Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and Mr. Ryan Leef, Member of Parliament for Yukon, will announce Government of Canada support to several organizations under the New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Minister Wong and Mr. Leef will be available for a photo op and to answer questions from the media following the announcement.

Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

DATE:
Thursday, September 1, 2011

TIME:
10:00 a.m.

PLACE:
Yukon Literacy Coalition
207–100 Main Street
Whithorse, Yukon

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FOR INFORMATION (media only):

Kay Richter
Executive Assistant
Office of MP Ryan Leef
613-323-1413

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559

RICHMOND – An official book of condolences will be available to constituents wishing to pay their respects to Jack Layton in the office of Alice Wong, MP at 360 – 5951 No. 3 Road in Richmond during regular business hours.

Alice Wong stated, “It is tragic that the Honourable Jack Layton succumbed to his battle with cancer. Canada is in sympathy and mourning for a great Canadian that has passed away.”

The book of condolences will be forwarded to the wife of Jack Layton, Olivia Chow, once everybody has had ample time to pay their respects.

Richmond, British Columbia, August 22, 2011 – A new Nelson Road / Highway 91 interchange will streamline truckers’ access to Port Metro Vancouver, improve farming operations, and reduce congestion on the Westminster Highway for local residents and farmers.

The Nelson Road / Highway 91 Interchange will extend Nelson Road north from the Westminster Highway to connect to Highway 91 and will:

Provide improved access to Port Metro Vancouver and greatly reduce heavy truck traffic on Westminster Highway west of Nelson Road by diverting it via Highway 91
Reduce traffic bottlenecks on Westminster Highway, increase traffic safety, improve the movement of goods and people, and
Lessen congestion for farmers and improve farming operations because industrial truck traffic will no longer use Westminster Highway between No. 6 Road and Nelson Road.

The $23 million project created about 150 jobs during construction and was funded by the Government of Canada which committed close to $6.4 million through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund. B.C. committed $6.4 million, $8 million came from Port Metro Vancouver and more than $2 million came from the City of Richmond.

“I am proud to be here today to celebrate the completion of this interchange that will improve safety and traffic flow, by providing direct access from Highway 91 to the Port Metro Vancouver industrial lands in Richmond,” said the Honourable Alice Wong, Member of Parliament for Richmond and Minister of State (Seniors), on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “Through our Government’s Economic Action Plan and projects such as these, we are creating jobs and delivering real results for communities across the country.”

“About half of the traffic accessing Nelson Road each day is truck traffic,” said Linda Reid, MLA for Richmond East, on behalf of Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Blair Lekstrom. “Giving truckers a better route to Port Metro Vancouver will help them stay on time and reduce traffic on Westminster Highway making life easier and safer for families and farmers.”

“Port Metro Vancouver is Canada’s gateway to the world’s most dynamic economies and serves as a major economic generator for British Columbia,” said Robin Silvester, President & CEO, Port Metro Vancouver. “As the port plans for growth in the coming years, gateway infrastructure investments like this one will be key to improved efficiency and access, and at the same time, ensure benefits to local communities.”

“This new interchange represents a vital link for our community, region, province and country,” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “It will bring hundreds of new jobs to Richmond and millions of dollars of new trade and investment to BC and Canada. It will also improve our community mobility and quality of life by significantly reducing truck travel along Westminster Highway.”

As part of the Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund is supporting more than 4,100 infrastructure projects across the country.

For further information on the Government of Canada’s infrastructure investments in British Columbia, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca

Quick Facts:

Westminster Highway is currently a key road connection to the industrial area from Highway 99 and road improvements will address issues with traffic mix, vehicle capacity, safety, farming operations and community impacts.
A portion of the remaining automobile traffic is also expected to shift from Westminster Highway to use the new Highway 91 interchange for faster access to and from Highway 99, Knight St., and other parts of Richmond, Vancouver and the North Shore.
Port related operations support more than 80,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Lower Mainland. Trucking is an integral part of the supply chain. Recently, container trucks that access Port Metro Vancouver have met the highest truck emissions standards in Canada.

Learn More: http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/highwayprojects/Hwy91-Nelson-Interchange/index.htm

Contacts

Vanessa Schneider
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Phone: 613-991-0700

Infrastructure Canada
Phone: 613-948-1148
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154

Kate Trotter
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Phone: 250-356-8241
Fax: 356-2950

Anna Deeley
Corporate Communications Specialist
Communications & Government Affairs
Port Metro Vancouver
Phone : 604-665-9125
Cell: 778-836-7295
Fax: 866-284-4272
portmetrovancouver.com

Vancouver, British Columbia, August 9, 2011—Local youth who face barriers to obtaining employment will receive job preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada’s support of three youth employment projects. The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State for Seniors and Member of Parliament for Richmond, made the announcement today on behalf of Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“Our government is working with community organizations across Canada to help young people reach their full potential,” said Minister Wong. “We want youth to be ready and trained for the jobs that will be in demand. When given the tools and opportunity to succeed, there really is no holding them back.”

With assistance from the federal Skills Link program, three non-profit organizations in the Lower Mainland will help 120 youth develop the skills and experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school.

The youth participants will attend life and employability skills workshops that focus on topics such as résumé writing, problem solving and teamwork. Based on their needs and interests, the participants will then be matched with employers who will provide them with hands-on experience through work placements.

The Government of Canada is investing over $1.2 million in Skills Link funding for the following three youth employment projects:

Gordon House Youth S.E.A.R.Ch. will receive over $495,000 for its Youth Search Employment Program, which will help 48 youth.

The DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society will receive over $375,000 for its Future Leaders program, which will help 33 youth.

The Mission Community Skills Centre Society will receive over $368,000 in Skills Link funding for its Express to Success program, which will help 39 youth.

“By supporting projects like these that find local solutions to local challenges, we are building on our national strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world,” said Minister Wong.

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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

For further information (media only):

Alyson Queen
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559

Backgrounder

As part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy, the Skills Link program is one of three programs that help young Canadians, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs and stay employed. The other two programs are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus.

Skills Link helps youth between 15 and 30 years of age who are not receiving Employment Insurance benefits develop basic and advanced employment skills. It assists participants through a coordinated, client-centred approach that offers longer-term supports and services tailored to their specific needs to help them find and keep a job.

The Skills Link program is delivered by Service Canada, which provides one-stop personalized services for Government of Canada programs, services and benefits. For more information about this program, visit servicecanada.gc.ca, call 1 800 O‑Canada or drop by your local Service Canada Centre.

Burnaby, British Columbia, August 9, 2011 — People with disabilities will get work experience through the Government of Canada’s support for an employment project. The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State for Seniors and Member of Parliament for Richmond, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“In today’s environment, it is more important than ever that all Canadians have the skills they need to participate and succeed in the job market,” said Minister Wong. “By supporting this project, our government is helping Canadians with disabilities maximize their potential and independence.”

With assistance from the federal Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities, the Neil Squire Society’s Enhanced Employ-Ability project will develop and test an improved online service delivery model, create a curriculum guide, and help 660 people with disabilities develop their skills to prepare for jobs, become self‑employed or return to school for further training.

The Neil Squire Society will receive $4,260,441 under the Enhanced Employment Assistance Services component of the Opportunities Fund.

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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

For further information (media only):

Alyson Queen
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament for Richmond, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, will announce funding to Gordon House Youth S.E.A.R.Ch., DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society and Mission Community Skills Centre Society for various projects.

Minister Finley will be available for a photo op and to answer questions from the media following the announcement.

Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

DATE:
Tuesday, August 9, 2011

TIME:
1:30 p.m.

PLACE:
Gordon House Youth S.E.A.R.Ch.
300-853 Richards Street
Vancouver, British Columbia

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FOR INFORMATION (media only):

Robert Lynch
Director of Communications
Office of Minister of State Wong
613-790-0219

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559

The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament for Richmond, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, will announce funding to the Neil Squire Society for their enhanced Employ-Ability Program.

Minister of State Wong will be available for a photo op and to answer questions from the media following the announcement.

Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

DATE:
Tuesday, August 9, 2011

TIME:
10:00 a.m.

PLACE:
Neil Squire Society
220−2250 Boundary Road
Burnaby, British Columbia

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FOR INFORMATION (media only):

Robert Lynch
Director of Communications
Office of Minister of State Wong
613-790-0219

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559

Granum, Alberta, August 2, 2011—The Honourable Ted Menzies, Minister of State (Finance) and Member of Parliament for Macleod, today highlighted federal support to the Granum Drop-In Centre under the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP), which encourages seniors to continue to participate in and contribute to their communities.

Minister Menzies made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors).

“The Government of Canada is working to improve the lives of seniors and is proud to support local organizations with the same goal,” said Minister Menzies. “This project brings opportunities for seniors to stay actively involved in their communities.”

“Today’s seniors know the importance of being socially active and physically healthy,” said Minister Wong. “The New Horizons for Seniors Program is just one example of how we are helping seniors make a positive difference in their own lives and in those of the people around them.”

The Granum Drop-In Centre received $25,000 to replace flooring, cupboards and kitchen sinks. These upgrades will allow the centre to continue offering activities and programs to benefit seniors and other adults.

The NHSP is now accepting proposals for community-based projects that address one or more of the Program’s five objectives: promoting volunteerism, mentoring, elder abuse awareness, social participation, and providing capital assistance for new or existing projects and programs for seniors. The application deadline is September 16, 2011.

For more information on the Program or about the call for proposals, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.

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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

For further information (media only):

Alyson Queen
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559

Harper Government Supports Yonex Canada Open 2011

RICHMOND, BC, July 21, 2011 – The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament (Richmond), on behalf of the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), today announced the Government of Canada’s contribution to the Yonex Canada Open 2011, an elite-level badminton tournament to be held July 19 to 24 in Richmond, British Columbia.

“Our Government is proud to support Badminton Canada in hosting the Yonex Canada Open 2011,” said Minister Gosal. “Headlined by world-class Canadian and international badminton stars, this event will surely be thrilling for competitors and fans alike.”

“Holding world-class events such as this not only benefits Canadian athletes and other participants from around the globe, but it also has a positive impact on the local economy and the community,” said Minister of State Wong. “Once again, the City of Richmond, organizers, and volunteers are welcoming the world to this 2010 Winter Games legacy facility.”

More than 250 athletes from 35 countries will be competing in the six-day event at the Richmond Olympic Oval, including Canada’s most promising hopefuls for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

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 Badminton Canada for the Yonex Canada Open 2011 through Sport Canada’s Hosting Program.

For further information:

Jenny Van Alstyne
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Bal Gosal, P.C., M.P.
Minister of State (Sport)
819-934-1122
jenny.van.alstyne@pch.gc.ca

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

TORONTO — Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Joe Oliver, and Jacques Gourde, Member of Parliament for Lotbinière–Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, announced today that the Harper Government has renewed the popular ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program. This initiative is helping Canadians save on home improvements and energy costs while protecting the environment.

“Our Government is committed to easing the burden of high energy costs on Canadians and putting more money back in their pockets,” said Minister Oliver. “With this program, Canadians can make their homes more energy-efficient and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.”

“Canadians can apply today,” said MP Gourde, speaking in Quebec City. “Especially during summer and construction season, we want as many Canadians as possible to take advantage of this grant.”

Until March 31, 2012, homeowners may be eligible to receive grants of up to $5,000 to make their homes more energy-efficient. The program could help up to 250,000 Canadian homeowners improve their homes’ energy efficiency and generate as much as $4 billion in economic activity across Canada.

Prior to Budget 2011, the Government of Canada provided retrofit incentives to over half a million Canadians. Homeowners who participated in the program saved an average of 20 percent on their energy bills.

For more information, visit ecoaction.gc.ca/homes or call 1-800-O-Canada (800-622-6232). TTY: 1-800-926-9105. Grant amounts are listed in the “Grant Table for ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes.”