Report From Parliament's Hill

By Prince George - Peace River M.P. Jay Hill

“Hot Topics” Generating Debate this Summer

In this week’s MP Report, I would like to follow-up on a handful of the topics I’ve been discussing with constituents as I travel around the riding this summer. 

Corporal Boneca
We mourn the death this week of Corporal Anthony Joseph Boneca during an intense battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan.  Responding to media reports that his son wasn’t happy with his mission, Cpl. Boneca’s father declared his son “knew what he was getting into”. 

Antonio Boneca also said, “My son volunteered to go to Afghanistan.  In all my conversations with my son, there was never any mention of him not being well enough or fit enough to carry out his military duties.  Anthony knew he was part of a group that stuck together to do what they were sent to do. He said it was difficult to cope with the weather, the sand and the situation the young children (in Afghanistan) endured. He was proud to make a difference in their lives.” 

Tumbler Ridge
I would like to congratulate the residents of Tumbler Ridge, as well as the district’s mayor, council, administration and fire officials.  It’s incredible that the evacuation of 3,500 residents last week was conducted so smoothly, as was their return home when the forest fire threat subsided.  Many thanks to the firefighters - and to Mother Nature, for cooler temperatures and a little rain!

Public Service School
It was revealed last week that the former Liberal cabinet approved a program to send all new federal employees to Ottawa on an all-expenses-paid, two-day “orientation” trip. 

As the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, MP Jason Kenney stated, “We’ve inherited a lot of programs like this that were decisions made by the Liberals that we’re only finding out about … this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of wasteful programs dreamed up by the Liberals.”

The Conservative government is reviewing and scrutinizing all programs in each federal department to determine whether they’re a valid use of taxpayers’ money.

Robbing the Kiddies?
Apparently some daycare centres across the country are exploiting the new Child Care Benefit by increasing their rates to cancel out any gains to parents.  The Conservative government created this benefit to help parents with the cost of caring for their children.  Fortunately, this is not representative of the actions of the majority of daycare centres.  The federal government cannot dictate daycare rates but it is my fervent hope that these few exploitive daycare providers end up answering to parents and to the disgust of Canadians.

War Memorial Update
Ottawa Police have identified the three men photographed urinating on our National War Memorial on Canada Day.  A 23-year-old Montreal man, Stephen Fernandes, has been charged with the Criminal Code offence of mischief but the two others cannot be identified or similarly charged because they fall under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.  All three have apologized to Canada’s vets.
 
I’m glad Mr. Fernandes will face his day in court.  Ultimately however, I defer to Canada’s veterans and their level of satisfaction with the sincerity of the apologies.

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