On Parliament Hill

Two thousand sixteen has certainly been a very busy year filled with many highlights here locally in Provencher. Unfortunately, 2016 also saw a number of troubling trends initiated by Prime Minister Trudeau and his Liberal Government.

In Ottawa:

First of all, it’s been a very expensive year for Canadian taxpayers. The year started with the release of the Liberal Budget. The Liberals campaigned on a promise to limit the deficit to $10 billion, but that number quickly ballooned and left Canadian families on the hook for $30 billion instead, and it keeps growing. It was also at that moment that it became clear the Liberal Government had no plan to balance the budget in upcoming years.

Other programs that have helped families were stripped away; including the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, the Children’s Art Tax Credit, tax credits for post-secondary education and textbooks and income splitting for families. The budget also revealed that the Liberals have walked away from a campaign promise to reduce the small business tax rate from 11% to 9%.

Hot on the heels of the budget was Bill C-14 – physician-assisted suicide. This bill was completely out of step with the views of the people in Provencher and as the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, it was my job, along with my committee colleagues, to do an in-depth study of this legislation.

I was very clear that I do not support physician-assisted suicide as I believe it will significantly undermine the right to life in Canada. I believe that children, the elderly, and those experiencing mental illness all must have their right to life underscored and reaffirmed. At committee we proposed positive alternatives such as the strengthening of patient-focused palliative care services for all Canadians. However, in the end, the Liberal Government made no significant changes. I remain very concerned over the impact this law will have on our country.

In the Spring I also introduced Bill C-239 – my Private Member’s Bill -The Fairness in Charitable Gifts Act. This bill would have allowed registered charities to provide their donors with the same generous donation receipts that politicians can now issue. The changes would have provided a very powerful incentive for Canadians to increase their charitable giving. Unfortunately most Liberal and New Democrat Members of Parliament voted in their own self-interest to keep their preferential tax treatment. Apparently many still believe that feeding politicians is more important than feeding the hungry.

As we moved into the late spring, Justin Trudeau’s “sunny ways” faded even more. “Elbowgate” dominated the headlines for several days and the Liberals started down their path toward electoral reform. In a survey of my constituents, 95% responded that they wanted a referendum before Prime Minister Trudeau made any changes to our electoral system. Polls showed that a majority of Canadians agreed that a referendum was essential, yet the Liberals continue to reject this basic democratic exercise. This story continues to unfold as we move into 2017.

As the fall session of Parliament began, it is no coincidence that the bad news resumed. The Liberals proposed their new carbon tax – a massive new tax grab that will cost everyday working people and their families thousands of dollars every year.

While there is bipartisan support for the climate targets first proposed by Prime Minister Harper, a massive carbon tax grab on Canadians will not achieve Canada’s climate change goals but will have devastating consequences for our businesses, farmers, and Canadian families.

October 19th marked the one year anniversary of the Liberal Government. Shortly after, Finance Minister Bill Morneau presented an update on the economy and the government’s finances for the next five years. He announced that the Liberal Government will be borrowing an extra $32 billion over the next five years.

In October, Bill C-16 – an Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (Gender Identity and Gender Expression) was introduced. Unfortunately, the Liberal Government decided that they didn’t need to hear from Canadians on this change, and no witnesses were allowed to come before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. The existing laws already cover the very concerns that Bill C-16 claims to alleviate. The Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code provide broad descriptions that ensure equal protection for all Canadians.

As we quickly headed toward the Christmas break, the Liberals were in the middle of the cash-for-access fundraising scandal. The Prime Minister and Liberal Ministers should not grant preferential access to certain people or special interest groups just because they pay up, which is why Conservatives delivered a motion in the House of Commons to grant the Ethics Commissioner the power to investigate these cash-for-access schemes. When push came to shove, the Liberals voted down this motion, which shockingly means the government will continue their unethical behaviour.

In Provencher:

While it has been mostly cloudy in Ottawa this year, sunnier ways were definitely evident here in Provencher. Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose visited southeastern Manitoba and toured WS Steel’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Steinbach.

The summer months always bring many lively local fairs, festivals, and parades. I was pleased to host two constituency barbecues in Niverville and Steinbach, with 600 and 1000 people attending respectively.

The summer also brought us a little more good news on the cell service front as MTS announced that three new wireless towers would be built along Highway 75 to address concerns about gaps in coverage that have been expressed by residents, businesses, travelers and myself on numerous occasions. I will continue to work hard for more expansion.

As we moved into the fall, I was very pleased to attend the WE NEED A LAW pro-life flag display at A.D. Penner Park in Steinbach. An astonishing 100,000 pink and blue flags were planted on the hill to represent the lives lost each year to abortion. As a Conservative Member of Parliament, I am not afraid to state that I am Pro-Life and I believe that life begins at conception.

My time back in Provencher this year was certainly filled with many wonderful events all across the riding and I truly enjoyed connecting with so many of you.

January brings with it the resumption of Parliament, and I’m sure many new challenges on the national front. I will continue to work hard on your behalf and hold the government accountable.

Happy New Year to you and your family!