Sizing up the Bright Side of Summer … so far

August 1st, 2007

As we enter the halfway point of what has been a very busy summer, my Conservative colleagues and I will be gathering in Charlottetown to look ahead to the upcoming Fall session in Parliament.

I feel very optimistic about how far we have come in such a short period of time. In just 17 months, our Conservative Government has made great headway in advancing what I like to call “The Four R’s”: tax RELIEF, debt REDUCTION, justice REFORM and democratic RENEWAL. This week, our caucus will focus on how we will continue to keep the promises we made to Canadians and prioritize our next series of legislative and policy objectives.

Mackenzie Mill Remains Open

Optimism has also been the theme throughout our riding in recent days with a series of “good news items” beginning with Canfor’s decision to continue operating its mill in Mackenzie.

Two months after the company announced the mill would shutdown, Canfor says the plant will now remain open on a modified shift schedule, saving 320 jobs. For the time being, Service Canada will maintain the temporary services it has set-up in Mackenzie to help address the remaining 130 layoffs and others affected by the downsizing of operations.

$80-million for BC Forest Communities

In other forestry news, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn was in Prince George recently to launch the Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI), part of our Conservative Government’s ongoing efforts to help BC communities adapt to the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation.

The CEDI program will direct $80-million towards economic growth, job creation, future sustainability and projects to enhance transportation infrastructure in local beetle-affected communities.
A handful of transportation projects that meet provincial and federal requirements have already been announced under CEDI. A public Expressions of Interest process will invite further proposals. The federal and provincial governments will be advised on their overall approach to pine beetle issues by a Mountain Pine Beetle Advisory Board. The 10-person board includes Tumbler Ridge Mayor Mike Caisley and Brian Pearson, a retired professional forester and Prince George resident.

Easier Passport Renewals this Month

And finally, in less than two weeks, it will be much easier for you to renew your passport.

Starting August 15th, you need only submit the new, shorter passport renewal form, two new photos, your application fee and your last passport in order to renew your passport. You will no longer have to submit important documents such as your birth certificate or citizenship card to renew. You can take advantage of this service if your last passport was issued after January 31, 2002, was valid for five years, was issued under your current name and was never damaged or reported stolen.

The new, shorter forms will be available after August 15th at www.passport.gc.ca, at Canada Post outlets or my offices. Passport applications will get even easier after October 1st, when most Canadian adult passport holders will be able to act as guarantors for new applicants.

As always, if you have any questions about any of the information in this column, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 1-800-661-1195.