Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

A motion was adopted by the Special Committee on Electoral Reform on July 7, 2016 stating:

“That the Committee be directed to issue an invitation to each Member of Parliament to conduct a town hall in their respective constituencies and provide the Committee with a written report of the input from their constituents to be filed with the Clerk of the Committee no later than October 14, 2016.”

The office of MP Alice Wong is in the process of soliciting feedback from the residents of Richmond Centre on their views of electoral reform.

To ensure that everybody that wants to participate in this consultation can do so, our office is accepting electronic and written submissions, which will be compiled into a report that is sent to the Special Committee on Electoral Reform. To allow us time to compile feedback, we have set a deadline of October 11, 2016 for us to consider views of constituents.

The following reference documents give a background on our electoral system, and electoral systems used elsewhere in the world. In addition, there is a slide deck, and also a publication that our office published and sent to all residents in Richmond Centre via Canada Post. The submission form is also below.

Reference Documents:

Electronic Submission:

The consultation ended on October 11, 2016. Thank you to those that sent in their feedback!

Statement on Petition e-397

Electronic petition e-397 was initiated by a Richmond Centre constituent on the topic of birthright citizenship and a practice referred to as “Birth Tourism”.

A Member of Parliament must sponsor a petition in order for the government to provide a response to the petitioners. Once the required number of signatures are collected, it must be presented in the House of Commons by the sponsoring Member. The House of Commons is not scheduled for a regular session until September.

MP Alice Wong represented one of her constituents in the process of presenting a petition to Parliament. While a sponsoring Member of Parliament does not have to agree with the opinions or request set out in the petition, this topic affects the constituents of Richmond Centre and the Liberal government has the responsibility to respond with its position. The government has 45 days to respond to the petition after it is tabled in the House of Commons.

Questions relating to the origin and content of the petition should be directed toward the creator of the petition. The creator of the petition is Kerry Starchuk, a resident of Richmond Centre. She has given our office permission to share her contact e-mail which can be obtained by e-mailing the MP Alice Wong office.

The petition can be found at https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-397.

For further information, contact:
Office of Hon. Alice Wong, MP (Richmond Centre)
613-995-2021
alice.wong@parl.gc.ca

June 13, 2016
STATEMENT BY ALICE WONG

Richmond, BC – Alice Wong, Member of Parliament for Richmond Centre, is unable to attend votes in the House of Commons during the week of June 13 to 17 due to a bone fracture in her foot.

Alice Wong remarked, “I will not be able to attend the votes on matters in Ottawa this week, including Bill C-15, the Budget Implementation Bill, which I have already spoken against in the House of Commons.”

Alice Wong continued, “I would like to thank the medical professionals at Richmond General Hospital for the excellent care they provided.”

For inquiries, contact:
Office of Hon. Alice Wong, MP (Richmond Centre)
alice.wong@parl.gc.ca
613-995-2021

Download the press release:

English Press Release (.PDF)

French Press Release (.PDF)

LIBERALS BREAK ANOTHER PROMISE ON SMALL BUSINESSES

Liberals decide to raise taxes on Small Business

Richmond, BC – Alice Wong, Member of Parliament for Richmond Centre and critic for Small Business, gave the following remarks after the introduction of the 2016 Federal Budget:

“The Liberals campaigned on a promise to see the small business tax rate decrease from 11% to 9%[1] and instead they have stopped this tax cut – a tax cut that the Minister for Small Business and Tourism claimed she would ‘…be working closely with the Minister of Finance to ensure that our commitment to lower the tax burden on small businesses is fulfilled.’[2]

Indeed, the small business tax cut was promised in the Liberal 2015 election platform, and this promise was broken, in addition to the pledge to keeping the deficit under $10 billion.

Businesses thrive on stability and after Budget 2016, all they can count on is fiscal uncertainty.  Which taxes is the government going to increase next to pay for their bloated deficits?”

Other small business stakeholder groups have negatively commented on Budget 2016’s impact to small businesses.

Dan Kelly, President of CFIB, stated that, “Other than some infrastructure spending, there is nothing in this budget that will help any small firm create even one job.” [3]

In conclusion, this reflects yet another Liberal promise broken, and a government that is choosing to turn its back on the small business job creators in Canada.

For inquiries, contact:
Office of Hon. Alice Wong, MP (Richmond Centre)
alice.wong@parl.gc.ca
613-995-2021

[1] Page 80, Liberal 2015 Election Platform

[2] December 11, 2015 (spoken in the House of Commons)

[3] March 22, 2016 CFIB News Release, “2016 budget breaks election promise to small business”

The Liberal government must stop sending mixed signals and inconsistent messages to Canada’s small business community. Alice Wong, Official Opposition Critic for Small Business, and Phil McColeman, Opposition Deputy Finance Critic, today called for clarity from the Finance Minister on his intentions to target professionals operating small businesses incorporated as Canadian Controlled Private Corporations (CCPCs).

“With experts projecting that the Liberals intend to borrow close to $150 billion – putting Canada on track for at least ten years of deficit spending – Canada’s small business community remains on edge about whether they will be targeted by the Finance Minister to pay for his big government spending plans,” said McColeman. “Every time the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister recklessly muse about targeting different sectors of our economy to fund their borrowing, it sends shockwaves of uncertainty through the economy and causes business to hold back on investing and hiring.”

“Canadian small businesses play a crucial role in the economy. They deserve to have clarity from this current government, and their ideas and recommendations need to be listened to,” said MP Wong. “Businesses thrive when they know what the rules are, and the Liberal government’s inability to clarify what the rules are going to be for small business owners is stalling further investment and jobs in our economy.”

In his appearance before the Standing Committee on Finance during the Committee’s 2016 Pre-Budget Consultations, Dan Kelly, President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, echoed major concerns from the small business community about the government’s plans:

“We are a little bit freaked out with the prospect for some clawing back of access to the small business corporate tax rate. There have been some messages from the new government that it may limit some of the businesses who currently do take advantage of the lower small business corporate tax rate. Some talk about perhaps professionals being disallowed from accessing that rate … we’re hoping to get some messages of reassurance on that front in our meetings in the months ahead.” – Standing Committee on Finance, Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Jamie Golombek, managing director of tax and estate planning with CIBC Private Wealth Management, recently stated that concerns about Liberal plans to target small business are “the No. 1 issue that comes up when we deal with small business owners,” suggesting that advisors are recommending that professionals hold off on making business decisions until the Federal Government provides clarity on its intentions.

“Now is not the time for political games that create uncertainty and damage the Canadian economy. Small businesses know that someone will have to pay for the federal government’s massive borrowing plans, and the Liberal government’s irresponsible approach of publicly considering short-sighted tax grabs, without providing any certainty, must end,” said MP McColeman.

“The Conservative Opposition is calling on the Finance Minister to immediately clarify exactly what taxation changes he intends to introduce for Canada’s small businesses in the 2016 federal budget,” said MP Wong.

BACKGROUNDER

• During the 2015 election, Prime Minister Trudeau stated his view that “a large percentage of small businesses are actually just ways for wealthier Canadians to save on their taxes”.

• The Liberal Platform signalled a belief that Small Businesses could be targeted to reap hundreds of millions of dollars in additional federal revenues, by changing the rules around professional and family businesses with Canadian Controlled Private Corporation (CCPC) status.

• The Prime Minister’s Mandate Letter to the Minister of Small Businesses and Tourism instructed her to work with the Minister of Finance to ensure that the small business tax rate is not used “to reduce personal income tax obligations for high-income earners”.

• During the Finance Committee’s 2016 Pre-Budget Consultations, Liberal MP Robert Falcon-Oullette stated: “I’ve never seen a homeless practising doctor.”

• During the Finance Committee’s 2016 Pre-Budget Consultations, Liberal MP Raj Grewal indicated that taxation for professional small businesses should remain status quo, while other small businesses should receive a reduction in the small business tax rate: “The economic rationale for me is that small businesses outside the professions deserve the reduction, and the professions remain as status quo”. When reached for an interview to provide clarity, Grewal fuelled further uncertainty, stating that “The government hasn’t made a final decision on that. It may or may not be included in the budget.”

• During the Finance Committee’s 2016 Pre-Budget Consultations, in response to a question from MP McColeman about whether he intended to eliminate the current taxation status held by professional CCPC’s, the Minister of Finance indicated that a decision has in fact already been made, stating: “I can confirm, no.”

• A February 29, 2016 Globe and Mail article indicated that the Finance Minister’s office, when asked to provide clarity on the Minister’s statement, declined to make any further comment.

On November 9, 2015, Alice Wong was sworn in as the Member of Parliament (Richmond Centre) in Ottawa.

On December 3, 2015, the first session of the 42nd Parliament is scheduled to open.

On the advice of the Prime Minister, the Governor General, by proclamation on Sunday, August 2, 2015, dissolved the 41st Parliament and gave instructions to issue writs of election. Monday, October 19, 2015, has been set as the polling day and the writs of election are to be returned by Monday, November 9, 2015.

For information on the election process, please consult the Elections Canada Web site.

July 31, 2015 – Richmond, British Columbia – Western Economic Diversification Canada

Today, the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State for Seniors and Member of Parliament for Richmond, on behalf of the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced support of $556,200 for four projects under the Government of Canada’s Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program.

In Economic Action Plan 2015, the Government of Canada announced further support for communities with the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program. Thanks to a commitment of $150 million, communities from coast to coast to coast will see support for improvements to local infrastructure, creating a lasting legacy as Canada prepares to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017.

The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program will help fund renovations, expansions and rehabilitations to existing infrastructure that provides community and cultural benefits for the public. The Program represents one of several infrastructure-related initiatives that the Government of Canada has undertaken to generate well-being and prosperity across Canada.

Quick Facts

• The four projects being announced today total $556,200 in funding under the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, and will help improve existing community infrastructure in Richmond.
• The national Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program provides $150 million over two years to be delivered by regional development agencies across the country. It is part of the federal government’s activities to honour Canada’s 150^th anniversary of Confederation in 2017. Western Economic Diversification Canada is responsible for the distribution of $46,200,000 over two years for Western Canada.

Quotes

“Our Government’s investments across the West are helping to build stronger communities and create jobs. As we look towards the 150^th anniversary of Confederation, we are helping all Canadians celebrate this important milestone, while leaving a lasting legacy of improved local infrastructure.”

–        The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State for Seniors, and Member of Parliament for Richmond

“The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program will create many legacies for Richmond residents in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday. The four projects approved will help improve accessibility and safety, and enhance community sustainability at the Richmond Olympic Oval, contribute to healthy lifestyles through the Garratt Wellness Centre, and support community literacy and access to information through the Richmond Public Library. Our thanks to the Government of Canada and Western Economic Diversification Canada for supporting us in moving these projects forward.”

–        His Worship Malcolm Brodie, Mayor of Richmond

Additional Links

• City of Richmond
• Richmond Public Library
• Garratt Wellness Centre
• Richmond Olympic Oval 

British Columbia Projects being launched today:

July 24, 2015                            Ottawa, Ontario             Employment and Social Development Canada

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), was pleased today to highlight the Government of Canada’s ongoing efforts with organizations such as The Salvation Army, to help improve the lives of seniors across the country.

Through programs such as the new Supporting Homeless Seniors Program, the Government of Canada is committed to helping vulnerable seniors—particularly those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and who are incapable of managing their own affairs—to receive the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) benefits for which they are eligible.

The Government is undertaking targeted efforts, working closely with municipalities, community organizations and front-line outreach and service providers, to increase their capacity to assist seniors who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Through the Supporting Homeless Seniors Program, community organizations that are non-profit or registered charitable organizations and municipalities can apply to act as third-party administrators of CPP and/or OAS benefits for homeless seniors. As a third-party administrator, qualified individuals and organizations can apply for and receive CPP and/or OAS benefits on behalf of the senior they serve and represent, and then pay out the benefits in the best interest of that person.

The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people, including seniors in over 400 communities across Canada. They offer assistance to seniors, tending to the basic necessities of life, which includes providing shelter for those who are homeless, as well as other supports and services for homeless, vulnerable seniors.

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada is committed to the well-being of Canada’s seniors by working with all levels of government, seniors’ organizations and stakeholders to develop policies and programs that support seniors.
• The Supporting Homeless Seniors Program builds on other activities the Government has undertaken to support vulnerable seniors, who are often socially isolated. Ongoing initiatives include:
  • The New Horizons for Seniors Program, which funds projects that will help prevent and reduce social isolation among seniors; and,
  • The Homelessness Partnering Strategy, a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing direct support and funding to 61 designated communities, as well as Aboriginal, rural and remote communities across Canada.
• Social isolation is commonly defined as a low quantity and quality of contact with others. Social isolation involves a situation of few social contacts, few social roles and the absence of mutually rewarding relationships.

Quotes

“Through the Supporting Homeless Seniors Program, the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that homeless seniors receive the CPP and OAS benefits for which they are eligible. We are working closely with front-line organizations to reach and support Canada’s most vulnerable seniors.”

– The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

“The Salvation Army is excited about the targeted efforts the Government has taken to assist one of our often-forgotten assets: our aging Canadians, a growing community in Canada that is increasingly marginalized and in need of assistance.”

– Tony Brushett, Assistant Executive Director, The Salvation Army, Ottawa Booth Centre

“In Ottawa more than 9,000 seniors live in poverty and 6% don’t receive the support they need. With an aging population, these numbers are expected to increase in Canada. Today’s announcement will go a long way to support the most vulnerable seniors in our communities by helping to increase access to financial resources that are critical for those seniors who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.”

– Carole Gagnon, Vice President, Community Investment, United Way Ottawa

“As a current funder of a voluntary Trusteeship program, the City of Windsor is very supportive of the Supporting Homeless Seniors Program. The proposed changes will provide easier access to financial management, coaching and vital income supports that allow individuals and families who are at risk to obtain housing and remain housed.”

–Community Development and Health Services, City of Windsor

“Through the provisions of the Supporting Homeless Seniors Program, the Trusteeship program administered by the City of Brantford is better able to assist homeless seniors with managing their income in a concerted effort to address homelessness and to prevent the risk of homelessness.  The program provides us with a greater capacity to assist older adults in our community who are vulnerable and at higher risk of homelessness.” 

– Jo Atanas, City of Brantford General Manager, Social Services

Associated Links

Supporting Homeless Seniors Program
Canada.ca/Seniors
Homelessness Partnering Strategy
Housing First

Backgrounder

Supporting Homeless Seniors Program  

The Government of Canada is committed to reaching homeless seniors and ensuring they receive the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) benefits for which they are eligible.

Non-profit and registered charitable organizations and municipalities can apply to act as administrators of CPP and/or OAS benefits for seniors who are homeless, or at imminent risk of being homeless, and who are incapable of managing their own affairs. This will apply only in cases where the Minister of Employment and Social Development is not aware of the existence of another person or agency already authorized to manage the individual’s financial affairs.

To find out if an organization or municipality qualifies as a third-party administrator, or to apply to become one, visit servicecanada.gc.ca.

Canada’s public pensions

Canada’s public pensions have played a major role in reducing the incidence of low income among seniors, from 21.4 percent in 1980 to 5.2 percent in 2011. Canada now has one of the lowest rates of low income among seniors in the world.

The CPP is a stable, well-designed plan that is portable from province to province and fiscally sustainable over the long run. The Chief Actuary of Canada has confirmed that the CPP is financially sound and is fully sustainable for generations to come.

The OAS program is funded through general tax revenues and provides a basic monthly income for Canadian seniors. The Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Allowances provide additional income to low-income pensioners, their spouses or common-law partners, and eligible survivors.

New Horizons for Seniors Program

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects led or inspired by seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and their communities. Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others.

The objectives of the NHSP are:

• promoting volunteerism among seniors;
• engaging seniors in the community through mentoring of others;
• expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
• supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors; and
• providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.

NHSP funding supports community-based and pan-Canadian projects that help to keep Canadian seniors active, engaged and informed. Recent NHSP calls for proposals for both community-based projects and pan-Canadian projects closed on July 10, 2015.

Community-based projects under the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) that enable seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others, and help communities increase their capacity to address local issues, are eligible to receive up to $25,000 per year, per organization.

Pan-Canadian projects test and share best practices across the country, and replicate interventions that have worked well in addressing seniors’ issues. The Pan-Canadian 2015-2016 call for proposals focuses on projects that help to reduce social isolation among seniors. Previous calls for proposals have focused on increasing the awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse. Pan-Canadian projects may be funded between $150,000 and $750,000, for up to a maximum of three years.

For more information on the NHSP, visit Canada.ca/Seniors.

Homelessness Partnering Strategy

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) is a unique community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness by providing direct support and funding to 61 designated communities in all provinces and territories, as well as to Aboriginal, rural and remote communities across Canada, to help them address homelessness.

Economic Action Plan 2013 renewed the HPS with nearly $600 million in total funding over five years, ending in March 2019, using a Housing First approach.

Until recently, the most common way to deal with homelessness has been a “crisis-based” model—not just in Canada, but in many developed countries. This model involves relying heavily on shelters and other emergency interventions. Typically, individuals must first participate in a series of treatments and demonstrate sobriety before they are offered housing. This approach has been costly and not effective for the long term.

Without stable housing, it is much more difficult to participate in treatment programs and manage mental and physical health issues. This leads to high costs for emergency housing, hospitalization, shelters, prisons and a host of other crisis services.

Housing First, on the other hand, involves ensuring individuals have immediate housing before providing the necessary supports to help them stabilize their lives. Experiences in other countries have demonstrated that this approach shows great promise.

In 2008 the Government invested $110 million in the Mental Health Commission of Canada to undertake our own landmark study. The results demonstrated that:

• Housing First rapidly ends homelessness and leads to other positive outcomes for quality of life;
• it is a sound financial investment that can lead to significant cost savings. Every $10 invested in Housing First services led to an average savings to government of $21.72 for participants who used emergency and social services the most; and
• it works in the long term. Over the course of the study, participants in the Housing First group spent an average of 73 percent of their time in stable housing, compared to 32 percent for the group receiving usual care.

Overall, the project demonstrated that the Housing First approach can reduce the economic and social costs of homelessness, such as those related to health care and the justice system. In addition, those who received both housing and supportive services showed more signs of recovery than those who did not.

Helping Canadians better understand the dangers lasers pose to aircraft

June 24, 2015 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Transport Canada

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), on behalf of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, today launched the Government of Canada’s safety awareness campaign for lasers. The national campaign will help Canadians better understand why pointing a laser at aircraft is not a bright idea.

The first phase of the campaign, unveiled today in collaboration with the Vancouver International Airport, the RCMP, and NAV CANADA, provides the public with an easy to follow infographic, which clarifies the dangers and consequences of pointing lasers into airspace and how incidents can be reported. This summer, the second phase of the campaign will include digital advertising, awareness videos and a direct mail campaign near three major airports.

Transport Canada has also launched tc.gc.ca/NotABrightIdea, which provides Canadians with the information they need to better understand the dangers of pointing a laser at an aircraft.

Transport Canada is working closely with police, other government departments, and the aviation industry to protect pilots, passengers, and people on the ground. If you see a laser pointed at an aircraft, report it to your local police.

Quick Facts

• The number of lasers pointed at aircraft is rising in Canada. In 2014, there were 502 reported incidents – a 43% increase since 2012.
• Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a federal offence. If convicted under the Aeronautics Act, an offender could face up to $100,000 in fines, 5 years in prison, or both.
• Canadians can join the conversation and learn more by using the #NotABrightIdea hashtag on Twitter.

Quotes

“It should be a no brainer that pointing lasers at any part of an aircraft is dangerous. This awareness campaign will help Canadians better understand the serious risks and consequences of pointing a laser at an airplane. By working closely with our partners, we can help to reduce the number of incidents at Canada’s airports.”
The Honourable Alice Wong
Minister of State (Seniors)

“At YVR, our number one priority is safety. We are working with our partners to increase education and awareness about the impact of laser strikes. We will be going out into the community this summer to provide the public with more information. The bottom line is—don’t point a laser at an aircraft.”
Craig Richmond
President & CEO
Vancouver Airport Authority

“Suspects who choose to target aircraft with lasers show a careless and wanton disregard for the safety of the pilots, passengers and the communities surrounding airports. Those caught will be prosecuted according to both federal and provincial acts and will be subject to substantial fines and jail time.”
C.V. (Cam) Kowalski, Sgt.
RCMP
Richmond, B.C.

Related Products

• Infographic: Not a bright idea
• Laser website: Use laser pointers safely and legally