Alice Wong, MP

Alice Wong will be posting a BBQ on August 28, 2010 at West Richmond Community Center (in Hugh Boyd Park, roughly at No. 1 and Francis) from 12:00 to 3:00pm.

Hope to see you there!

The following is a joint release from the offices of John Cummins, MP (Delta-Richmond East) and Alice Wong, MP (Richmond) regarding the funding of a new hovercraft to be stationed on Sea Island and operated by the Coast Guard in Richmond.

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Ottawa – “The Budget set aside $27.3 million for a new state-of-the-art hovercraft to be stationed at the Coast Guard base at Sea Island in Richmond, adjacent to the airport,” said Alice Wong, M.P. (Richmond)

“This is great news for recreational boaters, commercial mariners, the Vancouver airport and all who rely on the Coast Guard hovercraft should trouble occur. I have been fighting for a new hovercraft for almost a decade and am delighted by the news,” said John Cummins, M.P. (Delta-Richmond East).

Hovercraft must be available on a 24-7 basis to affect marine rescues of boats in trouble and most importantly to be available to assist in the rescue of those aboard passenger jets that might be forced to ditch on the shallows and mudflats off the airport runway. There are no other craft or vessels that can so effectively operate in shallow water or on the mudflats when the tide is out.

Hovercraft are high performance craft requiring almost constant maintenance. In order to maintain 24-7 coverage two hovercraft are required, due to down times for maintenance or when a vessel is deployed elsewhere.

There are currently two hovercraft operating out of Sea Island.

The new craft will replace the Penac, a European vessel constructed in 1984 which was purchased, and converted from a passenger vessel to a Search-and-Rescue craft by the CCG in 2004. Upgrades extended the life of the vessel, but the operational capacity was still limited because of the restrictions associated with the original design.

“When I raised the issue of the limitations of the PENAC and the need for replacement with the Prime Minister in mid 2009, he was very supportive of the need to acquire a new state-of-the-art hovercraft capable of operating in all weather and sea conditions,” said Cummins.

“Both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans deserve credit for finding the $27.3 million for the acquisition of a replacement for the PENAC at a time of spending restraint,” noted Wong.

Contact: John Cummins, M.P. (613) 992-2957, (cell) (604) 970-0937, (604) 940-8040
Alice Wong, M.P. (613) 995-2012

The Inter-Action Projects stream provides funding for long-term, multi-year community development/engagement projects to promote integration. Applications are usually considered during a Call for Proposals (CFP) process.

The Call for Proposals, under the Inter-Action Projects stream, is now open!

For more information, see:
* Call for Proposals – Inter-Action (Projects)
* Funding Guidelines – Inter-Action (Projects)
* General Application Form

Completed applications must be sent both by regular mail and electronically to the appropriate regional or national office by October 15, 2010, 11:59 PM EST.

Government of Canada Supports 2010 Yonex Canada Open Grand Prix of Badminton

RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(July 16, 2010) – On behalf of the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport), the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, today confirmed the federal government’s contribution to Badminton Canada in support of the 2010 Yonex Canada Open Grand Prix of Badminton, which runs from July 13 to 18 in Richmond, British Columbia.

“The Government of Canada is proud to support the 2010 Yonex Canada Open Grand Prix of badminton, which will once again showcase our world-class Richmond Oval,” said Minister Kenney. “By bringing together the world’s best players, this event will provide participants and spectators alike with an outstanding opportunity to enjoy the highest level of badminton competition.”

“I am happy to support the 2010 Yonex Canada Open Grand Prix of Badminton and would like to thank all the volunteers for their tireless work in making this a successful event,” said Alice Wong, Member of Parliament (Richmond). “Physical activity and participation in sport is a high priority for Richmond residents. It’s what keeps us healthy in mind and body!”

“The 2010 Yonex Canada Open Grand Prix will be the highest-level badminton tournament ever held in Canada, and Badminton Canada is excited to be partnering with the Richmond Oval,” said Kyle Hunter, Executive Director of Badminton Canada. “The support of Sport Canada’s Hosting Program has been a vital component of Badminton Canada’s event-hosting activities.”

The Government of Canada believes that participation in sport is part of a healthy lifestyle and contributes to a healthy society. Hosting international sport events gives Canada the opportunity to showcase our country to athletes and spectators from all over the world.

The Government of Canada is the single largest contributor to sport in Canada and supports participation and excellence from the playground to the podium. A contribution of $15,000 was provided to the 2010 Yonex Canada Open Grand Prix through Sport Canada’s Hosting Program.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Office of the Honourable Gary Lunn, P.C., M.P.
Minister of State (Sport)
Vanessa Schneider – Director of Communications
819-934-1122
vanessa.schneider@pch.gc.ca

or

Canadian Heritage
Media Relations
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca

Richmond, BC – The Richmond Service Canada Centre for Youth (SCCY) hosted a Youth Fair on July 14, 2010. The Youth Fair took place at Lansdowne Shopping Centre in Richmond, BC.

The Honourable Alice Wong, Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism and Member of Parliament for Richmond, welcomed employers and youth to the Youth Fair.

“Employment empowers our youth with a strong work ethic and provides valuable job experience for their future careers”, said Alice Wong, MP of Richmond. Wong continued, “I am happy to support the Youth Fair and the promotion of valuable skills in young people to help them find employment.”

The SCCY Youth Fair allowed local youth to connect with employers, community organizations and post secondary institutions. Youth also had the chance to interact with their peers and learn about Government of Canada programs and services, wage rates and health and safety in the workplace.

“The Youth Fair provided youth with valuable information and networking opportunities” said Gigi Yu, Youth Services Officer. “The presence of entertainers and guest speakers made the event enjoyable and attracted many bystanders to take part in the event”.

Service Canada Centres for Youth link youth and employers. The Centres provide young people with job postings, interview advice, résumé building and job search strategies and employers with a location to post job openings. SCCYs also provide valuable information on health and safety in the workplace.

Employers interested in using our services and youth looking for summer employment can visit the Richmond SCCY between 8:30 am – 4:00 pm at #350-5611 Cooney Road, Richmond, BC, call 604-273-6431 ext.222, fax 604-666-3367, or e-mail julisse.lecca@servicecanada.gc.ca. Job postings are available online at www.jobbank.gc.ca, under “Student/Youth Job Search”, “British Columbia”, and “Vancouver/Surrey/Fraser Valley, and then “Richmond.” For more information on Service Canada services for Youth, call 1 800 O-Canada or visit servicecanada.ca/sccy.

The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), a partnership between Statistics Canada, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, will help address longstanding limitations in Canada’s health information system. The CHMS is collecting health information that cannot be otherwise captured about Canadians or that may be inaccurately reported through self-report questionnaires or health care records.

The mobile clinic will visit 16 sites across Canada between 2009 and 2011, collecting data from approximately 360 participants per site.

The eighth collection will take place in the region of Richmond, British Columbia. All survey participants will be drawn from the cities of Richmond and Delta.

The mobile clinic will be located in the parking lot of the Richmond Curling Club in Richmond during the collection period from mid-July until the end of August 2010.

For more information, contact Renée Langlois at 613-951-0878 or renee.langlois@statcan.gc.ca or visit www.statcan.gc.ca/chms.

You can also view the brochure by clicking here.

The standing committee on Finance is going to hold a pre-budget consultation for Budget 2011. One of the consultation dates is scheduled to be in Surrey, BC.

If you have thoughts on what should be in Budget 2011, you can also send correspondence to the Clerk or to the email address as specified in the release below. Please observe the deadline is August 13, 2010.

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CANADIANS ARE INVITED TO SHARE THEIR PRIORITIES FOR THE 2011 FEDERAL BUDGET

Ottawa, June 17, 2010 -

Today, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance is inviting Canadians to participate in its annual pre-budget consultation process. The 2010 consultations will result in a report to be tabled in the House of Commons in late fall 2010, and the suggestions by Canadians as well as the recommendations by the Committee will be considered by the Minister of Finance in the development of the 2011 federal budget.

“This year, like in previous years, Canadians are invited to participate in this very important process. The federal budget is important to all Canadians, and the suggestions received by the Committee during its annual pre-budget consultation process are a critically important contribution to the development of the budget. On behalf of all Committee members, I invite you to share your budget priorities with us,” said Mr. James Rajotte, M.P., Chair of the House Finance Committee.

Interested individuals and groups should submit a written brief not exceeding five pages, in either English or French, to the Committee Clerk no later than August 13, 2010. These briefs will be translated and distributed to Finance Committee members. Briefs can be submitted electronically to FINA@parl.gc.ca or can be mailed to:

Jean-François Pagé, Clerk
Standing Committee on Finance
6-14 131 Queen Street
House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Beginning in September, the Committee will hold hearings in Ottawa and in designated Canadian cities. For these hearings, an invitation will be extended by the Committee Clerk, on behalf of Committee members, to selected individuals and groups. Those invited to make a presentation to the Committee should expect to be contacted by the Committee Clerk no later than the last week of September.

In particular, the Committee anticipates that its schedule will be:

– Surrey, British Columbia: September 27, 2010
– Kamloops, British Columbia: September 28, 2010
– Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: September 29 and 30, 2010
– London, Ontario: October 18 and 19, 2010
– Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Québec: October 20, 2010
– Saint John’s, Newfoundland: October 21

A message from Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney:

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I am pleased to announce the launch of Canada’s Citizenship Award 2010. Formerly the Citation for Citizenship, this award recognizes Canadian individuals who dedicate themselves tirelessly to active citizenship in their communities. A successful nominee is a Canadian who demonstrates exemplary citizenship by assisting newcomers to successfully integrate into the Canadian family. Or a Canadian who promotes active citizenship by putting into practice the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. Recipients of Canada’s Citizenship Award will be announced during Citizenship Week which runs from October 18-24, 2010.

I encourage you to help make this award special and significant by promoting it within your network and with your stakeholders and partners. Information and nomination forms can be downloaded on-line at www.cic.gc.ca/citizenshipaward. Hard copies of the brochure and promotional posters can be ordered through Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s distribution services. Please forward your request to:

Distribution Services
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, ON K1A 1L1

Help us recognize the outstanding work of some outstanding Canadians! The deadline to submit nominations for this year’s award is September 3, 2010.

Yours Sincerely,

The Honourable Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism

RICHMOND – As part of her official duties as Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism, Alice Wong will be headed to Kazakhstan to attend a conference on Canada’s behalf for tolerance and non-discrimination. The conference will take place on June 29 and 30 in the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (“the Pyramid“) in Astana, Kazakhstan for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Alice Wong was asked by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration to attend on Canada’s behalf, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Alice Wong stated, “It is a privilege to represent Canada at the OSCE conference. Tolerance and non-discrimination are cornerstones in Canada’s multiculturalism policy. The promotion of mutual respect and understanding through inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue are two important aspects of living in a multicultural society like Canada. In particular, combating anti-semitism and racism is a concern.”

Wong continued, “While Canada has been seen as a good model for diversity and multiculturalism, I am intending on learning about how other countries have approached these issues and see if any policies could be brought back to Canada to make our existing policies even better.”

As a result of her attendance in the OSCE conference, Alice Wong will be returning back to Canada after July 2. Subsequent to the OSCE conference, Alice will be hosting a belated Canada Day celebration for new Canadian citizens in Richmond.

Backgrounder

About the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the largest regional security organization in the world with 56 participating states from Europe, Central Asia, and North America. It is concerned with early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation in its area, with 18 missions or field operations in South-Eastern Europe, Easter Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia.

The OSCE deals with 3 dimensions of security – The politico-military, the economic and environmental, and the human dimension. For example, it addresses security-related concerns including arms control, confidence-and-security related concerns, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 56 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

About the OSCE High-Level Conference on Tolerance and Non-Discrimination

Throughout the last decade, the OSCE has attached great importance to fighting intolerance and promoting mutual respect and understanding, including by means of intercultural and interreligious dialogue. The OSCE has recognized in several Ministerial Decisions that tolerance and non-discrimination are important elements in the promotion of human rights and democratic values and that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law is at the core of the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security.

The OSCE will hold a high-level conference on tolerance and non-discrimination in order to sustain political awareness of the issues and, thereby, promote effective implementation of commitments. The conference will build on the outcomes of past conferences, including the 2003 Vienna Conferences on Anti-Semitism and on Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, the April 2004 Berlin Conference on Anti-Semitism, the June 2004 Paris Meeting on the Relationship between Racist, Xenophobic and Anti-Semitic Propaganda on the Internet and Hate Crimes, the September 2004 Brussels Conference on Tolerance and the Fight Against Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, the June 2005 Cordoba Conference on Anti-Semitism and on Other Forms of Intolerance, and the High-Level Conference on Combating Discrimination and Promoting Mutual Respect and Understanding held in Bucharest in 2007.

The 2010 conference will provide an important opportunity to review and assess implementation of the commitments related to tolerance and non-discrimination, including the most recent commitments under the Athens Ministerial Decision on Hate Crime. The conference will also provide an opportunity to review steps taken to follow up the 2007 conference and assess the progress made since then. The conference will also serve as an opportunity for participating States and civil society to present examples of good initiatives, and to discuss how OSCE institutions and other intergovernmental organizations have supported their efforts to combat discrimination and promote mutual respect and understanding.

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The following is a transcript:

I wish you all a Happy Canada Day! From coast to coast to coast, I am proud of our country and what we have been able to achieve together. The past year was very exciting for Canada, especially with our top gold medal performance in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympics [Games]. I am looking forward to the bright future I know this country has. Happy Birthday Canada!