Brad's Briefs Edition #48 March 27, 2015 Brad Butt, M.P. Dear Friend, Mississauga-Streetsville As the Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville, I believe it is important to update you on the things taking place in Ottawa and in our community. I hope you enjoy this edition of Brad's Briefs. You can always find the most up-to-date information by visiting my website at www.bradbuttmp.ca, or by following me on Twitter and Facebook. Sincerely, Brad Butt, M.P. Mississauga-Streetsville 154 Queen St S, Unit #104 Mississauga, ON L5M 2P4 (905) 812-1811 In This Issue Ottawa Upcoming Events Operation Impact Government announces enhanced lifetime support for injured Veterans Bills before Parliament Mississauga & Local Rotary Meadowvale Speaker Series- Friday, April 10, 2015, with Minister Erin O'Toole, at the Old Barber House, 5155 Mississauga Rd from 11:301:30pm. Reserve now www.rotarymeadowvale.ca Seniors Forum- Hosted by Brad. Wednesday, April 15, 2015, from 9:30am-1:00pm at Vic Johnston Community Centre, 335 Church Street. Upcoming Events Office Hours Ottawa The House of Commons was in session the week of March 23 - 27, 2015. The House did not sit the week of March 16 - 20, 2015, for Spring Break. Mississauga Food Bank Spring Gala- Thursday, April 16, 2015. On Monday, March 23, 2015, the House voted at Third Reading on Bill C-2, the Respect for Communities Act that deals with "safe injection" sites to There are a variety of ways you ensure communities are consulted before any such facility can locate in a can support the event: neighbourhood. On Tuesday, March 24, 2015, I was present for Prime Minister Harper's address in the House of Commons on the fight against ISIL, attended the Government Operations & Estimates Committee and Human Resources Committee meetings, met with Dignity for All and attended a reception marking World Tuberculosis Day. Purchase a sponsorship, table, or tickets to attend Provide an item or service for Auction Make a donation in lieu of attending Mississauga-Meadowvale Rotary Club Spring Fling- I was delighted that two Mississauga based agencies appeared before the Human Resources Committee on our study on social enterprise. I would like to thank Bill Crawford and Peter Costello from Eden Community Food Bank and Naveed Chaudhry and Jagdeep Kailey of the Peel Multicultural Council for coming to Ottawa and testifying before the Committee. Saturday, April 18, 2015, at the Mississauga Grand Convention Centre, 35 Brunel Road. For more information and tickets, go to http://portal.clubrunner.ca/158. United We Smile Gala- 7th Annual Fundraising Gala, Sunday, April 26, 2015, at 5:00pm. For more inforamtion go to www.smilecan.org. On Wednesday, March 25, 2015, I attended the GTA and National Conservative Caucus meetings, a meeting of the Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, the Peel Region Conservative Caucus and met with the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals. I also, spoke in the House of Commons on manufacturing in southern Ontario, click here to view. On Thursday, March 26, 2015, I attended meetings of the Government Operations & Estimates Committee and the Human Resources Committee. Operation Impact On March 24, 2015, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the Government's intent to bring forward a motion in the House of Commons seeking support for the Government's decision to extend and expand Canada's military contribution to the global fight against the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), with the goal of significantly degrading the capabilities of ISIL. The motion, sponsored by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, will be debated and voted on in the House of Commons. The Canadian military mission, known as Operation IMPACT, is part of the United States-led international Coalition against ISIL, composed of over 60 countries. Operation IMPACT would be extended for up to 12 months, until March 30, 2016. Its mandate would be expanded to authorize Canada's CF-188 Hornet fighters to join Coalition partners in attacking ISIL targets within Syrian territory. Coalition military efforts to date have succeeded in blunting ISIL's capacity to advance in Iraq and Syria but much remains to be done. The Government is seeking to extend Operation IMPACT given that ISIL continues to present a serious threat to global and regional security, including by directly threatening Canadian citizens at home and abroad. Canada also remains committed to protecting and assisting vulnerable and innocent civilians affected by ISIL's expansion and barbarity, including through the provision of vital humanitarian assistance. As in the past, Operation IMPACT would remain a counter-terrorism operation exclusively targeting ISIL. Canada will not be participating in ground combat operations. In the days to come, the Government will continue to update Canadians on the Canadian Armed Forces engagement against ISIL through technical briefings, websites and social media. Quick Links Brad's Website News More on Brad Office Hours Regular office hours are: Monday - Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Contact Our Office Brad Butt, M.P. Mississauga-Streetsville 154 Queen St S, Unit #104 Mississauga, ON L5M 2P4 (905) 812-1811 Quick Facts Canada's current military contribution against ISIL, which would be extended for up to 12 months, includes: up to 69 Canadian Special Operations Forces personnel to advise and assist Iraqi forces in northern Iraq; a key aerial enabler force package consisting of approximately 280 aircrew and other personnel, one CC-150 Polaris aerial refueling aircraft, up to two CP-140 Aurora aerial surveillance aircraft, as required; and a strike force package consisting of approximately 320 aircrew and other personnel, and up to six CF-188 Hornet fighter aircraft. As of March 21, 2015, Canadian air assets have conducted 656 sorties over Iraq: CF-188 Hornet fighters conducted 428 sorties. CC-150T Polaris aerial refueller conducted 108 sorties, delivering some 6,332,000 pounds of fuel to coalition aircraft. CP-140 Aurora aircraft conducted 120 reconnaissance missions. Canadian CF-188 Hornet fighters have undertaken 53 of the Coalition's 1,631 air strikes over Iraq. Up to 69 members of the Canadian Special Operations Forces are working with our allies in an advisory and assistance role by providing strategic and tactical advice to Iraqi forces. Thousands of foreign fighters, including some from Canada and its allies, have been recruited by ISIL. The Government is working to stem the flow of foreign fighters from Canada to the region, including through the introduction of comprehensive legislation. Canada's humanitarian and stabilization assistance continues to provide much-needed relief to millions of vulnerable and displaced people, as well as refugees, in Iraq, Syria and the region. Backgrounder extending and expanding operation impact Rationale - Extending and Expanding Operation IMPACT The so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) continues to present a serious threat to regional and global security, including a direct threat to Canadian citizens at home and abroad. ISIL's barbaric actions in the territories it controls in Iraq and Syria have resulted in hundreds of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. It continues to target members of ethnic and religious communities, and has callously destroyed places of worship and irreplaceable archaeological sites. Recent terrorist attacks in Canada, Australia, France and Denmark by radicalized individuals inspired by or suspected of having links to ISIL as well as thousands of foreign fighters from a broad range of countries including Canada and its allies - flocking to ISIL, are cause for serious concern. Motion in Parliament To counter these threats, Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the Government's intent to bring forward a motion in the House of Commons seeking support for the Government's decision to extend and expand Canada's military contribution to the global fight against ISIL, with the goal of significantly degrading the capabilities of ISIL. The Canadian military mission, known as Operation IMPACT, is part of the United States- led international Coalition against ISIL, composed of over 60 countries. The motion will be debated and voted on in the House of Commons. About Operation IMPACT Operation IMPACT is the Canadian Armed Forces' (CAF) support to the Middle East Stabilization Force - the military component of the international Coalition against ISIL. The mission would be extended for up to 12 months (until March 30, 2016). Its expanded mandate would include undertaking air strikes, along with Coalition partners, attacking ISIL targets within Syrian territory. Canada's current military contribution to the global fight against ISIL, which would be extended for up to 12 months, includes: up to 69 Canadian Special Operations Forces personnel to advise and assist Iraqi forces in northern Iraq; a key aerial enabler force package consisting of approximately 280 aircrew and other personnel; one CC-150 Polaris aerial refueling aircraft, up to two CP-140 Aurora aerial surveillance aircraft as required; and, a strike force package consisting of approximately 320 aircrew and other personnel and up to six CF-188 Hornet fighter aircraft. As in the past, Operation IMPACT would remain a counter-terrorism operation exclusively targeting ISIL. Canada will not be participating in ground combat operations. Accomplishments of Operation IMPACT to date The CAF have already accomplished much within the international Coalition. As of March 21, 2015, Canadian air assets have conducted 656 sorties over Iraq: CF-188 Hornet fighters conducted 428 sorties. CC-150T Polaris aerial refueller conducted 108 sorties, delivering some 6,332,000 pounds of fuel to coalition aircraft. CP-140 Aurora aircraft conducted 120 reconnaissance missions. Canadian CF-188 Hornet fighters have undertaken 53 of the Coalition's 1,631 air strikes over Iraq. Up to 69 members of the Canadian Special Operations Forces are working with our allies in an advisory and assistance role by providing strategic and tactical advice to Iraqi forces. Canadian humanitarian and development assistance to alleviate the suffering being caused by ISIL Canada continues to provide humanitarian support in Iraq to help alleviate the suffering caused by ISIL. To date, Canada has provided $67.4 million in humanitarian assistance to United Nations agencies, the Red Cross Movement and non-governmental organizations. Canadian assistance has contributed to the efforts of our humanitarian partners to provide: Food to 1.7 million people; shelter and relief supplies (such as hygiene kits, cooking materials and blankets) to 1.26 million people; and, improved access to education opportunities for up to 500,000 children. Canada's contribution includes $8 million to UNICEF, which has allowed us to play a leading role in launching the "No Lost Generation" initiative in Iraq. This initiative is providing education and protection assistance for up to 150,000 conflict-affected children. Canada's assistance is also supporting organizations that respond to incidents of sexual and gender-based violence by providing psycho-social support and other services for up to 35,000 women and girls. In 2014, Canada also identified Iraq as a development partner country that will receive bilateral assistance to meet its development objectives and build resilience to withstand conflict. Canada is working to deliver new development assistance programming in Iraq to address both short-term needs and to support stability and prosperity in Iraq over the long-term through resiliency-building, and inclusive governance and decentralized decision-making. On Thursday, March 26, 2015, I spoke in the House of Commons on this mission, click here to view. Motion 587 On Wednesday, March 25, 2015, I formally filed a motion in the House of Commons for members to debate. The motion reads as follows: That this House re-affirm its support for (a) the Holocaust Memorial Day Act, which received Royal Assent on November 7, 2003; (b) the Armenian genocide recognition resolution, adopted on April 21, 2004; (c) the Rwandan genocide resolution, adopted on April 7, 2008; and (d) the Ukrainian Famine and Genocide ("Holodomor") Memorial Day Act, which received Royal Assent on May 29, 2008; That this House call upon the Government of Canada to honour the victims of all genocides by recognizing the month of April as Genocide Remembrance, Condemnation and Prevention Month; and That this House acknowledge the associated commemorative days of (a) Yom ha-Shoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, as determined by the Jewish Lunar calendar; (b) Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, April 24; (c) Rwandan Genocide Memorial Day, April 7; and (d) Ukrainian Famine and Genocide ("Holodomor") Memorial Day, fourth Saturday in November. I expect that in the next few weeks, the House will begin to debate this motion. I am very hopeful to have all party support for this and to ensure that the Parliament of Canada supports this motion. Bills before Parliament Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill Bill C42 - Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act C46 - Pipeline Safety Act C49 - Price Transparency Act C50 - Citizen Voting Act C-51 - Anti-terrorism Act C-52 - Safe & Accountable Railway Act C-53 - Life Means Life Act Mississauga On Saturday, March 14, 2015, I attended the Xin Tian Di Seniors Association Lunar New Year celebration. On Sunday, March 15, 2015, I spoke at and attended an Educational Conference on Terrorism and Hate Crimes held at the Mississauga Central Library. On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, I attended a Citizenship Ceremony helping welcome 108 new members of the Canadian family. On Wednesday, March 18, 2015, I was delighted to welcome Prime Minister Harper to Mississauga-Streetsville as he visited Lynch Fluid Controls and made an announcement to help small and medium sized businesses export products and services around the world. That night I attended The Merchant's Association meeting. On Thursday, March 19, 2015, I met with Jayme Gaspar, Executive Director of Heritage Mississauga to discuss their plans for World War Commemorations. On Friday, March 20, 2015, I met with the Canadian Cosmetics Association and joined Minister Jason Kenney at a meeting with the Canadian Kurdish community about Canada's role in Iraq. On Saturday, March 21, 2015, we held our annual Income Tax Clinic helping close to 60 people file their 2014 returns. That night I attended the Heart House Hospice fundraising gala. On Sunday, March 22, 2015, I attended the Pakistan Day celebration at Markham City Hall bringing greetings from the Government of Canada.
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