MP John Aldag Launches New Initiative to Engage with Constituents

July 17, 2017 

Residents of Cloverdale-Langley City will now have an additional option for communicating with their Member of Parliament, John Aldag. The newly-launched PlaceSpeak page allows constituents to engage meaningfully on topics that matter to the community in a safe and secure way.

Residents can participate in a poll on their priorities for the riding or engage in dialogue on wide ranging issues. They can also be notified of any upcoming events hosted by the MP.

"This made in Canada innovation allows me to consult with constituents directly by geographically limiting participation to only those who live in the riding. I am looking forward to getting input from residents in Cloverdale-Langley City on a wide range of issues such as upcoming legislation, hot issues and to get feedback on my work here at home and in Ottawa."

- John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City

PlaceSpeak was developed with the support of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC-IRAP). Its unique geo-verification technology allows Aldag to hear exclusively from constituents in Cloverdale-Langley City while deterring negative online behaviour such as trolling or spamming, facilitating respectful online dialogue amongst participants.

As a Privacy by Design <https://www.ipc.on.ca/english/Privacy/Introduction-to-PbD/> ambassador, PlaceSpeak ensures that the personal information of participants remains private and secure. Individual privacy measures have been designed into the very architecture of the platform and personal information is never sold, exchanged, transferred, or given to any other company for any reason. The dual emphasis on authentication and privacy renders PlaceSpeak unique in its approach to building legitimacy in the online citizen engagement process.

Residents of Cloverdale-Langley City can register and join the conversation from their computer or mobile device. To learn more, visit http://placespeak.com/MPJohnAldag.

For more information:

Gunraj Gill
Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament
778-389-6353
john.aldag.a1@parl.gc.ca

$406,000 in 2017 Canada Summer Jobs Funding for Cloverdale-Langley City

130 Students in Cloverdale-Langley City set to benefit this summer from Federal Funding to the Canada Summer Jobs Program

June 27, 2017 – Ottawa, Ontario

The Government of Canada continues to help young Canadians get the experience and develop the skills they need to get a strong start in their careers. The Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ)
program provides funding to help employers create summer job opportunities for students in their communities.

A summer job is an important way for young people to learn new skills and get valuable work experience for their résumés. Thanks to CSJ, young Canadians from across the country will be able to access thousands of summer jobs opportunities with small businesses, not-for-profit organizations and the public sector.

Last year, the Government of Canada nearly doubled the number of jobs available through the CSJ program, from 34,000 jobs to roughly 65,800. Since its inception in 2007, CSJ has helped approximately 330,000 students.

“Our government is committed to our plan to give Canadian youth the tools and supports they need to succeed, and Canada Summer Jobs is a big part of that plan. I invite all students who are looking for a summer job to take advantage of this opportunity to develop their skills, gain valuable work experience and earn money.”

- The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

"By investing in young students in Cloverdale-Langley City, we help them build a better future by providing them with opportunities to gain valuable skills and experience while earning money for the upcoming school year.”

- John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City

For more information:

Gunraj Gill
Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament
778-389-6353
john.aldag.a1@parl.gc.ca

Open Letter: Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis

Dear residents of Cloverdale - Langley City,

On April 13, 2017, the Minister of Justice tabled Bill C-45, which calls for the legalization and strict regulation of cannabis.

This proposed legislation is the culmination of months of work by the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, which heard from hundreds of experts in many fields – including health, public safety, justice, and law enforcement – and over 30,000 Canadians before the bill came before Parliament.
 
What Bill C-45 recognizes is that the current system of outright prohibition of cannabis simply doesn’t work:

• It has allowed criminals and organized crime to illegally profit, while failing to keep cannabis out of the hands of Canadian youth.
• It is easier for our kids to buy marijuana than cigarettes, a situation that thousands of Canadians – including many from Cloverdale-Langley City – clearly told us was unacceptable.

We know we can do better.

Our plan will therefore create a framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis in Canada. We will also invest in a strong public awareness campaign so that Canadians are well informed about the dangers of driving under the influence of cannabis.
 
While the proposed legislation has set the lowest allowable age of majority for the sale of marijuana to be 18, the provinces will ultimately decide the age at which it may be legally purchased. In the weeks and months ahead, our Government will continue to consult with the provinces, territories, municipalities, and our Indigenous partners who share with us the responsibility for implementing cannabis legalization and regulation.
 
Recognizing that impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in Canada, our Government has also introduced legislation that would reform the entire impaired driving regime in the Criminal Code. It would strengthen existing drug and alcohol-impaired driving laws by creating new offences, making the law easier to enforce, as well as simpler, more coherent and efficient.
 
This legislation makes Canada a global leader by taking an evidence-based, public health approach to the legalization and strict regulation of cannabis.

I look forward to further engaging with the constituents of Cloverdale-Langley City to develop creative solutions that help address our community’s needs and keeping our youth safe.

Sincerely,

John Aldag
Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City

✔︎ Motion to Study Bill C-323

Motion

Motion to extend the time allotted the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee to study Bill C-323

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

As a member of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, I believe the committee will be able to deliver a stronger and more comprehensive report on Bill C-323 if we have more time to dedicate to the bill. The Committee recently passed a motion to study National Historic Sites as our next study, which will be an important part of our analysis on Bill C-323.

Result

Passed.

✔︎ Paris Accord Motion

Motion

That, in the opinion of the House, climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution; and despite the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, Canada remains committed to the implementation of the Agreement, as it is in the best interest of all Canadians

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Minister of the Environment and Climate Change has repeatedly stated that the Government of Canada will continue to implement the Paris Agreement regardless of what climate policies the U.S. may pursue. Debate and adoption of the motion will send a message to our North American partners, and the world, that Canada remains committed to taking meaningful action on the environment while growing the economy.

Result

Passed.

✔︎ CPC Opposition Day Motion (Expansion Pipeline)

Motion

Kinder Morgan Transmountain Expansion Pipeline

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Our Government’s approval of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project - announced on November 29, 2016 along with the approval of the Line 3 Replacement Project, the dismissal of the Northern Gateway Project, and a formal tanker moratorium along British Columbia’s north coast - shows our commitment to creating jobs for the middle class while protecting the environment for future generations. These decisions demonstrate a balanced approach; one that will create prosperity while preserving the environment. 

Result

Passed.

✔︎ C-44 (Budget 2017)

Bill

C-44: An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 22, 2017 and other measures

Report.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Budget 2017 is the next step in the Government’s ambitious plan to make smart investments that will create jobs, grow our economy, and provide more opportunities for the middle class and those working hard to join it. Budget 2017 puts Canada’s skilled, talented, and creative people at the heart of a more innovative future economy – one that will create middle class jobs today and tomorrow. Following in the footsteps of Budget 2016, Budget 2017 offers immediate help to those who need it most and helps ensure that everyone has a real and fair chance of success.

Similarly to my vote on C-44 at Second Reading, I strongly believe in the vision Budget 2017 puts forward. It will strengthen the Canadian economy over the long-term, and makes key investments to make us a dynamic competitor on the world stage.

Result

Passed.

✘ Motion on the ERRE Committee's Majority Report

Motion

Motion to concur in Electoral Reform Committee Report

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

This motion was brought forward largely as a political move, and not as an action to bring forward any real change or point to any true reform. In saying such, if the vote were to go forward, it would not have led to the implementation of proportional representation. As a former member of the ERRE Committee, I participated in drafting this report. I believe many of the recommendations to be beneficial, but there are several that I do not agree with, and as such, I could not vote to concur with the report. 

Result

Defeated.

✔︎ Motion to Extend House Sitting Hours

Motion

Extend the House of Commons sitting hours until midnight

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Government of Canada introduced a motion to extend House of Commons sitting hours until midnight each day until the summer recess. This meant that Members of Parliament will have an additional six hours to debate legislation each day, allowing more bills to be studied, and more work to be done on behalf of all Canadians.

Result

Passed.

✘ CPC Opposition Day Motion (Autism Funding)

Motion

Autism Funding.

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

The reason for declining the proposal is that the government is still engaging with many groups to identify other potential opportunities for partnerships, and with other departments to determine where in-vestments can best help those with autism and their families.

Our government intends to move forward with the CIHR’s NSERC and SSHRC commitments ($39.1M be-tween 2009 and 2019), support the Kids Brain Trans-Canadian network (diagnosis, treatment and family support), and PHAC will continue working with provinces and territories (P/Ts) to establish the National ASD Surveillance System (NASS). We will remain open to exploring future partnership opportunities.

Result

Defeated.