Archive for February, 2012

If you follow the news, you probably have heard discussion about The Protecting Children from Internet Predators Act. While most media commentary focused on privacy rights, what was not discussed as much was the problem we are trying to combat: child pornography.

Child pornography is not a pleasant subject to talk about but we as a society need to do everything we can to stop it.

In a recent investigation in Ontario, 22 children were rescued from abuse after the police were able to obtain IP addresses for 60 computers. But investigators were unable to obtain IP addresses for nearly 9,000 other computers that had sent and received child pornography in the previous 60 days.

Inspector Scott Naylor, manager of the Ontario Provincial Police child exploitation unit said that our current system for obtaining IP addresses of suspected child pornographers is “like putting a cup under Niagara Falls.”

This is why our Government has introduced this legislation.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.

A few months ago, I got a phone call asking if the federal government could do something to help with the doctor shortage that Wakaw is facing.

The caller understood that the provincial government deals directly with healthcare, which is the constitutional responsibility of the provinces. But the federal government does do what it can to help.

Specifically, in our last federal Budget, we introduced a program to lessen student loan repayments for doctors who choose to settle in rural areas.  The program also assists nurses and nurse practitioners who choose to work in rural or remote regions, giving them incentives to stay in these areas for five years.

This program is too new to know for sure how many doctors will leave the city for rural Canada. However, this is just one thing we are doing for rural communities like Wakaw that need a boost in attracting physicians.

Your Conservative government is working to help cover health care needs for rural communities.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.

Terrorism is not a fun subject to discuss; but the Air India Bombing and the Toronto 18 demonstrate that Canada is not immune to the threat of terrorist activities on our soil.

Last week, the Government released a new counter-terrorism strategy.

The goals of the Counter-Terrorism Strategy are:

• preventing individuals from engaging in terrorism
• detecting the activities of individuals who may pose a terrorist threat
• denying terrorists the means and opportunity to carry out their activities
• responding proportionately, rapidly and in an organized manner to terrorist activities to mitigate their effects.

While no plan can perfectly protect Canadians, all the time everywhere, the Conservative government is determined that a tragedy like the Air India bombing will never be repeated on Canadian soil.  Protecting citizens is a fundamental duty of government, and this plan will help protect Canada from terrorist threats.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.

You may not know that 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Canadian Coast Guard:

• Since those early days of lifeboats and Arctic voyages, the organization now includes a workforce of roughly 4,500 dedicated employees and a fleet of 116 vessels and 22 helicopters.

• Whether it is to support Canada’s fishing industry, maritime transportation, shipping, or the country’s millions of recreational boaters, our brave men and women are always there, ready to serve.

Since 2005, the Conservative Government has provided close to $1.4 billion for the Coast Guard fleet, including new “Hero Class” mid-shore patrol vessels.

Also, the Canadian Coast Guard will be acquiring three new offshore fisheries science vessels, one new oceanographic science vessel and a new polar icebreaker – CCGS John G. Diefenbaker.

So congratulations to the Coast Guard, Happy 50th.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.