Newsletter - October 23, 2024
Last week, the Canada Carbon Rebate was delivered to Canadians across the country. Here in Oakville, approximately $70 million was returned to our residents. On top of the rebate for families and individuals, our government has also implemented the Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses, with eligible businesses set to receive a reimbursement of the fuel charge proceeds secured since 2019-20. About 600,000 Canadian small-and-medium businesses, including here in Oakville, will be receiving over $2.5 billion by the end of December 2024 through the Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses.
We also distributed another round of our Canada Child Benefit this month, bringing the total amount delivered to Oakville families to over $108 million so far this year. Our government's Canada Child Benefit is a vital support for Canadian families, helping with the costs of raising children and with affordability.
The safety and well-being of our Oakville community continues to be a top priority for me. At the Halton Police Services District 2, Oakville station last week, I delivered an update on the progress made under our government's National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft. These actions include key additions to the Criminal Code of Canada of new offences targeting the use of violence in the commission of a vehicle theft and links to organized crime, increased penalties of up to 14 years for these thefts, and up to 10 years for possession or distribution of car theft devices.
We directed $121 million to Ontario to assist in preventing gun and gang violence, and $28 million to the Canada Border Services Agency to fund equipment to detect and search shipping containers for stolen vehicles, including deployment of a new mobile X-ray scanner located in the GTA.
These actions are yielding results as auto theft has decreased by 19% nationwide this year compared to 2023, with over 1,900 stolen vehicles recovered by law enforcement to date in 2024. Our government will stay vigilant and focused to maintain this downward trend.
As I continue to serve as Oakville's voice in Ottawa throughout this Parliament session, my thoughts are, as always, with the residents of Oakville.
National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft
On October 16th, I delivered an update on the progress made under our government’s National Action Plan on Combatting Auto Theft, which is yielding results with a 19% decline nationwide of auto thefts and 1,900 vehicles recovered to date by law enforcement. .
Read more about our action plan here.
Supports for Small Businesses
I visited Farmhouse Artisan Cheese on Kerr Street this month to see our government's supports for small businesses in action! We worked with Visa and Mastercard to reduce credit card fees for small businesses by up to 27%, and are reinvesting in our local merchants through the Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses.
Town Hall with Oakville's Chinese Community
Thank you to the members of our Chinese community in Oakville who joined myself and Ward 7 Town Councillor Scott Xie at our town hall meeting last week! It was great to connect with so many of you to discuss our government’s supports for families, seniors and local businesses, including participating in one of Canada’s international trade missions.