Media Room
Linc's Legacy

Lincoln Alexander -- a great Canadian and great Hamiltonian remembered

Hamilton, Ontario and Canada has lost one of its most kind, caring citizens and a champion for his city, province and country.Lincoln Alexander broke barriers in so many ways. As the Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for Hamilton West from 1968 to 1980, "Linc" had an extraordinary impact on the public discourse of the nation. His heritage and the colour of his skin did not matter. It was the content of his character and the fire in his belly in fighting for ordinary Canadians and ordinary Hamiltonians that carried so much weight.

Linc was a true man of the people. He was engaging and charming. In particular, you could see his eyes light up when he spoke with young people. It's fitting that a number of schools in Ontario are named in his honour. Linc's tenure as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was the crowing achievement of his career in public service. Linc was everywhere, spreading his magic with humility and grace.

As a representative for Her Majesty, there could be no one so regal and yet so common all at once. His was a life of service to his country that began at a young age -- during the Second World War he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Almut and I express our deepest condolences to Marni and all Linc's family and close friends.He will be missed by a grateful nation and a city proud to have called Linc one of their own.

 
 
Sir Isaac Brock

October 10, 2012 - Local Member of Parliament for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, David Sweet, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today announced that the building located at 55 Bay Street in Hamilton, Ontario, will be named the Sir Isaac Brock Building in recognition of his contribution during the War of 1812.

"I am delighted that this building is being named in recognition of Sir Isaac Brock, who helped shape our nation," Minister Ambrose stated. "Sir Isaac Brock, a hero of Upper Canada, played a crucial role in Canada's development by ensuring victory in the Battle of Queenston Heights."

During the naming ceremony, MP Sweet unveiled a plaque that will adorn the building. "It is fitting that we name this building after Sir Isaac Brock, since it stands just a few kilometres away from the site of the historic Battle of Queenston Heights, where he sacrificed his life defending Canada," said MP Sweet.

This event is part of several commemoration activities taking place this year to mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. This anniversary is an opportunity for all Canadians to take pride in our country's traditions and history. The end of the war laid the foundation for Confederation and Canada's ultimate emergence as an independent nation in North America.

The building was constructed in 2003 and was purchased by the Government of Canada in 2008. It is currently occupied by the Canada Revenue Agency, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, National Defence, Veterans Affairs Canada, Correctional Service Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, Health Canada, Industry Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada and a number of commercial tenants.

Major-General Sir Isaac Brock

Major-General Sir Isaac Brock played an instrumental role in the defence of Upper Canada and in the victorious Battle of Queenston Heights during the War of 1812. The first major American attack occurred at Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812. After losing his initial advantage, Brock led the troops himself in an attempt to charge up the Heights, where he was singled out by an American marksman and killed instantly. British forces, Canadian militia, and First Nations warriors rallied and drove back the Americans, forcing nearly 1,000 to surrender.

Today, Brock's story serves as a reminder to all Canadians of his sacrifice in the Battle of Queenston Heights and his efforts that ensured the preservation of Upper Canada.
 
Happy Birthday Dalai Lama

On behalf of the many friends of His Holiness the Dalai Lama  among Canadian Members of Parliament and Senators, we wish peace and health to His Holiness on the occasion of his 77th birthday and for the coming year.   

This is a joyous day. We join in spirit with the celebratory sounds of the traditional horns and the smell of incense at the Tsuglakhang Temple. And we stand in solidarity with the Tibetan people.

David Sweet, Member of Parliament
Chair, Parliamentary Friends of Tibet, Canada
 
Elsie Picone represented the very best of Dundas

First, before updating you on a couple of recent federal initiatives, let me say how saddened I was to hear of the passing of Elsie Picone. To say she was a much-loved person is most certainly an understatement.

She was such a positive person. Elsie represented the very best of Dundas and as a founding member of Dundas Community Services, her deep caring for those in her community lives on in their work.

Elsie was recognized with many awards over the years, but nothing was more important to her than her seven children. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time. Elsie will be deeply missed. 

* * * 

A number of local business owners participated in a red tape reduction roundtable I held back in March 2011. It was one of hundreds of consultations across the country conducted by the Red Tape Reduction Commission – gathering practical suggestions to reduce the burden on the small and medium-sized businesses. 

Since then, a three-year Red Tape Reduction Action Plan was announced with 90 department-specific reforms. 

On January 21st, three more of those reforms were rolled out. These included a straight-forward regulatory change that will save pharmacies millions in administrative costs, as well as a reduction in the corporate reporting burden for 32,000 businesses. 

Changes are also being made to the Canada Revenue Agency business enquiries phone service to improve user-friendliness and customer service. This is just one of the ways we’re working to improve the service that small businesses receive from federal departments.

* * * 

I’d also like to report that the federal government continues to take action on the issues raised by First Nations leaders in their January meeting with Prime Minister Harper. 

It was recognized that more needed to be done to reduce risk levels and deliver results for water and wastewater systems on-reserve – so that First Nations communities would have the same access to safe drinking water that all Canadians enjoy. 

On January 13th, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs announced a federal investment of $330.8 million over two years to sustain progress made to build and renovate water and wastewater infrastructure on reserves and to support the development of a long-term strategy to improve water quality in First Nation communities. 

This investment is part of a comprehensive long-term plan to improve on-reserve water and wastewater which is founded on three pillars: enhanced capacity building and operation training; enforceable standards and protocols; and infrastructure investments.
 
January 2013 - Congratulations Timea

Before we immerse fully into the 2013 mindset, there are two pieces of good news I’d like to share with you from the closing days of 2012.

First and foremost, a courageous, determined local volunteer, Timea Nagy, received the “Emerging Leader” award as part of the 2012 Prime Minister’s Volunteer Awards on Parliament Hill on December 14th. Timea was one of just two distinguished national award winners, in addition to the15 regional winners.

For those of you who know Timea, you already know that she is a remarkable young woman. A survivor of human trafficking -- effectively modern day slavery -- Timea founded Walk With Me Canada Victim Services to help fellow victims of the devastating trap of human trafficking. She has selflessly championed this cause – helping law enforcement organizations across North America prosecute the criminals responsible for these outrageous crimes. Locally, Timea was instrumental in helping police and crown prosecutors crack the largest human trafficking ring in Canadian history – exposed last spring in Ancaster.

I can’t say enough about Timea’s courage, compassion and tenacity. It was my privilege to present her with a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal back in September and it’s heart-warming to see her recognized on the national stage with this award from the Prime Minister. Visit www.walk-with-me.org to learn more about the great work Timea and her colleagues do each day.

Second, in mid-December, the international credit rating Standard & Poor’s issued its latest report on the Canadian economy applauding Canada’s economic leadership for the “effectiveness, stability, and predictability of its policymaking and political institutions, the resilience of its economy, and the strength of its monetary and fiscal flexibility.“ Encouragingly, the report also offered a stable outlook for 2013.

Happy New Year to you and yours. May 2013 bring you peace and happiness.
 
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