✔︎ 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

Statement on Heritage Week

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, 

Next week, February 20th-26th, is Heritage Week across Canada. In my home province of British Columbia, the Heritage Week theme is “Always in All Ways” - inviting citizens to explore and celebrate the culture and heritage of the communities that make up the places we each call home.  Heritage Week is a time for all Canadians to reflect on how to keep our heritage alive. 

MPs can play a role in protecting heritage places in our communities, while also advancing reconciliation by supporting Bill C-23. When passed, Bill C-23 will create the Historic Places of Canada Act, which will add First Nations, Inuit, and Métis representation to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. This action would implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 79.   

Additionally, this legislation delivers on developing and implementing a national heritage plan and strategy for commemorating residential school sites, the history and legacy of residential schools, and the contributions of Aboriginal peoples to Canada's history. 

Therefore, I ask my colleagues to vote in favour of Bill C-23.  I wish everyone a wonderful Heritage Week in their communities. 

Thank you. 

Federal Government investing $198.6 billion in universal healthcare for provinces and territories

February 13, 2023 – British Columbia

Last week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a major funding announcement to address the ongoing healthcare crisis.

The Government of Canada is investing $196.1 billion over ten years to provinces and territories to improve healthcare services for Canadians. This funding will be distributed partly through the Canada Health Transfer and partly through tailor-made agreements with provinces and territories that will allow for flexibility for jurisdictional healthcare system needs. The Government is also investing $2.5 billion over 10 years to support Indigenous priorities and complementary federal support.

These investments are built on the pillars of access to quality family health services, a resilient and supported health workforce, access to timely and quality mental health and addiction services, and access to electronic health information.

Collaborative work is underway to support access to home and long-term care. Provinces and territories are also being asked to streamline foreign credential recognition for internationally-educated health professionals and to advance labour mobility.

British Columbians can expect over $28 billion over the next ten years to address immediate pressures on our universal healthcare system, as well as long-term concerns. By working together, the federal and provincial governments can fix this healthcare crisis.

“Healthcare in Cloverdale – Langley City and the rest of British Columbia is not meeting expectations. The demand for family doctors has risen and the wait times to access healthcare services have increased to unacceptable levels. This funding from the federal government will help the province deliver healthcare services in Cloverdale – Langley City and throughout our province, through our universal, publicly funded system. I welcome this new funding from the federal government, and I am excited to continue the discussion as more information becomes available.”

Contacts:

Megan Waddington
Constituency Assistant
Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament
604-575-6595
john.aldag@parl.gc.ca

Statement on Childcare and the Canada Child Benefit

Mr. Speaker, 

Last month, I had the opportunity to connect with many constituents about their experiences with the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) and the new childcare agreement in BC. 

One woman told me her heartbreaking story of being in an abusive relationship.  Because of the CCB, she was able to leave and restart the lives of herself and her children.  

Others expressed to me how the CCB tied to inflation has kept their finances stable in this time of global inflation, allowing them to feed and clothe their children. 

Regarding childcare, I met a single mother who was able to go back to work because a childcare space became available. Her fees were reduced by 50%, thanks to our agreement with BC.  

Another family is also saving money on their fees. This has allowed them to afford childcare for their three kids, allowing both parents to return to work.  

These are just a few stories I heard about how our government’s support for families is making a difference.  I look forward to 2026, when $10-a-day childcare is fully implemented in BC. 

Thank you! 

Federal Contribution over $95 million for Trans-Canada Highway 1 - High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane Extension (216 Street to 264 Street)

December 19, 2022 – Langley, British Columbia

Langley is celebrating the start of construction on the Highway 1 Widening Project. This expansion will add one high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction between 216th Street and 264th Street. The project will also construct and replace three crossings around Glover Road and restructure the 232nd Street Interchange.

Investing in local and regional road infrastructure is a key part of maintaining safe and efficient transportation networks in our communities. From roads and community centres to public transit and infrastructure, investments in infrastructure build strong and healthy communities that are sustainable in the long term. This project will benefit the community by reducing congestion and travel time, as well as enhancing active transportation routes. The Government of Canada has invested $95 million towards this project, which is part of the larger $108.9 million Trans-Canada Highway 1 High-Occupancy Vehicle Lane Extension Project.

This project will reconfigure an existing interchange, replace two existing crossings, and improve active transportation infrastructure, improving safety for road users and ensuring that more commercial and oversize vehicles are able to travel on this route.

“We will keep working collaboratively with our partners to support meaningful investments in infrastructure projects that grow our country’s economy, increase the resiliency of our communities, and improve the lives of Canadians.”

Contacts:

Megan Waddington
Constituency Assistant
Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament
604-575-6595
john.aldag@parl.gc.ca

✔︎ Bill S-223 (Trafficking in Human Organs)

Bill

Bill S-223, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (trafficking in human organs)

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Bill’s proposed offences address some gaps in existing criminal law. For example, human trafficking offences prohibit trafficking persons to extract their organs, but do not prohibit conduct related to purchasing organs, such as transplant tourism.

Passed.

Bill Status

Royal Assent received

Statement on the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign

Thank you, Mr. Speaker,  

Last weekend, I had the honour of volunteering with the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle Campaign, outside the Langley Superstore.  

The Kettle Campaign is one of Canada’s largest and most recognizable charitable events during the Christmas season. The funds raised stay in the community in which they are donated and are used to support local Salvation Army programs for people in need. 

This is not the first time I have volunteered with the Salvation Army. The Gateway of Hope, a Ministry within the Salvation Army itself, filled backpacks for kids in need this Fall as part of their Family Services Program. In the end, between 800 and 900 families received help from this campaign.  

I would like to personally thank the individuals at the Gateway of Hope who provide these important services in Cloverdale-Langley City.  

Dan Donkers is the Volunteer Coordinator who manages the Kettle Campaign. Cristina Schneiter is the Residential Services Manager, and she works with the local shelter and manages the Emergency Weather Alerts. Andrea Voss is the Family Services Coordinator, and she helped organize the backpack campaign. 

There are many people to thank for the services the Salvation Army provides, and I wish each of them a very Merry Christmas.  

Thank you! 

✔︎ Bill C-36, Appropriation Act No. 4, 2022-23

Bill

Bill C-25, An Act for granting to His Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Act grants the Head of State, His Royal Majesty King Charles III, certain sums of money toward defraying the various charges and expenses of the federal public administration for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023.

Passed.

Bill Status

Royal Assent received

✔︎ Bill C-32, Fall Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2022

Bill

Bill C-32, An Act to implement certain provisions of the Fall Economic Statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the Budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022.

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Act enacts measures laid out in the Fall Economic Statement presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance on November 3 2022.

Passed.

Bill Status

Royal Assent received

✔︎ Bill C-235, Building a Green Prairie Economy Act

Bill

Bill C-235, An Act respecting the building of a green economy in the Prairies

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

This Bill is consistent with our government’s plan to grow the economy while hitting our ambitious climate targets, and complements ongoing efforts to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, prosperous, inclusive, and circular Canadian economy.

Passed.

Bill Status

Royal Assent received