Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

News Release

RICHMOND – The Federal and Provincial governments are providing funding towards $41.2 million in several local infrastructure projects, announced today by Richmond MP Alice Wong and MLA for Richmond East Linda Reid.

A new $26.9-million interchange will be built at Nelson Road and Highway 91, to provide direct access from Highway 91 to the Fraser Port Industrial Area by extending Nelson Road north from the Westminster Highway. The new interchange will provide an alternate route for traffic using Westminster Highway as an east-west connection from Richmond, Highway 99, and Knight Street. This project will reduce traffic congestion, and create better access to the highway network. Community partners will also contribute funding towards this project.

$12.3 million of the joint funding will provide two new sections of shoulder bus lanes along Highway 99 – one from Sea Island Way to Westminster Highway (southbound), and one from Steveston Highway to Westminster Highway (northbound) tying into shoulder bus lanes currently under construction. This project will significantly reduce travel time for buses operating south of the Fraser River.

In addition, $2 million will go towards extending Lansdowne Road to link #3 Road and the Olympic Oval.

“Canada’s economic action plan is working for Richmond,” said Wong. “This announcement is a great example how the Canadian government works together with other levels of government to fund projects that will have long-term benefits for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.”

“These projects are spectacular news for Richmond,” said Reid. “We’re improving access to Fraser Port, minimizing impacts on local farmers and residents along Westminster Highway and creating 260 new jobs. We’re also making it easier for residents to use transit. All of these infrastructure projects will bring long lasting benefits to my constituents.”

These projects are a part of the $290-million infrastructure investment, recently announced by the Government of Canada and the Province of B.C.

The provincial portion of the funding comes from an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

The federal portion of the funding comes from the $4-billion Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to provide funding to provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure projects. Funding will be available for two years for projects that will begin during the 2009 and 2010 construction seasons. This initiative is structured to flow funding and get shovels in the ground quickly.

RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA, March 20, 2009—Ms. Alice Wong, Member of Parliament for Richmond, today announced federal support for the Richmond Youth Service Agency under the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Ms. Wong made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister of State (Seniors).

Ms. Wong highlighted $18,550 in funding for the Richmond Youth Service Agency to help ensure that seniors have the opportunity to participate and take an active leadership role within their community.

“The Government of Canada is proud to support seniors in strengthening our communities and building our country,” said Ms. Wong. “This project will encourage seniors in Richmond to continue sharing their skills, wisdom and experience to benefit others.”

The Richmond Youth Service Agency received funding for its project Intergenerational Movie Sharing Nights, which will encourage intergenerational interaction by hosting regular movie nights followed by discussion groups for youth and seniors.

The investment highlighted today falls under the Community Participation and Leadership component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which encourages seniors to continue to play an important role in their communities by helping those in need, providing leadership, and sharing their knowledge and skills with others.

With two additional components of the New Horizons for Seniors Program—Capital Assistance and Elder Abuse Awareness—the overall budget of the Program is now $35 million per year.

Since its beginning, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded over 5,000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada. For more information about the Program, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.

In Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government made a clear commitment to protect Canadians, including seniors, in difficult times by implementing several key measures:

* Increasing the Age Credit by $1,000 for 2009 and beyond to allow eligible seniors to receive up to an additional $150 in annual tax savings.
* Providing seniors with $200 million in tax relief by reducing the required minimum withdrawal amount for 2008 from Registered Retirement Income Funds by 25 percent, in recognition of the impact of the deterioration in market conditions on retirement savings.
* Helping older workers and their families through these tough economic times by investing an additional $60 million over three years in the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, and by expanding the number of eligible communities to include older workers in small cities.
* Providing $400 million over two years through the Affordable Housing Initiative for the construction of housing units for low-income seniors.
* Establishing an independent Task Force to make recommendations on a cohesive national strategy on financial literacy for Canadians.

Backgrounder

New Horizons for Seniors Program

Across Canada, the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) helps ensure that seniors are able to actively contribute to and benefit from the quality of life in their communities.

Building on the success of the NHSP, in Budget 2007, the Government of Canada increased the Program’s budget by $10 million per year to provide capital assistance for repairs to facilities and equipment related to existing seniors’ programs, and to raise awareness of elder abuse across Canada. This has increased the total budget for the NHSP to $35 million per year.

As a result of the additional $10 million, the Program offers three types of funding to organizations:

1. Community Participation and Leadership funding (up to $25,000 in funding): this funding supports community-based projects across Canada. The projects encourage seniors to continue to play an important role in their communities by helping those in need, providing leadership, and sharing their knowledge and skills with others.
2. Capital Assistance funding (up to $25,000 in funding): this funding helps non‑profit organizations that need to upgrade facilities or equipment used for existing seniors’ programs and activities. It enables seniors to continue to lead active lives by participating in existing programs and activities in their communities.
3. Elder Abuse Awareness funding (up to $250,000 in funding annually over a maximum of three years): this funding helps non-profit organizations and coalitions raise awareness of the abuse of older adults on a national or regional level. Through this funding, new educational and awareness resources about elder abuse will be available to improve quality of life, safety and security for seniors.

News Release

Richmond, British Columbia— As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Conservative government will significantly expand graduate program scholarships, helping to deliver a more robust, competitive Canadian economy, said MP Alice Wong at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

“Our government is investing in business, science and technology to create jobs, improve the quality of life for Canadians and strengthen the economy for future generations,” said MP Alice Wong. “These additional scholarships will help our universities develop the best researchers in the world and keep Canadian talent here at home.”

The Conservative government is providing $87.5 million to the granting councils over three years starting in 2009-10, and will create an additional 500 doctoral scholarships and 1000 master’s scholarships per year.

As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Conservative government is providing an additional investment of over $5.1 billion toward science and technology initiatives, including $87.5 million for the Canada Graduate Scholarships program.

The funding will help more of the country’s top graduate students to deepen their skills through further study in support of a more innovative economy. Part of the funding will also be directed towards business degrees to help Canadian businesses stay competitive on the world stage.

The Canada Graduate Scholarships program is a shared initiative of three granting councils. Of the $87.5 million, $35 million will be allocated to Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, $35 million to Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and $17.5 million to Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

News Release

Vancouver, British Columbia — Today, Alice Wong, Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism and Member of Parliament for Richmond, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced a $140,000 federal government investment to the City of Vancouver to move forward with projects to strengthen the economic and business capabilities of Vancouver’s Chinatown and Strathcona communities.

“Our Government’s action will ensure that our local communities have the tools they need to attract new business and create new jobs,” said Dr. Wong. “Today’s announcement is part of our efforts to address the challenges our communities face during this time of global economic recession.”

Government of Canada funding, through Western Economic Diversification Canada, will help the City of Vancouver establish a business attraction and marketing strategy for both the Chinatown and Strathcona communities.

“I grew up in the downtown eastside of Vancouver, and have been involved with this community for over 30 years,” said Vancouver City Councillor George Chow. “I’m pleased to see our Government investing in Chinatown and Strathcona. This funding will open up new opportunities and hasten the progress we are already seeing in this proud neighbourhood of history and diversity.”

In Strathcona, the project will include an action plan to increase business productivity through sustainable, green business practices.

“Entering these economically challenging times, the Strathcona Business Improvement Association is developing more progressive and holistic tools to support our businesses in increasing their productivity through sustainable and environmental means,” said Toby Barazzuol, Vice-Chair, Strathcona Business Improvement Association. “With this funding support, the SBIA can realize its goals of strengthening existing businesses while also developing the community that will support the next generation of sustainable businesses.”

The investment will also help Chinatown develop a business recruitment marketing package and action plan for local merchants to improve customer attraction and service.

“On behalf of the Vancouver Chinatown BIA, I am very grateful to WD for funding projects through the city of Vancouver that will create a new legacy involving broad community groups working collectively to implement tangible solutions that will stimulate business and economic development in Chinatown,” added Albert Fok, President, Vancouver Chinatown BIA Society.

Today’s announcement comes as part of Western Economic Diversification Canada’s commitment to the Vancouver Agreement. Strathcona Business Improvement Association, Bell and Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Society provided additional funding for the Business Improvement Associations projects, which has a total project cost of $250,000.

Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations, and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and represents the interests of western Canadians in national decision-making.

For additional information, contact:

Donna Howes
Communications Manager,
British Columbia Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: 604-666-1318
Cell: 604-505-6616

Wendy Au
Assistant City Manager
Tel: 604-871-6639

Cathy Kwan
Strathcona Business Improvement Association
Tel: 604-258-2727

Albert Fok
President
Vancouver Chinatown BIA Society
Tel: 604-632-3808

Vancouver, January 23, 2009 — The Government of Canada is launching four projects designed to reach out to youth and the Chinese community and raise awareness of the Chinese Head Tax and other measures that restricted Chinese immigration between 1885 and 1947. This announcement was made today by Parliamentary Secretary Alice Wong, on behalf of Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

The projects will also seek to honour the work of those who challenged discrimination and sought redress, while also celebrating the contributions of the Chinese-Canadian community that helped to build a strong and diverse Canada.

“The Head Tax and other immigration restrictions that affected Chinese-Canadians are an unfortunate chapter in our history and deserve recognition,” said Dr. Wong. “These projects will increase understanding of the impact of these policies on the Chinese-Canadian community.”

In June 2006, Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered a full apology to Chinese-Canadians for the Head Tax, expressing deep sorrow for the subsequent exclusion of Chinese immigrants and committing to raising awareness of these policies, which are inconsistent with the values that Canadians hold today.

Funded under the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP), the projects will be delivered by: Simon Fraser University, which will receive $200,000; the University of British Columbia, which will receive $50,000; the Metro Toronto Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, which will receive $50,000; and the Toronto Community and Culture Centre, which will also receive $50,000.

The CHRP was announced in June 2006 as part of the Government of Canada’s comprehensive historical recognition program. This program funds community-based commemorative and educational projects that recognize the experiences of communities affected by historical wartime measures and/or immigration restrictions applied in Canada; and that promote the contributions of these communities to building this country. Eligible projects can include monuments, commemorative plaques, educational material and exhibits.

Please contact the CHRP by telephone at 1-888-776-8584 (toll free) or by electronic mail at CHRP-PRHC@pch.gc.ca for more information if you wish to submit a funding application in 2009.