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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
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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 |
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