Archive for March, 2010

Project Hero, which was started in 2009 by retired General Rick Hillier and honorary Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Reid, is a unique program which provides undergraduate scholarships to the children of fallen Canadian armed forces service men and women.

Sadly, a ragtag group of radical leftist professors at the University of Regina are opposed to Project Hero, including the leader of the pack whose research interests include Marxism and the Latin American left. The attitude of these so-called academics is shameful.

Project Hero is giving a helping hand to the children of men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. Yet a bunch of comfortable academics sitting thousands of kilometres away at a university far from the fields of Afghanistan have the nerve to oppose this program.

These so-called academics should stop letting their extreme left-wing views in opposition to the conflict in Afghanistan get in the way. They should join Canadians in getting behind Project Hero.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback. (MP Trost’s statement on Project Hero was read in the House of Commons before Question Period on Thursday, March 25th.)

One of the top concerns of my constituents is to get Parliament to change the law so that violent and repeat young offenders face tougher sentences for their crimes.
 
Well, these young punks won’t be able to laugh at the law anymore.
 
On March 16th,our Conservative government introduced amendments to strengthen young offenders legislation. The proposed amendments will help to keep violent and repeat young offenders off the streets as they wait to go to trial. For youth convicted of serious crimes like murder, attempted murder, manslaughter and aggravated assault, the Crown will be required to seek adult sentences. The Crown will also have to inform the court if they decide not to apply for an adult sentence.
 
These amendments will also allow the courts to impose more appropriate sentences on violent and repeat offenders as required in individual cases. The main goal of this legislation is to protect society by discouraging offenders from breaking the law again or to seek a custodial sentence (when required) to stop a pattern of escalating criminal activity. Custodial sentences could be imposed in specific cases to stop reckless behaviour that puts the lives and safety of other people at risk. 
 
In some cases, the courts would be required to publish the name of a violent young offender to protect society.
 
I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.

This month, I’m doing 11 coffee-shop meetings throughout Saskatoon-Humboldt. This is an opportunity for you to talk to me face to face about issues that are important to you and your family.
 
I know that everyone is busy. But if you can put 20 minutes aside this Friday or on March 26th, I’d be happy to chat with you over a cup of coffee.
 
One of the unique things about Canadian democracy is the access that voters have to their elected representatives.
 
Canadian ridings are small enough that it is possible to personally talk to your Member of Parliament if you feel you have something that’s important for your MP to hear. 
 
For me to be able to do my job, it helps to know what the people I represent are thinking. One of the best ways to do this is by talking to you in person.
 
Upcoming meetings on Friday, March 19th are in Leroy at D’s Country Kitchen from 8:30-10:00 a.m.; Watson: The Esso Coffee Shop on Hwy 6 from 11:00-12:30 and in Quill Lake: Shirley’s Place 1:30-3:00 p.m. On Friday, March 26th, drop by Shelley’s Diner in Spalding from 8:30-10:00 a.m.; Chan’s Diner in Naicam from 11:30-1:00 and in St. Brieux at the 50’s Diner from 2:30-4:00 p.m.
 
I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.

Income tax cuts and reducing the deficit are two highlights of the federal budget, delivered in the House of Commons by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on March 4th.
 
By reducing taxes and cutting red tape, this new Conservative budget will create jobs, encourage economic growth and lessen the burden on small business.
 
Personal tax cuts will exceed $3 billion, thanks to adjustment of federal tax brackets, improvements to the Working Income Tax Benefit, higher child benefits for parents and lower taxes for seniors.
 
At the same time, we are working to reduce the deficit by restraining government spending. We are going to freeze department operating budgets (the money government spends on wages and administration) at their 2010-11 level for two years thereafter. The Conservatives are going to also launch a comprehensive review of what the federal government spends on administration and overhead.
 
Since Canadian families have to live on a budget and see where they can cut costs and save money, it is only fair that the federal government does the same.
 
This plan will cut the federal deficit by two-thirds in three years. But unlike the Liberals, our government is not going to raise taxes or cut spending on health care, education or support for our seniors.
 
I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.

On March 4th, the federal budget will be presented by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in Ottawa. And I, like most commentators, am expecting a “steady-as-she-goes” budget that looks forward to the future.  With the recession winding down, our number one job, at the national level, is to keep tackling unemployment because nothing is more important to Canadians economically than their jobs.  However, at the same time, we need to start planning to get rid of the deficit.  And to do that, we are going to review spending to make sure taxpayers get good value for their money. This may involve cuts to spending in upcoming years, which may not be popular.  The choice we will have to make will be clear: cutting grants and spending in a targeted fashion or raising taxes.  The Liberals, NDP and the Bloc want to raise your taxes. Your Conservative Government wants to limit spending.
 
I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can call my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133 or drop by our two offices to visit: Saskatoon Monday-Friday or Humboldt Tuesday and Wednesday. I always appreciate your feedback.