A Message from Ali Ehsassi
Your Member of Parliament for Willowdale
Dear Friends and Neighbours,
We have all undoubtedly been concerned with the many wildfires raging throughout the country and grateful for all the heroic efforts of firefighters and first responders to assist Canadians.
Climate changes has meant more unpredictable weather. While some summers have proven unusually wet, this one has been unusually dry and windy — the perfect recipe for wildfires. We are one of the most forested countries in the world, and the past few weeks have represented the worst Canadian wildfire season of the century. Yet the heroism and efforts of countless Canadians from coast to coast has ensured the worst is now behind us. We should remain vigilant for the remainder of the summer.
Given that the wildfires throughout the country tested all of us, I thought I would solely focus on uplifting news in the remainder of this introductory section.
We marked a particularly special milestone over the weekend. According to Statistics Canada, our population now exceeds 40 million Canadians. This milestone came faster than expected since we added 1.1 million individuals in 2022 alone. One can only marvel at our population growth given that it was only in 1997 that our population hit 30 million.
As children in our community and in Canada remain of the utmost importance, we are extremely happy to announce that 300,000 children can have healthy teeth by virtue of the Canada Dental Benefit. Previously, many children could not visit an oral health professional due to lack of dental insurance, which is why the Government of Canada launched the Canada Dental Benefit, allowing eligible families to receive financial support to cover children under 12 years old.
I wish you all a delightful summer filled with the joys of community and many summer events in Willowdale. Should you like to receive a Canada-Day lawn sign, please do not hesitate to let us know.
Ali Ehsassi
Member of Parliament for Willowdale
Former Governor General David Johnston Steps Down
Last week, former Governor General David Johnston decided to step down as the special rapporteur to examine foreign meddling in Canadian elections. In his resignation letter, Mr. Johnston cited the “highly partisan atmosphere” as his principal reason for deciding to do so.
Prior to his resignation, Mr. Johnston had indicated he would convene public hearings over the summer and prepare recommendations regarding legislative changes to be introduced that would ensure that Canadians have every confidence that our elections remain free of the taint of foreign interference in the future.
Given the many high-profile public responsibilities Mr. Johnston had assumed in the past, I believe the incessant personal criticism he faced over the past several weeks marked a new low in toxic and destructive partisan politics.
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister, Dominic Leblanc has called on opposition parties to make “concrete” suggestions as to how best we can move forward and has indicated that “all options remain on the table”.
I certainly hope that all parties in the House of Commons can reach a sensible compromise that will ensure we fully address concerns regarding foreign interference and that Canadians can trust that our future elections are fully insulated against any serious attempts at foreign interference.
Bank of Canada Increases its Overnight Rate Target
On Wednesday, June 7th, the Bank of Canada increased its overnight rate target by 0.25 per cent to 4.75 per cent.
Inflation has fallen to 4.4 per cent, down from its peak of 8.1 per cent last June. But it is still too high.
While the Bank works to bring inflation in Canada back within target, we are doing our part. We have a responsible fiscal plan which will this year see Canada maintain the lowest deficit-to-GDP and net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7.
The Canadian economy is strong and resilient—and more Canadians have good jobs today than ever before. Today, there are 900,000 more Canadians employed than before COVID first hit. In the first four months of 2023 alone, the Canadian economy added nearly a quarter of a million jobs.
Over the course of 2022, Canada also saw the strongest economic growth in the G7, and in the first quarter of this year, our economy grew by 3.1 per cent, which exceeded expectations and was the strongest in the G7.
In order to help our most vulnerable friends and neighbours, we have introduced targeted measures to help make life more affordable. These include:
For more information on how our government is making life more affordable, please visit HERE.
Canada Reuniting Loved Ones through New Immigration Measures, Addressing Labour Shortages in Canada
As of May 26, 2023, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, alongside the Honourable Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, announced significant measures aimed at strengthening family reunification in Canada. These measures include faster processing times for temporary resident visas (TRV) for spousal applicants, dedicated processing tools for spousal TRV applicants, the introduction of an open work permit for spousal and family class applicants, and extensions for expiring open work permits.
Minister Fraser highlighted the importance of expediting the processing of TRV applications for spousal reunification, ensuring that families can be reunited sooner while their permanent residence applications are being finalized. Going forward, most of these applications will be processed within just 30 days, with specific processing measures tailored to the circumstances of spouses and dependants. The newly implemented tools have already demonstrated their effectiveness, with an impressive approval rate of 93% among applicants who have benefited from these streamlined processes. Moreover, spousal applicants, along with other open work permit holders, whose permits are set to expire between August 1 and the end of 2023, will have the opportunity to extend their work permits for an additional 18 months. This extension option aligns with the recent offer made to individuals with expiring post-graduation work permits, ensuring continuity and stability for those awaiting permanent residence decisions.
· In 2022 alone, Canada processed over 5.2 million applications across various lines of businesses, ensuring timely decisions for millions of people.
For more information, please visit HERE.
Eligible Travellers from 13 more Countries Now Qualify for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
On June 6, 2023, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the addition of 13 countries to the electronic travel authorization (eTA) program. Travellers from these countries who have either held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa can now apply for an eTA instead of a visa when travelling to Canada by air. Effective today, eligible travellers from these countries can benefit from the program:
For more information, please visit HERE.
Government of Canada to Help Advance Work on Breast Cancer Screening
Over the past few days, the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (Task Force), held an in-person meeting during which they discussed next steps in updating their 2018 breast cancer screening guideline. Throughout the coming months, the Task Force will be examining multiple types of evidence to inform their updated guideline, such as data on trends in breast cancer cases and deaths due to breast cancer, modeling data, including disaggregated data, and studies on breast cancer screening outcomes, as well as patient values and preferences.
The government of Canada supports the Task Force’s decision to pursue an expedited review process to ensure that the draft breast screening guideline is released this fall.
On Thursday, June 8th, 2023, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, announced up to $500,000 in additional funding to the Task Force to help expedite the update of the breast cancer screening guideline.
The Task Force, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), is an independent arms-length body of 15 primary care and prevention experts. They develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on a range of topics that support primary care providers in the delivery of preventive healthcare, including cancer screening.
In addition to the funding announced today, PHAC also intends to host a knowledge exchange event to bring together experts, partners, those with lived experiences, and stakeholders, to discuss the current state of the science, including knowledge gaps, related to breast cancer screening.
For more information, please visit HERE.
Government Announces $78.5 Million Investment to Strengthen Healthcare Workforce in Canada
In a significant development aimed at improving healthcare services for Canadians, the Canadian government has announced a commitment of $78.5 million towards three essential projects under the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program. This investment is set to support the growth and enhancement of the country's health workforce, with a particular focus on recognizing foreign credentials and improving labor mobility for physicians, as well as expanding access to family health services for Indigenous populations and those residing in rural and remote areas.
For more information, please visit HERE.
Adapting to a Changing Climate: Protecting Health and Building Resilience
Climate change presents a significant threat to our health and well-being, as rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events like heatwaves, floods, and wildfires continue to impact our communities. The Government of Canada has taken a crucial step forward in safeguarding public health and supporting the resilience of our healthcare systems.
The investment will focus on developing resilient and low-carbon health systems capable of addressing the health risks posed by our changing climate. By prioritizing the health and well-being of Canadians, these programs will enhance our ability to respond effectively to extreme heat, one of the most pressing and urgent health risks associated with climate change. Under the framework of the National Adaptation Strategy, Health Canada will expand and renew existing health programs, including the Health ADAPT program, which plays a pivotal role in protecting Canadians from extreme heat. The initiatives announced today underscore the commitment to address the health effects of climate change and implement actions to shield the population from extreme heat events.
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, highlighted the profound impact of climate change on mental health, particularly among Indigenous, rural, and remote communities. The initiatives announced today will not only support those at risk of negative physical and mental health effects, but also foster the development of more resilient communities for generations to come. Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, has consistently underscored the impacts of climate change on public health in her annual reports. If left unaddressed, the impacts of climate change on health could cost the Canadian healthcare system and economy billions of dollars in the coming decades.
For more information, please visit HERE.
The Government of Canada Provides Update on Wildfire Seasonal Outlook and Outlines Response
As wildfires become more common and more extreme, the Government of Canada is focused on keeping people safe while strengthening our long-term response. Across the country, several provinces and territories are experiencing a severe wildfire season, and the effects are already widespread. The Government of Canada is committed to a whole-of-government approach to supporting communities affected by wildfires.
On Monday, June 5th, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada; the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources; the Honourable Bill Blair, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness; the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development; the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change; the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; and the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, provided an update on the wildfire seasonal outlook and the Government of Canada’s continuing efforts to support Canadians through this year’s fire season and future seasons.
Current June projections indicate the potential for continued higher-than-normal fire activity across most of the country throughout the 2023 wildland fire season due to ongoing drought and long-range forecasts for warm temperatures. For June, warm and dry conditions will increase wildfire risk in most of Canada from British Columbia and Yukon eastward into western Quebec and the Atlantic region. During July, wildfire potential is expected to expand into Yukon, although the eastern edge will recede from western Quebec into central Ontario.
The Government of Canada is putting in place direct support to keep Canadians safe and protect communities, during this wildfire season and seasons to come.
For more information on these programs and other government support including through Parks Canada, the Coast Guard, Service Canada, and more, please see this summary: The Government of Canada is supporting Canadians through the 2023 Wildfire Season - Update - Canada.ca.
For more information, please visit HERE.
