Dan Albas MP
  • Home
  • MP Report
  • About Dan
  • What Seniors Need To Know
  • Contact
  • Constituency Services
  • Dan in Ottawa
  • Disclosure
  • Videos
  • Home
  • MP Report
  • About Dan
  • What Seniors Need To Know
  • Contact
  • Constituency Services
  • Dan in Ottawa
  • Disclosure
  • Videos

MP Report

MP Report

5/6/2013

1 Comment

 
Each week I look forward to hearing from dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of
different citizens on issues and concerns of importance to them. Although common
issues may often parallel events in the media, others may be unique or related
to an unreported matter that many citizens share a common interest with. One of
the more recent concerns I have heard about involves the CBC. If you have been
following some online websites, you may have heard of a diabolical plan where
the Government will secretly “take control” over the CBC and convert the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation into a political propaganda machine. Like most
rumours, speculation and innuendo, there is generally some factual validity at
the core of an issue that is often then stretched or otherwise exaggerated to
the extent that what is really occurring is at odds with the allegations. In
this case these concerns relate to Bill C-60, the Economic Action Plan for 2013.
Bill C-60 does not in any way compromise the journalistic independence of the
CBC, nor does this Bill enable the Government of Canada to actively engage in
the creative or political direction of the CBC. Let's start by pointing out that
this provision applies to all crown corporations and does not unfairly single
out the CBC. The provision requires each board of directors for these crown
corporations to have their labour mandate approved by Treasury Board. These
mandates currently are and will still be created independently by the crown
corporations.  This is the same criteria that ministries follow to ensure
that there is responsible management. Crown corporations have either received,
or continue to receive billions of taxpayer dollars every year and the
shareholders are the Canadian public. If a crown corporation were not to be run
responsibly, it would be the taxpayer that would ultimately foot the bill.

Given these challenging fiscal times it would be irresponsible of Government
to not retain the ability to control costs that are shared by Canadian taxpayers
as a result of public sector labor agreements. While some may favour the “blank
cheque” approach with respect to Crown corporation labor agreements, it should
also be pointed out that the vast majority of Federal public sector workers are
already subject to Treasury Board oversight and this legislation will provide
greater parity within the public sector and will also protect the interests of
Canadian taxpayers. If you would like to read the actual text of the Bill
please do not hesitate to give me a call or send an email. Another concern that
I have heard from many citizens on is the billboard that I inherited and have
continued to use along Highway 97 (heading south) at the northern boundary of
our Okanagan-Coquihalla riding in West Kelowna. Many citizens have taken the
time to share concerns over this billboard and the dislike for billboard signs
in general.

I believe it is important to listen to the concerns of citizens and in this case there was a strong consensus opposed to this billboard sign. The challenge from my perspective is that this sign was extremely effective in relaying my contact information to citizens in West Kelowna, an important consideration as it is rare for a community that size to not have an MP office located directly within the municipality. Fortunately one of the
citizens who had expressed displeasure about the billboard sign also offered a constructive suggestion; that opening an office in West Kelowna would help negate the need for the sign. After much investigation this is precisely the course of action currently underway. The billboard sign contract has not been renewed and later this month I will have a new constituency office to assist West Kelowna and area residents with the many federal concerns that arise in the area. This office will also be more strategically located for citizens in Peachland, Merritt and Logan Lake who frequently travel through West Kelowna on a more regular basis. My existing Penticton office will continue to offer service to Penticton and the southern portion of Okanagan-Coquihalla as before.

It will also be another busy week on Parliament Hill as debate continues on Bill S-209 “An Act to amend the Criminal Code” (prize fights) Bill C-60 (second reading) along with private members bills S-213 “Korean War Veterans Day Act”,C-460 “Sodium Reduction Strategy for Canada Act”, C-463 “Discover Your Canada Act”, and C-479 “An Act to Bring Fairness for the Victims of Violent Offenders”. For more information on these or any Bill before the House of Commons I can be reached at 1-800-665-8711 or via email at
dan.albas@parl.gc.ca.
1 Comment
Fred Hachey
5/20/2013 10:22:43 am

Thank you for replying to my e-mail.
The suggest practise of having more Gov't. control of crown corps. in my humble opinion is just another way of having everything controlled by the Federal Gov't., which I feel is not the democratic way.
tks
Fred Hachey

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to the MP Report

    Sign up now to get Dan's weekly MP report emailed directly to you! 
    OR
    Sign up now to get a monthly MP Report mailed directly to your home.
    Subscribe Here

    Author

    Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament  for the riding of Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.
    ​
    Communicating with his constituents is one of his top priorities. Dan writes a new MP Report each week.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

​Dan Albas is the proud Member of Parliament for 
Central Okanagan – Similkameen – Nicola
Subscribe to Dan's MP Report
Contact Dan
Photos used under Creative Commons from comedy_nose, bulliver, FutUndBeidl, scazon, Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, Chris Lancaster, Jamie In Bytown, mikecogh, couloir