Brison Report - Friday, June 12, 2009

Friday, June 12, 2009

Congratulations to the newly elected Members of the Nova Scotia Legislature from Kings-Hants: Jim Morton (Kings North), Ramona Jennex (Kings South), John MacDonell (Hants East) and to re-elected member Chuck Porter (Hants West). 

As well, I extend a huge thank you to the unsuccessful candidates for their participation in the democratic process! And, to Mark Parent (Kings North) and David Morse (Kings South), I thank you both for your service over the last 10 years and for working cooperatively when required in the best interests of the citizens of our community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The past two weeks…

 

Monday, June 1

 

Scott returned to Ottawa in the morning where the House was sitting all week.

 

- Meetings with representatives of Canada’s venture capital industry

- Meeting with a delegation of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER)

- Attended a celebration of the 100^th anniversary of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs

 

Tuesday, June 2

- Chaired the inaugural meeting of the all-party BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) Caucus

- Meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade, followed by a luncheon with the Ambassador of Peru

- Meeting with representatives of the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada

- Appeared on “Politics” with Don Newman to discuss challenges facing Canada’s forestry industry.

 

Scott said:

 

“...the black liquor subsidy in the U.S. is really hurting the Canadian [forestry] industry and the Harper government has done nothing to try to counter it. It’s taking a completely hands-off approach and this subsidy in the U.S... is killing Canadian forestry workers’ jobs. Thousands of jobs are being lost.”

 

- Meeting of the Nova Scotia Liberal Caucus

 

Wednesday, June 3

- Meetings of the Atlantic Liberal Caucus and National Liberal Caucus

- Meeting in Kingston, Ontario with representatives of the Kingston Economic Development Corporation 

- Guest speaker at a town hall held at Kingston’s historic City Hall on “Canada in a troubled global economy”

- Returned to Ottawa

 
Thursday, June 4

- Meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade where members studied Canada’s trade relations with Brazil and the United States.

- Attended an appreciation night for Walt Lastewka, former Member of Parliament for the riding of St–Catharines. Walt was also the Parliamentary Secretary at the Department of Public Works and Government Services when Scott was the Minister.

 

Friday, June 5

 

- Led the Opposition in Question Period

 

Scott asked:

 

“Mr. Speaker, how can Canadians who have just lost their jobs pay for their own training when they cannot even pay for their groceries?”

 

You can read his questions HERE.

 

- Spoke in the House on Motion 284, in support of the Atlantic Lobster Fishery

 

Scott said:

 

“... the Conservative government is only offering $10 million to try to save a $1 billion industry. That is $10 million for advertising, nothing to help restructure the industry and nothing to provide long-term vision to preserve and maintain this proud and important industry to our region... When we compare that to the size of the bail-out for the auto sector, it is very clear the government places no value whatsoever on the lobster fishery. It does not understand the lobster fishery. Nor does it understand the needs and the challenges faced by families living in lobster fishing communities in Atlantic Canada. It does not understand the challenges faced by people in the lobster industries in communities in my riding, like Halls Harbour and Blomidon. It does not understand that these are proud people who have worked hard and provided for their families over the years. During this crisis, they need help to survive it.”

 

You can read the full speech HERE.

 

Saturday, June 6 – Monday, June 8

 

Scott campaigned with a number of Liberal candidates in the Nova Scotia election, including Paula Lunn, Maurice Rees, Shirley Fisher, Paula Howatt and Rick Welsford.

 

Tuesday, June 9

 

- Scott returned to Ottawa in the morning where the House of Commons is sitting.

- Meeting of the Liberal Rural Caucus

- Reception with a delegation from the National People’s Congress of China

- Meeting of the Liberal Nova Scotia Caucus

 

Wednesday, June 10

 

- Meetings of the Atlantic Liberal Caucus and National Liberal Caucus

- Meetings with the President of Colombia, Álvaro Uribe Vélez, to discuss the Canada–Colombia Free Trade Agreement (Bill C-23). President Uribe was accompanied by his Minister of Trade and Industry, Luis Guillermo Plata; his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jaime Bermúdez Merizalde; and the Colombian Ambassador to Canada, Jaime Girón Duarte.

- Appeared on “Politics” with Don Newman to discuss President Uribe’s visit to Canada

 

Thursday, June 11

 

- Meeting with the President of Colombia and members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade. Again, President Uribe was accompanied by Minister Bermúdez Merizalde, Minister Guillermo Plata and Ambassador Jaime Girón Duarte.