Bev’s Briefing-e-newsletter

Wrapping up another Session of Parliament

The 41st session of Parliament will draw to a close near the end of June. I will be back in the riding full time and look forward to meeting with constituents, community groups, organizations and businesses. We’re also heading into a federal election this October so, as always, I appreciate your feedback as it is and has always been important to me to keep in touch with you and to know the issues most important to you. I truly believe we have set this great country of ours on a good course for the future with a balanced budget and our low-tax, job creation plan along with a renewed focus on the safety and security of Canadians. We plan to keep this momentum going in the months and years ahead.

Canada Day contest

As you may have seen in my latest Householder delivered to your door, our “Proud to be Canadian” Facebook photo contest is back for a second year! Just take a Canada-Day themed picture and email it to [email protected]. It can be you and your family, friends gathered for a Canada Day celebration, a unique way you’ve displayed the Canadian flag or even a pet dressed up in red and white. Get creative and have fun! We’ll take submissions from now until midnight July 2nd and will post them on my Facebook page for voting that weekend. The picture with the most “likes” wins a truly Canadian prize.

Support for Canadian Tourism

Hoping to attract more American visitors back to Canada, our government has announced support for a major new tourism campaign. The Connecting America campaign, which starts this year, will use new technologies and innovative approaches to reach out to travelers from the United States. We have many great attractions right here in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. Tourism helps promote economic growth and create jobs. We all know how incredible Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and our whole country is, let’s bring back more of those visitors from the U.S.A. to show them as well.

Compassionate Care Benefits

Many of us know just how difficult it can be to care for a gravely ill loved one. In Budget 2015, we have promised more financial support for individuals in this situation by increasing the amount of time people can receive Compassionate Care benefits through the Employment Insurance program. This allows them to leave work for a time and care for their loved one. Effective January 3rd of 2016, the proposed enhanced benefit will allow claimants to collect up to 26 weeks of benefits. This is a substantial increase from the current 6 weeks. These benefits can also be shared between family members.

Did You Know?

-Last year alone, the tourism sector provided nearly 628,000 direct jobs, and tourism revenues in Canada reached $88.5 billion.

-The Helping Families in Need Act allows parents to suspend the payment of their Employment Insurance parental benefits if they become ill or are injured. As long as they qualify, they can then collect EI sickness benefits for up to 15 weeks, before returning to their parental benefits.

-Canada Day was officially known as Dominion Day until October 27, 1982. However, many Canadians considered it Canada Day long before the official name change.

Until next time,

Bev Shipley, M.P., Lambton-Kent-Middlesex