May 27th, 2013
Canada’s search and rescue system is one of the best in the world. Canada has the world’s second largest land mass, surrounded by the largest coastline. Consequently, Canada is one of the most challenging countries in the world in which to conduct search and rescue operations.
That’s why Defence Minister Peter MacKay recently announced that several changes will be made to improve our search and rescue capabilities. These include $16.2 million for the development of satellite-aided search and rescue; seasonal optimization of search and rescue readiness postures and the completion of the renovated Joint Resource Coordination Centre in Halifax.
These steps, along with the Quadrennial Review of Canada’s search and rescue capabilities, should make a good system better. Even though Canadians who work and play in remote areas of our country still need to be cautious, Canada’s world class search and rescue system will continue to improve.
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 20th, 2013
In the last federal budget, one of the biggest changes was made to workplace training programs. In many areas in Canada, job training is not sufficiently aligned to the skills employers need or to the jobs that are actually available. So our Government is making a change.
Instead of funding institutions, federal training dollars are going to be directed into the Canada Job Grant.
The Canada Job Grant will take skills training choices out of the hands of government and put them where they belong: in the hands of employers with unfilled jobs and Canadians who want to work.
Canadians who have an offer for a new job or a better job may qualify for up to $15,000 to learn new skills to accept that new job.
The goals of this policy are: for unemployed or underemployed workers to find better jobs; to help businesses find the workers they need; and to grow our 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 13th, 2013
Over the last few months, a community group in Saskatoon has been campaigning to raise awareness about issues involving prostitution and exploited women and children.
Drawing attention to the evils of prostitution is especially timely now, considering that Canada`s prostitution laws are being challenged in court.
I oppose striking down any of Canada’s prostitution laws. But I’m actually glad these court challenges are going ahead. Currently, our laws are an odd patchwork that doesn’t technically outlaw prostitution, just everything involved with prostitution. The federal government needs to directly ban prostitution. We then need to develop a strategy that helps those people who feel trapped and are unable to leave this lifestyle.
One way to judge a society is by the way that it treats its weakest and most vulnerable. Prostitution is a nasty business. Those caught up in it almost always want to find a way out. We, as members of the greater Canadian society, owe them that way out.
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 6th, 2013
One common stereotype in politics is that Conservatives and unions don’t get along. Even though certain unions are strongly opposed to the Conservative government, I think people would be surprised how often many Conservative MPs work side by side with unions on a variety of issues.
Take the AFL-CIO and pipelines, for example. A couple of weeks ago, representatives from the AFL-CIO were before my committee (Natural Resources). The Union reps were arguing for pipelines to be built so that our oil exports can increase. The AFL-CIO wants good jobs for its members. The union sees the Conservatives’ support for pipelines as a way to secure good, high-paying jobs.
But the AFL-CIO isn’t the only union I’ve worked with: the Teamsters, Police and Firefighter unions have also had proposals that I have supported because they make for a better, stronger Canada.
It doesn’t matter where an idea comes from—business, labour or coffee row. It just matters that it’s a good idea, and that we get it done.
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.
