OTTAWA (October 8, 2013) – “On National Seniors Day, the Minister of State (Seniors) announced the launch of a Call for Proposals for the New Horizons for Seniors Program pilot project,” explains Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright,

“Older Canadians play a valuable role at home, in our community of Vegreville-Wainwright and across the country. Our government wants to make sure they continue to lead healthy and rewarding lives which will allow them to continue to contribute to our local communities. ” said Benoit. “To further this goal, our government is addressing the issue of social isolation. For many older Canadians, isolation can lead to depression, illness, loss of well-being and even death.”

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) supports projects led or inspired by seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and their communities. Through the NHSP, seniors are encouraged to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others.

Benoit went on to explain that, as part of Economic Action Plan 2013, the government proposes to better safeguard the well-being of seniors in a variety of areas, including financial services, financial literacy and health. The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) will invest $2 million in federal funding to support a variety of pilot projects aimed at reducing the social isolation of seniors. The NHSP will fund approximately 20 projects lasting up to 24 months. Applications for the NHSP pilot projects will be accepted from October 3 to November 13, 2013.

“There are some requirements to be eligible for this funding,” says Benoit. “Applicants must have managed at least $25,000 in federal grant or contribution funding within the past five years. Each project will receive between $50,000 and $100,000 from our government and must be matched by other sources.”

Organizations from across Canada are encouraged to apply by visiting the NHSP section of seniors.gc.ca. For more information, interested groups can call 1 800 277 9914 (select “0” to speak with an agent) or email [email protected]

Dear Editor,

I have read articles in the past weeks and months outlining difficulties caused by the Foreign Service Officers strike. I just wanted to take the opportunity to clarify some of the issues involved.

To be clear, all visa offices remain open and continue to provide service to clients. Every visa office maintains a core number of staff that has been deemed “essential.” More than 1,000 people continue to work in Canada’s visa offices overseas, and additional staff has been hired on a temporary basis to help process visas both overseas and in Canada. Individuals are encouraged to submit their applications online (at https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index-can.asp) as e-applications help to ensure the timely processing of visas.

The Foreign Service is a highly sought after and well-paid career. Our government remains open to a resolution that respects the interests of both taxpayers and employees, and we will consider all reasonable options to reach an agreement that is fair to both sides – just as we have with three other unions this summer.

David Goldstein, president of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, has said that his members "are disappointed the union has walked away from the mediation process, just as we were profoundly disappointed that they purposefully chose this time of year for their action - when we have the highest volume of both visitor and student visas." We agree.

I want to reiterate that Canada remains open for business and ready to welcome visitors and international students to experience Canada.

Sincerely,

Leon Benoit, MP

Getting results for the good people of Wainwright is a key Conservative Government priority, MP Benoit says

OTTAWA (20^th September, 2013) – Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright, on behalf of the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today announced that the Town of Wainwright will receive $4,275 from the Government of Canada to attract, retain and expand foreign direct investment. “Our towns and communities play an important role in identifying and attracting job-creating investment to Vegreville-Wainwright,” said Benoit.

“Canada is known around the world as one of the most attractive places for business,” added Benoit. “That’s why I’m pleased to announce funding today that will help ensure that investors from around the world look to our constituency as a destination of choice for new investment opportunities. This will help to create jobs and prosperity for hard-working people right here in this constituency.”

The funding for Wainwright comes from the Invest Canada – Community Initiatives (ICCI) program. It helps communities attract, retain and expand foreign direct investment (FDI).

“Our government is focused on what matters to Canadians: jobs, growth and long-term prosperity, and attracting foreign investment is key to these efforts,” added Minister Fast. “We are proud to be working with local communities across Canada to help attract the investment that brings new opportunities and new sources of prosperity to workers and their families in Vegreville-Wainwright.”

In 2012, the Government of Canada helped attract 147 new foreign businesses and expansion projects worth over $2.7 billion to the Canadian economy, creating jobs, growth and prosperity for Canadians.

ICCI funds up to 50 per cent of community-based activities aimed at developing and executing local investment-attraction strategies. Applications are evaluated based on the proposed strategy, project components, performance measures, work plan and the level of public-private-sector partnership. Eligible communities can apply for funding once per year following the guidelines found at Invest Canada - Community Initiatives (ICCI).

Dear Editor,

Recently, Mauril Bélanger sent a letter to the editor which provided inaccurate information on what our Government has done for affordable housing. The Liberals claim that our Conservative Government has reduced federal support for affordable housing. This claim is completely untrue, and I would like to take the time to set the record straight.

Our Conservative Government’s commitment to the most vulnerable is clear. On April 1, 2007 our Government introduced the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) to provide more effective and sustainable solutions to homelessness. Working with all levels of government – including communities themselves – the HPS enhances the Federal Government’s partnership with provinces and territories.

Economic Action Plan 2013 has announced $600 million over five years to renew the HPS with a Housing First approach. This aims to move people rapidly from shelters or the streets into stable housing, and provides them with support to tackle underlying mental health or addiction issues.

Our Government also provides $238.7 million per year to provinces and territories from the current Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) 2011-2014 framework, $20.19 million of which is allocated for Alberta. Between April, 2011 and March, 2013, 646 Albertan households benefitted from the IAH, and we’re committed to extending the program for another 5-year term.

These measures are in addition to the nearly $1.7 billion per year provided in support of almost 594,000 households living in existing social housing – on and off reserve – across the country. In our constituency specifically, the Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI) has recently invested $3.6 million toward the construction of 30 additional units for a 20-unit affordable housing project for seniors in Forestburg.

Despite what Mr. Bélanger claims, our Government remains at the table with stakeholders from all levels of government to ensure affordable housing for Canadians that need it. Unfortunately, after years of implementing costly and ineffective social programs, the Liberals seem to have forgotten that sensible solutions are possible. Luckily, Canadians know better.

Leon Benoit, MP