May 28th, 2012
Frequently, when someone is denied EI, CPP or OAS, he or she appeals the decision. Then one of four appeal boards (drawn from about 1,000 part time tribunal members) judges the validity of the appeal.
This will all be changing next year when the government consolidates the four existing tribunals into one Social Security Tribunal (SST).
Canadians dissatisfied with pension and benefit decisions will now have a single decision-making body handling their appeals, rather than four separate bodies, each with their own unique procedures.
This streamlining will allow for faster resolution of appeals because administrative overlap will be eliminated.
Consolidating the four appeal boards into the SST is expected to save $25 million per year as the appellate duties of 1,000 part time tribunal members are replaced by 74 full time positions.
Faster service, less red tape, and $25 million per year in savings for taxpayers: this is one government cutback that is definitely boosting the economy.
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.
May 22nd, 2012
While health care is the jurisdiction of the provinces, there are some health care issues in which the federal government does get involved. Let me give you one example: brain research.
One in three Canadians will face a neurological disorder, injury, or psychiatric disease at some point in their lives. Common brain disorders include depression; Alzheimer’s; brain tumors; traumatic brain injury and schizophrenia.
That is why the Conservative government announced funding to establish the Canada Brain Research Fund: in order to advance the understanding and treatment of brain disorders.
This new fund will provide up to $100 million to the Brain Canada Foundation. The Foundation will then raise matching funding through private donations and charitable contributions, thereby doubling the impact of the federal dollars.
It may not be front line health care, but the Canada Brain Research Fund is a great initiative that will benefit the entire country.
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.
May 15th, 2012
There`s one task as an MP that I refuse to do each year.
The government has a grant program to help fund summer work for students. That`s not unusual. But what is odd is that MPs are supposed to sign off and approve: That is, choose or veto summer job grants.
It doesn`t take a genius to see how this can be abused, and political favours be exchanged.
Which is why a senior MP once told me: Don`t get involved in student grants, the civil servants do a professional job. As an MP, all you need to know is that the process is fair and the criteria straightforward.
It`s good advice; advice that I and most Saskatchewan MPs have followed. So if your organization received a federal student summer employment grant, congratulations. You got it because you were the best applicant and not because someone pulled some strings.
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.
May 7th, 2012
It helps to explain things to Members of Parliament. You may ask: Why do MPs need issues explained to them?
MPs receive a large amount of correspondence; most of it by e-mail. We are increasingly receiving short remarks, complaints and one-line questions or demands.
To do an effective job representing their constituents, MPs need to be able to understand your issue of concern, and get as much information as possible.
Members of Parliament don`t always have detailed knowledge of every piece of new legislation. We`ve never heard of certain news stories. Sometimes the information that you pass along to us may not be accurate.
That`s why we need your help. By providing detailed, accurate, and well organized information, you will help us to respond faster and make better decisions.
If you want your MP to change his vote or point of view, it can happen. But you need to do your part when communicating with your Member of Parliament or his/her staff.
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.
