Never let it be said that Canadians are not a diverse and energetic population when it comes to expressing personal points of view on a range of different topics. This is something that I welcome, as it indicates to me that people are engaged in the discussion of how we can build a better country. Recently I covered the topic of a proposal for the Glacier Discovery Walkway project in Jasper National Park. The intent of my report was not to ask citizens to support or oppose that project but rather to clarify what was being proposed in response to inquiries from constituents. In the days that followed, I heard from citizens who are very strongly in favour of the project and from those who believe there should be no public amenities whatsoever in national parks.
Recently another topic that I am hearing a diverse range of opinions about pertains to the subject of pensions. Currently there are concerns being expressed to me by many public sector employees regarding the future of their pension plans. At the same time I am also hearing from taxpayers with concerns about the costs of public sector pension plans, as well as the costs of pension plans for Members of Parliament. There has been much speculation recently in the media that there may be pending changes to pensions within the public sector. Currently our Government is looking at all forms of public sector spending in order to find efficiencies and savings without raising your taxes. At this point, all options are being considered. I will state for the record that should changes be proposed to the MP pension plan that is more respectful of the taxpayer I will fully support such initiatives. I will note that individuals in the public service pay into and earn them; however contributions and benefits must be fair to the taxpayers who help fund them.
My office also receives on a regular basis questions from many citizens about the different programs that the Federal Government administers, like the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). For your information, here are a few points about these programs:
The CPP is generally funded equally by you and your employer during your working years. CPP can provide benefits for loss of income created by disability or retirement. The benefits are ultimately calculated by how much you have contributed and over what length of time. Currently the maximum CPP retirement pension amount is just under $ 1000 monthly at age 65. You can start collecting CPP as early as 60 or as late as 70 however different rates would apply. In contrast OAS provides a modest pension to most Canadians at age 65, if you have lived in Canada for at least 10 years. For the record, federal Liberal bill 428 that proposed lowering the 10 year residency requirement was not passed by Parliament. The maximum OAS payment is just under $ 550 monthly for those individuals with 40 years or more of residency after their eighteenth birthday. Seniors with earnings in excess of roughly $ 70,000 per year will gradually receive a lesser OAS benefit that ultimately is eliminated for an income in excess of $ 112,000 a year.
The GIS is specifically for lower income seniors 65 and older with an income of roughly $ 16,000 annually or less. If you have questions for any of the above programs you can contact Service Canada toll free at 1-800-622-6232 for further information.
While these three programs are generally well known, they certainly aren’t the only ones that the Federal Government administers as part of a broader social safety net. In fact, 60% of the money that is spent at the Federal level is in transfers which go direct to individuals or the provinces for their use. With increasing demographic pressures coupled with the backdrop of a fragile economic recovery, the one thing we can count on is a robust discussion of our options, as we look to do our part in the building of a better Canada.
Our Government’s economic action plan has been largely credited with helping to create an economic and investment environment that has created close to 600,000 new jobs during one of the worst recessions since the Great Depression. In the context of jobs and job creation we often hear that one of the obstacles for employers is bureaucratic red tape. To date I am realizing firsthand that there is some legitimacy to these claims. Many people would be shocked with how large an impact that Government can have on the bottom line of a thriving business, by the change of a single directive. As elected officials we must always keep in mind that our decisions will often impact the lives of our fellow Canadians. I was reminded of this most recently, as I had an opportunity to recently visit a Service Canada location where approximately 75% of the inquiries are about Employment Insurance. The value and importance of having a job cannot be overstated and as taxpayers we must also be mindful of the challenges that increased unemployment presents to Canadian families.
Recently I have encountered two situations that I believe are thought provoking and worthy of discussion. Investment is a term that many Canadians understand, however when this term is expanded to include foreign investment, often some view non- Canadian investors from a more negative perspective. Although it is not widely reported, many Canadian industries are regulated from an ownership and investment perspective. One particular sector, as an example, limits by percentage the share of foreign ownership in a Canadian company. One challenge that can emerge is when a company in such a sector requires additional investment to survive and only non- Canadian investors respond. If this investment is denied as a result of where capital originates, then potentially hundreds of extremely well paying jobs in a moderately sized community could be lost permanently. Clearly this is a challenging situation and often it is not a hypothetical one but a reality.
In another example a project proposed for a region could have significant positive economic impacts for generations including the creation of hundreds of jobs and also increasing the local tax base. In this example the project in question may primarily require suitable access. However as it not uncommon, sometimes citizens in an area will reject road related projects if they result in increases of traffic and noise. In addition costly and time consuming traffic and engineering studies are also a requirement that even if properly addressed may still not overcome objections from local citizens. As many will be aware, these types of projects and proposals are not uncommon in many different regions.
While there is a debate about the role of government in direct job creation, there is certainly no debate that government has a strong role to play. The examples above demonstrate how the decisions of elected officials at all levels of government can have a significant impact on job creation within a specific region. I have noted in my brief time both as a city councillor and now as an MP that opposing something is often far easier than standing up in support. However after my visit to the Service Canada location I believe we must all take a moment to think of those currently unemployed and in search of a job and ask what we can do in support of job creation. For the record in both of the examples above I will continue to support jobs and our local economies.
I will never know what public office would have been like prior to the Internet, however I am quickly learning that online information is something that needs to be scrutinized very carefully. Over this past weekend I was made aware of claims that the Jasper National park was soon to be privatized and had been sold to an International company. Further this international company planned on charging all park users an entrance fee in order to help finance large scale private development within the park. Fairly serious claims and fortunately none of them are true. This type of misinformation seems to be occurring on a more frequent basis within certain segments of the online internet community.
I would like to thank those citizens who were sceptical of such claims and forwarded this misinformation to me for further clarification that I am more than happy to provide. What is really occurring is that Parks Canada, back in 2010, initiated a public consultation process to identify a vision for the Icefields Parkway. The goal is to increase learning opportunities and enhance the abilities for park visitors to enjoy the environment and gain insights into the regions ecological and cultural heritage. Brewster, a company who has for many years operated the unique “ice explorer” buses in the area, has proposed to add a new feature to the well known Ice field glacier adventure. The new feature being discussed is a glacial discovery walk, complete with a handicapped accessible 400 meter interpretive boardwalk featuring a glass-floored observation platform extended 30 meters over the Sunwapta Valley below.
Cleary some individuals will not be supportive of this type of a feature within the Jasper National park not unlike those who opposed the introduction of motorized ice explores when they were first introduced over thirty years ago. However since that time over 10 million visitors have utilized the increased access to better understand and enjoy the unique learning opportunities of the ice fields. Many local citizens and tourists the world over have also at one time or another travelled in an ice explorer and can recall many fond memories of that unique experience. Regardless of supporting or opposing increased public amenities in public parks any suggestion that Jasper National Park is being sold or that mass scale development is occurring is patently false. It should also be noted that park user fees remain at the sole responsibility of Parks Canada. In reality when and where private services are offered in public parks those revenues are typically used to offset park operating costs ensuring that actual park users pay an additional share over and above average Canadian taxpayers.
It was not my intention this week to cover the Jasper National Park in my weekly MP report as there are more localized concerns I had intended to discuss. However with such a strong level of misinformation on the topic and many local citizens asking for clarification I felt it was important to relay to the citizens of Okanagan Coquihalla that Parks Canada is not selling parks as some have wrongly suggested. As the House of Commons will not sit again until the end of the month on January 30th I would be interested in hearing from you. If you have time for a meeting or even a phone to relay your concerns I encourage you to contact me to schedule an appointment. I can be reached at 250-770-4480 or toll free at 1-800-665-8711
The Attawapiskat First Nation may be thousands of miles away from our region of Okanagan-Coquihalla, however living conditions in that community are a concern that many local citizens have directly raised with me. It is an issue that many citizens have expressed some strong views about and I have also had many requests to include this topic in my weekly MP report.This is undeniably a very important topic and one that I know many Canadians take very seriously. No Canadian takes pleasure in witnessing poor living conditions and rampant poverty within our great nation and likewise Canadian taxpayers desire accountability and to know that our tax dollars are being well spent. It is clear that in Attawapiskat we are failing to get the results that Canadians taxpayers expect from Government. In terms of your tax dollars, over $90 million, the equivalent of $ 54,000 for each man, women and child living within the Attawapiskat first nation has been transferred to the band leadership. I have taken the time to read the financial statements from the Attawapiskat First Nation. While there is undeniably a shortage of acceptable housing in the community, there is no shortage of governance. A former chief, an acting chief and a deputy chief lead a band council that had a total of 19 councillors receiving some form of payment during the last fiscal year. On the school and education board there were a further 12 board member positions receiving payment. Collectively these expenses are part of a $3.2 million administration budget for an on reserve population of roughly 2000 residents. We must also be mindful of the fact that this situation has developed while the Attawapiskat First Nation has been under co-management for the past decade with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
While it is important to identify challenges, we must also expand our focus beyond the failures and recognize the need to find workable solutions beyond the status quo. It is clear that there are no easy answers to this challenge. Yet we do have many successes stories within our First Nations communities and perhaps it is time we also focus more on what is working, as opposed to solely what is not. We are fortunate in the riding of Okanagan-Coquihalla that many of our First Nations have had greater success in creating jobs and prosperity. That is not to say that there are not still challenges remaining, but collectively leaders such as Chief Clarence Louie from the Osoyoos Indian Band and Chief Robert Louie from the Westbank First Nation have been extremely successful in creating jobs and increasing outside revenue for their respective bands. I am also pleased to report that a recent meeting with Penticton Indian Band Chief Jonathan Kruger has me very impressed with the exciting vision that Chief Kruger has for the PIB.
As Members of Parliament we also need to be part of the solution. The Penticton Indian Band has some very exciting projects that will create jobs and much needed revenue for the band. However as was pointed out by Chief Kruger, an abundance of land is of little benefit without infrastructure and services. Rather than focus resources after the fact, it is time to be more proactive and seek opportunities that are shovel ready. It is also important to recognize that one size fits all solutions as Ottawa is often accustomed to delivering need to be more flexible. In the months ahead I am looking forward to working with the PIB and Chief Kruger in an effort to create some positive economic opportunities on the band lands west of Penticton.
It should also be noted that in the Merritt area there is a new silver mine soon to get underway and that mine is anticipating roughly thirty percent of the workforce to be from local nearby First Nation communities. In total the mine will inject between $ 12 - $ 15 million annually into the local Merritt economy. As this is the final week the House of Commons is in session for the year I will have an opportunity to visit Merritt early next week. If you would like to schedule an appointment please do not hesitate to contact my office toll free at 1-800-665-8711
In my relatively brief time as a Member of Parliament I have observed that when there is a lack of information that void is filled very quickly with misinformation. Case in point is Bill C-10, otherwise known as the omnibus crime bill. Some would have you believe that the intent of this bill is solely about incarcerating anyone and everyone convicted of committing a crime, regardless of the severity, and essentially throwing away the key. I believe it is important to talk about the types of serious crime that are actually being targeted in Bill C-10.
Child Pornography. If you choose to manufacture or distribute pornographic material involving children you can expect a minimum six month jail sentence instead of the current 90 day maximum. Engage in sexual assault against a child and you will go to jail and no longer be eligible for house arrest. "Date Rape" drugs will now be recognized for the real danger they can present to innocent victims. These types of crimes are not restricted to larger urban areas, families and innocent victims have been subject to these types of serious crimes here in our riding of Okanagan-Coquihalla. I have met with victims and attended events that focus on victimization and the cruel impacts of sexual assault. Those who have had suffered these types of traumas are understandably looking for changes and greater protection to the public from sexual predators.
Bill C-10 also addresses other subjects that many citizens have requested action on. For example Bill C-10 will ensure that those who commit manslaughter or aggravated assault will no longer be able to return to the community under house arrest. I can pass on from a recent experience in one Okanagan residential neighborhood that when a killing has occurred and the alleged assailant is allowed to return to the community in question this situation creates fear and anxiety for all involved.
Everyday law abiding citizens should not be afraid for their own safety or the safety of a loved one nor fear being able to go for a walk or visit friends and neighbors.
Two of the most common areas of misunderstanding about Bill C-10 pertain to increased enforcement penalties for drug offences, including marijuana, and a belief by some that that there are no rehabilitation aspects to Bill C-10. With respect to increased penalties for drug trafficking, it should be noted that these increased penalties only apply under specific circumstances. Drug tracking that involves organized crime, threats of violence and the use of a weapon all fall into this category. Likewise trafficking drugs in or near a school or other area where children are present will also bring about increased penalties. As for rehabilitation, Bill C-10 allows a court to suspend a sentence while an offender undergoes a court approved drug treatment program as permitted under provincial jurisdiction. These programs encourage offenders to deal with the addiction that often motivates criminal behaviour. If the offender successfully completes the treatment program, the court may impose a suspended or reduced sentence.
I recognize that there are some who believe that criminals and sexual predators are better off in our communities and not in jail where they cannot reoffend. Some citizens believe that criminal's rights should come before those of victims. In a free and democratic country as great as Canada it is expected that citizens will have different views on many important subjects. To be clear Bill C-10 ensures that the rights of victims will be put ahead of the rights of criminals when dealing with serious crimes. This is a commitment and priority that my Government takes seriously and one that many citizens have requested action on.
Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament for Okanagan- Coquihalla and can be contacted at dan.albas@parl.gc.ca
Concerns over retirement and pensions are ones that I hear often from groups and citizens in our region. This past week in the House of Commons our Government introduced new legislation with respect to Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPP's). While Canada's current retirement income system has been recognized around the world as a model that succeeds in helping to reduce poverty among Canadian seniors, there are still challenges that remain. In recent years, Government has introduced a range of new and expanded measures to continue to provide supports for retiring workers and seniors.
Recently, our latest budget also announced a new Guaranteed Income Supplement top-up benefit for Canada's most vulnerable seniors. More than 680,000 low income seniors are eligible for additional annual benefits of up to $600 for single seniors and $840 for couples. In addition, our recent budgets have provided about $2.3 billion in additional annual targeted tax relief to seniors and pensioners through measures such as pension income splitting, increases in the age credit amount, and a doubling of the maximum amount of income eligible for the pension income credit.
While progress has been made, we must also recognize that roughly 60% of Canadians do not have a workplace pension plan. Obviously these are not public sector workers but rather workers in the private sector. One of the major barriers in providing pension plans is the significant legal and administration costs that are very prohibitive for small business employers.This is where the new Pooled Registered Pension Plan (PRPPs) can be of assistance. PRPP's will allow many small business owners and their employees to have access to a large-scale, low-cost private pension plan. Professional administrators will ensure that funds are invested in the best interests of plan members and by pooling pension savings, PRPP's will create greater purchasing power.This can achieve lower prices than would otherwise be available and this can result in greater returns and ultimately more money for workers when they retire. The design of these plans will also be straightforward to allow for simple enrollment and management and looks to be largely harmonized from province to province to help lower administrative costs and simplify the process.
While PRPP's can potentially be of benefit to many workers in the small business sector, it is important to recognize that this new plan is one of many tools designed to help assist Canadians workers and their families. In our most recent budget, (Bill C-13), our Government has proposed the family caregiver tax credit, the children's arts tax credit, a tax credit for small businesses when they create jobs and making the gas tax fund permanent. While these are all programs that I have heard strong support for by citizens here in the riding of Okanagan-Coquihalla, at the same time the passage of Bill C-13 has been delayed during prolonged debate in Parliament. Recently Government introduced time limits on specific debates such as Bill C-13 in order to see the budget passed and taxpayer's receiving some much needed tax relief in specific areas.To date there have been 100 different speeches in the debate on Bill C-13, each with a section for question and answers or comments, including my own. While some may disagree, I believe that Budget 2011 should be passed and implemented in 2011. It is also important to recognize that once a bill like C-13 is passed in the House of Commons it proceeds to the Senate for yet another level of debate and potential passage before receiving Royal assent.
It is my observation that there is plenty of opportunity for discussion, debate and disagreement in Ottawa. While we may continue to struggle with passing a budget bill within the same year it is intended, let it never be said that the people's house lacks passion for a better Canada.
Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament for Okanagan- Coquihalla and can be contacted at dan.albas@parl.gc.ca
Although the House of Commons is back in session this week, I greatly enjoyed the past seven days back in the riding of Okanagan- Coquihalla during last week's Parliamentary break. While some believe that Members of Parliament only work when the house is in session the reality is that breaks provide for an opportunity to travel to communities within our ridings and meet directly with taxpayers to hear from citizens firsthand. For me, this is a very important part of being your Member of Parliament and to ensure that the work we are doing in Ottawa will be of benefit here in our region and elsewhere across our great country.
One of the highlights from last week was a visit to an under construction Silver Mine near the community of Merritt. While not a large mine, currently close to a dozen workers are involved in the assembly of roughly six million dollars worth of milling equipment. When this mine is up and running the workforce will increase to over sixty people and will represent roughly a $15 million dollar annual investment into the local Merritt economy. What is also exciting about this new mine is that roughly 30% of the workforce will be from the first nation's community. Merritt has long been a resource based region and it is encouraging to see new investment creating well paying jobs and I wish the mine operators full success in this new operations.
In West Kelowna one of the concerns that I have heard from many citizens pertains to a possible land exchange between the Provincial Government and the Westbank First Nation. While it is important to recognize that this is an issue the ultimately the Provincial Government maintains jurisdiction over, there is some general information I can pass on with respect to the process from the perspective of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. In the event that a First Nations Government passed a band council resolution (BCR) formally requesting an addition to reserve (ATR) this would create the need for an environmental site assessment (ESA) As part of this process, consultation with local government would occur. It is also important to recognize that the Westbank First Nation is self-governing and has the authority and mandate to make decisions on behalf of the membership and this includes entering into agreements with the British Columbia provincial government.
Before I close I would like to pass on wishes of good luck to all candidates running in next weekend's local government elections and also I would like to encourage taxpayers to vote for the candidates you feel can best represent you. It was only three years ago that I was elected to city council and can say from experience that every vote and every decision matters. I attended several all candidates forums in the past week and found many candidates that are well informed on local issues and are ready to serve. Please take the time to vote.
Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament for Okanagan- Coquihalla and can be contacted at dan.albas@parl.gc.ca
The House of Commons will not be in session for Veterans week and will resume sitting on Monday, November 14th, 2011. For the duration of this week I will be attending close to thirty different meetings and events throughout our region with stops in Merritt, West Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland, Penticton and Okanagan Falls. Two of these events involve waste water treatment that as infrastructure projects are either soon to get underway or have reached completion. While is encouraging that these types of projects are getting completed on time and on budget, what I enjoy most during my travels throughout the riding is meeting with taxpayers and hearing firsthand what concerns and events are occurring in our local communities.
The past week on Parliament Hill was an unusual one. While an overwhelming number of citizens have taken the time to voice support for the elimination of the long gun registry, the opposition has taken the position to oppose efforts to wind down the registry. That said, two NDP MP’s did not agree with the NDP position on the gun registry and instead voted with Government in favour of elimination. In response both NDP MP’s were punished by the NDP and various penalties were imposed on them. However that was not the largest issue of the week as the vast majority of political debate from both the NDP and the Liberals was focused on our new Auditor General Michael Ferguson, who will be replacing recently retired AG Sheila Fraser. The opposition was not angered over the competency or integrity of our new AG but rather that Mr. Ferguson has only recently begun lessons to speak French and is not yet fully bilingual. The Liberals have suggested they may pursue legal action over this matter.
While those issues occupied most of the headlines and airtime during question period, one of the most interesting experiences I have yet had on Parliament Hill was to view life in Parliament from the perspective of a wheel chair as a volunteer in the “chair leader” for a day event. The Canadian Paraplegic Association hosts this annual event with MP’s from all political stripes who agree to spend the day in a wheelchair for the duration of our parliamentary duties. This is a brief but very important chance to see life from a very different viewpoint. While there is much to be said on this topic, I will summarize to say that the amount of obstacles I encountered in such a short period of time has given me a whole new level of understanding for the daily challenges that disabled Canadians face on a daily basis. What was most surprising was the amount of wheelchair accessible infrastructure that proved to be inaccessible for a variety of different reasons. This is an issue that I believe needs to be paid greater attention to in all of our communities and regions.
As this is Veteran’s Week I would like to ask all citizens to take part in your local Remembrance Day ceremony in your community. While I still have much to learn as a new Member of Parliament, the opportunity to meet with democratically elected MP’s from all across Canada speaks of the diversity of this great country. As British Prime Minister David Cameron recently reminded the House of Commons, in the world’s toughest times and darkest hours, Canada has always defended democratic freedom and fought against tyranny. As Canadians we have been defined by the sacrifices of the brave men and women who serve in honour of our nation. In an era where some are content to protest in wanting for more I submit that on this Remembrance Day we should all give thanks to our veterans for all that we have. May we never forget.
Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament for Okanagan- Coquihalla and can be contacted at dan.albas@parl.gc.ca
Last week was another busy one in Ottawa as several important Bills were introduced into the House of Commons. For those of you unfamiliar with the stages of Bill passage, a Bill is always entered into the House for first reading. It is the custom of Parliament to unanimously support all Bills for first reading at such point the contents of the Bill then become available for reading. Although a Bill at this point can be unanimously voted to be sent directly to committee stage, generally second reading debate occurs where members of the House will decide after the debate if they agree to move a Bill on for committee stage.
Committee stage is the process where a Parliamentary Committee examines the contents of a Bill and will typically invite witnesses with expertise in the related field to examine the technical and legal aspects of the Bill in question. The Committee has the power to make amendments or revisions in the Bill before it is referred on for report stage. At Report stage Parliamentarians will again examine the contents of the Bill and decide if it requires further amendments before being sent on for third reading debate. Third reading is essentially the final look at a Bill by members of Parliament and should the Bill pass third reading it will then be referred to the Senate where a similar process will begin all over again. In short while the term slam dunk is sometimes applied to legislation, it is a very involved process with many important steps of review occurring before a Bill is passed into law.
Two Bills introduced last week also fulfill campaign commitments from the last election, Bill C-19 "Ending the Long Gun Registry Act" and Bill C-20 "Fair Representation Act" are both commitments that many Canadians and citizens from Okanagan-Coquihalla have expressed strong support in. While Bill C-19 is somewhat self explanatory in ending the long gun registry, Bill C-20 is deserving of further explanation. I have heard from seniors in particular of the frustration from many previous Federal elections being all but over once the Ontario elections polls closed. Western alienation is not a new sentiment nor is it a factually inaccurate opinion. In spite of living in a democratic society that is governed by representation by population, in Western Canada we have in fact been unrepresented compared to many Provinces across Canada. While increasing seats in some Provinces and decreasing the seats in others may seem like a more obvious solution, various clauses within the Constitution Act provide seat guarantees in some provinces the prevent such practices from occurring.
In order to ensure greater democratic equality, seats will be increased in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario and to a lesser extent Quebec. While Quebec will receive three new seats, both British Columbia and Alberta will receive six new seats each while Ontario would gain fifteen new seats. These changes will more fairly balance the percentage of the Canadian population in each province with the percentage of seats within the House. By adding 27 seats outside of Quebec the proportional share of the seats in the house will increase for B.C., Alberta and Ontario and at the same time will decrease in Quebec and the Maritime Provinces more closely following actual population. If you would like further information on either of these Bills please contact my office at 250-770-4480 or toll free at 1-800-665-8711
Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament for Okanagan- Coquihalla and can be contacted at dan.albas@parl.gc.ca
For many citizens in this riding and across Canada this week on Parliament Hill will be one that has been long awaited.This week legislation will be introduced that will fulfill a campaign commitment with respect to the long gun registry. Since becoming elected as a Member of Parliament, the two issues that I have most heard from citizens on includes widespread opposition to former Liberal Bill 428, (that I am pleased to report it now defunct) and an overwhelming support for an end to the long gun registry. As the Bill to end the long gun registry is still on order paper and has not yet had first reading I cannot confirm the Bill number however I will share this information in next week`s report. Over the past few months while the House has been back in session I have greatly appreciated hearing from citizens all across Okanagan- Coquihalla with questions and comments for the various Bills before the house. Another Bill that I can report on is my private members Bill C-311 to put an end to wine prohibition in Canada. Last week second reading debate began on C-311 and it was an extremely heartening experience for me to learn that the members from the NDP and both a member from the Liberals and Green Party were all in favour of sending C-311 forward to committee stage. I am hopeful that Bill C-311 will be heading to Committee Stage before the Christmas break.
On the subject of Bills, excluding Private members Bills, there are currently eighteen different Government Bills that have been introduced into the House during this 41st session of Parliament. Of that eighteen, five have been granted royal assent and the remainder are either at first or second stage reading and related debate. Clearly there is still much to be done in the weeks and months ahead and this is one of the reasons why time limits are sometimes put in place to allow some bills to move forward in a timely manner. With Private members Bills, there are fixed time limits in advance and at all stages of debate to help ensure that as many different members as possible have an opportunity to move a bill a forward, subject to the list of consideration that contains the order members are drawn in the private members bill lottery. Although I was originally drawn as 12 out of 239 members, an opportunity arose that allowed my Private Members Bill to move forward to the #1 position meaning second reading debate began last week instead of later in November as was previously the case. If you have any questions on private members bills or related procedure please contact me at your convenience.
I will next be back in the riding the week of November 6th to November 12th, and would like to hear from as many of you as possible. If you would like to schedule a meeting please do not hesitate to contact my Penticton office locally at 250-770-4480 or toll free at 1-800-665-8711. If you would like more timely updates on my activities in Ottawa you can also visit my www.daninottawa.com blog site or you can subscribe to weekly updates at www.danalbas.com . I look forward to seeing many of you whether at a meeting, public event or just out and about in the riding.
Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament for Okanagan- Coquihalla and can be contacted at dan.albas@parl.gc.ca
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