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Davenport friends and neighbours:
Since Monday of this week, the House of Commons has been back in session; and boy oh boy, one week felt like a month! So much has happened!
Here is the low-down: this morning I
announced on behalf of Natural Resources Minister the Hon John Wilkinson, $15 million for the installation of over 2100 electric chargers across the Greater Toronto Area. Davenport will receive $100,000 for the installation
of 20 EV chargers. We need so much more but this is a great first step!
In Ottawa, the
Canada Disability Act passed third reading and is heading for the Senate. Everyone is hoping for fast passage; because as soon as it becomes law, a new disability benefit
will be created. We know Canadians with disabilities could use some additional financial help.
Many of you have called me to say that you are concerned that
“Version 2” of MAID (medical assistance in dying) is going a bit too fast, particularly as it relates to those with mental illness. On your behalf, I have passed on this
serious concern to the Minister (David Lametti) as have others … so I was glad when this week the Minister
announced that we will delay the expansion of MAID to those suffering solely with mental illness by one year. What a relief! We need time to get more mental health support and safeguards into place.
I was also really pleased that we introduced into the
House of Commons a Bill (C-35) that will ensure that National Child Care cannot be cancelled by future governments; and a
motion that was passed unanimously in the House to call out the Chinese genocide of Uyghur Muslims, and to commit the government to bring in 10,000 Uyghurs who have fled China.
C-11 and amendments came back from the Senate; many in the arts and culture sector are up in arms with some
of the changes the Senate has suggested. Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has said he will adopt some of the Senate recommendations but not all. If you have any thoughts please email me. I’d welcome your input!
On the firearms legislation Bill C-21, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino withdrew the proposed definition changes
to the bill as it was causing angst among legal gun owners such as farmers and hunters in rural and northern Canada who use guns for their livelihoods.
February marks
Black History Month and is an awesome opportunity for all of us to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable achievements and contributions of Black communities to Canada. We have a vibrant and active Black-Canadian Community
across Davenport with a strong community in the north part of our riding close to Little Jamaica on Eglinton. I look forward to celebrating in the days and weeks to come.
Consultations for Budget 2023 are open until February 10 at 11:59PM! This is an opportunity for Davenport residents to share their priorities for Budget 2023 and how we can create an inclusive, sustainable economy that works for all Canadians. To give your
input, click this
online form.
The Bank of Canada raised interest rates by 25 basis points last week, reaching a key rate of 4.5%. The
Governor continues to hint that he will be pausing the rate hikes but it will depend on a number of factors, some external to Canada. We have strong fundamentals to our economy and the federal government is determined to do what we can to continue to help
Canadians without adding to inflation.
Lots of progress being made on reconciliation, on Ukraine, and on health care. Check out the links to federal news and announcements below. I can’t believe how much is happening in so many areas - it’s a challenge just to keep up!
I will be out and about this weekend – celebrating Black History Month and popping by the Wallace-Emerson Skating Rink Anniversary Party.
As always, if there is anything I or my team can help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me at
julie.d...@parl.gc.ca.
It’s a true honour and privilege to serve you Davenport. Have a wonderful weekend and stay warm!
Warmest regards,
Julie
Julie Dzerowicz
Member of Parliament, Davenport
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1. Almost there: Canada Disability Benefit Act off to the Senate!
Huge news Davenport! Bill C-22, the
Canada Disability Benefit Act passed its third reading in the House of Commons. The bill is off to the Senate for their “sober second thought”.
The Canada Disability Benefit is a federal income supplement to support the financial security of working-age
persons with disabilities. It sets out general provisions for the administration of the benefit and authorizes the Governor in Council to implement most of the benefit’s design elements through regulations.
Canadians with disabilities are twice as likely to live in poverty as those without disabilities. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians will be lifted out of poverty from this benefit - it is truly a life-changing policy.
“I begin with the following declaration: in Canada, no person with a disability should live in poverty.
Bill C-22 would give us the opportunity to send a clear message to working-aged person with disabilities and, quite frankly, to every person with a disability that the federal government will no longer sit by and watch them struggle to make ends meet, struggle
to lived with dignity, struggle as the live a life of uncertainty and poverty, that the equal opportunity to make for themselves the lives that they wish, as afforded to every Canadian, is theirs as well.
Bill C-22 builds on the work done in the past six years to create a country that is more fair, accessible and inclusive.” - Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough
2. National Standards for Long-Term Care Homes
This week we started the journey towards better long-term care for our seniors in Canada.
The pandemic revealed the horrible conditions and the uneven care many of our seniors experience in long-term care homes.
Long-term care is run by the provinces, but the federal government committed $3 billion to create national standards of care for seniors in long term care homes and to enforce them.
This week we
announced care and physical infrastructure standards for long-term care homes, which were shaped by the input and diverse perspectives of thousands of Canadians across the country, including LTC residents, family members,
caregivers, and health partners. It’s the first step. Much more needs to be done. But I am glad that we are moving on this.
"These standards will make a difference and it's a step in the right direction and making sure we improve the lives of Canadians and seniors from across Canada"
Minister of Seniors, Kamal Khera.
"This is very much a kind of all-or-nothing thing. This is basically what the standard of care needs to be," Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai Health Toronto
The
Health Standards Organization published 60 pages of standards focused on care and the
Canadian Standards Association released 115 pages of standards focused on physical infrastructure in December.
These standards address such subjects as preventing falls, maintaining flexible meal schedules, emergency plans and protections for long term care residents, as well as staff and visitors.
3. Tax Clinics in Davenport
I want to share my gratitude for Davenport residents who have advocated for the acceleration of this very important bill. Your advocacy was helpful. Tax season is approaching! There are many amazing resources in Davenport to assist you with your tax needs.
The following organizations provide free tax clinic services:
Vietnamese Women’s Association Toronto
Services are available in English and Vietnamese. Beginning in March appointments will be available to book
here.
New Hope Community Church
Services are available in English. Currently offering virtual appointments only. To book an appointment call 416-656-1256 or email
newhope...@gmail.com.
Sebastion Bouffard: Community Volunteer Income Tax Program
Services are available in English and French. Currently offering virtual/phone services only. To book an appointment call 647-617-9214 or email
swbou...@gmail.com.
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1. In the House
I rose in the house and asked the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship why it was important to normalize non-status workers working in construction. You can watch my Q&A
here.
The program ensures that trained workers in the construction industry remain in Canada to help us address our critical housing needs.
Most of these workers are often economically, and socially integrated into the economy, with many having been in Canada for years. The Minister continues to work on finding a solution to normalize non-status workers. Many of these workers have been filling
jobs in sectors that employers have not been able to fill with Canadians.
To read more about the pilot program, read the press release
here.
2. Pre-Budget Consultations with Arts & Culture stakeholders
Over the last couple of weeks, I met with Canadian arts and cultural organizations to hear first-hand their pre-budget recommendations on better understanding what is happening in the sector since the end of the pandemic lockdown period.
We recognize that a number of arts & cultural organizations have been destabilized due to changing audience behaviours, resulting in a significant decline in revenue, with many starting to look at revising their operating model in order to remain financially
sustainable in the long-term.
Arts and cultural organizations are of vital importance to Davenport, our city and our country. I am doing all I can to elevate their voice at the national level. In addition to being a key economic driver for our city and our country, arts and culture are
vital to our overall well being, and Canada’s social cohesion, by providing home grown entertainment, and a way for us to understand the world around us.
I also had an opportunity to meet this week with Cameron Bailey and Beth Janson, CEO and COO of the Toronto International Film Festival. I love going to the movies and was happy to show my support for TIFF’s mission to celebrate and share Canadian and International
stories through film. TIFF is one of the largest film festivals in the world and provides important cultural programming year-round.
3. Pre-Budget 2023 Consultations - We want to hear from you!
Our federal government is inviting Canadians from across the country to share their ideas for how Federal Budget 2023 can best support Canadians, Canadian businesses, and the Canadian economy.
We know the Canadian economy is facing global challenges and that Canadians are struggling with the rising cost of living and higher interest rates. The suggestions we receive will inform our efforts to build an inclusive, sustainable and prosperous economy
that works for all Canadians.
But to get there, we need to hear from you!
These pre-budget consultations are an opportunity for the people of Davenport to share their ideas and priorities for how we can continue to create jobs, drive economic growth that works for all Canadians, and make life more affordable for people.
Here is the communications piece regarding pre-budget consultations that will be hitting your doors soon
(if not already)!
Here is the online form for you to share your input! I will consolidate all Davenport input and ideas into
a summary document and send it directly to our Minister of Finance! Your deadline is Friday February 10 at 11:59pm!
AND if you would also like to directly send your feedback to the Minister of Finance you can do so here:
LetsTalkBudget2023.ca; also until February 10, 2023.
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Other Important Federal News & Announcements (click on links for more info)
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Public Safety:
Ottawa withdraws controversial amendments to firearms law
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National Resources:
$15 million in Federal Investments for New EV Chargers Across the GTA
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Health:
Minister Lametti tabled legislation to extend the temporary exclusion of eligibility for MAID in circumstances where a person’s sole medical condition is a mental illness
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Foreign Affairs: Minister Joly announced
the appointment of Tom Clark as Consul General of New York
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Foreign Affairs:
Freeland to call for joint federal-provincial effort to counter Biden’s tax credit
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Employment:
House of Commons adopts legislation for a Canada Disability Benefit
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Health: Federal government moves to delay
MAID for people suffering solely from Justice:
Supreme Court rules some mandatory minimums are constitutional, while others are not
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Heritage:
Bill C-11: Online streaming act passes in Senate
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mental illness
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Justice:
As Conservatives push government on bail reform, Lametti warns there are no easy fixes
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Economy:
U.S. rates keep rising as Federal Reserve says Canadian-style payse could be risky
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Finance: Dominic Barton insists he’s
had no involvement in McKinsey’s government contracts
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Heritage:
Anti-Islamophobia representative Amira Elghawaby apologizes for past comments about Quebecers
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Foreign Affairs:
MPs vote unanimously to urge Canada to resettle 10,000 displaced Uyghur people
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Health:
Trudeau, premiers to meet in February to move health care talks along
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Heritage: Statement by the Prime Minister
on Black History Month
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Indigenous: Call for proposals to help
support high-quality Indigenous early learning and child care
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Foreign Affairs: Canada imposes sanctions
in relation to the 2021 coup d’état in Myanmar
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Health: Statement by Ministers Duclos
and Khera on Long-Term Care Standards
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Indigenous: Peguis First Nation signs
child welfare agreement that chief says marks break in cycle
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Health: Singh meeting with Trudeau about
private health care ahead of sitdown with premiers
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National Defence: List Russia’s Wagner
Group as a terrorist entity, House of Commons urges with motion
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Employment: Minister O’Regan ratifies
C190, the first-ever global treaty on ending violence and harassment in the world of work
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Mental Health and Addictions: B.C. takes
action to save lives, build new connections of care with drug decriminalization
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Innovation: Government of Canada invests
in BHP project to develop a world-leading low-emissions potash mine
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Health: Statement from the Minister of
Health and the Minister of Public Services and Procurement on the progress of the Canada-wide dental care program
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Health: Duclos vows to 'work flexibly'
in health negotiations with provinces
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Foreign Affairs: Yazidis plead with Canada
not to repatriate ISIS members
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Foreign Affairs: Canada joins the Americas
Partnership for Economic Prosperity
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Foreign Affairs: Canada and Jordan: Advancing
Cooperation and Addressing Global Challenges Together
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Public Safety:
Supreme Court rules some mandatory minimums are constitutional, while others are not
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Foreign Affairs:
Statement by the Prime Minister on International Holocaust Remembrance Day
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Diversity & Inclusion: Prime Minister
announces appointment of Canada’s first Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia
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National Defence: Ukraine faces deadly
Russian missile onslaught after securing tanks from allies
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Housing: Renters in Canada are facing
the toughest market since 2001: CMHC report
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Foreign Affairs: Canada still hasn't
seized a single dollar through its Haiti sanctions
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Mental Health: January 25 was Bell Let’s Talk Day. Canadians are encouraged to access mental health support at
Wellness Together Canada, PocketWell,
Kids Help Phone, Jack.org and the
Hope for Wellness Hotline for Indigenous Peoples.
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Natural Resources: Canada Opens Intake
for Expressions of Interest on Carbon Storage and Transportation
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Indigenous: Ottawa to begin 'intense'
talks to rewrite First Nations child welfare compensation deal
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Indigenous: $2.8-billion settlement reached
in class action lawsuit over residential schools
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Industry: Court rejects Competition Bureau's
appeal to block Rogers' takeover of Shaw
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Social Development: Minister Gould announces
a return to steady state on passport delivery and encourages Canadians to renew ahead of 10-year passports expiry
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Innovation: Supporting Canada’s leadership
in quantum computing to grow the economy and create jobs
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Public Safety: As TikTok faces data-harvesting
claims, spy agency warns Canadians to protect themselves
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Heritage: Statement by the Prime Minister
on Korean New Year
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Heritage: Statement by the Prime Minister
on Vietnamese New Year
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Heritage: Statement by the Prime Minister
on Chinese New Year
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Heritage: Statement by the Prime Minister
on the Day of Unity of Ukraine
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Heritage: Statement by Minister Hussen
on Lincoln Alexander Day and announcement of the theme for Black History Month
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Health: Remarks from the Chief Public
Health Officer, January 20, 2023
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Transportation: Statement from the Minister
of Transport on the Lac-Mégantic bypass
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Atlantic Canada: The Government of Canada
announces $40 million for hard-hit shellfish sector in Atlantic Canada
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Transportation: Government of Canada
supports commercial space launches in Canada
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Ottawa, provinces close to 10-year deal
to fund health care
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Transportation: Canada invests in rural
public transit development in Northeastern New Brunswick and launches second intake for the Rural Transit Solutions Fund
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Immigration: Canada doubles immigration
program for out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area
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Innovation: Supporting Canada’s leadership
in quantum computing to grow the economy and create jobs
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Transportation: Statement from the Minister
of Transport on the Lac-Mégantic bypass
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Transportation: Government of Canada
funds purchase of hundreds of new electric buses for Ottawa
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Natural Resources: Minister Wilkinson
positions Canada as a clean energy and technology supplier of choice to Japan
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Davenport Federal Funding Available
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I am always anxious that Davenport residents, nonprofits and businesses know about the federal funding that
is available. There are a lot of amazing funding sources, including the ones below.
Please take the time to see if you are eligible to apply. If you have questions, kindly call my senior manager Orianna Polo at my Toronto office 416-654-8048.
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Non-profit organizations can apply for small and medium sized projects to retrofit existing community buildings ranging
in total eligible cost from $100,000 to $3 million and large projects ranging from $3 million to $25 million.
Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program supports green and accessible retrofits, repairs or upgrades of existing public community buildings and the construction of new publicly-accessible community buildings that serve high-needs, underserved communities
across Canada.
For the
Promising Practices stream: The objective is to fund projects to develop, put in place, and evaluate or to scale promising practices to strengthen the GBV sector.
For the Community-based Research stream: The objective is to fund research projects that build knowledge to help address the needs of the underserved in the GBV sector.
Funding is available for community-based events, community developments and initiatives that promote diversity and
inclusion, as well as initiatives that promote discussions on multiculturalism, racism and religious discrimination, or celebrate a community’s history and culture. There are three different streams:
Events component: community-based events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, promote discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination,
or celebrate a community’s history and culture. Funding available for up to 100% of the eligible expenses of the event up to a maximum of $100,000.
Projects component: funding for community development, anti-racism initiatives and engagement projects that promote diversity and inclusion by encouraging interaction among community groups.
Funding available for up to $200,000 per project in the case of grants, and $1,000,000 per project in the case of contributions
Community Capacity Building component: funding for capacity building projects that will contribute to the recipient's ability to promote diversity and inclusion of racialized and religious
minority communities, and Indigenous Peoples. Funding available for up to 100% of the eligible expenses of the event up to a maximum of $100,000.
Davenport organizations can apply for the Rapid Housing Initiative through the
Projects Stream.
The Project Stream is an application-based fund to build new housing and/or purchase existing buildings that will be rehabilitated or converted into permanent affordable housing.
Funding in the amount of $1 billion is available under the Project Stream via open competitive application- based process. Please let me know if you are applying for this funding; I want to be as helpful as I can in ensuring maximum support for your organization!
So call me to let me know.
The Tourism Relief Fund supports tourism businesses and organizations to adapt their operations to meet public health
requirements, create new and enhanced tourism, and attract local, domestic and international visitors.
Non-profit organizations
can apply for non-repayable contributions of up to $500,000.
Businesses can apply for either up to $100,000 of non-repayable contributions for up to 50% of eligible costs or fully repayable contributions of up to $500,000 for up to 75% of eligible
costs.
The Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program offers funding through three separate components:
The Local Festivals component provides funding to local groups for recurring festivals that present
the work of local artists, artisans and heritage performers.
Community Anniversaries component
provides funding to local groups for non–recurring local events, with or without a minor capital project. Eligible events and capital projects are those that commemorate the 100th anniversary or greater (in increments of 25 years) of a significant
local historical event or personality.
The Legacy Fund component provides funding for community-initiated capital projects that restore, renovate,
or transform an existing building or exterior space (such as a statue, community hall, monument, garden or work of art) intended for community use. Eligible capital projects are those that commemorate the 100th anniversary or greater (in increments of 25 years),
of a significant local historical event or personality.
The Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund is a partnership between the Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations,
the Business Development Bank of Canada and other financial institutions. It will provide loans up to $250,000 to Black business owners and entrepreneurs across the country.
Investment from the Government of Canada to support charities and non-profits as they focus on how to adapt their
organizations for pandemic recovery. Deadline is February 21.
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