Heather Carter's Blog

Quilters With Big Hearts

2008-04-23T23:45:00.000-04:00

The Quilters from Albright Manor in Beamsville hosted a luncheon today at the Friendship Centre. This group of women create beautiful quilts to give to those in need in our community. Many have been given to cancer patients and last week, five were given to the new patients at McNally House. Each quilt is created with love and before it is given, the women gather to say a prayer for the recipient. One member of the group spoke about the fact that she knew nothing about quilting when she joined the group. Now she is one of their most prolific quilters.

It was an honour to be among these women with big hearts. I hope that they raised a lot of money from today's lunch and that they can continue to cover our community with the special kind of warmth from their beautiful quilts.

In the photo, from left to right sitting are: Kathy Kirby-Smith, Bev Rennie, Margaret Oliver and standing are: Clare Minarcik, Heather Carter and Carol Holmes.

Great Day Planning in NWG

2008-04-12T23:51:00.005-04:00

I have had the great privilege of working with some fabulous women. These are some of the best. They are interested and interesting. Today, they, along with one male supporter, took the time - on a Saturday morning in Spring - to talk about campaign strategy. Our facilitator, Lynne Steele, did a great job of balancing our talk about policy and ideas with our plans for winning the next election. How lucky I am to work with such interesting, committed and talented people!

Taking Time for Inspiration

2008-03-11T14:49:00.001-04:00

Larry Bitner and I meet regularly for coffee. We worked together for years at Niagara College Business Development Centre. I have fond memories of our work together on various projects. There are some people that you just click with. Larry is one of those people for me.

We're both Certified Business Counsellors and through the years we have discussed and counselled thousands of entrepreneurs. Larry continues to provide guidance to businesses in the Niagara region and lucky are those entrepreneurs who have Larry as their Business Coach. With years of experience in advertising, marketing, sales, coaching (sports and business), teaching, curriculum development, speaking and writing, Larry is a real find for any business owner.

Although we have parted professional ways, we always find so much to talk about. And I am always fascinated with Larry's newest ideas and successes. Lately when we meet we talk about his famous Blog. On October 18, 2007 Larry's website won the 2007 eNiagara WebAward in the category of “Best Blog." It is an amazing, creative, inspiring piece of work...quite typical of Larry! Check it out at www.larrybitner.com. You'll find lots on it to inspire you and apply to your life, whether you have a business or are aiming to be the best in whatever you do.

Coming In From The Cold

2008-03-10T14:25:00.004-04:00

What a weekend! Most of eastern Ontario received a weather wallop that started Friday afternoon and ended Sunday morning. In Hamilton/Niagara, there was a quite a mix of conditions – high winds, blowing and drifting snow, thunder, lightning, freezing rain and up to 50 centimetres of the white stuff. And that was on top of the freezing rain mix that fell on Thursday.

My husband and I spent Friday night and Saturday digging out. Rather than tempting fate, I decided to forego all of the pre-planned events (including some celebrating International Women’s Day), heed the weather alerts and stay home, safe and warm in my Fonthill home. I decided to do some old-fashioned shovelling to get some exercise and break the monotony of being housebound for most of the weekend.

Each time that I would come inside after another session of shovelling, my coat was covered in snow and I found myself chilled to the bone. However, it didn’t take long to warm up. Home-made chilli, muffins, tea, a warm bath and a fire took the edge off the chill in a hurry. I felt so fortunate to be dry, safe and warm and in a home that I can count on to shield me from the elements.

As I comforted myself in the shelter and warmth of my home, I couldn’t help but think about those less fortunate. Looking out on the snow and hearing the thunder and wind starting to howl, I wondered what it would be like to be out there, stranded. It’s hard for me to imagine.

Homelessness is more prevalent than we wish to think about. And if you live in a suburb or in a rural area, you are not hit with the realities often. You don’t typically see the homeless like you do if you live in a city.

The statistics are disturbing and it hasn’t taken long to figure out that the homeless are not a priority in the Harper government.

A few months ago, the Conservative candidate in Toronto Centre, Mark Warner, was turfed by Harper because he dared list homelessness as part of his campaign platform.
Approximately 200,000 Canadians are homeless, lacking a fundamental human right according to Article 25(1) of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
In February 2008 the Federal Minister responsible for Housing failed to show up at the first national housing summit with Provincial and Territorial Housing Ministers. It’s the first time in a decade the federal Minster has boycotted a national meeting. This snub was despite the fact there is a growing crisis in affordable housing and homelessness in Canada.
There is speculation that the Conservatives may privatize CMHC. The word is that this federal agency that plays a valuable role in providing affordable housing to Canadians would be transformed into an organization that benefits only a select few.
Canada is the only major industrialized country without a National Housing Strategy.

It’s not easy for me to imagine what it is like to be homeless, but I do have some experience working with the unfortunate and underprivileged. It is a matter of circumstance that people find themselves in situations that we can’t imagine. And for some of us, at some point during our lifetime, we will find ourselves in need and welcoming the hand of a stranger. If it weren’t for a number of our community organizations like Glanbrook/Stoney Creek/Caledonia and District Community Food Banks, Hamilton Food Share, Good Shepherd Centre, The Salvation Army, Mission Services of Hamilton, Neighbour to Neighbour, St. Matthews’s House, The Living Rock, Wesley Urban Ministries, Welcome Inn, Community Care of West Niagara, Grimsby Benevolent Fund, West Niagara Second Stage Housing, Pelham Cares, The Hope Centre, St. Kevin’s Food Bank, Open Arms Mission, Women’s Place and Welland Multicultural and Heritage Centre, (to name a few) many of our less fortunate would go hungry and homeless.

My Mom used to say to me “There, but for the grace of God, go you or I.” This weekend was a time for me to count my blessings, reflect on my good fortune and the values that I hold most dear. My Canada provides for all Canadians, regardless of socioeconomic or cultural backgrounds. My Canada provides the opportunity for all Canadians to live in warm, safe homes that provide for happier, healthier and safer lives. And my Canada provides the opportunity for every Canadian to have a roof over their heads because it is a fundamental right and one that Canadians deserve.

Body Image is Not Black and White

2008-03-06T23:49:00.006-05:00

I met artist Cheryl-Ann Webster tonight at the opening of the Beautiful Women Project at the Downtown Art Centre in Hamilton. The exhibit, displaying the clay torsos of 120 real women, aged nineteen to ninety-one, is incredible. Each torso is a piece of art, reflecting the uniqueness of each woman. Accompanying each torso is a story about the woman with wonderful bits of wisdom and insight. "Our bodies tell our life story. They are portraits of our journeys and experiences. Knowing that our body is beautiful just as it exists is a message more people need to see and hear." says Cheryl Ann.

The Project is a teaching and healing tool for everyone and is designed to raise awareness about the link between self-worth, self-identity and physical appearance.

The show is presented by the YWCA Hamilton and runs until April 19th. What a great way to kick off International Women's Week!

Canvassing in Toronto Centre

2008-03-01T14:36:00.001-05:00

We went into Toronto Centre to help Bob Rae today. It was a great day, starting at St. Lawrence Market and ending at a home in CabbageTown with CPAC in tow. From the numbers at the rally this afternoon at Campaign Headquarters, Bob should take this one easily. It was a pleasure to learn from a pro like Bob today. He has wonderful people skills and handles questions as only someone with his 30 years experience can do. It will be great to have him in the House of Commons after his ByElection win on March 17th.

Getting Smart on Crime

2008-02-05T22:13:00.000-05:00

During the recent visit of the Hon. Marlene Jennings, Justice Critic, I listened to the views of community members, those employed in organizations working with youth, and experts – those who study youth justice matters at our colleges and universities. During three roundtables held in the three corners of this riding which attracted over 120 participants, a great discussion ensued focussing on the root causes of crime, funding for youth programs, and proposed changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

So, it was with great interest that I read about MP Dean Allison’s announcement about the Conservative Government’s funding of some youth based crime prevention initiatives here in Niagara. I completely support the announcement to fund the Youth Options for Success initiative for four years, particularly in light of the fact that Mr. Allison’s party is usually reticent to support long-term support of crime prevention programs. Only 8 of 27 applications for funding for youth crime prevention programs between January 2006 and September 2007 were funded for more than 12 months. This is no way to help our troubled youth in our communities and it is great to see that Mr. Allison has chosen to make Niagara an exception to the Conservative short-term funding rule.

It is troubling, however to read of Allison’s call for the government to “follow through with our promise to look at changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act.” When Minister Nicholson tabled Bill C-25 last fall, he cited a recent Royal Commission by Justice Merlin Nunn. Justice Nunn says “The Youth Criminal Justice Act is legislation that provides an intelligent, modern, and advanced approach to dealing with youths involved in criminal activities. Canada is now far ahead of other countries in its treatment of youth in conflict with the law.” Unfortunately, Mr. Allison and the Conservatives seem to ignore this assessment when they condemn the Act for being “too soft” on youth.

The Nunn report calls for changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act in the areas of pre-trial detention and sentencing principles. Justice Nunn called for more ability to detain young offenders awaiting trial in order to prevent committal of further offences and to allow judges more discretion in sentencing by considering what is in the interest of public protection. These are measures that the Liberal Party supports. He does not, however, endorse the very tired Conservative language about getting “tough on crime” nor the principles of denunciation and deterrence being proposed. He refers specifically to this line of thinking in his report: “Many critics believe that jail is the answer: there they’ll learn the error of their ways. These critics pay little attention to contrary evidence, nor do they understand that with young persons, jail for the terms they recommend does not correct or rehabilitate, but rather often turns out a person whose behaviour is much worse than it was.”

Funding youth programs like the Youth Options for Success on a long-term basis is the right thing to do. I wonder if Mr. Allison has read the Nunn Report, or has considered some of the deeper causes of crime – poverty, lack of housing and viable alternatives – that his government so blatantly ignores when it comes to getting smart on crime.

The Power of a Few

2008-01-31T02:57:00.000-05:00

On Friday, the Mayor of Pelham announced that the controversial berm in Fenwick will be removed. A group of concerned citizens has been tireless in their efforts to get this result. Their success is a testament to the power of a few and the importance of citizen engagement to our democracy.

The group organized as the truckloads of paper fibre biosolids (PFBs) and mineral soil began unloading on a Church Street site in the Spring of 2006. They began meeting and talking. They started monitoring the situation by taking photographs and tracking the number of trucks dumping the material on the site. They began sending letters to the Ministry of Environment. They requested meetings with all levels of government. Most importantly, the group exercised a stance that is critical to this kind of grassroots activism: they were open to meeting with anyone from any organization or political stripe.

I toured the berm and asked if I could help by involving the expertise of environmental consultants and university professors, Dr. Mohammed Dore, Dr. Andrew Laursen, Dr. Lynda McCarthy, and Dr. Sophia Dore. We met with the citizens group in an open meeting in Fenwick on February 1, 2007. After the meeting, the four scientists guided the group in the requests for testing and finally, in the compilation of a comprehensive report that was sent to all parties involved.

The ups and downs of the group were many. After two years and a fight that never stopped, the group was successful in getting their message across. According to the Press Release issued January 25, the berm will begin dismantling as early as this week.

I wish to extend my greatest congratulations to Carolyn Botari who championed the cause. My thanks to the group of scientists who led the group through the process and provided technical expertise and guidance. Thanks to the Town Council and Mayor of Pelham, Dave Augustyn, the Mayor of Thorold, Henry D’Angelo, Abitibi Consolidated, Greenland Greenhouses Inc. and the Ministry of the Environment. Most importantly, thank you to all the citizens who took part in this grassroots movement. You are proof positive that your voice matters.

It was a privilege for me to work with this group of engaged citizens prepared to fight to the end for a cause in which they believed. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it;s the only thing that ever does." (Margaret Mead, anthropologist)

Understanding the Early Years in Niagara

2007-11-28T22:58:00.000-05:00

A breakfast forum was hosted by the Early Childhood Community Development Centre this morning in St. Catharines. Data was presented on the results of a survey of neighbourhoods in the Niagara Region. An instrument called the Early Development Instrument was developed to measure 'readiness to learn in school' and the results are based on an overall sample size of 3,014. Glory Ressler, Coordinator, Understanding the Early Years Niagara Region, and Tiffany Gartner, Data Analysis Coordinator, Ontario Early Years Niagara Region reviewed some fascinating results of the survey. The following conclusions were reviewed.

almost 1 in 4 Niagara children are not ready for learning
poor scores impact future success and, eventually, community health and prosperity
larger percentages of children living in poverty are vulnerable
the largest number of children at risk live in middle/upper income families
small changes for a large proportion of the population will have the most impact
neighbourhood makes a difference - not always in a predictable manner
access to resources also seems important
low scores, differences and surprises can inspire further study and action.

As with all good studies we have completed in Niagara, what counts now is what we do with the information. It's time for our individual communities to learn more about the local information and then decide how to work together to ensure that every child has the opportunity to develop his/her full potential. As Thomas D'Aquino, President of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives said "If Canada is to succeed in forging a creative economy, we cannot afford to waste the talents of a single Canadian."

In the photo from left to right: Heather Carter, Aaron Bell, Ojibway Storyteller, Glory Ressler, Coordinator, Understanding the Early Years Niagara Region and Dr. Robin Williams, Medical Officer of Health and Commissioner of Public Health.

Hon. Carolyn Bennett Celebrates 10 Years

2007-11-25T22:56:00.000-05:00

The Hon. Carolyn Bennett celebrated her 10th Anniversary of being the Member of Parliament for St. Paul's riding in Toronto. Paying special tribute to Carolyn at was former MP of the riding Barry Campbell, Bob Rae, Candidate for Toronto Centre, Irwin Cotler, MP for Mount Royal, Ken Dryden, MP for York Centre and Sue Barnes, MP for London West. Carolyn is my mentor and I am so lucky! Everyone spoke about her enthusiasm, adherence to principled leadership, and promotion of building the party from the grassroots and democracy between elections.

NWG Women's Group Off to a Great Start

2007-11-25T22:39:00.000-05:00

The first inaugural meeting of the NWG Women's Group took place today at The Gables in Grimsby. About forty women from all walks of life came together to discuss the possibility of becoming a Club registered with the Liberal Party's Women Commission. In the photo from left to right: Katherine Medcalf, Rhonda Michalovicz, Linda Henry, Britt Traynor, Heather Carter, Alison Grewal, Helen Wilson, VP Women's Commission, Elizabeth Elliott, and Selvum Pillay, VP Laurier Liberal Ladies. Lynne Steele, former Riding President of York-Simcoe is in the front row.

Walt Addresses Laurier Liberal Ladies

2007-11-23T21:43:00.001-05:00

Walt Lastewka, MP from 1993 to 2006 and Federal Candidate for St. Catharines addressed the Laurier Liberal Ladies today. Walt delivered a fabulous speech to the group of about seventy at the Howard Johnson Hotel at noon. In the photo from left to right: Joyce Morocco, Niagara Falls, Walt Lastewka, Heather Carter and Lina Seniuk, President, Laurier Liberal Ladies.

Taking the Lead on Poverty Reduction

2007-11-10T20:46:00.000-05:00

Today, I attended a great event at the Learning Enrichment Foundation Centre in Toronto. Our leader Stephane Dion took a courageous step in announcing an ambitious poverty strategy. What gives weight to the announcement is the targets set. Under liberal leadership during the next five years, there will be a reduction in the number of Canadians living in poverty by thirty percent and the number of children by fifty percent. Currently, 3.4 million Canadians live in poverty of which 788,000 are children.

The plan calls for the use of a broad range of public policy instruments to ensure the targets are met including changes to the Working Income Tax Benefit, the Canada Child Tax Benefit, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

This poverty reduction plan affirms the liberal progressive strategy for Canada and gives Canadians a clear alternative to the uninspired and regressive policies of Harper and the conservatives.

I will never forget the debate I was in during the last election at Saltfleet High School in Stoney Creek. Someone asked what I was going to do about poverty, given Hamilton's high poverty rate. I remember being shocked when the woman told the audience and candidates about the number of children, particularly, that were living in poverty in Hamilton. I decided that I better learn as much as I could about poverty and that this was an issue of national importance.

Today Dion called on the staff and board members of the LEF and all Canadians to hold his feet to the fire, indicating that unless one aims high, accomplishments are few. This was a welcome announcement - a big and bold plan at a time when Canadians are hungry for a grander vision. I am so proud.

Fundraising Training in Niagara

2007-10-20T22:54:00.000-04:00

Adam Smith, Senior Manager of Grassroots Fundraising for the Liberal Party of Canada spent the day with a number of dedicated liberals from Niagara. Adam travelled from Ottawa yesterday and spent some extra time with our group from Niagara West-Glanbrook discussing fundraising ideas. What a valuable session it was! As you can see from the photo, we enjoy each other's company. From left to right: John Caron, Pat Butcher, Heather Carter, Adam Smith, Bill McFarland and Shirley Decaire.

Is Dean Listening?

2007-10-18T00:38:00.000-04:00

Dean Allison, MP for Niagara West-Glanbrook is in Ottawa now, confident that he has a good understanding of the concerns of constituents in the riding. In a recent MP Report from Dean, he indicates during the summer months, he consulted with constituents and the three re-occurring themes were Afghanistan, justice and taxes.

During the same summer period, The Strategic Council* conducted a national survey. Canadians were asked “What is the most important issue facing Canada today – that is the one that you are most concerned about?” The results are interesting and, with the exception of the Afghanistan issue, highlight a different list of priorities. The biggest concern - at 23% of the respondents – was the environment, followed by healthcare at 16%, and terrorism (which includes all mentions of Afghanistan,) at 10%. The issue of taxes was way down the list – at 3% and crime/violence at 2%.

Like Dean, during September I manned a booth at the Smithville, Lincoln and Binbrook Fairs. We conducted a poll of attendees, asking them the question “What is the most important issue facing Canadians?” Our list was extensive with a total of 12 items; respondents were given one vote only and the opportunity for to write down other issues that did not appear on the list. The three priorities across all the Fairs were consistent. The number one issue was very clear: healthcare. The second priority was the environment, followed by education as the third issue. At the Smithville Fair, priorities number two and three switched places, with voters rating education slightly higher than the environment. It should be noted that the provincial issue of faith-based education funding was on people’s minds at the time and many individuals checked off “education” because they were either for or against funding of faith-based education. However, many individuals indicated that it was the cost of post-secondary education that was of concern when they chose the education issue as the most important issue.

If we are to take out the education choice because of the confusion over the faith-based funding issue, a provincial matter, we then look at the fourth issues down the list. At the Smithville Fair, the issue of taxes was a distant four at 5%. At Lincoln and Binbrook, crime came in fourth at only 8%. (In comparison, healthcare represented 45% and the environment 23% of the top five priorities.)

So what are we to make of the findings? First of all, there is a great amount of consistency between the national survey and the very informal survey done at our booths for the two top priorities. Healthcare and the environment share number one and two positions. Canadians and residents of Niagara West-Glanbrook are concerned about the state of our health care system and climate changes that are affecting our environment.

The results beg the question: Why didn’t Dean Allison identify the same top two issues during his consultation with constituents this summer? Did the issues not come up? When a constituent raised the issue of the healthcare crisis that we are facing, did he merely pass the buck to the province? What about the environment? Surely, Dean is receiving feedback that it is time for the government to act on the impending crisis and the climate changes we are witnessing.

The overriding characteristic of this government is its bulldozing ahead with its own agenda. And we have seen that Harper will stop at nothing to ensure that his minority government’s own priorities are given importance with little or no consultation with the other parties. During the last 18 months, MPs have been muzzled, parliamentary committees have been shut down by the Conservative Committee Chairs, and a Playbook manual has been distributed to all Conservatives outlining the ways to disrupt committee proceedings. Important priorities like the health of our citizens and the commitment to our environment are being ignored. I hope that you join me in urging Dean Allison, our representative of priorities in Niagara West-Glanbrook, to not fall prey to a narrow agenda that does not reflect the concerns of our residents. Although 36% of Canadians voted for the Conservatives during the last election, 100% of the people living in the communities across the riding expect that, in the democracy that we enjoy in Canada, Dean will listen to every voter’s concerns.

*The Strategic Counsel survey that tracks the concerns of Canadians from May 2005 to July 2007 can be found at http://www.thestrategiccounsel.com/our_news/polls/2007-07-16%20GMCTV%20July%2012-15.pdf

Max Delivers Marketing Message

2007-10-16T22:28:00.000-04:00

At NTAB's 10th Anniversary Celebration tonight, Max Valiquette delivered an entertaining and informative speech about marketing to youth. Some of the information he shared:

60% of women work outside of the home
44% of 20-29 year olds live at home
Full transition to adulthood is happening later
25 years ago, average age of 25 for first marriage, now age 29
25 years ago, average age of 25 for having first child, now age 29
Young people value relationships, communication, information, diversity and technology.

Max is the the founder and president of Youthography, Canada's leading youth marketing onslutancy, and the host of TVOntario's VoxTalk, a youth issues talk show. He was very entertaining and bears a little resemblance to Rick Mercer, don't you think?

Training in Barrie

2007-10-14T22:00:00.000-04:00

Lynne Steele, Organizer Extraodinaire and Past President York-Simcoe Federal Liberal Riding Association arranged a training session for new candidates. I felt like an old pro, having been through one election! What an impressive group of candidates with varied backgrounds and solid experience in many different fields. Carolyn, as usual, was encouraging and humorous. In the photo from left to right: Hon. Carolyn Bennett, MP St. Paul's, Jamie McGarvey, Parry Sound-Muskoka, Andrea Matrosovs, Simcoe-Grey, Heather Carter, Rick Jones, Barrie, and Skid Crease, Dufferin-Caledon. Lynne Steele is seated in front.

It's Time for Real Debate on Afghanistan

2007-10-11T00:34:00.000-04:00

No matter what you think of the Canada’s mission in Afghanistan there are two undeniable facts: our current commitment ends in 2009 and by mid-next year we will have to decide what role we will take on in the future.

Canada has a duty to build a peaceful, secure and prosperous Afghanistan. This commitment started in 2001 when we first joined the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and was reinforced in 2006 when we supported the international Afghan Compact for the country's security and development. The experience of Somalia also tells us that leaving before the job is done will only lead to anarchy.

That said, there's a wide range of options between withdrawal and continuing the status quo, and the commitment to build a brighter future for Afghanistan should not blind Canadians to the fact we are bearing more than our fair share of the burden for the international mission in the country. While our 2,500 troops are engaging the Taliban on a daily basis in order to bring peace to the Kandahar region, Germany has placed its soldiers in the more stable Northern region and refuses to let them help Canadian troops, even when they encounter heavy Taliban resistance. The same goes for Italy, whose troops are based in the West. To make matters worse, most NATO countries haven't sent more than a token number of soldiers. Our European ally Austria has only deployed four.

While some argue that questioning our presence in Kandahar strengthens the Taliban, failing to explore other military missions within the country gives other NATO countries a free ride at our soldiers' expense. So far, there does not seem to be any valid reason why Canada shouldn’t have a tour of duty in a more stable region after 2009, while another country takes our place in the South. This kind of burden-sharing would allow our troops to rest, retrain and re-equip after the difficult mission they have endured, and in no way diminishes our commitment to the Afghan people.

That other NATO members are not stepping forward to share the burden of the Afghan mission raises serious concerns about the future and effectiveness of the Alliance - concerns that cannot be addressed unless we take the time to ask deep and challenging questions before agreeing to a new deployment. The need for this kind of thorough investigation is why Liberal leader Stephane Dion and Defence Critic Denis Coderre are calling on the government to holding an open and honest debate this fall on the future of our mission in Afghanistan. Doing otherwise may mean that Canadian soldiers will continue paying a price that our allies aren't willing to stomach.

Highlighting Niagara's Business Gems

2007-05-30T22:22:00.000-04:00

Three of Niagara's brightest business stars were highlighted at the Annual General Meeting Luncheon of Niagara Economic Development Corporation: Dennis Parass of Handling Specialty Manufacturing Ltd., Denis Dyack of Silicon Knights Inc., and Tony Rodway, Aero-Safe Technologies Inc. The three business leaders provided some interesting information about their businesses, and insights into the secrets of their success.

To say that the video game industry is exploding is an understatement. Projected to reach $46.5 billion in sales in 2010, Silicon Knights is riding the wave. Some of the largest video game development studios in the world are in Canada and 71 are in Ontario. Silicon Knights is a growing St. Catharines enterprise, with over 140 employees and 7 games to its credit. The company is positioned for expansion within the next 6 months and beyond. Ninety per cent of the employees are graduates of college and university, mostly from Ontario. Denis has been working towards creating a centre for the development of an incubator for video game development and his goal is to develop a credited college/university program, hopefully here in Niagara. To be successful in having their games distributed around the world, the company has partnered with multinational publishers such as Nintendo, Sega, Microsoft and Sony. Denis believes that Niagara's future is in the knowledge-based economy and he left us with this quote by Richard Florida. "Creativity has replaced raw materials or natural harbours as the crucial wellspring of economic growth."

Aero-Safe Technologies was incorporated in 1981. There are three sub-companies: Aero-Technologies, focussing on CNC Manufacturing, Aero-Processing, focusing on metal finishing and processing and Aero-Devices, focussing on assembly, integration and testing. Tony has worked hard at finding his employees locally by “growing” them in the local schools and he really believes in creating a company that is part of the community. He has developed an impressive program of recruitment and training that benefits his business, students in local schools and Niagara College, and the community by providing local employment. Aero-Safe recruits from Fort Erie Secondary School and has developed a great program called “Classroom in the Workplace” This program has been running for 5 years, training 10 students at a time with a technical teacher. A co-op program is available for students after graduating from this program to continue their development. And then, Aero-Safe can offer the successful candidates part-time and even, full-time work. There is an in-house apprenticeship program, developed with Niagara College. The business is now involved in several different areas: aerospace, defence, life support, optical, sitcom and space. Their facilities are located on Pettit Road in Fort Erie.

Handling Speciality is involved in the automotive, advanced manufacturing and entertainment industries. They custom design and manufacture lifting equipment. By 1999, 75% of their sales were outside of Canada and in the automotive sector. They started looking for opportunities and now, only 15% of their business is from the automotive sector. Dennis Parass, owner and CEO says that they don’t build equipment; they build relationships. A big breakthrough into another market of entertainment came about when the company completed the lift for the underwater show “O” for Cirque de Soleil. This show has been running fro 8 years at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas

Dennis believes that his success rests on his goal of making his company professional. For him, this means excellence, education and a code of ethics. Companies need to pioneer into new areas of business opportunity and to focus on building relationships first and foremost.

There are some great lessons here from these three entrepreneurs. It was wonderful to hear about these Niagara companies and their local and global success.

In the photo, from left to right: Matt Cutler, NTAB Director, Bunny Alexander, NTAB Director, Angelo Nitsopoulos, Owner, Quality Parkway, Heather Carter, NTAB Director, Trudy Parsons, Executive Director, NTAB, Mike Gammon, President, Brock Office Automation and Sathya Gnaniah, Project Manager, Niagara Immigrant Employment Council.

Cuts to Summer Jobs Hurt Community and Business

2007-05-24T10:13:00.000-04:00

Several community groups in Niagara West-Glanbrook learned last week that they will not be receiving funding under the repackaged Summer Jobs Program. The Summer Career Placement Program was put in place in the mid-nineties to help students throughout Canada obtain work to pay their way through university or college. The program was vital to many not-for-profit groups who were able to run special summer programs or get some extra assistance from a student during the summer months.

In September 2006, the Conservative government slashed $55 million in funding from the Summer Career Placement Program. Then they re-named it the Canada Summer Jobs Program, changed the policy criteria, but maintained the millions in cuts. Now community groups in our riding who traditionally receive funding to hire students are being told that under the new narrow criteria they are being left out, causing some to wonder if they can continue to offer summer employment. In many cases, it is small, not-for-profit agencies that are being turned down for grants, depriving their clients of the good work usually done by students.

Last week, we learned summer camps for autistic children were denied funding, thanks to the Harper government cuts. Thankfully, the provincial government stepped in to provide funding for the award-winning camps for autistic and low-income children.

The Conservatives claim that this cut was targeted at large corporations, which they claim do not need help to hire a student. But hundreds of organizations, not for profits, and community groups are being told they no longer qualify for summer job funding. Regardless of the type of organization applying for funding, this program is a win-win in so many ways. Not only do the employer and student win, but sectors like tourism are helped. In my view, most important is the role this program has played in providing opportunities for our young people here in Niagara. We know that most of our young people exit Niagara after obtaining their education. The Summer Carer Placement Program gave students the opportunity to work in Niagara. Some of those jobs turn into full-time positions. We are anticipating a tremendous labour market shortage in Niagara and this program helped.

If the Conservatives are serious about helping students find employment, they will restore the funding they cut. Re-branding the program will accomplish nothing and generate fewer jobs. All organizations – including small business, should have access to this program that, for 13 years under the Liberal government, worked very well.

Supply Management Under Attack

2007-05-19T02:07:00.000-04:00

As an entrepreneur and advocate for business, I must admit that I had trouble understanding the system of supply management used in our agriculture sector. After all, this system, at first blush, goes against the core business principle that I hold near and dear: the ability of individual business owners to compete in a global market. Supply management imposes limits on how much each farmer can produce, who the farmer can market to, and how much each farmer obtains for his product. This is hardly free enterprise and looks like government interference and control of the worst kind!

I am not alone in having this initial reaction to this system of management. Supply management has been accused of being about subsidies and protectionism and the lack of free trade. It is not easily understood. And, in the last six months, the Canadian Wheat Board, perhaps the most prestigious marketing board in the world, has been under attack by the Conservatives. In its place, a dual market system is being proposed that looks like the best of free market economy. In this article, I will attempt to shed some light on supply management systems and single desk marketing boards, tell you why I am now a convert and why we need to fight for this important system.

First of all, here’s the big picture and sales pitch about why this system works. Supply management has to do with the food Canadians eat. You may believe as I do that the government needs to be involved in ensuring that the food we get is safe to eat. And, Canadians want to be able to choose “made in Canada” food while supporting stable incomes for their farmers. Supply management allows this to occur. It gives Canadian farmers the tools to participate as world leaders in issues such as food safety, animal care, emergency preparedness, research and quality.

The economic impact of supply management and marketing boards is significant across Canada. The number of supply managed farms varies from region to region and it is more significant in Atlantic and Central Canada than it is on the Prairies. A total of twenty per cent of Canadian agriculture is supply-managed agriculture: dairy, hatching egg, laying egg, chicken and turkey. The feather industry, which includes chicken, hatching egg, laying egg and turkey farmers produced half a billion dollars worth of live chicken in Ontario, and in Canada, $1.6 Billion. The chicken farming and processing industry employs close to 50,000 Canadians - not an insignificant industry. A recent PriceWaterhouseCoopers study described as "huge" the $1.6-billion annual economic impact of the Winnipeg-based Canadian Wheat Board, "with Western Canada as a major economic beneficiary."

One of the misconceptions of supply management is that the government subsidizes the farmers. This is not true. Individual farmers pay, not the government. The farmers pay levies on their production, which pays for the operation of the supply management coordination boards. Currently it is at .0125c per kilo for chicken in Ontario.

One accusation from folks that either don’t agree or don’t understand supply management is that it is about protectionism. It is true that Canada’s national government sets limits on supply-managed product imports through import tariffs and import restrictions. This is done to ensure that Canada’s first responsibility goes to supporting our Canadian farmers and buying safe food for Canadians. I personally don’t think that protecting our farmers is such a bad thing to do.

Another concern about supply management is related to the production restrictions placed on individual farmers. Supply-managed farmers are discouraged to produce more than their quota, thereby taking away some of the natural incentive in business to produce more and along with it, make more money. It is true that under supply management, quotas are enforced. Every year, farmers, processors and retailers jointly set production targets that will meet the estimates of consumer demand. Essentially, the goal is to match supply and demand through this balanced production management system. These targets are then passed down to provincial supply management boards and are translated into production allocations for individual farmers. It is a trade-off for farmers. They sacrifice their potential to grow their supply-managed commodity without restriction for a guarantee that their product will be bought at a fair price.

The Canadian Wheat Board was established in 1935 as a marketing system for wheat and barley. As with other supply management systems, the purpose of the Wheat Board is to act as a marketing board and create a level playing field for all farmers. For many years, the Board has been under attack by the Americans and a source of real friction in bilateral talks between Canada and the U.S. American producers continually complain that the CWB is a system of government subsidy. Ironically, Canadian farmers have almost no government subsidy while Americans and their European Union counterparts are heavily subsidized by their governments.

Since December 2006, we have seen that the enemy is no longer the Americans, it is our own government. Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture, has worked towards the dismantling of the Wheat Board. This has included the replacement of government appointees to the Board of Directors in favour of individuals who oppose the Board's monopoly, a gag order on wheat Board staff, the firing of the pro-Board President of the Board, and intervention in the election of farmer elected members of the Board of Directors.

The dual market system being proposed by Strahl looks like a perfect compromise: those who want to take advantage of the marketing board can do so and those who wish to sell on their own outside of the board would be free to do that, too. However, there is ample evidence that the dual market system would effectively end the board's monopoly and any benefits that that monopoly may give to farmers. Agriculture minister, Chuck Strahl, says barley will be removed from the board's jurisdiction by August 1; a decision on wheat will follow.

Single desk selling, marketing boards and supply management systems work for Canadian farmers. In learning about these systems and thinking about them in reference to free enterprise, I have come to two conclusions. The system is like any other system where an individual business joins together with other similar businesses, for the betterment of the group and the industry. In supply management, the entire value chain benefits: the suppliers, the producers (farmers) the processors, the retailers and finally, the consumers. Canadians are the ultimate winners in this system, benefiting from the knowledge that our food demand will be met with safe, largely Canadian product, while at the same time, ensuring that our farmers are being supported by being paid a fair price, and our farmland preserved. And just as in business groups that you join to take advantage of collective purchasing power or joint selling opportunities, you can’t just bow out when it looks like you can do better on your own. It is the collective pooling of resources that gives the group the power. This power is tremendous and needs to be honoured and protected.

A free market approach does not work for all sectors, Far from socialism, protectionism or government subsidies, supply management and single desk marketing systems works for everyone. When it comes to readily available food to eat and the safety of its supply, fair prices and support for our farmers, and protection of our agricultural land, our federal government needs to take a lead role in defending our supply management system.

Mother's Day - Time for Family

2007-05-13T23:25:00.000-04:00

I visited my step-children and seven grand kids today. We don't have much time for each other, between their busy lives and ours. It's always great to see them. Natalie, my step-daughter pictured here, does an amazing job with the four boys in her life. Happy Mother's Day to Natalie, Marcy and mothers of all kinds and ages...adopted mothers, step mothers, grandmothers, and godmothers.

In this photo: Owin, Natalie, Parker, Mike and Conner Hendsbee.

Creating Hope for Autism

2007-05-13T23:07:00.000-04:00

A new organization called the Bursary of Hope for Autism held a Mother's Day Luncheon at the Chandelier Place in Hamilton today. Over 300 people attended this great luncheon that featured course after course of wholesome Italian food and countless door prizes.

Autism is the most common neurological disorder affecting children and one of the most common developmental disabilities affecting Canadians. A committee of dedicated volunteers organized this event that honoured mothers and raised money and awareness of autism.

In this photo from left to right: Cindy Bain, Madison Bono, Anne Bain (front row), Carla Bono, Anne Bono, Joyce LaTucca and Heather Carter (back row.)

Raising Money and Awareness for Crohn's & Colitis

2007-05-12T23:28:00.000-04:00

Today every M&M Meat Shop across Canada held a Charity BBQ to help raise $1.9 million for research into Crohn’s and Colitis Disease. This was the 19th Annual BBQ Charity Day for the Foundation. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada (CCFC) is a national not-for-profit voluntary medical research Foundation, founded for the purpose of finding the cure for inflammatory bowel disease. To achieve its mission, the Foundation is committed to raising funds for medical research.

Education is also part of the organization's mandate. The web site www.ccyc.ca is most informative. I found it interesting to note that the Honorary Patron of CCFC is the Right Honorable Michaelle Jean. At the Paramount location of M&M meat Shops in Hamilton today, I met Ryan Spears, the organization's representative for Hamilton. Ryan makes an ideal ambassador and I was most impressed with this young man who has just completed his first year studies of Science at McMaster.

Pictured here is: Ryan Sears, Doug MacPhie, Heather Carter, Tim MacPhie and Chris MacPhie (serving the hot dog.) Missing from the photo is Elaine MacPhie who was busy taking donations. The MacPhie family are friends of the owners of this M&M and have helped with this annual BBQ for the last several years.

One of the great things about being a candidate is the opportunity to meet people like Ryan Sears and the MacPhie's and to learn about organizations like the CCYC. Nice people who are donating their time and energy to find a cure for inflammatory bowel disease.

Articulate, Impressive and Young Liberals

2007-05-12T22:26:00.000-04:00

Today, the South-Central Policy Parliament was hosted by the Mohawk Young Liberals in Hamilton. What an impressive group of engaged young minds. I arrived while the group was discussing a policy resolution regarding education and I was struck with their willingness to share their thoughts, ideas, and opinions.

The group welcomed Hon. Navdeep Bains, MP for Mississauga-Brampton South as keynote speaker. In March of this year, Mr. Bains was appointed youth caucus liaison to the Young Liberals of Canada. Good questions were asked by the group and Tyler Banham, candidate for Hamilton Mountain and I were asked to assist Mr. Bains in answering the questions. Also in attendance were: Ted McMeekin, MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flanborough-Aldershot, Russ Powers, Former MP and Hamilton City Councillor for Ward 13, and Ivan Luksik, Nominee for Hamilton-Stoney Creek.

I always leave meetings with the young liberals inspired, knowing there is a next generation coming forward that is full of promise.

Zonta International Award Winners

2007-04-16T23:00:00.000-04:00

Zonta International is a worldwide service organization of executives in business and the professions working together to advance the status of women. I had the privilege of judging this year's awards for the St. Catharines Club. I was so impressed with all of the candidates. They were all winners.

Raising Money for Scholarships and Bursaries

2007-04-15T00:58:00.000-04:00

The 18th annual Seafood Gala took place tonight. Record attendance of more than 650 guests at Fallsview Casino Resort raised more than $115,000 in support of student scholarships and bursaries.

Under the Ontario Trust for Student Support program, the Government of Ontario will match and exceed that amount bringing the total funds generated $306,000 – a new record for this popular event.

More than 2,000 of Niagara College’s 6,300 students received financial support in 2006 thanks in large measure to those who support events like the Seafood Gala which generate funds for student scholarships and bursaries.

As a Director of Niagara College's Foundation Board, I am so proud to be part of this great event.

Niagara/Hamilton Churches Walk the Talk

2007-04-01T22:25:00.000-04:00

My church was looking for volunteers for an annual event: serving dinner to the people at the Wesley Centre in Hamilton. The Wesley Centre is a 24hr/7 day a week Drop-in Centre / Shelter for men and women in need of shelter, sanctuary and the opportunity to socialize. I decided to go and bring my 10 year old grandaughter, Kendra Lee. I wasn't sure initially that it was a good idea to bring her and a few people said I may want to wait a couple of years until she is a little older. But I know this much about my grandaughter - she has a big heart, loves to care for others and likes to go to new places with her granny.

We went to the church service first on the second floor of the Centre. My pastor and a pastor from the Centre delivered the service together and we all took part in acting out the story of Palm Sunday (Luke 19:28-40). It was a memorable service because of everyone's involvment and because of the two ministers' sensitivity in delivery.

After the service, we went down to the kitchen, past a great crowd in the entrance that were lined up, ready for their meal. It smelled wonderful and the kitchen was packed with our church members. I was assigned the task of serving the meals along with about four others. Kendra Lee worked in the kitchen and had the job of moving the trays along the food line, in readiness for serving. She did an amazing job as I knew she would.

We served meals to about 200 people. A couple of volunteers served coffee and tea. There was a birthday cake that appeared from somewhere, and we sang Happy Birthday to the three clients who were celebrating their special day. As people finished their meals, they brought their trays and cutlery up to the collection area and many made a special point of thanking us for the meal.

When I pick up Kendra Lee (she is the eldest of seven grandchildren) her Mom never knows where I am going to take her. There are many events in the various communities and most days, it is a matter of choosing between several places within the riding. When I arrived home with Kendra Lee that evening, she was so excited to tell her Mom about our adventure. She explained that we served a meal to people who were poor and I could tell that she felt very proud of the contribution that she had made.

Poverty affects one in six in this great country of ours. We all need to do our part and governments at every level need to work together to take care of our most vulnerable. It is the right thing to do. My church knows that, as do 51 other churches in the Niagara/Hamilton area that make sure that the poor in Hamilton are offered a hot meal every Sunday.

Stop 19 Firemen Help Welland's Hope Centre

2007-03-31T00:53:00.001-04:00

A group of loyal supporters of the Hope Centre came out to the CAW Hall on Steel Street tonight to participate in a Turkey and Ham Raffle. Many of us left with a little less cash, a turkey or ham, and the satisfaction that we had contributed to this important Centre in Welland.

Laurier Liberal Ladies Learn About Niagara Escarpment

2007-03-30T23:00:00.000-04:00

Today Don Alexander spoke to the St. Catharines Laurier Liberal Ladies about the Niagara Escarpment. In the 1970s Don was a member of the Niagara Region planning and development committee at a time when the Niagara Escarpment Commission was formed and when urban boundaries were established. Don delivered a very informative talk about the escarpment and has a special feel for the escarpment having lived in both the Bruce and Niagara Peninsulas. Don referred to the escarpment as being a "sacred space" and explained that the word sacred does not necessarily mean religious, but means outside of the ordinary.

The escarpment is 725 kilometres long, extends from here to Tobermoray and includes 120 parks. The Niagara Escarpment Plan was completed in 1973 and was developed through a public consultation process. There are 3 areas outlined in the plan: the natural area or the scarp itself which is protected from being built on, a protection area which is a buffer zone, and a rural area which recognizes that agriculture has a real role and is not just a holding area for development. In addition, it is recognized that the escarpment includes mineral resource areas and has a recreation designation.

The Niagara Escarpment is part of a world biosphere, a world wide network of important areas. Brock University has the unique reputation of having its totality of lands in a world's biosphere.

Don gave all of us a better understanding of the treasure we have in the Niagara escarpment.

Niagara College's Foundation Board Expanding

2007-03-28T23:55:00.000-04:00

Our Foundation Board welcomed four new members today. For a change, we met at the Welland Campus at the SAC building. We went on a tour of two of the oldest buildings on campus, the Black Walnut and Mackenzie buildings. Both were built as temporary structures 40 years ago and it was clear, after seeing the buildings and hearing about the cost of upgrading and maintaining them, that it is time for some new structures. Just what the new structures will look like is still being decided. But the Foundation Board will be ready to raise money for this next phase of Niagara College's expansion. I am so proud to be part of this dynamic group and educational institution in Niagara.

Social Justice in Welland

2007-03-28T23:50:00.000-04:00

Over the last couple of months, our Business Advisory Committee at the Hope Centre has morphed into the Social Justice Committee and some great events are planned to move the community to action. I met three young students from Notre Dame today who, along with their teacher, Paul Turner, are serious about ending poverty in the Welland community. Alyson Coons, Colton Hrcak and Angela Tilk are planning a Homelessness Awareness Night in April that will have them sleep outside in boxes and go hungry for a night. Alyson, Colton and Angela have been talking to the other schools in the area, in the hopes that more will join in their efforts on April 20th to raise awareness of the needs of our most vulnerable in the Welland/Pelham area.

Under the awesome leadership of the Executive Director, Sylvia Berkhout, there are exciting things happening at the Centre. Some badly needed renovations to the building are well underway and the Hope Centre continues to provide food, shelter and hope to those in our community that need it the most.

Impressed with West Niagara Partners

2007-03-28T23:45:00.000-04:00

Once every quarter, Cheryl Scott at West Niagara Community Care hosts a luncheon networking meeting for community partners to come together to share information. The food is always interesting, usually made by one of the volunteers. And the information sharing and networking is always valuable.

There were about a dozen of us at the meeting today and we went around the table, announcing our affiliation and special events, news and needs of our organizations. I was so impressed with the women there. All were so passionate about their work, whether it be with young offenders, abused women, or seniors needing palliative care.

I was there as the Chair of the West Niagara WrapAround Initiative and I talked about the progress we have made so far. We have had a fundraiser and so we have some startup money in the bank. We have a dedicated committee and two partnering organizations that meet regularly (except in the last month.) And we have started to work with a family in the community.

Many of the women spoke about the growth in services over the last several years but also the challenges and continuing need in the growing communities in West Niagara.

At Home with Entrepreneurs

2007-03-28T23:30:00.000-04:00

This morning I spoke to about 60 inspiring women entrepreneurs, all members of the Niagara Area Women's Network (NABWN). It felt like going home being surrounded by all of that enterprising, positive, creative, (and female) energy. The event started off with breakfast at the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club and I sat with a group of eight vibrant women who were eager to network with each other and tell me about their businesses. I recognized many of the women from my work at Niagara College's Business Development Centre. It felt so good to see them there thriving in their business success.

When I was introduced and took the podium, I spoke about taking networking one step beyond and encouraged them to establish personal advisory groups. I told them about my success in business that I attribute to the "consultants" who were part of my Small Business Resource Group in Toronto, and the model of the Personal Advisory Group employed by the Canadian Association of Family Enterprise (CAFE). There were lots of good questions and comments.

At the end of the meeting, each woman stood up and introduced themselves and their businesses. Some of them delivered "raves," testimonials about fellow NABWN friends. After the meeting, the room got very busy with women chatting it up and handing out their business cards. The networking really seems to work at NABWN.

It was a wonderful way to start the day and I hope they invite me back. I love that entrepreneurial energy and it fed my soul.

Acts of Kindness Create Community

2007-03-19T22:43:00.000-04:00

Tonight I visited a member of the Liberal Party, to renew her membership. I have only met this woman a handful of times but we always hit it off. She has a dog of a breed (Shih Tzu) similar to mine (Lhasa Apso) and we chat about our dogs, our families, and of course, politics. It doesn't take long to figure out that this woman has a heart of gold and she talks about the friends she visits that are dying and how she focusses on all the positive things when she visits them, to cheer them. She has several grandchildren and she has embroidered them tablecloths, made them quilts and knitted them sweaters, socks, scarves and mitts.

Everytime I have visited her, she is knitting. I asked her tonight if she ever got tired of it and she said "Never." I asked her about the sweater she was knitting and I learned that indeed, she has a heart of gold. The sweater, she explained, was being made for next Christmas. For years, this woman has been knitting clothing for "the less fortunate" and every year, just before Christmas, her son puts all of her knitting in boxes and delivers them anonymously to a local charity.

Her friends find her the wool for her craft and she took great delight in telling me how one of her friends came over with her small car filled to the brim with all kinds of lovely brand new wool. Apparently, her friend was at a flea market, and when she told the seller about this woman's generosity and apparent mission in life to give anonymously, the seller gave her the wool.

Isn't is amazing how acts of kindness are contagious? Through this one woman's selfless giving, she has inspired others to do the same - her friend to look for wool, and the seller of the wool to donate it, and me to write about it. I left her home thinking about the many countless act of kindness that go on in our world that make it a better place.

Nomination Meeting Today

2007-03-17T20:00:00.000-04:00

Today at 9 am in Grimsby, the Nomination Meeting took place for the riding of Niagara West-Glanbrook. This was the first Liberal Party Nomination Meeting to be held in Ontario! Despite the snow and treacherous roads, a surprising number of supporters came out to the meeting. I was acclaimed as the candidate and I am so proud to be the Liberal representative for NWG in this next election.

Our leader, Stephane Dion, dropped by to congratulate me and address our members and guests. It was such an honour to have him there and I was once again inspired by his vision and sincerity. I will never forget this day.

Thank you to all volunteers, members and guests who came out this morning, some from the far corners of the riding (and other ridings.) I really appreciated the effort you made to show your support for the riding, the democratic process, the Liberal Party and for me!

It is my great honour to be your Candidate.

Martha Hall Findlay Listening to Canadians

2007-03-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

The four ridings in Niagara held a Policy Summit today in Welland. Martha Hall Findlay and John Maloney, MP for Welland, joined us for a good part of the day. Martha has been travelling across the country, listening to Canadians and learning about what is important to them. It is great to know that the party is building from the grassroots up. It was a really good day with lots of fabulous ideas and the participants excited and engaged.....what democracy should be.

I Think He Protests Too Much

2007-02-04T23:50:00.000-05:00

You have to wonder, if Stephane Dion is not threatening to Stephen Harper, why would the Conservatives launch this unprecedented attack ad campaign before Dion and his team has had an opportunity to show themselves as the Opposition? There is only one reason: Harper and his Ministers are scared. And so they should be. Just before Christmas, the polls showed that the environment was the key issue for over 70% of Canadians. Harper’s “Clean Air Act” was an embarrassment to Canadians. The polls showed support for the Conservatives dropping and support for Dion and the Liberals on the rise.

As is typical of Harper, the poll numbers caused a swift response. In this case, it precipitated a sudden conversion and immediate reaction. “The so-called climate change” became important. Over the holidays, Ambrose was fired, John Baird was hired to replace her and all of a sudden, the Conservatives, acting like born-again environmentalists, launched a green agenda.

Harper campaigned on 5 priorities. Canadians are beginning to see that, in reality, he has only one: to get re-elected. And he will use any means he needs to get there. The question now is whether Canadians will see this latest ploy to bolster support and this negative attempt to discredit Dion as over-the-top. The ads are significant in what they do not say: Dion has the Conservatives running scared. By attacking Dion out of the start-gate, their mantra of “We’re not afraid of Dion, We’re not afraid of Dion” speaks volumes. By insisting so passionately that Dion is not a good leader, Canadians will suspect the opposite it true. As they should. Liberals at the Leadership Convention opted for a man of integrity. Precisely what Harper is not. I think he protests too much.

Scientists Shed Light on Berm in Pelham

2007-02-01T23:46:00.000-05:00

Tonight I introduced a panel of expert scientists to the STOP group of Pelham, the group opposed to the berm erected on a property on Church Street in Pelham this summer. The panel was comprised on Dr. Andy Laursen, Ryerson University, Dr. Lynda McCarthy, Ryerson University, Dr. Mohammed Dore, Brock University and Dr. Sophia Dore, CRA World. It was helpful for the STOP group to hear from an objective group about the science. There was lots of exchange, questions posed and answered, and plans to move ahead with a report to be sent to various government contacts. Mayor Dave was there along with about 40 people from the community.

South Africa Lessons

2006-08-16T03:29:00.000-04:00

With the International Conference on AIDS taking place now in Toronto, I find myself reflecting on my experiences in South Africa. I made many trips to this wonderful country and hosted South African colleagues and friends here in Canada. The people had a great impact on me. I learned that they are a people of tremendous strength and optimism. Despite apartheid, aids, poverty, etc., people on the streets in the centres all over the country greet the world with smiles and a zest for life that is enviable. As I see their faces and hear their voices on TV, I am reminded of the lessons I learned in Africa. Interestingly, it was through the eyes of South Africans that I began to understand and appreciate who we are as Canadians.

On every encounter with the South Africans either here or in their country, our team was thanked for “our Canadian way.” The South Africans were deeply appreciative of the aid that we provided. They not only valued what we gave, but more importantly, how we gave it. The “how” was more important than the “what.” Canadian aid was different in that important way. I think this “how” is an important clue in defining ourselves as a nation.

Our Canadian way is often a quiet, gentle way. We do not have the loudest voice or the voice with the most power. Our Canadian way is sharing of information and providing help to determine how our methods and ways can be implemented in another culture. Our Canadian way is the acknowledgement that we, as Canadians, do not know the answers for the South Africans. We can share what we have done, and we can provide ideas and assistance, but ultimately, the decision must be theirs and theirs alone. Our Canadian way is the recognition that there are many ways in the world, and our way is just one. It is neither the best nor the only way. Our Canadian way is the acknowledgement that the learning involved in international projects is a two way street and that we learn just as much as the people that we assist.

I learned that Canada has an exceptional reputation in the world. Because our egos and our armies are not big, we are seen as tolerant people, able to see all sides to a conflict. Our open-mindedness comes from the fact that our people come from all over the world and that they hold on to their cultural and religious beliefs. We not only tolerate this diversity; we encourage it.

It was great to be part of these missions. I was so proud to be an ambassador for Canada, to be associated with all that it stood for. I would bring Canadian flag pins with me on my trips. No matter how many I would bring, I would run out. They were coveted by the South Africans because the Canadian flag meant something very special to them. They associated it with aid, with tolerance, and with a nation that is often called in to broker peace.

It has been a while since I have been to South Africa. I am not sure how our reputation is doing there. I am worried about our reputation in South Africa and in the rest of the world. During the last few months, the Canadian way has changed. We knew it was coming. Stephen Harper promised that things would be different. “We can create a country built on solid conservative values, not on expensive Liberal promises, a country the Liberals wouldn’t even recognize, the kind of country I want to lead.” (Stephen Harper, Leadership Convention Speech, March 19, 2004)

The changes have begun. If you have any doubt, just look at the front page news or turn on the television. We’re spending billions of dollars on military might that has no hope of winning a war. Bodies of our soldiers who have fought in wars are coming home daily. We have waded in with our American neighbours, picking sides and forming alliances against nations. Our traditional Canadian ways are morphing into something else, something that I am not sure that I could be really proud of.

It is not surprising that Stephen Harper was not at the Aids Conference. Our former Prime Minister’s commitment to solving some of the world’s most pressing issues is seen as “expensive Liberal promises.” Thank goodness there are other Canadian leaders at the Conference.

Mr. Harper has chosen this time to deal with northern sovereignty. Meanwhile, the world is noting his absence. Stephen Harper’s actions are changing the image of who we are and our reputation in the world. I do not want to follow.

No Help at the Pump from Harper

2006-08-08T11:00:00.000-04:00

What happened to the Conservative 3-point plan for gas tax relief? In the 2004 election, Stephen Harper vowed to eliminate the 7 per cent GST on any portion of gas prices above 85 cents per litre. He also promised to halt Ottawa’s practice of applying the GST to the full price of gasoline, including federal and provincial excise taxes – the tax on tax.

It seems that things have changed now that the conservatives are in power.

Gas tax relief is not one of Harper’s five priorities. And the problem is one of balancing the books. His 1 percent cut in the GST across the board will cost an estimated $360 million a year in lost gasoline revenues. If Mr. Harper stopped heaping the GST on the full cost of gas, ending the “tax on tax,” the Canadian Taxpayers Federation calculates that it would cost the government an extra $540-million. That would take a big bite out of the budget.

It’s funny how things have changed, now that the conservatives are in power. A September 2005 (conservative) news release states, “The Conservative party is the only political party that favours lowering gas prices. Stephen Harper is the only leader who wants to lower high gas prices and the Conservative party is the only party standing up for Canadians and advocating lower, not higher, gas prices.”

This is yet another example of Stephen Harper making promises while in opposition with no realistic plans to honour them. Rather than indicating how he is going to help Canadians deal with higher gas prices in the long term, Harper’s response to date has been “get used to it.”

The Real Story About Tax Cuts

2006-08-03T22:20:00.000-04:00

Tax cuts being announced this week are being touted as proof that the Conservative government is committed to help “hard working” Niagara West-Glanbrook residents. But, it is clear that Dean Allison is ‘standing up’ for some families more than others.

I am all for reducing the tax burden. Who wouldn’t be? But let’s put the Conservative government’s claims for their cuts into perspective.

The GST cut benefits those who earn and spend the most: it will save you 20 cents on a Timex, and $100 on a Rolex. For all the hype that came with it during the election campaign and ever since, two pennies on a cup of coffee will not be liberating anyone into an early retirement. Every serious economist in the country agrees that it is poor public policy and a misuse of about $4.5 billion in federal fiscal flexibility every year. To improve disposable income for “hard working” Canadians and help build greater productivity, the first target for tax reduction should be income taxes, not the GST consumption tax.

Here, again, let’s separate the spin of the Conservative government and not be fooled by clever politics over policy. It was the Liberal government that lowered the lowest income tax bracket to 15 from 16 per cent and raised by $500 the amount every Canadian can earn tax free in 2005. Those who filled out their tax forms this year noticed both of these Liberal changes immediately. The Conservative budget actually raises the lowest income tax rate up to 15.5 per cent and lowers the basic personal exemption amount by $400, beginning July 1^st.

Let’s be clear: taxes for the lowest income Canadians are going up, not down. The basic personal exemption will decrease $200 in 2006, translating into approximated 150,000 people being put back on the tax rolls this year. This means a tax hike of about $31 per taxpayer for 2006, increasing to $62 in 2007.

Almost half of Canadian families earn less than $40,000, yet they will receive only 20 per cent of the benefit of the Conservative tax cuts, an average of just over $163. On the other hand, the 5 per cent of families earning over $150,000 a year will receiver nearly 30 per cent of the benefits – adding up to an average of over $2,010 in savings each year.

The $1,000 Canada Employment Tax Credit does not represent $1,000 in the pockets of taxpayers. Tax credits are multiplied by the lowest bracket rate, which means this measure will net $155 per year to all taxpayers. This credit is almost completely canceled out by the income tax hike. Again, this tax measure sounds good until you look at the real savings.

The Universal Child Care Benefit provides the clearest example of how this government’s plan is not “family friendly” at all. $100 a month hardly provides a universal solution. Just what is “universal” about it? How do parents with children over the age of six (who still need care when parents are working) benefit? And, what about the families that need help the most? A new national study reported in the Toronto Star yesterday, reports that Canada’s neediest children in Canadian families have the toughest time getting regulated daycare. Throwing $100 to families for each child under the age of six to spend as they please clearly does nothing to address the most needy of our country, and again, represents a short-sighted and politically-motivated approach. The study goes on to reports that inadequate and uneven levels of child-care service will continue if the federal-provincial child care funding agreements are cancelled, as planned. It is difficult to see how $100 a month can even be proposed as a means to support child care choices, when $100 will not cover child care expenses for a week for one child, let alone for a year.

In summary, this government’s legislative initiatives do not put money back into the pockets of all Niagara West-Glanbrook residents, “hard working” Canadians. In fact, it is hard to imagine a set of tax measures more slanted to wealthy taxpayers. There is wide consensus that the Conservatives’ tax plan will largely benefit higher income families over those who need the most help – low- and middle-income Canadians.

100 Days: Harper Lies About Priorities

2006-07-16T13:58:00.000-04:00

Prime Minister Stephen Harper campaigned on a short list of five priorities. These were repeated during the campaign until those of us who were paying attention could spout them off easily. Either Stephen Harper thinks that we have short memories or that we are easily bamboozled.

In the July issue of an obscure conservative journal, Stephen Harper boasts about his minority government’s achievements. “It’s been quite a ride ever since – with progress being made on all of our five priorities – from cleaning up the federal government, to cutting taxes, cracking down on crime, supporting families and strengthening our country at home and around the world” he writes.

Do you remember “strengthening the country” as one of the priorities? In fact, it never was. A substitution has taken place, another cleverly crafted message that hides the truth. Or perhaps it’s time to call it what it is. It is a lie. In this article, which Stephen himself has penned, he sneakily replaces “work with the provinces to establish a patient wait times guarantee” with “strengthening our country.” Perhaps he hopes that we won’t notice.

During the election campaign, I heard about the concerns of citizens of Niagara West-Glanbrook. Health care was at the top of the list. Voters told me about waiting times and quality of care issues, and the shortage of medical staff. In our riding that covers about 1,000 square kilometers and houses a large rural and senior population, health care is understandably of primary concern.

During a conference call last week, federal Health minister Tony Clement insisted no additional money would be forthcoming to shorten wait times. Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman said he was “awestruck” by Clement’s attitude. He said “you cannot pretend there are not extraordinary additional costs associated with it.”

However, we cannot be totally surprised that the money is not forthcoming from Clement’s Ministry. Mr. Clement earned the nickname Two Tier Tony while at Queen’s Park for his ringing endorsement of a two-tier health system. And, he has been a little busy over the last while looking after his own personal investment in a Toronto based pharmaceutical company – and a serious conflict of interest, and he is in the middle of a scandal involving the awarding of a $25,000 sole-sourced contract to his long-time friend and aide Gordon Haugh.

Before any of us swallow more self-congratulatory remarks about the first 100 days of the conservative’s minority government, let’s ask what happened to the simple five priorities. In particular, what happened to the most important issue to most citizens of Niagara West-Glanbrook, health care?

Shaky Start to "New Government"

2006-04-03T21:02:00.000-04:00

Stephen Harper ran a slick campaign, touting accountability and promising the “New Accountability Act” as his first piece of business for the new conservative government. Well this was day one of the new “accountable” government under the leadership of Stephen Harper, and it’s off to a shaky – and ominous – start. If this is any indication of what’s in store for Canadians, we’re in real trouble.

It hasn’t taken Stephen Harper long to disappoint voters – even loyal conservatives. This was a government that was going to make vast changes to the way in which senate members were chosen. “A new conservative government would see senate members elected, not appointed” said Mr. Harper during the campaign. On February 6th, barely 2 weeks after winning the election, Harper announced that Michel Fortier would be our new senate member. In other words, as one of the first orders of business, our new Prime Minister took the very action he was critical of, just days before. Does he really believe that Canadians have short memories? Perhaps he believes we’re just stupid.

During the campaign, Mr. Harper was critical of ministers who crossed the house floor, particularly those who changed sides for political gain. The conservatives were indignant with the suggestion that Grewel was being lured to the liberals, with promises of a cabinet position. Stephen Harper refused to cooperate with the Ethics Commissioner regarding the Grewel incident, saying he was too busy to answer any questions between August and November. This, in spite of the fact that Harper was implicated in Grewel’s own testimony.

On his first day as Prime Minister, after promises to clean up government and coincidentally, a report that found that Grewel’s tapes were manufactured and that allegations of enticements from the liberals were unfounded, Stephen Harper announced with great pride that he, himself, approached David Emerson, Liberal MP from B.C. to become his newest Cabinet Minister. In other words, our new Prime Minister boasted about the fact that he encouraged Emerson to cross the floor, an action he was critical of just weeks before.

I was disappointed in the results of this election. I hoped that Canadians would see beyond the glitz of a polished Stephen Harper campaign to the real substance of a neo-conservative who doesn’t know the meaning of accountability. However, I was also hoping that he would rise to the challenge of moving from critic to leader and honour his promises. Alas, my hopes are dashed and it’s just day one.

Voice of Pelham Announcement of Nomination Win

2005-09-07T23:57:00.001-04:00

'Speaking Liberally Fall 2005 Edition' Announcement of Niagara Federal Candidates

2005-09-07T18:57:00.002-04:00

St. Catharines Standard Announcement of Nomination Win

2005-09-03T23:43:00.002-04:00

West Niagara News Announcement of Nomination Win

2005-09-02T23:30:00.001-04:00

Hamilton Spectator Announcement of Nomination Win

2005-09-01T23:13:00.000-04:00

Pelham News Coverage for Nomination Meeting

2005-08-31T00:59:00.002-04:00

Welland Tribune Announcement of Nomination Win

2005-08-31T00:39:00.000-04:00

Welland Tribune Front Page Coverage for Nomination

2005-08-26T23:59:00.002-04:00

Niagara This Week Coverage for Nomination

2005-08-26T00:14:00.001-04:00

Pelham News Front Page Coverage for Nomination

2005-08-17T23:42:00.001-04:00

Welland Tribune Coverage for Nomination

2005-08-11T23:20:00.001-04:00

St. Catharines Standard Coverage for Nomination

2005-08-11T21:20:00.002-04:00

Pelham News Coverage for Nomination

2005-08-10T19:17:00.001-04:00