Dan Albas MP, Okanagan- Coquihalla

Trade Mission to China a success for Okanagan-Coquihalla: Member's Statement in the House February 14, 2012

    Mr. Dan Albas (Okanagan—Coquihalla, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, this past summer I was excited to represent the hon. Minister of Agriculture in presenting a $261,000 grant for a new innovative program occurring in my riding of Okanagan--Coquihalla.

    The funding helped support a new food packaging technology developed in partnership with the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre. This technology can greatly extend the shelf life of fresh fruit and produce. A longer shelf life also means more economic shipping options will soon be available to fruit growers throughout the Okanagan Valley. Why is that exciting?

    On February 9 our Prime Minister was in China and I was pleased to learn that a new trade agreement was signed that will open up the Chinese market to many Canadian foods, including cherries. In my riding, we not only make some of the greatest wines but we also grow some of the world's best cherries.

    This is great news for my riding and a great example of how our government supports innovation and technology in the agricultural sector. This leadership creates jobs and helps grow our local economies.

October 3, 2011: Introducing Bill C-311

Mr. Dan Albas (Okanagan—Coquihalla, CPC) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-311, An Act to amend the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act (interprovincial importation of wine for personal use).

" Mr. Speaker, in the year 1928, a prohibition era law was passed which to this day makes it illegal to bring a bottle of wine from one province to another.

    Canadians are a law-abiding people who like to follow the law, and many share a passion for our great Canadian wines. This passion for wine along with the hard work of many Canadian families have resulted in wineries now being located in every province across our great nation.

     My bill proposes an amendment to the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act. This amendment would create a personal exemption from the act. This personal exemption will allow individuals to either directly import, send, take or transport, or cause to be imported, sent, taken or transported wine only for personal consumption. This is not for resale or for other commercial use in quantities as permitted by the province in question.

    I would like to recognize the member for Kelowna—Lake Country for his ongoing work on this subject, and I would also like to thank the many small wineries in my riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla for their invaluable assistance in bringing this matter forward."

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Minister of Finance Introduces the Keeping Canada’s Economy & Jobs Growing Act

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, today introduced the Keeping Canada’s Economy & Jobs Growing Act. The legislation includes key elements of the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan—A Low-Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth.

“Our Government is focused on what matters to Canadians—creating jobs and promoting economic growth,” said Minister Flaherty. “While Canada has the strongest job growth record in the G-7 with nearly 600,000 net new jobs created since July 2009 and the IMF projects that we will have among the strongest economic growth in the G-7 over the next two years, we are not immune from global economic turbulence. That’s why we need to stay the course and implement the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.”

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) applauded the government’s provision of a temporary hiring tax credit.

The Keeping Canada’s Economy & Jobs Growing Act helps support Canada’s economic recovery by, for example, proposing to:

Help Families

Introducing a new Family Caregiver Tax Credit to assist caregivers of all types of infirm dependent relatives
Removing the limit on the amount of eligible expenses caregivers can claim under the Medical Expense Tax Credit in respect of financially dependent relatives
Introducing a new Children’s Arts Tax Credit for programs associated with children’s artistic, cultural, recreational and developmental activities

Promote Job Creation & Economic Growth

Providing a temporary Hiring Credit for Small Business to encourage additional hiring
Expanding tax support for clean energy generation to encourage green investments
Extending the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for flow-through share investors by one year to support Canada’s mining sector
Simplifying customs tariffs in order to facilitate trade and lower the administrative burden for businesses
Extending the accelerated capital cost allowance treatment for investments in manufacturing and processing machinery and equipment for two years to support the manufacturing and processing sector

Support Communities

Legislating a permanent annual investment of $2 billion in the Gas Tax Fund to provide predictable, long-term infrastructure funding for municipalities
Enhancing the Wage Earner Protection Program to cover more workers affected by employer bankruptcy or receivership
Introducing a Volunteer Firefighters Tax Credit for volunteer firefighters
Increasing the ability of Canadians to give more confidently to legitimate charities by introducing a package of integrity measures designed to help combat fraud and other forms of abuse

Invest in Education and Training

Forgiving loans for new doctors and nurses in under-served rural and remote areas
Helping apprentices in the skilled trades and workers in regulated professions by making occupational, trade and professional examination fees eligible for the Tuition Tax Credit
Improving federal financial assistance for students
Making it easier to allocate Registered Education Savings Plan assets among siblings, without incurring tax penalties or forfeiting Canada Education Savings Grants

Respect Taxpayers

Phasing out the direct subsidy of political parties
Closing numerous tax loopholes that allow a few businesses and individuals to avoid paying their fair share of tax

For more information, http://www.fin.gc.ca/n11/11-093-eng.asp