Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

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!

The following announcement was made on June 18, 2010. It is a continuation of the stimulus package introduced in the January 2009 Economic Action Plan, which is due to end March 31, 2011.

We have been continually receiving correspondence via e-mail with respect to affordable housing in Richmond. Considering the price of residential real estate in the city, affordability is clearly a challenge for people, especially seniors with fixed incomes. Although there is no magic wand to wave that will completely solve the issue, Alice Wong has worked hard to bring government funding to an affordable housing project in Richmond that will be of benefit to 118 senior families and low-to-moderate income families. This is 118 families more than if no action was taken.

We will continue to work hard on this issue, and the issues that concern the constituents of Richmond.

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING BREAKS GROUND IN RICHMOND

RICHMOND – The governments of Canada and British Columbia, along with community partners, broke ground today on the Remy, a 188-unit housing development for low-income seniors, singles and families, including market apartments and a daycare.

“The Province of British Columbia is investing $2,375,000 in the capital costs for the Remy site under the Seniors’ Rental Housing (SRH) initiative to give low-income seniors the opportunity to live in this community they love,” said Premier Gordon Campbell. “These buildings are also the first six-storey wood frame residential buildings to be built in B.C. and are an important part of the Province’s continuous commitment to provide affordable housing solutions for British Columbians most in need.”

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is investing in affordable housing that improves the quality of life of seniors,” said Alice Wong, parliamentary secretary for multiculturalism and Member of Parliament for Richmond, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “In these tough economic times, Year 2 of Canada’s Economic Action Plan is providing Canadians not only with safe, affordable housing, but also with the jobs and opportunities they need, so they can strengthen and contribute to our communities.”

Through an amendment to the Canada-British Columbia Affordable Housing Initiative Agreement, the federal and provincial governments are contributing a combined total of $4.75 million for the 33 affordable SRH units. The Province will also provide $500,000 and the City of Richmond will provide $900,000 for the daycare.

“We welcome this new housing project as it offers low-income seniors, singles and families access to quality, affordable housing options which is an integral part in building a healthy community” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie, City of Richmond. “I also look forward to seeing the completion of the much needed daycare which both the city and Province provided resources towards.”

Oris Development Corporation (Oris) is the developer of the Remy site and managed the private purchases of 70 market units. Oris is a development and consulting firm with experience in heritage restoration, single- and multi-family residential, commercial and industrial property redevelopment.

“We are excited to be in partnership with all levels of government and community partners to provide new homes to this already vibrant community in the City of Richmond,” said Dana Westermark, president of Oris Development Corporation. “Designed with environmental sustainability in mind, the Remy site is an excellent example of providing innovative housing for a wide range of people, including seniors and those with disabilities.”

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. will manage and operate the 33 SRH apartments for seniors. The society will also own and operate 48 affordable apartments for low- to moderate-income families and singles. Incorporated in 1974, S.U.C.C.E.S.S., is a non-profit charitable organization that provides social services to multicultural clientele at all stages of their Canadian experience.

“We would like to thank our government partners for their collaboration in making this project possible,” said Peter Kwok, chair, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. “Many of our clients express their desire to live in communities like Richmond and we know seniors, singles and families in need will greatly benefit from the affordable housing units offered at the Remy site.”

The Seniors’ Rental Housing (SRH) initiative is a result of a $365-million joint investment under an amendment to the Canada-British Columbia Affordable Housing Agreement, which includes funding through Canada’s Economic Action Plan and by the Government of British Columbia. This initiative will provide $123.5 million, including $104 million for seniors and $19.5 million for persons with disabilities, to develop up to 1,000 new affordable rental housing units, which will help to stimulate local economies in smaller communities across B.C. Under terms of the agreement, the provincial and federal governments will provide matching contributions of $61.79 million.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on the Government of Canada’s commitment in 2008 of more than $1.9 billion, over five years, to improve and build new affordable housing and help the homeless. It provides $400 million, over two years, to build new rental housing for low-income seniors. Overall, the Economic Action Plan includes $2 billion for new and existing social housing, plus up to $2 billion in loans to municipalities for housing-related infrastructure.

The Province of British Columbia’s $14-billion capital infrastructure program is creating up to 88,000 jobs, helping to build vital public infrastructure in every region of the province and stimulating local economies across B.C.

For more information on this and other measures in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca. To find out how CMHC is working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit www.cmhc.ca/housingactionplan.

Through Housing Matters BC, the Province is addressing a range of housing needs, from homelessness to affordable rental housing and homeownership. In 2010/11, the Province will invest over $562 million, more than four times as much as in 2001. To find out more about affordable housing in B.C., visit www.bchousing.org.

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Background Information:

REMY

The Remy, located at 9388 Cambie Rd. in Richmond, will provide 188 mixed-use apartments and a daycare in three buildings. These buildings will be the first six-storey wood frame residential developments built in B.C. and will feature energy-efficient geothermal heating and cooling, co-op cars and green roofing as a part of the development’s eco-friendly design.

The Remy site will include:

· 33 Seniors’ Rental Housing (SRH) apartments for low-income seniors and people with disabilities, managed by S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

· 48 affordable apartments for low- to moderate-income families and singles, owned and managed by S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

· 37 affordable-homeownership units for sale to qualified buyers

· 70 private-market apartments

· 50-60 space children’s daycare

Construction is estimated to be complete by December 2011.

Partners and Funding:

· The Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, will provide a Federal Economic Stimulus grant of $2,375,000 through the amended Canada-British Columbia Affordable Housing Initiative for the 33 SRH units.

· The Province of British Columbia will provide a matching Provincial Infrastructure grant of $2,375,000 for the SRH units, a mortgage loan not to exceed $8.1 million and interim construction financing of $34.2 million.

· The Province, through the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), will provide $500,000 for the daycare.

· The City of Richmond will provide $900,000 for the daycare.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

Founded in 1973 and incorporated in 1974, S.U.C.C.E.S.S., is one of the largest social service providers in Canada with 25 offices in British Columbia and four overseas offices. For more details, please visit: www.success.bc.ca.

ORIS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (ORIS)

Oris is an award-winning development and consulting firm with over 30 years of experience in heritage restoration, single- and multi-family residential, commercial and industrial property redevelopment.

The Board of Internal Economy released today an announcement concerning the Auditor General and the expenses of House of Commons Members of Parliament.

The following is a release from the Board of Internal Economy Spokespeople Jay Hill and Marcel Proulx:

The Board of Internal Economy met yesterday with Ms. Sheila Fraser, the Auditor General of Canada, to address and clarify some of the concerns and issues raised in recent weeks by Board members, Members of Parliament, and the media concerning her request to audit the House of Commons Administration.

Having considered the key points raised in that meeting, as well as the assurances provided by the Auditor General as to the process her Office would follow in doing the audit, the Board has decided to invite the Auditor General to undertake an audit of the House Administration and to grant her access to the House of Commons and its records.

As always, the Board is receptive to the concerns expressed by Canadians on any issues connected to the proper management of their tax dollars. In fact, stringent rules and transparency to ensure financial oversight in the House of Commons has always been the Board’s priority.

An audit by an independent accounting firm is conducted annually and these audits, as well as House of Commons financial statements, are posted on the Parliamentary website. Individual members’ expenditures are also available to the public on this site.

The limits on allowances and expenses that any MP is permitted to incur are very specific and clearly itemized, and public servants within the House of Commons Financial Services section strictly enforce these rules and diligently verify that MPs’ expenses are compliant.

While we remain confident that these rules are robust, we have decided to take this extra step of inviting the Auditor General to conduct an audit.

The Board noted that the audit would examine key systems and practices of the House Administration to assess whether adequate rules are in place and if these rules are properly adhered to. In auditing financial management practices of the House Administration, the Auditor General explained that her office would be developing a statistical sampling representative of the entire population of MPs.

We appreciate this approach since we too believe that any sampling of Members must be representative of overall political affiliation in the House as well as of urban and rural constituencies where demands on Members often differ substantially.

The Board of Internal Economy has pledged that the Administration of the House would offer its full cooperation to the Office of the Auditor General, ensuring open communication and effective coordination between the House and the Auditor General so that this audit can be carried out in the most efficient manner with due regard for the House procedures and protocols.

As a result of some inquiries over the matter, the following is an excerpt (pages 3 and 4) from the document “Individual Member’s Expenditures for the Fiscal Year 2008-2009“, published October 2009:

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Effective April 1, 2008, the basic annual Member’s Office Budget for all constituencies was $280,500 (prorated to $129,880 for new Members elected on October 14, 2008). Members who represent densely populated constituencies receive an Elector Supplement, ranging from $8,570 to $51,370 (prorated amount of $3,970 to $23,790 for new Members elected on October 14, 2008). Also, due to the election, some re-elected Members received an adjusted Elector Supplement. Members who represent constituencies of 500 square kilometres or more receive a Geographic Supplement, ranging from $4,740 to $52,120 (prorated amount of $2,190 to $24,130 for new Members elected on October 14, 2008).

Members who represent constituencies listed in Schedule 3 of the Canada Elections Act receive an additional supplement of $16,580 or $19,900 (prorated to $7,680 or $9,210 for new Members elected on October 14, 2008).

The MOB is used as follows:
(1) STAFF AND OTHER EXPENSES ─ includes employee salaries, service contracts and constituency office operating expenses such as utilities, telephone service for secondary constituency offices, additional cellular and Personal Digital Assistant (BlackBerry) services in excess of goods and services provided by the House (as well as airtime and data plans), furniture and computer equipment. This item also includes a Miscellaneous Expenditures Account of up to 3% of the Member’s Office Budget for certain hospitality expenses and gifts given for reasons of official protocol.

(2) TRAVEL ─ includes travel, accommodation, meal and incidental expenses incurred by the Member and the Member’s employees, designated traveller and/or dependant(s) within the constituency or the province or territory in which the constituency is located. It also includes certain transportation expenses incurred by the Member within the National Capital Region, as well as accommodation, meal and incidental expenses incurred by employees on parliamentary business trips within Canada specifically authorized by the Board of Internal Economy.

(3) ADVERTISING ─ allows Members to communicate with their constituents about their office location and contact information, assistance and services they provide and meeting announcements related to the discharge of their constituency functions, and to issue congratulatory messages or greetings to constituents and opinions or statements in support of their parliamentary functions. The Advertising Expenses Account is limited to 10% of the Member’s Office Budget.

(4) OFFICE LEASE ─ rental of constituency office(s).

The following costs are charged to House Administration central budgets:

(5) TRAVEL
(a) each Member is allowed a maximum of 64 return trips each fiscal year between Ottawa and their constituency and other parts of Canada (30 return trips on a prorated basis for all Members elected on October 14, 2008 ). Four (4) of these trips can also be used to travel to Washington, D.C., and the point of departure must be Ottawa, the Member’s constituency or the American border airport closest to their constituency. Opposition Party Leaders are entitled to an additional 16 return trips for a total of 80 return trips (7 return trips on a prorated basis for Opposition Party Leaders elected on October 14, 2008 for a total of 37 return trips);
(b) while in travel status, each Member may be reimbursed for private or rented accommodation and for meals and incidental expenses up to the per diem rate, to a maximum of $25,092 per fiscal year (prorated to $11,620 for new Members elected on October 14, 2008).

(6) TELEPHONE ─ four lines, one fax line and one toll-free number for the primary constituency office telephone services and long-distance charges; a maximum of four wireless devices and services with three voice plans and one data plan.

(7) PRINTING
(a) Householders – printed materials sent by Members (up to four householders per calendar year) to inform their constituents about
parliamentary activities and issues;
(b) Ten Percenters (additional householders) – printed or photocopied material reproduced in quantities not exceeding 10% of the total number of households in a Member’s constituency;
(c) Ten Percenter Regrouping (additional householders) – some or all Members in a recognized party collectively submit, via their Whip’s office, an identical ten-percenter request; up to one regrouping per month is allowed, to a maximum of 10% of the total households represented by the Members submitting the request.

(8) OFFICE SUPPLIES ─ for the Ottawa and constituency offices.

(9) CONSTITUENCY OFFICE FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT IMPROVEMENT FUND ─ Members may purchase, out of this fund,
office furniture, equipment, computers and supplies for their constituency office(s) using House Administration standing offers only, up
to a maximum of $5,000 per year (prorated to $2,320 for new Members elected on October 14, 2008).

(10) OTHER ─ includes furniture, computer and communication equipment, software and renovations for the Member’s Ottawa office.

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With respect to Alice Wong, page 62 of the document has the following entry (click to zoom in):

The financial statements for the House of Commons can be found here. They are audited by KPMG.

Information about the Board of Internal Economy can be found here.

All of the information provided here for fiscal 2008-2009 has been publicly accessible since October 2009.

The Ministry of Finance has released the finalized Code of Conduct for the credit and debit card industries.

Under legislation currently before Parliament, the Jobs and Economic Growth Act (Bill C-9), the mandate of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) will be expanded to enable the agency to monitor compliance with the Code once the legislation receives Royal Assent.

Since the release of the Code on April 16, Department of Finance and FCAC officials and stakeholders have agreed to a number of minor changes, which are highlighted in the revised Code.

You can view the Ministry of Finance news release here or the actual Code of Conduct here.

The Tony Clement, Minister of Industry; James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages; and Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development launched a nationwide consultation on Canada’s first-ever digital economy strategy.

Up until July 9, 2010, you can give your comments to this consultation.

The digital consultation will be conducted digitally, in a format that is unique to most consultations that are conducted by the government.

The Consultation Paper is located here, which provides some background information and issues some questions.

The main Digital Economy consultation page is found at http://de-en.gc.ca/en/home/.

Alice Wong, in addition to Parliament Secretary of Finance Ted Menzies, Minister of State for Seniors Diane Ablonczy, and BC Government Deputy Minister of Finance Graham Whitmarsh listened to the statements given by many people in the audience on May 3, 2010. The meeting went from 5:00pm to approximately 8:30pm in Richmond.

The deadline for submissions has been extended from April 30 – If you were not able to attend, you can still submit comments online by clicking on http://www.fin.gc.ca/activty/consult/retirement-eng.asp – or by sending an email to ris-consultations-srr@fin.gc.ca by May 14, 2010.

The Ministry of Finance also kindly points out, “A consultation is not a poll. Please do not send multiple or duplicate submissions.”