✔︎ Bill C-316, Court Challenges Program Act

Bill

Bill C-316, An Act to amend the Department of Canadian Heritage Act (Court Challenges Program)

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Bill C-316 requires that the Minister of Canadian Heritage establish and implement an independently administered program that provides financial support for Canadians to clarify certain constitutional and quasi-constitutional official languages and human rights.

Passed.

Bill Status

At consideration in committee in the House of Commons

Statement about the National Trust for Canada

Thank you, Mr. Speaker,  

I rise in the House today to offer congratulations to the National Trust for Canada on their 50th anniversary Conference. Taking place in Ottawa right now at the Château Laurier, this year’s Conference theme is “Transforming Heritage”. 

The Conference has brought together over 700 heritage professionals, advocates, and industry leaders from across the country, and is being held in partnership with the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals and the Indigenous Heritage Circle.  

The National Trust for Canada is the leading national charity dedicated to the conservation and use of Canada's historic places. Since its inception in 1973, the organization has powered a movement dedicated to preserving and revitalizing heritage buildings, landscapes, and communities for the benefit of people and the planet. 

I want to say a special thank you to Natalie Bull and Chris Wiebe from the National Trust. Their dedication to heritage shows through their hard work. They mobilized support for Bill C-23, which is key legislation for the protection of Canada’s national heritage. From conference attendees, I call on members of this House for the swift passage of C-23.  

Question to PS Bittle on Canada’s National Parks

Thank you to PS Bittle for answering my question in the House of Commons on the government’s progress in protecting Canada’s National Parks.

✔︎ Bill C-232, Arab Heritage Month Act

Bill

Bill C-232, An Act respecting Arab Heritage Month

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Act aligns with the Government’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and with the objectives of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act. Support is consistent with previous decisions to support similar Private Member’s bills and motions seeking the establishment of a heritage month, such as Tamil, Italian, German, Sikh, and Portuguese Heritage Months.

Passed.

Bill Status

At second reading in the Senate

✔︎ M-207 (Dutch Heritage Day)

Motion

M-207: Dutch Heritage Day.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

I voted for this motion because Dutch Heritage Day recognizes, celebrate, and raises awareness of the Dutch community. This is an important value in the government since there is a total of 1,067,245 Canadians who identify as having Dutch ancestry and 98,510 born in the Netherlands.

Result

Passed.

✔︎ C-376 (Sikh Heritage Month)

Bill

C-376: An Act to designate the month of April as Sikh Heritage Month.

Third reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

I voted in favour Bill C-376 because Support for the bill would be consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which officially recognized multiculturalism as ‘‘a Canadian value’’, and with the Canadian Multiculturalism Act which is built on a policy of multiculturalism designed to preserve and enhance the multicultural heritage of Canadians.

Result

Passed.

✔︎ M-155 (Private Members' Business - Filipino Heritage Month)

Motion

M-155: Private Members' Business - Filipino Heritage Month.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

I voted in favour of M-155 because Support for the motion would be consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which officially recognized multiculturalism as ‘‘a Canadian value’’, and with the Canadian Multiculturalism Act which is built on a policy of multiculturalism designed to preserve and
enhance the multicultural heritage of Canadians.

Result

Passed.

Community Support, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Initiatives Funding Announcement

June 27, 2018 – Langley, British Columbia

John Aldag Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City announces New Funding for Community Support, Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Initiatives in Langley and Surrey B.C. This new Government of Canada initiative will support community-led projects events, and community capacity building the Surrey and Langley community.

Today, John Aldag MP for Cloverdale-Langley City announced three new funding streams that will strengthen diverse communities and support anti-racism initiatives in Surrey and Langley B.C. The government is investing a total of $51.9 million over three years, which includes new funding of $21 million for projects, events, and community capacity building. MP Aldag made this announcement on behalf of The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Multiculturalism.

Consisting of three components, this new funding will support:

1. Projects that address racism and discrimination with a focus on Indigenous Peoples and racialized women and girls;

2. Events that promote intercultural and interfaith understanding, and celebrate a community’s history and culture, such as heritage months recognized by Parliament; and

3. Community capacity building projects that will help recipients support the inclusion of newcomers and diverse communities.

Programs like these help bring Canadians together and enable people from all backgrounds to fully participate in society. Those interested in applying for this new funding are asked to contact Canadian Heritage at pch.soutienauxcollectivités-communitysupport.pch@canada.ca.

Quotes

“Although Canada is a welcoming and diverse country, our government knows that we can do better. That’s why we are proud to launch funding for initiatives that will celebrate our diversity, embrace our differences and address issues of racism and discrimination. By encouraging mutual understanding between all Canadians, programs like this will help build a society where everyone feels a true sense of belonging and can fully participate in their community.”

- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for
Multiculturalism

“Diversity is our strength and it is important that each of us works towards fostering a more caring and inclusive Canada. This funding will help us celebrate and embrace our differences, show pride in our individual and collective identities and ancestries, and work towards better understanding of others."

- John Aldag, Member of Parliament (Cloverdale - Langley City)

Quick Facts

In Budget 2018, the Government of Canada announced $23 million in new funding over two years
tackle racism and discrimination, with a focus on Indigenous Peoples and racialized women and girls, of which $21 million will support funding resources for anti-racism and community support initiatives.

Canada is continuing to combat inequity and exclusion that prevents some Canadians from fully
participating in our society.

Contacts:

Carly Haugen
Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament
604-575-6595
john.aldag.c1@parl.gc.ca

Media only:

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca

✔︎ S-218 (An Act respecting Latin American Heritage Month)

Bill

S-218: An Act respecting Latin American Heritage Month.

Third Reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Bill S-218 is aligned with the Government’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as with the Canadian Multiculturalism Policy which aims to recognize the existence of communities whose members share the same origin and their contribution to the history of the country, and to foster their development. 

Result

Passed.

✔︎ C-374 (Composition of the Board)

Bill

C-374: An Act to amend the Historic Sites and Monuments Act (composition of the Board).

Third Reading.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

I proposed and supported this legislation in order to increase Indigenous representation on the Board to allow for more input and participation by key groups. 

Result

Passed.