Newsletter - july 08, 2022
This week, I was pleased to join MP Damoff to announce over $2 million in federal funding for Oakville through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF). The CCRF is helping communities across Canada build and improve community infrastructure projects so they can continue to rebound from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fund supports projects that build new community infrastructure and revitalize existing amenities, bringing people back to public spaces safely and stimulating local economies. The Town of Oakville is receiving federal funding for four local projects. We are investing:
$750,000 for the redevelopment of Wallace Park. The park will be revitalized and renewed as a multi-faceted and year-round park space catering to the needs of our community. The project will support the purchase and installation of playground equipment and a basketball court for youth, shade structures, seating areas, and planting areas.
$525,000 to improve a 3.7 km multi-use trail along Upper Middle Road between Sixth Line and Joshua’s Creek Drive. The project will improve mobility options and increase the level of safety for walking and cycling for the entire community.
$656,250 to construct a regulation full-size cricket field. The field would be utilized by the Oakville Cricket Club for playing games and practices, and it will be capable of hosting local and regional tournaments.
$86,800 for the installation of an all-season sports court at George Savage Park. The project will support the installation of a multi-use basketball court that can be converted to a ball hockey surface and skating rink during winter months.
These investments will help to enhance community infrastructure and adapt public spaces to support the local economy and the quality of life for residents and visitors in Oakville. I look forward to working with my municipal counterparts as we bring this funding to life.
Canada Day 2022
It was so wonderful to spend Canada at a number of events across Oakville. I began the day by joining the Oakville Muslim community at Masjid Noor-UL-Haram for prayers. It was great to see everyone in person as we celebrate Canada Day and reflect on what it means to be Canadian.
I then headed over to Sheridan College where I visited with Ukrainian families who fled their home country and settled in Oakville. They prepared beautiful artwork and songs, and shared their incredible stories with me. I was honoured to welcome them to our community. The Hearts4Ukraine initiative has provided assistance to over 55 Ukrainians who have settled in Halton Region. Thank you to the entire Hearts4Ukraine team for all that you do.
Next, I joined True North Aid for the Hockey Cares welcome dinner. Hockey Cares is an initiative founded by Sue Heddle that connects Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth through a shared love of hockey. I was pleased to welcome Attawapiskat youth to Oakville and I thank Hockey Cares for its incredible work to advance Truth and Reconciliation. To learn more, click here.
I finished the day at Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park. After two years of virtual celebrations, it felt great to be back in person for Canada Day! I especially enjoyed chatting with Oakville residents face-to-face once again to find out how they are doing and to wish them well.
Thank you to each and every person who made these events possible. I am so proud to be your representative in Ottawa and I look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Our Continental Defence Modernization Plan to Protect Canadians
On June 20, I announced our government’s plan to modernize the North American Aeorospace Defense Command (NORAD) – the system that has kept Canadians and Americans safe for over 60 years.
This comprehensive plan to modernize Canada’s continental defences is the biggest Canadian investment into upgrading NORAD in four decades, with approximately $40 billion over the next 20 years. The plan includes a series of new and enhanced capabilities to ensure our Canadian Armed Forces and NORAD can detect, deter, and defend Canadians against new and emerging threats for decades to come.
These capabilities fall into five, inter-related areas of investments that will:
Bolster our ability to detect threats earlier, and more precisely, by modernizing our surveillance systems;
Improve our ability to understand and communicate threats to those who need it, when they need it, through investments in modern technology;
Strengthen our ability to deter and defeat aerospace threats by modernizing our air weapons systems;
Ensure our Canadian Armed Forces can launch and sustain a strong military presence across the country, including in Canada’s North, through investments in new infrastructure and support capabilities; and
Future-proof our capabilities to defend North America through investments in science and technology.
In addition, these investments will strengthen Canada’s innovation and industrial sectors, while generating significant economic and job creation benefits across the country, as well as offer opportunities to deepen our Canadian Armed Forces’ strong northern and Indigenous partnerships.
Our government's plan offers a robust package to modernize our continental defences that will protect Canadians, and North America, for generations.
Historic Settlement Agreement Reached to Compensate First Nations Children and Families
On Tuesday, a historic $20 billion settlement agreement was reached to compensate First Nations children and families for the Government of Canada’s discriminatory underfunding of the First Nations Child and Family Services program and narrow definition of Jordan's Principle. This is an important milestone and the result of hard work and collaboration between First Nations partners – the Assembly of First Nations, Moushoom, and Trout – and the federal government.
This comes exactly six months after the federal government and partners announced agreements-in-principle as a foundation for this final settlement agreement to be negotiated. Our next steps together with partners will be filing this draft settlement agreement with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and then with the Federal Court for their review and approvals.
While no amount of compensation can make up for the grief and trauma that the Government of Canada caused to First Nations children and families, this settlement agreement is a crucial step forward to acknowledging the harm done and beginning the hard work of healing. We will continue to work tirelessly with First Nation partners to put in place a better system for current and future generations.
Halton Pride Roundtable
I co-hosted a Pride Roundtable with my colleagues Minister Gould and MP van Koeverden to discuss the challenges facing our local LGBTQ2 community and to celebrate Pride Month. I sincerely thank all of the participants for the open and honest conversation. We have taken concrete steps to build a stronger and more inclusive country for LGBTQ2 Canadians, from banning conversion therapy to ending the MSM blood ban, but there is always more work to be done. I look forward to more of these meaningful conversations.
Providing Additional Military Aid for Ukraine
Last week, Canada announced more military aid for Ukraine. We are donating an additional 6 Canadian-made drone cameras, on top of the 50 already delivered, and we are finalizing negotiations for up to 39 armoured combat support vehicles. My counterpart Minister Reznikov and President Zelenskyy have requested these capabilities directly from Canada. We are delivering.
We will keep working closely with Ukraine and coordinate with our Allies to ensure that Ukrainians have the tools they need to fight & win this war. Canada and our NATO Allies are resolved to support our Ukrainian partners as they fight not only for their sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also for the values and principles that underpin our democracies and the rules-based international order. To learn more, click here.