Statement on Chamber Leadership Panels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, 

Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy, and our chambers of commerce do incredible work serving and representing member businesses.  

This winter I had the opportunity to participate in two panels hosted by the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce and the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce. The “Local Leadership Panel” is a wonderful initiative that connects businesses with representatives from all three levels of government and provides them with the chance to ask questions about government policies and other areas of concern. 

I am continuously grateful for the hard work of our Chambers of Commerce in representing the myriad of businesses operating in Cloverdale – Langley City. Cory and Scott – these events wouldn’t be possible without your dedication and leadership in improving our community. 

I want to take a moment and thank my co-panelists, for joining me in participating in the Local Leadership Panels. I also want to thank the business leaders who attended these panels, as well as the organizations and institutions that support our Chambers of Commerce and make these events possible. 

Thank you. 

Question to Minister Anandasangaree on Haida Nation Legislation

Thank you to Minister Anandasangaree for answering my question in the House of Commons on the Senate legislation recognizing the self-determination of the Haida Nation.

MP John Aldag presented with ‘Polio Hero’ Award

March 11, 2024 – Langley, British Columbia

By Lilianne Fuller

Member of Parliament, John Aldag, was presented with two special honours at the Rotary Club of Langley Central’s March 6th meeting. He was presented with a Rotary Polio Hero award and a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Dean Rohrs, Chair of the Rotary Polio Advocacy Committee for Canada and the former Vice President of Rotary International presented Aldag with the Rotary Polio Hero Award. “John has been a polio warrior. He has supported our cause and been instrumental in setting up meetings and events in Ottawa for Rotary - over the past 5-8 years,” she said. “A few weeks ago, he rose to read a letter to the caucus advocating for more funding for polio eradication,” she added.

Rotary and Polio eradication go hand in hand and the government of Canada has played an active role in global polio eradication. To date Canada has contributed just short of a billion dollars and Canada was the first country to place polio eradication on the G8 (now G7) agenda when it hosted the 2002 summit. In 2010 and 2018, the G7 reaffirmed its commitment to global polio eradication. “Canada’s work to end polio spans decades and transcends party. Together we’ve used our collective strength to defeat this devastating disease in almost every part of the world,” said Past Rotary International President John Germ.

One of the founding principles of Rotary is the eradication of polio. Rotary members have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children in 122 countries from this paralyzing disease. Rotary's advocacy efforts have played a role in decisions by governments to contribute more than $10 billion to the effort. In Langley, Rotary has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through member donations, special fundraisers, and bequests from Rotarian member’s wills.

At the meeting, President Rudy Storteboom of the Rotary Club of Langley presented Aldag with a Paul Harris Fellowship award for his contributions to Rotary. In 1905, Chicago Attorney Paul Harris founded Rotary International, and the Paul Harris Fellowship recognition acknowledges individuals who embody Rotary’s ideal of Service Above Self and who contribute financially, or have contributions made in their name to the Rotary Foundation. “John is a friend and personal hero of mine. John is a champion for his constituents, and he demonstrates the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’ in all that he does,” said Storteboom.

Contacts:

Megan Waddington
Constituency Assistant
Office of John Aldag, Member of Parliament
604-575-6595
john.aldag@parl.gc.ca

Dean Rohrs, Chair Rotary Polio Advocacy Committee for Canada 604-836-1454 Dean@cbrplus.com

✔︎ Bill C-57, Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023

Bill

Bill C-57, An Act to implement the 2023 Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Ukraine

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

On September 22nd, 2023, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Zelenskyy signed the modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA), which supports long-term security, stability, and economic development in Ukraine, while also ensuring high-quality market access terms for Canadian businesses participating in Ukraine’s economic recovery. This will create good, middle-class jobs in both of our countries.

Passed.

Bill Status

At third reading in the Senate

✔︎ Bill C-62 (medical assistance in dying)

Bill

Bill C-62, An Act to amend An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), No. 2

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Bill C-62 extends the exclusion of eligibility for receiving medical assistance in dying (MAID) in circumstances where the sole underlying medical condition identified is a mental illness (MI-SUMC) for a period of 3 years, until March 17, 2027. The Bill also proposes that within two years after royal assent, a Joint Committee of Parliament undertake a review relating to eligibility of persons whose sole condition is a mental illness. If it prepares a report, it must table it with each house of Parliament.

Passed.

Bill Status

Royal Assent received

✔︎ Bill C-35, Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act

Bill

Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

The Act enshrines the government’s commitment to ongoing support and collaboration with provinces, territories, and Indigenous people to build and maintain access to affordable, inclusive, and high-quality childcare.

Passed.

Bill Status

Awaiting Royal Assent

✘ Bill C-354 (Quebec’s cultural distinctiveness and French-speaking communities)

Bill

Bill C-354, An Act to amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act (Quebec’s cultural distinctiveness and French-speaking communities)

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

The CRTC already holds extensive public consultations open to anyone before making decisions. The duty to consult the governments of Quebec and the other provinces proposed in C-354 would require the CRTC to engage in significant additional consultations in relation to a large number of its decisions resulting in a heavy burden in terms of both time and resources and potentially impeding its ability to efficiently fulfill its mandate.

Passed.

Bill Status

In consideration in committee in the House of Commons

✔︎ Bill C-320 (disclosure of information to victims)

Bill

Bill C-320, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (disclosure of information to victims)

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Bill C-320 amends the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to ensure that disclosure of an offender’s parole eligibility dates to victims of crime also includes an explanation of how such dates were determined.

Passed.

Bill Status

At second reading in the Senate

✔︎ Bill C-321 (Assaults Against Health Care Professionals and First Responders)

Bill

Bill C-321, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against health care professionals and first responders)

Vote

Yea.

Rationale

Bill C-321 builds on Former Bill C-3 which our Government introduced and received Royal Assent on December 17, 2021. Former Bill C-3 amended the Criminal Code, to add as an aggravating factor that the offence was committed against a person who, in the performance of their duties and functions, was providing health services, including personal care services and abortion services. Our Government continues to show support to first responders, including the recent passage of MP Romanado’s Private Member Bill C-224, National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting Act which was passed on March 8 2023 3rd reading and adoption.

Passed.

Bill Status

At second reading in the Senate

✘ Bill C-318, Adoptive and Intended Parents

Bill

Bill C-318, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and the Canada Labour Code (adoptive and intended parents)

Vote

Nay.

Rationale

While the government supports C-318`s goal to update our Employment Insurance (EI) program to better meet the needs of adoptive and surrogate parents and their children, the Bill contains critical flaws that will make it impossible to support. Amendments to correct these critical errors in the legislation would be extensive and a proper approach to these updates to EI require the benefit of the government`s carful consultations on this matter. Work continues on modernizing EI, a key proposal will be the introduction of a new 15-week, shareable EI benefit to support the placement needs of adoptive parents and parents of children conceived by surrogacy, with corresponding leave provisions under the Canada Labour Code (Code).

Passed.

Bill Status

At third reading in the House of Commons