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Roundup of the Spring Session of Parliament
July 28, 2009
Report from Ottawa
Roundup of the Spring Session of Parliament
The 2nd session of the 40th Parliament has come to a close for the summer. I believe it is important for citizens to be well informed about the activities of Parliament. In the past six months, the government introduced 54 bills into the House of Commons and Senate, and passed 20 pieces of legislation. The government has focused on environmental protection, the safety of Canadians, and the current economic climate.
Stronger environmental protection has been accomplished through the Environmental Enforcement Act, an Act to amend the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act, and an Act to amend the Energy Efficiency Act. The passing of these acts is a step forward for Canada’s environmental policy.
The Government has a firm commitment to the safety of Canadian citizens in a changing world. The introduction of 10 acts to amend the Criminal Code, as well as the Consumer Product Safety Act, and the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, is only a part of this commitment.
The government has responded to the current economic climate with Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The largest economic recovery program in Canadian history is designed to stabilize the financial system and to help Canadians in the greatest need. Already, 80% of the Economic Action Plan’s commitments for this year are being implemented. Next month I will write about the projects that affect our community directly.
Canada has continued to demonstrate its leadership in international commerce and cooperation by implementing new free trade agreements. The Government has implemented a Free Trade Agreement with the States of the European Free Trade Association, comprising of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act was also passed, including agreements on the environment and labour cooperation between the two countries. The government has also introduced a similar act pertaining to the Republic of Colombia.
Of particular note to our riding is bill C-29, which received Royal Assent on June 18, 2009. It is an Act to increase the availability of agricultural loans and to repeal the Farm Improvement Loans Act.
Furthermore, this spring I served as Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science, and Technology (INDU). It was an honour to be unanimously elected to this position by the members of the committee. INDU produced a report on the Crisis Faced by the Automotive Industry in Canada, and another report on the Crisis faced by certain Industrial sectors in Canada such as Aerospace, Energy, Forestry, High-Tech, and Manufacturing. Members of INDU also examined Bill C-4, an Act Respecting Not-for-profit Corporations and Certain Other Corporations, and made several suggestions to improve this important piece of legislation. INDU undertook studies on credit card interchange fees and the debit payment system in Canada, as well as Bill C-27 the ‘anti-spam’ legislation. This spring INDU also participated in talks with a special delegation from Mexico’s Senate and House of Representatives with the goal of learning from each other’s science and technology programs.
Finally, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages, of which I am a member, presented a report on The Role of Postsecondary Institutions in Promoting Canada’s Linguistic Duality.
The high level of productivity owes much to a spirit of cooperation over conflict. I believe this has been a successful start to this session of Parliament and hope it will continue into the fall. I encourage all Canadians to stay informed and welcome any questions or concerns you may have.
For more information on these or other issues please contact me at (866) 878 5556 or chongm@parl.gc.ca . Hon. Michael Chong, M.P. Wellington-Halton Hills
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Articles
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August 11, 2010
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Canada's Economic Action Plan is Working
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May 20, 2010
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Time to Reform Question Period
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April 29, 2010
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The Elephant in our Living Rooms
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April 12, 2010
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Canada's Economic Action Plan - Year 2
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January 28, 2010
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Helping Haiti
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January 15, 2010
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Take Advantage of the Home Renovation Tax Credit
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November 16, 2009
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One Big Move - Canada's Productivity Challenge
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November 9, 2009
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Stand Up and Be Silent
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October 16, 2009
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Bill C-27, the “Anti-Spam Bill”
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October 8, 2009
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Helping the Ontario Economy
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September 15, 2009
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The Historica Foundation and The Dominion Institute Merge
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August 9, 2009
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Buy America
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July 28, 2009
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Roundup of the Spring Session of Parliament
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June 19, 2009
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Cadets Canada
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May 28, 2009
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GO Train Service a Step Closer
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February 26, 2009
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Home Renovation Tax Credit
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February 19, 2009
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Speech to the Ontario Mutual Insurance Association
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February 4, 2009
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Budget 2009
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January 5, 2009
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Registered Disablility Savings Plans
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November 12, 2008
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Speech to the Halton Federation of Agriculture Annual General Meeting
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September 26, 2008
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Report from Ottawa - Public Transit Part II
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June 21, 2008
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Report From Ottawa - Public Transit Part I
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March 18, 2008
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Report from Ottawa - Addressing Urban Sprawl Part III
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February 7, 2008
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Report from Ottawa- Addressing Urban Sprawl - Part II
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January 9, 2008
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Report from Ottawa - Addressing Urban Sprawl Part 1
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November 9, 2007
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Economic Update News
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July 16, 2007
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Report from Ottawa - Agricultural Labeling
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February 7, 2007
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Report from Ottawa -Action on the Environment - Chemicals Management Plan
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January 12, 2007
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Report from Ottawa-Toward a Common Canadian Identity
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November 6, 2006
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Report from Ottawa-An Important Message on the Environment
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October 20, 2006
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Report from Ottawa-$1 Billion Dollar in Savings
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October 2, 2006
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Report from Ottawa-Canada's Role in Afghanistan
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September 6, 2006
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Report from Ottawa-Canadian Farm Families Options Program
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August 1, 2006
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Report from Ottawa- Summer Message
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May 1, 2006
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Report from Ottawa-Michael Chong supports flag decision
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April 3, 2006
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Report from Ottawa-Agricultural Policy
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March 1, 2006
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Report from Ottawa-Sport Portfolio
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November 17, 2005
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Report from Ottawa-The future of the CBC Part II
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November 1, 2005
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Report from Ottawa-The Future of the CBC Part I
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October 6, 2005
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Report from Ottawa-Series on Agriculture Part III
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September 1, 2005
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Report from Ottawa-Series on Agriculture Part II
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August 1, 2005
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Report from Ottawa-Series on Agriculture Part I
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July 1, 2005
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Report from Ottawa-Thoughts on Canada Day
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June 1, 2005
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Report from Ottawa-Decorum in the House
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May 2, 2005
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Report from Ottawa-Sponsorship Inquiry
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April 1, 2005
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Report from Ottawa-Environmental Policy
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March 1, 2005
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Report from Ottawa-Budget 2005 in review
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February 1, 2005
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Report from Ottawa-Arts and Culture
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January 3, 2005
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Report from Ottawa-The Tsunami Disaster
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December 1, 2004
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Report from Ottawa-Holiday Message
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November 1, 2004
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Report from Ottawa-Canadian Identity
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Publications
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March 11, 2010
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Speech to the Canadian Urban Transit Association
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July 3, 2009
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What is the Future of the Manufacturing Sector?
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April 4, 2007
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Spring Newsletter 2007
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