recovering, but has not yet fully recovered. While Canada’s economic growth has stabilized, we may yet see more job losses before we fully turn the corner.
Our Government is committed to staying on course and protecting our economy by fully implementing Canada’s Economic Action Plan. We will remain focussed on the economy and on helping Canadians.
Statistics Canada announced today that real GDP in Canada grew by 0.4% in the third quarter of 2009.
While it’s encouraging that Canada’s economic growth has stabilized, the global economic recovery remains fragile and tentative.
As Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has said, the Canadian economy is recovering, but has not yet fully recovered. Too many families continue to struggle and we may yet see more job losses before we fully turn the corner.
Our Government remains focused on fighting the recession and on helping Canadians. To protect our economy, we need to stay the course and fully implement Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
Today’s numbers show that Canada’s Economic Action Plan is helping fuel the recovery:
Household spending has increased, thanks to our tax cuts for Canadian families;
Spending on homes has rebounded fueled by the recession-fighting Home Renovation Tax Credit;
Businesses increased their investments in productivity-improving machinery and equipment, thanks to our tax relief and tariff reductions;
Infrastructure (and other government capital) spending increased by nearly 25% this quarter, the largest increase in nearly a decade.
Our Plan is ensuring that Canada will lead the global recovery. The OECD recently projected that Canada will have the second strongest economic growth among G7 countries in 2010, and the strongest G7 growth in 2011.
Once our economic recovery is assured, Canadians can count on Our Government to return to a balanced budget.
Today Statistics Canada released preliminary results of Employment Insurance (EI) statistics for September 2009. The statistics show an increase of 54,250 compared with August 2009. This is the first monthly increase following two monthly decreases in a row.
Canada's Economic Action Plan is helping workers and their families get through the global economic downturn:
Extra 5 weeks of EI regular benefits has helped over 365,000 Canadian while they search for new employment;
Enhanced work-sharing program is protecting the jobs of over 165,000 Canadians;
Unprecedented investments in training are helping Canadians receive the skills training they need to enter a new career;
Froze EI premiums for 2 years which helps employers to maintain and create jobs and lets workers keep more of their hard-earned money when they need it most;
Additional $60 million investment in the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers to help older workers who have invaluable knowledge and mentoring potential transition into a new job;
Investments to ensure that Canadians get benefits in timely manner.
We have also made improvements to the EI system in addition to those included in our Economic Action Plan:
Recently passed legislation to provide 5 to 20 additional week of EI support to long-tenured workers who have worked hard and paid-premiums for years while they transition into a new job;
Recently introduced legislation to provide self-employed Canadians access to EI special benefits on a voluntary basis for the first time in Canadian history so they no longer have to choose between their family and work responsibilities.
Our Conservative Government has taken concrete actions to help Canadians families weather the global economic downturn.
Since first elected in 2006, our Conservative Government has been working for the safety of law-abiding Canadians and their families.
Last year, our landmark Tackling Violent Crime Act became law. It delivered real jail time for gun criminals and serious offenders, cracked down on sexual predators by raising the age of consent from 14 to 16, and delivered tougher measures for those driving drunk or stoned.
This year, our Government has taken even more action to help keep Canadians and their families safe. Our legislation to end 2-for-1 credit in sentencing became law. Criminals will no longer receive extra credit off their sentences for time spent in custody before or during trial. In addition, our new ID theft law will help ensure that those who steal or traffic personal identity information will face real jail time.
Now, our Government is doing more. We are working to end sentence discounts for those convicted of multiple murders to make sure the life of every victim counts. We are cracking down on white-collar crime to protect the life savings of Canadian families. We are working to end the wasteful long-gun registry that targets law-abiding hunters and farmers instead of real gun criminals. We are ending the practice of Accelerated Parole Review to ensure criminals serve the full sentences they were given. And, we are cracking down on drug dealers who target children, or sell drugs near schools or where children play.
Welcome to The Hawn Report, which is my online newsletter to keep Edmonton Centre constituents up-to-date on important legislation as well as the events and activities I have been participated in.
Events in Edmonton Centre
Last week Parliament was not sitting so I was able to attend numerous Remembrance Day activities and ceremonies in the riding. I was able to attend a BBQ in honour of Veterans at the University of Alberta, spoke to Kindergarten Students about the importance of Remembrance Day at Stratford School, participated in McNally High School’s ceremony, and visited the Strathcona, Jasper Place and Kingsway Legions. As well, I attended a Remembrance Day ceremony at Churchill Retirement Centre, where I spoke and laid a wreath.
On Remembrance Day, I laid a wreath at a ceremony held at the Butterdome on the University of Alberta campus, which is our province’s largest Remembrance Day ceremony. I also attended a service at the Meadowcroft Seniors Residence on November 11th and laid a wreath there.
I also had the pleasure of attending the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Awards Dinner and spoke at St. Josophat's Ukrainian Parish Hall about the role of our Canadian Forces Members in defending and preserving freedom.
I had a very enjoyable time at the “Take a Chance for Kids Event & Casino Night” and will be hosting some children for a tour of the 408 Squadron and taking them for dinner at the mess hall. As well, I spoke at the National Congress of Chinese Canadians Edmonton Chapter Annual General Meeting.
It was a very busy week and I got to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. I always enjoy getting out to events in our riding and speaking with as many constituents as possible.
Senator Pamela Wallin Appointed Honorary Colonel of the Air Force
OTTAWA -- Canada’s Air Force officially welcomed Senator Pamela D. Wallin as an Honorary Colonel at a ceremony held today in Ottawa.
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, appointed Senator Wallin to the position, which became effective August 1, 2009. Today was the formalization of her three-year investiture, serving in the capacity as Honorary Colonel for the Air Staff located at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. This is the first appointment to this post.
Welcome to the first ever edition of The Hawn Report. It is my hope to keep all of my constituents up-to-date about the issues that we are dealing with in Parliament as well as events and legislation that affects Edmonton Centre.
As we all know, Edmontonians continue to face the challenges of the global recession. While we have started to see signs of economic recovery on the horizon, it is not yet here. Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our Conservative government is helping Edmonton families and businesses today, while making our economy stronger and more stable over the long-term.
Reaching this point has not been easy, but our government’s actions are making a difference. We began by ensuring that Canada’s banking and mortgage sectors were strong and resilient. Unlike many other countries around the world, when the global recession is over, Canada will still have as many working banks as it did before the crisis. At no point during the recession have our financial institutions been in danger.
Mr. Laurie Hawn (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to speak in favour of this motion. I know that my colleague from Wetaskiwin has been working very hard in the preparation of this motion and is a great supporter of the cadet program that is bringing a positive choice to the youth of four bands of Hobbema, all the while curtailing the tide of violence and the spread of gang recruitment that is plaguing those reserves.
MP Laurie Hawn is top fundraiser at Edmonton's 18th Annual AIDS Walk
Edmonton, AB - Laurie Hawn, MP for Edmonton Centre, was the top individual fundraiser for the 18th Annual Edmonton AIDS walk for the fourth year in a row. Mr. Hawn individually raised over $4600 for HIV/AIDS research.
On September 18,2009, Tim Uppal, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Sherwood Park, introduced a Private Member’s Bill to establish a Holocaust Memorial in the National Capital Region. I am pleased that Mr. Uppal has introduced this bill – it is our duty as citizens to never forget the horrible tragedies inflicted upon millions of people who were considered inferior by the malicious perpetrators of this atrocity.
Laurie is busy representing the consituents of Edmonton Centre this fall, and is participating in a diverse array of community and government events. Click here, to check out Laurie's Fall photo blog!
