The Brassard Report Fall 2016 Fall 2016
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TheThe BrassardBrassard ReportReport FallFall 20162016 CanadaCanada SummerSummer JobsJobs Photo: L-R (Back row) MP Brassard with Mayor Lehman, MP Nuttall, Steve-Lee Young, Rec Services Mgr, Jessica Gourlie, Rec Programmer, (Front Row) Geoff, Sydney, Natasha, Emily The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow: June 2016 - MP Brassard made not-for-profit organizations and public-sector employers his local priorities for funding. MP Brassard was pleased to announce over $620,000 in CSJ funding was delivered to the riding of Barrie- Innisfil allowing the creation of nearly 270 summer jobs for local youth. “This program brought in by the previous government has been a resounding success. Canada Summer Jobs benefits our community, our local economy and especially the students of Barrie- Innisfil. They gain invaluable work experience that will help them immensely in their future endeavours.” - MP Brassard. MP’sMP’s ScholarshipScholarship AwardAward WinnersWinners AdvancingAdvancing BiBi--laterallateral RelationsRelations Photo: L-R Justin Conti, MP Brassard, Cici Liu,Thomas Sorrenti Photo: Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. MP Brassard sponsors scholarships for 7 local high school students: Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group July 2016 - Seven years ago MP Brassard began to personally fund a Politics June 2016 - This summer, MP Brassard made his second trip to Washington D.C. and Civics Scholarship at Bear Creek Secondary when he was a City Councillor with select MPs for continued bi-lateral talks with Senators, Governors and other high in Barrie (Ward 7). Earlier this year when Mr. Brassard discovered MPs were level officials of the United States Government. This all-party working committee given a small pay increase he decided to expand his sponsorship to each of the covered a wide range of topics including: the threat of ISIS, border security, trade seven secondary schools in the riding. agreements, energy policy and the future of the Great Lakes. "I was surprised to learn that MPs were getting a small raise so soon after the election and to be “It is vital to the future prosperity of Canada to have a close working relationship with our largest trading frank, I learned of it from reading the National Post. I am pleased to ‘pay this forward’ and donate partner. It is important to foster good relations based on mutual respect and a desire to understand each the net annual amount of the MP pay increase to help students in Barrie-Innisfil get a head start other. Our integrated economies pose challenges but it also presents common opportunities. I appreciate with the cost of university by expanding the scholarship award I started years ago." - MP Brassard being able to work with colleagues from across the border as well as from across the aisle.” - MP Brassard AN INSIDE GLANCE: Serving Barrie - Innisfil (Ottawa News)……….…………………….. PG 2 Community Corner….………………………………………………... PG 3 MP Brassard’s Family BBQs / MP Letter / Survey………………... PG 4 Printed on recycled paper PG 2 ServingServing BarrieBarrie -- InnisfilInnisfil OttawaOttawa NewsNews ELECTORAL REFORM RESULTS: MP BRASSARD’S SURVEY MP John Brassard recently sent a survey to every household in the riding of Barrie-Innisfil asking for feedback on electoral reform. The Liberal government has stated very clearly that 2015 would be “the last election under the first-past-the-post system” (the system that has been in place since Confederation, 1867).The following is a summary of 250 completed responses that were mailed back from households in the riding of Barrie-Innisfil to MP Brassard in Ottawa: 1. Should Canadians have the final say on the way we elect MP’s? 93% YES, hold a referendum 7% NO, let the politicians decide 2. Do you favour changing Canada’s electoral system? 30% YES, major changes 42% NO, current system 28% MAYBE, minor changes only 3. If you chose YES for #2, which new model do you prefer? 86% Proportional 12% Preferential 2% Other 4. Should voting be mandatory in Canada? 40% YES 46% NO 14% Unsure Barrie-Innisfil responses show: 93% think Canadians must have the final say before any changes are made. 70% believe the current system works well or a major change is not needed. Of those who want major electoral reform only 12% prefer the Preferential or Ranked ballot (coveted by PM Trudeau and the Liberal Party). Barrie-Innisfil is split on whether voting should be mandatory in Canada. Let MP Brassard know how you feel about this important issue facing our democracy! MP BRASSARD REQUESTS TRANSIT FUNDING: TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT RESPONDS The Prime Minister made a stop in the riding of Barrie-Innisfil on August 23rd to announce funding for transit. Barrie will be receiving $4.1 million (in five installments over the next year - starting in November 2016) to help buy new conventional ($3.4m) and specialized buses ($700k) for the city’s transit system. Federal funding for transit is not a new thing for Barrie. Between 2007-2010 the previous Conservative Government invested roughly $11 million in helping to build the Barrie South GO and the Allandale Waterfront GO stations. This brought GO Train service back to Barrie after a 16 year absence. In 2011, Ottawa also secured nearly $6 million to build the state-of-the-art Barrie Transit Garage where the latest announcement was made. “During the election, the Liberals made some very lofty promises when it came to infrastructure funding and promised it would flow quickly to cities like Barrie. Ten months have passed since they took office and this is the first drip we've seen from that faucet. I have been lobbying Minister Amarjeet Sohi since February for transit investments consistent with the City of Barrie’s priorities, so I welcomed the announcement but there is always much more work to do”, MP Brassard. MP BRASSARD CALLS ON OTTAWA TO REMOVE INTER-PROVINCIAL TRADE BARRIERS Did you know a case of beer in Ontario costs more than it does in Quebec? Did you know that right now it is easier for a winery in BC to directly sell into Asia than it is to sell in Ontario? Did you also know there are restrictions for Canadian citizens carrying alcohol for personal consumption across provincial borders? Our economy loses BILLIONS a year from Interprovincial trade barriers that hurt consumers and punish producers. Conservative MP see full video on: Dan Albas introduced a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament to ‘Free johnbrassard.com The Beer’ to open up our internal economy. The NDP and Greens stood with Conservatives but the Liberal majority voted the bill down. The bill was responding to a New Brunswick judge’s ground-breaking ruling in the case of a man who was arrested for importing liquor from Quebec. In April 2016, Judge Ronald LeBlanc threw out all charges against Gerard Comeau for bringing in 14 cases of beer and three bottles of liquor to New Brunswick from a Quebec border town. The Canadian Constitution Foundation, which was part of Comeau's defence team, expected the case to go all the way up to the Supreme Court. The bill called on the federal government to avoid that lengthy delay and send to the Supreme Court now. The government must acknowledge the ruling and recognize Canadians have the constitutional right to ‘Free the Beer’! Barrie: (705)726-5959 Ottawa: (866)736-7631 WEBSITE: johnbrassard.com EMAIL: [email protected] MPMP Brassard’sBrassard’s CommunityCommunity CornerCorner “IT IS A DISTINCT HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT BARRIE-INNISFIL” - MP BRASSARD July 2016 - Canada Summer Jobs announcement at Innisfil YMCA June 2016 - On Parliament Hill with students from Cookstown Public School Canada Day: (L-R) Mayor Jeff Lehman, Cllr. Andrew Prince, MP Alex August 2016 - Innisfil Farmers’ Market August 2016 - MP Brassard attends Innisfil grand opening of Nuttall, MPP Patrick Brown, MPP Ann Hoggarth, Cllr. Rose Romita) (with a group of performers from Uganda) Chelsea’s Dance Pac (with Cllr. Lougheed & Mayor Wauchope) August 2016 - Bayanihan (Fillipino) Annual Summer BBQ at Tyndale Park, Barrie August 2016 - Hockey Night in Simcoe County IX (with Ontario PC August 2016 - Barrie’s Special Olympian Kristy Alford Party Leader Patrick Brown and NHL superstar Connor McDavid) (sprinter - 100m & 200m) SAVE THE DATE: Innisfil Passport Clinic John Brassard, M.P. 543 Confederation Building DATE: Saturday House of Commons November 5, 2016 Ottawa, ON TIME: 10am-1pm K1A 0A6 LOCATION: Innisfil Public Library (Lakeshore/Alcona Branch) MPMP Brassard’sBrassard’s 1st1st AnnualAnnual CommunityCommunity BBQsBBQs John’s Innisfil Community BBQ was held on the grounds of the Stroud Arena on Saturday July 16th and the MP hosted his Barrie Community BBQ on Saturday July 23rd at Tyndale Park. Residents of Barrie-Innisfil enjoyed free hot dogs & hamburgers off the grill, pizza, cold drinks, snow cones and candy floss. There were also games for the kids, button-making, a K-9 demonstration by South Simcoe Police and guests had fun taking turns dunking John in the dunk tank. Thank you to the Innisfil Professional Firefighters Association for their generous donation to the Innisfil Soccer Club and to all the attendees who chipped in with contributions at both events. Enough funds were raised to sponsor five kids to play house league soccer next year in Barrie as well as five more worthy kids from Innisfil. To apply to be sponsored, simply email or write a letter (no postage necessary) to MP Brassard at his Barrie office (address on front page). Explain in the letter/email why you or your child would like help playing soccer next year. Applicants must be between the ages of 4 and 12 & live in South Barrie (south of Tiffin St.) or Innisfil. MP getting dunked! Soaked for a great cause See Drone Videos at: Thanks Innisfil Fire! johnbrassard.com Letter from your Member of Parliament: Dear constituents of Barrie-Innisfil, I hope you had an amazing summer taking in all our area has to offer and spending time with family and friends.