Archive for March, 2014

So last month, Prime Minister Harper announced a free trade deal with South Korea. What’s the big deal about that, you may ask?

This deal means a big increase in Canadian exports to Korea. The agreement is projected to increase exports by 32 per cent and boost the Canadian economy by $1.7 billion annually.

Secondly, tariff elimination will be particularly advantageous for Canadian businesses, as Korean tariffs are three times higher than Canada’s.

Finally, the U.S. and the EU already enjoy free trade agreements with South Korea. The Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement will level the playing field for Canadian exporters and investors.

Canada is an exporting nation, and Saskatchewan is the province most dependent on international trade in all of Canada. Whenever we have an opportunity to open markets for our businesses, and lower costs for our consumers, we need to take it. Trade is good for Canada, great for Saskatchewan.

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.

After Jim Flaherty’s retirement as Finance Minister last week, there was a lot of discussion about his accomplishments. People mentioned the cuts to the GST, the introduction of the Tax Free Savings Account, and the way that he managed the international financial crisis in 2008.  But for all the good things that Flaherty did, his most important accomplishment is probably what he didn’t do.

Jim didn’t create large government programs that permanently distorted the economy. He resisted the impulse that drove the U.S. and some European countries deep into debt. Not wrecking an economy may not sound like a great accomplishment until you realize that that’s exactly what governments have done throughout history.

The Great Depression, the recession of the early ‘80s in Canada, and many other economic crises have often been made worse by a meddling government. Sometimes the best thing that can be done is as little as possible.

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.

For most Canadians, the number one issue politically is the economy: Do I have a job? Is my income going up? etc. And governments are generally judged by economic performance.  So how’s Canada been doing over the last eight years?

• Taxes have been cut, saving the average Canadian family over $3,400 a year.
• The number of Canadians living below the Low Income Cut-off is at its lowest level ever.
• About 1 million Canadians have been removed from the tax rolls, including 380,000 seniors.
• 1.4 million Canadians are no longer living in poverty, including 250,000 children.
• After-tax disposable income has risen by 10 per cent across all income levels since 2006.

Statistics Canada numbers show the average family is worth 44.5 per cent more than in 2005. I think you will agree, that while we can do better, Canada as a whole is doing OK.

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.

Sexual exploitation of children is especially repugnant. The federal government wants to do more to better protect our kids. Therefore, we have introduced Bill C-26, The Tougher Penalties for Child Predators Act. Bill C-26 will, among other things:

• Require those convicted of sexual offences against multiple children to serve their sentences consecutively – one after another.
• Increase prison sentences for certain child sexual offences.
• Ensure that spousal testimony is available for child pornography cases; and require registered sex offenders to provide more information regarding travel abroad.

We are making these changes because we realize that too many loopholes in the criminal justice system allow repeat and dangerous offenders back into the community too soon and without adequate supervision.

Hopefully, this new law and the National Sex Offender Registry will provide the protection that our children require.  We need to stop sex crimes against children before they happen.

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.

This is the fourth in my series on Veterans and government programs.

One of the changes that has come to Veterans Affairs over the last few years is an increased emphasis on career transition services and support for families.

While older VAC programs (concentrating on disability payments and pension awards) have seen their funding increased, new programming emphasizes family and career.

Vocational assistance; priority placement for civil service jobs; career counselling and assistance with job searches have all been added to VAC programming.

The idea behind this broader programming is: better prepare an injured Veteran for his or her life outside of the Canadian forces.  These vocational oriented programs have also been combined with new supports for families–recognizing that families are an important part of any transition from the Canadian forces.

Canada’s Veterans Charter recognizes the value of family and career.

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.