Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

As previously discussed on this website, the Credit Card Code of Conduct has passed from the “draft” to the “final” state.

Almost every business has a credit card merchant agreement to handle monetary day-to-day transactions. These rules well help to promote choice and competition in the credit/debit card processing market.

Although these rules are not in regulation, they are expected to be adhered to by the various credit/debit providers. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty stated, “Payment card networks, credit and debit card issuers, and payment processors are now being invited to adopt this Code. We are confident that they will do so voluntarily. Our Government has, however, taken steps in Budget 2010 to ensure that we have the legislative authority to regulate the industry if necessary.”

You can read about the details of the finalized code of conduct by clicking here, and the April 16, 2010 news release here.

** To facilitate expected demand, the amount of time has been increased. It will no longer start at 7:00pm. It will start from 5:00pm and go on until 8:00pm. **

The official notice from the Ministry of Finance can be accessed here.

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On May 3, 2010, there will be a public town hall meeting in Richmond on the issue of Canada’s retirement income system. MP Ted Menzies, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance is scheduled to be in attendance, in addition to MP Alice Wong.

The location will be the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel (7551 Westminster Highway) in the Minoru Room A and B. It will start at 5:00pm and go until 8:00pm.

In the event you are unable to make the town hall meeting, you can send your comments to ris-consultations-srr@fin.gc.ca by April 30, 2010. The Ministry of Finance would like to kindly point out that “A consultation is not a poll. Please do not send multiple or duplicate submissions.”

Background Information

To support a strong retirement income system over the long term, federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Finance established a Research Working Group in May 2009, chaired by Parliamentary Secretary Ted Menzies, to expand governments’ understanding of retirement income adequacy issues.

The group’s summary report was presented to Ministers of Finance and Ministers responsible for pensions at their December 2009 meeting in Whitehorse by its research director, Professor Jack Mintz.

While the report confirms the relative strength of Canada’s retirement income system, Ministers tasked senior officials to work collaboratively over the following months to analyze the wide range of ideas that have been put forward by various stakeholders, experts and commentators to further strengthen Canada’s government-supported retirement income system.

The consultations announced today underscore Ministers’ agreement that the collaborative work undertaken by officials should take into account the broader public discussion on retirement income adequacy and pension issues, as well as research and any consultations undertaken by governments.

Canada’s Ministers of Finance will discuss the findings from these consultations and appropriate next steps at their May meeting.

More detailed and exhaustive information can be found by reading this information brief.

CANADA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA SIGN NEW IMMIGRATION AGREEMENT

VANCOUVER – Today, Dr. Alice Wong, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, and Moira Stilwell, B.C. Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, signed the new Canada-British Columbia Immigration Agreement.

“The signing of today’s agreement with British Columbia will support the integration of newcomers, helping to ensure that they’re able to contribute to our economy and succeed in Canada,” said Minister Kenney. “I am also pleased to announce the first temporary foreign worker annex to this agreement today. This will facilitate the entry of these workers to help British Columbia fill critical labour shortages.”

“The agreement will help Canada attract the skilled international workers it needs to meet the needs of the Canadian economy as we emerge from the global economic recession,” said Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “It will certainly strengthen British Columbia’s ability to meet its labour market needs both today and in the future.”

“The renewal of this agreement strengthens our partnership with the federal government and our commitment to providing welcoming and inclusive communities and workplaces in B.C. for newcomers,” said Stilwell. “Immigrants coming to our province not only enrich the social fabric of B.C., they also bring economic advantages, generate innovation, attract industries and workers, and spur economic growth.”

The agreement formalizes and builds on the existing collaborative relationship between Canada and British Columbia on immigration matters and recognizes the importance of involving community partners, including local governments, service providers and the private sector, in welcoming and integrating newcomers. This year, $114 million will be transferred to British Columbia under the agreement to support settlement and integration services and welcoming communities’ initiatives.

Attracting more immigrants to British Columbia and retaining and integrating them to address British Columbia’s unique economic and social needs will be to Canada’s overall social, cultural and economic benefit.

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Backgrounder

Canada‑British Columbia Immigration Agreement

Overview

Immigration is a shared responsibility with the provinces and territories. The Canada‑British Columbia Immigration Agreement defines the respective roles and responsibilities of each jurisdiction for immigration matters under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. It supports mutual federal and provincial objectives in the areas of immigrant attraction, selection, admission, retention and integration.

The agreement provides the framework for managing immigration activities, such as provincial nominees, international students, sponsorship, immigration health issues and temporary foreign workers.

It also strengthens accountability and reporting for federally funded settlement and integration services.

British Columbia receives the third-largest share of immigrants in Canada – approximately 40,000 immigrants each year. China, India and the Philippines are the top three source countries for immigrants in British Columbia. There are also about 120,000 temporary residents (temporary foreign workers and international students) in British Columbia at any given time.

Immigration is critical to the province’s economic recovery and growth, and will account for most of British Columbia’s net population growth within the next two decades. It is estimated that there will be approximately 950,000 job openings in British Columbia between now and 2020 and it is expected that immigrants will fill one-third of these jobs.

The agreement replaces a previous agreement signed in 2004 and is valid for five years from the date of signing.

Specifically, the new agreement means:

* British Columbia will continue to have a say in permanent and temporary immigration to the province, in support of its social, demographic and economic development and labour market priorities, including skill shortages.
* Canada and British Columbia will enhance their cooperation in overseas immigration marketing initiatives, including attracting skilled workers, entrepreneurs and students to the province. Both governments will also work together to increase information for new immigrants before they arrive.
* The successful settlement and integration of immigrants and refugees in British Columbia will continue to be supported by programs through ongoing federal funding. Settlement and integration supports will also be strengthened for newcomers.
* Both governments commit to continue working together and with official language minority communities on developing activities to support Francophone immigration and integration in British Columbia.

Funding transferred to British Columbia under the agreement has significantly increased since 2005-2006, from approximately $40 million to $114 million in 2010-2011, reflecting Canada’s increased commitment to funding immigrant services.

In response to these funding increases, in 2007, British Columbia developed WelcomeBC, British Columbia’s strategic framework for immigrant settlement and integration services and welcoming communities initiatives. WelcomeBC is delivered through 377 contracts with over 100 partners, who employ approximately 1,200 workers, including school districts, the private sector and community-based organizations.

Since its inception, WelcomeBC has expanded settlement services across British Columbia to over 85,000 newcomers a year; created settlement services in 850 schools in 21 school districts, serving more than 41,000 immigrant children and their families; increased regional access to English-language training from 29 to 58 communities; introduced a Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program in 33 communities, which was recognized as a best practice by the G8 expert committee on diversity; and launched WelcomeBC.ca, serving over 25,000 clients monthly.

Facilitating the entry of temporary foreign workers

The Temporary Foreign Workers Annex will improve the responsiveness of the Temporary Foreign Workers Program in British Columbia by providing the province with a greater role in helping these workers come to Canada.

British Columbia will now be able to recommend the issuance of work permits to some temporary foreign workers or groups of temporary foreign workers belonging to a specific occupational group where skill and labour shortages exist, without first requiring a labour market opinion from the Government of Canada. A labour market opinion confirms that the entry of workers will not have a negative impact on the Canadian labour market. The Government of Canada will grant a work permit to applicants after they have met federal admissibility requirements, such as those related to health, criminality and security.

The annex will also help increase the protection of foreign workers. British Columbia will improve information for its temporary foreign workers concerning their rights as workers, their eligibility for British Columbia health insurance, workers compensation benefits, employer- or government-sponsored pension plans, and protection under the relevant provincial or federal occupational health and safety, employment and labour relations standards.

The entry of temporary workers will be facilitated while recognizing the importance of supporting British Columbia’s efforts to train and improve the skills of British Columbians.

Responding to the settlement and integration needs of immigrants and refugees

British Columbia and Canada are co-operating in providing settlement and integration services to immigrants in the province. The present agreement confirms the Government of Canada’s commitment to fair and ongoing funding for settlement services in British Columbia. British Columbia has been responsible for the design, administration and delivery of federally funded settlement and integration services since 1998. Canada will continue to be responsible for the design, administration and delivery of resettlement services for refugees.

This agreement commits both governments to sharing and enhancing accountability for the effective delivery of settlement and integration services. This will include measuring and reporting on the outcomes of these services for immigrants and refugees, such as improved official language skills and improved ability to access the labour market. Both governments also agree to work with other provinces and territories to develop a national accountability framework to ensure that settlement and integration services are delivered effectively to newcomers across Canada.

Expanding partnerships with communities

Both Canada and British Columbia recognize that immigration is a two-way process. Successful integration programs involve the communities in which immigrants will work and live. The agreement recognizes the importance of working with community-based organizations, municipal governments, the private sector and official language minority communities to explore issues related to their respective interests in immigration. This will also help support the development of programs and services for immigrants and maximize the benefits of immigration.

The Teachers Institute on Canadian Parliamentary Democracy is an intensive professional development opportunity that brings 70 outstanding teachers from across Canada together in Ottawa for an insider’s view on how Parliament works. Through sessions with political, procedural and pedagogical experts, participants engage in a process of critical inquiry into key issues in citizenship and parliamentary democracy. Throughout the program, participants work together in a collaborative environment to develop strategies for teaching about Parliament, democracy, governance and citizenship.

Applications are currently being accepted for the 14th annual Teachers Institute on Canadian Parliamentary Democracy, to be held on Parliament Hill from October 31 to November 5, 2010.

Applicant Eligibility:

* You have not previously participated in the Teachers Institute.
* You currently teach in Canada.
* You currently teach or expect to be teaching in a subject area related to citizenship, civics and/or social studies.
* You currently teach students between grades Kindergarten to 12 (Primary cycle 1 to CÉGEP in Québec).
* You plan to continue teaching in the province or territory from which you apply until at least June 30, 2011.
* You are prepared to undertake a follow-up activity to extend the impact of the Teachers Institute.
* Each person must apply individually and will be evaluated on his or her own merits.
* Both new and experienced teachers are welcome to apply.

Cost:
* Registration fee of $500 is payable upon selection.
* Program covers travel costs, accommodation and most meals.

The application deadline is April 30, 2010 May 11, 2010. Completed applications and supporting documentation must be post-marked no later than April 30 2010 May 11, 2010. Late or incomplete submissions and unsolicited attachments will not be considered. For application forms and additional information about the program, please call 1-866-599-4999 or visit: www.parl.gc.ca/teachers

The following are words from the Minister of Veterans Affairs, Jean-Pierre Blackburn:

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The recent passing of John “Jack” Babcock, Canada’s last known First World War Veteran, marked the end of an era in Canadian military history. It is our hope that Canadians will take this opportunity to reflect, remember and honour all Canadians who served in the First World War.

On Tuesday March 2, I announced our government’s plans to mark the “end of an era,” which include a national commemorative ceremony being held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on “Vimy Ridge Day” April 9, to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements of all Canadian First World War service men and women. International commemorative ceremonies will also take place at both the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, in France and at the Canada Memorial at Green Park, in London, England. In addition to this, some provinces and territories plan to conduct a commemorative ceremony in their respective capitals.

The public will have the opportunity to pay their respects by signing special Books of Reflection that will be on display at locations across Canada, including Parliament Hill, Rideau Hall, the Canadian War Museum as well as at each Provincial/Territorial Legislature. Books will also be available overseas at the Vimy Ridge National Historic Site, the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial National Historic Site, Canada House in London, England, and at the Canadian Forces Base in Kandahar. An online version of the Books of Reflection will also be available on the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site at www.vac-acc.gc.ca.

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John “Jack” Babcock

Born on July 23, 1900, John “Jack” Babcock grew up on a farm near Kingston, Ontario as part of a family of 13 children. When he was quite young, his father died in a tree-cutting accident. Despite this devastating loss, Mr. Babcock went on to bravely serve his country in the First World War before moving to the United States where he settled in Spokane, Washington.

He was 15 years old when he joined the 146th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Sydenham (near Kingston), Ontario. A few months later, he arrived in England. He was transferred to reserve battalions and ended up with the Boys Battalion (also known as the “Young Soldiers Battalion”) in 1917.

Mr. Babcock would later move to the United States, where he served in the American Army from 1921 to 1924. Mr. Babcock married Dorothy (Dot) after losing his first wife, Elsie, in the late 1970s.

Mr. Babcock read voraciously and, in recent years, completed his high school degree via correspondence courses. He had also taken local college courses. He could recite the alphabet backwards without hesitation and spell out his name in Morse code. He enjoyed travelling with his wife and taking daily walks to keep in good shape. He took up flying lessons and became a pilot when he was 65!

In April 2008, the Minister of Veterans Affairs awarded Mr. Babcock a Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation. Later that year, a small ceremony was held in May at Mr. Babcock’s home, where his Canadian Citizenship was reinstated. Another accolade came in September 2008 when the Royal Canadian Regiment Association honoured Mr. Babcock with the honorary title of regimental patriarch. This was the first time the title of regimental patriarch was given in Canada.

The Minister of Finance is holding a roundtable discussion with respect to pensions and retirement income. One of the meetings will be in Richmond, BC. Details will be posted on this site at a future date.

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Government Launches Coast to Coast Consultations on Canada’s Retirement Income System

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, and Parliamentary Secretary Ted Menzies, along with the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of State for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, today announced the launch of online consultations and a series of cross-country roundtable discussions, speaking engagements and town hall meetings to gather input from Canadians on ensuring the ongoing strength of Canada’s retirement income system. The consultations will inform discussions at the next meeting of federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Finance in May, where the retirement income system will be a key agenda item.

The public town hall meetings will be held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Quebec City, and Richmond, British Columbia. Roundtable discussions with invited key stakeholders, experts and representatives from provincial and territorial governments will take place in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and London, Ontario.

For further information, http://www.fin.gc.ca/n10/10-022-eng.asp

Richmond, BC – Alice Wong, M.P. (Richmond) introduced a newly designed road safety strap for senior citizens at the Richmond constituency office.

“The number of accidents involving seniors injured while crossing streets at night time is a continuing concern in the community”, said Wong. “These road safety straps will assist the safety of our seniors by increasing their visibility at night time, potentially reducing the risk of accidents involving pedestrians.”

People often wear dark colour clothing that makes them less visible in the dark. The newly designed neon yellow road safety strap is a simple road safety device which can be worn over clothing to enhance the visibility of pedestrians and increase the safety of road users, particularly seniors.

The road safety strap is available to any senior resident of Richmond on a first-come first-serve basis, at the Constituency office of Alice Wong, located at 360 – 5951 No. 3 Road on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday between 10:00am and 12:00pm while quantities last.

The Celebration and Commemoration Program is a theme-based, integrated and dynamic approach to celebrating and commemorating Canada and Canadians. The program provides continuity and consistency across the diverse celebratory and commemorative activities initiated by federal partners and other levels of government every year.

The Celebrate Canada program provides funding to community-based activities celebrating and promoting National Aboriginal Day, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Canadian Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day across Canada. The 2010 funding application form is now available on the Celebrate Canada Web site at the following address:

http://www.pch.gc.ca/special/canada/invittn/frm-eng.pdf

Application deadline: February 28, 2010. Funding applications forms postmarked or otherwise delivered to the Department of Canadian Heritage office after February 28, 2010 will not be accepted.

The following was a joint press release between the federal Western Economic Diversification Canada and provincial Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development:

DIGITAL GATEWAY OPENS AT ROBSON SQUARE

VANCOUVER – The Digital Gateway, an interactive digital wall and the latest attraction at the British Columbia Showcase at Robson Square, was opened today by Iain Black, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development and Alice Wong, Member of Parliament for Richmond and Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism.

“I am pleased that we are able to celebrate the launch of the Digital Gateway installation at Robson Square today,” said Wong on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification. “This project is just one example of the opportunities the Games will provide to showcase the exciting business and high technology opportunities in western Canada.”

Located adjacent to the skating rink at GE Plaza, the 33.5-metre- (110-foot) long Digital Gateway whisks visitors on a virtual tour highlighting the innovation of companies thriving in Western Canada. Seventeen animated stories are revealed and controlled by the audience as they move through the Corridor. Forty-five infrared sensors pick-up and react to motions and actions, resulting in changes to the animation, sounds and visuals. Effects speed-up or slow-down based on the speed and the movement of the audience. Switch Interactive, a Vancouver firm, was selected to design the interactive program.

“Vancouver is the place to be in 2010 and the heart of the action is at Robson Square,” said Black. “More than 50 events will take place in the BC Showcase during the time of the Games. The Digital Gateway will show visiting business delegations and VIPs what Western Canada, especially British Columbia, is all about from a trade and investment perspective.”

Funding of $1.9 million for the corridor and Robson Square spaces was provided by the governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Canada-British Columbia Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA).

Under WEPA, both Canada and British Columbia are contributing $25 million each, over four years, to strengthen economic activity and improve quality of life in western Canadian communities.

For more information about British Columbia Showcase, including a video, please visit http://www.2010commercecentre.com/About/Facilities/BCShowcase.aspx.

Here is a brief summary of information from the Canadian government concerning the earthquake in Haiti:

(Note this post only contains information up to January 15, 2010; for subsequent information, please refer to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency)

Statements:
Statement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper – January 13, 2010
Statement by Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the situation in Haiti – January 14, 2010
Statement by Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), on the situation in Haiti – January 14, 2010
Ministerial Statement (Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs) on Haiti – January 15
Statement by Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, on the situation in Haiti – January 15

Donation Information:
Donation Information for victims of earthquake in Haiti
Government of Canada to Match Generosity of Canadians in Response to the Devastating Earthquake in Haiti – and – FAQs – Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund

Humanitarian Aid:
Canadian Forces – Operation HESTIA
The Canadian Response to the Earthquake in Haiti