Good morning and thank you for the invitation to speak with you about some of the most critical issues facing our community.
Less than 5 months ago, Canadians entrusted our Government with a strengthened mandate to lead our country through what is shaping up to be the most difficult global economic crisis in many decades.
Here in Brant, I was entrusted with ensuring that this riding receives its fair share.
Even though Canadians recognize that this crisis originated outside of our borders, they do expect us to deliver stable leadership that protects our economy’s future.
Let me assure you, that at this time of global economic challenge and instability we are mindful of both the privilege and the responsibility with which we have been entrusted.
Canada is not immune to this global recession, but as hard as it has been we continue to fare better than many other countries.
Thanks in part to decisions that our Government has taken.
- We significantly paid down the federal debt, putting Canada in a much stronger position to undertake further actions without undermining our fiscal credibility.
- We dramatically reduced corporate, personal and sales taxes, making Canada more competitive internationally and ensuring that Canadians have more money to spend.
- We are ensuring credit for businesses and consumers by strengthening our financial institutions, which are ranked the soundest in the world.
- We are helping seniors who rely on RRIF income and taking steps to protect pensions.
- We have partnered with Ontario to provide conditional financial support to Canada’s auto industry.
- Land Claims
- Manufacturing
- Infrastructure
- Highway 24
- Post Secondary Education
Let’s begin with Land Claims.
As many will recall talks had stalled before the election and both sides appeared far apart on expectations.
The immediate goal therefore was to get all parties back to the table negotiating in good faith.
Well, we are back to the table and with the efforts of many, progress is being made.
Negotiations resumed on Jan. 28th. Canada tabled a detailed analysis of the 26 million dollar offer made for the Welland Canal Flooding Claim.
Many have asked: Is 26 million appropriate and fair – especially in light of the 500 million counterproposal made by the native negotiators.
Let me assure you Canada did not pull this number out of the air.
The offer is fair, based on case law and on a model of traditional or normal expenditure patterns. A notable example supporting Canada`s analysis is the Whitefish decision where it was found that a straight compound interest calculation was unsupportable. It should be noted that the traditional or normal expenditure model has been used successfully to settle land claims in other areas of the country.
Some people have suggested if we can`t make progress on the Welland Canal Claim, we should move on and attempt to settle other outstanding claims.
On this front, Canada will fulfill a commitment made to an April 2008 Confederacy request when talks resume next Wednesday, Feb. 25th. I can report that Federal Negotiator Ron Doering will be presenting a narrative on Canada`s assessment of the Nathan Gage Claim (Brantford properties).
I can also report that we are cautiously optimistic in moving forward on this and other claims.
For my part, meetings with Chiefs Bill Montour and Bryan Laforme were constructive and began immediately after the election.
I was encouraged when Chief Montour concluded the first series of meetings by stating on the Six Nations Council website that he believed we could work together to resolve these issues and other issues facing Six Nations.
Equally, regular meetings with Brantford Mayor Mike Hancock and council members explored ways to move forward.
A series of five discussions with Minister Strahl starting in November, focused on the impact land claims are having on the people of this riding.
Those discussions continue.
Keep in mind that no one is under any illusions – these are, after all, complicated matters that go back hundreds of years. Some of these claims are in fact the oldest in Canada.
At the same time there is hope, and my commitment to you is to continue being a strong advocate to move these issues forward constructively.
And let me be absolutely clear on this point. These claims can only be moved forward constructively at the negotiation table.
Work stoppages, especially at this time, help no one.
All of us in this room today recognize the impact these stoppages are having on the local economy.
And when City hall has completed its assessment of the economic impact Brantford has suffered I’ll be ready to take that information forward to the Prime Minister.
Manufacturing:
On December 20, 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced that the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario would provide a total of $4 billion in conditional financial support to help Canadian automakers with their Canadian operations.
This joint announcement responded to the needs of the auto industry in a timely and coordinated fashion, and recognized the integrated nature of the Canada-U.S. auto industry.
The amount of federal and provincial government support is proportional to our share of the North American auto industry – 20%.
In addition, our Government has taken action to assist and to encourage investment and protect jobs by:
- Providing more than $1 billion in tax relief for businesses through lower federal corporate taxes and higher write-offs for investment in machinery and equipment.
- Investing over $2.4 billion since Budget 2006 in new funding for science and technology, including a commitment in Budget 2008 of $34 million per year for new research through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
We are also implementing the $250-million Automotive Innovation Fund this year to support strategic, large-scale research and development projects for the long-term viability of the automotive sector.
Infrastucture
Now it’s widely recognized that infrastructure investment is one of if not the most effective way for governments to address the current economic situation. Public infrastructure is vital not only to create jobs today, but also to create the links between communities and regions that will help generate jobs in the future.
As you may have heard, Dave and I joined Mayor Hancock and Eddy this past Friday to announce joint funding of two such projects.
- Expansion of the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre
- Development of Brant’s Twin Pad Arena.
Combined, these two projects represent over $31 million dollars in infrastructure investment right here in Brantford and Brant County.
The immediate impact to the economy will come in the form of jobs. But it’s important to remember that these two projects will better equip the area to attract millions more in sport tourism dollars for years to come.
Not only will the construction and building material industries benefit but so two will our tourism industry.
...And make no mistake,
I will make it my job to make sure future Brantford and Brant infrastructure projects get in front of Cabinet Ministers for funding as we move forward.
Highway 24
A couple of brief comments:
The proposed new highway 24 North/South corridor presents a tremendous opportunity to grow the economy of Brantford and Brant
Secondly, if this project could be combined with Rail Transit, the entire region would benefit on a much broader scale
Post Secondary Education
You may have read that I’ve recently been elected vice-chair of the Conservative Caucus for Post Secondary Education.
As many of you know, I’m a former governor of Laurier University and so I’m no stranger to the positive impact post secondary education continues to have on our community.
To better understand future local needs, I have had a series of meetings with the Presidents and VP’s of Laurier, Mohawk and Nipissing.
It is safe to say, there is a common combined vision for a 13,000 – 15,000 student population in our city in the years to come.
This is fantastic news!
This scale of post secondary growth will provide a new and much needed Economic Engine for our community.
Many of us share the vision of transforming our complete downtown area into a vibrant University District.
It is both my passion and goal to see this happen sooner rather than later and I will do everything I can, both at the Federal level and within the community, to secure the support needed to achieve this objective.
Universities and colleges advance our frontiers of knowledge through the research. They train the highly skilled workers that contribute to our economy.
Our Government’s Economic Action Plan provided up to $2 billion to support infrastructure projects at post-secondary institutions.
Accelerating construction at universities and colleges will provide substantial stimulus in communities across Canada and will help achieve the objectives of the Government’s Science and Technology Strategy by enhancing the research capacity of these institutions and enabling them to attract students and provide a better educational experience for the highly skilled workers of tomorrow.
Furthermore, and in order to accelerate investments in facilities and equipment, the Economic Action Plan provided $150 million to increase the funding available for meritorious projects in the 2009 Leading Edge and New Initiatives Funds Competition.
But the need for learning is not only held by post-secondary students.
Our Economic Action Plan launched the Canada Skills and Transition Strategy.
This strategy will provide significant financial resources to a range of programs that will help Canadians weather the economic storm, and provide them with the necessary training to prosper in a changing economy.
Resources are being provided for short- and long-term skills upgrading, investments to improve the labour market outcomes of under-represented groups, and to allow workers more time to find the right job and get the training they need.
Before I conclude I do want to put another matter on the agenda.
A recent meeting of member agencies of the Brant United Way was called to discuss the impact the economy was having on the non-profit sector.
A number of alarming issues were raised and later brought to my attention.
The food bank has seen a sharp increase in usage.
Donations from individuals to member agencies are down and corporate sponsorship for fundraisers are also down.
As a long time small business owner myself, I am well aware of the pressure an economic downturn can have on one’s ability to give.
I would encourage you today to consider in what way, regardless of how insignificant you may think it is, to support the work these organizations are doing in our community.
We have as a community faced difficult times before and as we did then, together we will not only get through this, we will emerge better and stronger!
Thank you.
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