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Thank you for once again placing your trust in me to serve as your Member of Parliament. It is an honour to have been re-elected to represent the people of Don Valley West. I am looking forward to a busy parliamentary session with a government that I know is committed to justice, inclusion, prosperity and a sustainable environment.
I was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. François-Philippe Champagne, in December. I am pleased to continue serving in this role having previously worked with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland. I support Minister Champagne’s work on a challenging agenda, which has the overarching goal of ensuring constructive Canadian leadership in the world and promoting Canada’s interests and values globally.
It is a great honour to represent you in Ottawa and I hope to do so in a way that makes you proud to be Canadian.
Rob
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Visiting Students in their Classes
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I had the pleasure of engaging with students at John Fisher PS and Dunlace PS recently. These young students had creative questions and solutions to complex issues such as climate change and accessibility.
Visiting students in Don Valley West is one of my favourite activities as a Member of Parliament. Every visit reminds me of the importance of making decisions that will improve life for this generation, as well as future generations.
At John Fisher PS, I celebrated International Day of Persons with Disabilities with the Grade 4 class. Their submission to the Vibrant Healthcare Alliance’s My Accessible Canada Poster Competition won 2nd place! Check out their poster and vision for a more inclusive and accessible Canada (on the top left).
The students at Dunlace PS had great questions about the different levels of government and were concerned about scam phone calls. Learn how to protect yourself from scammers here.
The future is in good hands with these bright and caring students.
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Veterans Minister visits Sunnybrook Veterans Centre
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I welcomed the Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs, to Sunnybrook Veterans Centre last month.
Sunnybrook has the largest Veterans’ care facility in Canada, offering long-term and complex care to 475 Veterans from the Second World War and the Korean War. Minister MacAulay and I toured Sunnybrook to meet and to thank the Veterans who make it their home.
We also saw the great work that researchers are doing to help Veterans. The Government of Canada is supporting Sunnybrook's new Neuromodulation Research Program for Veterans with PTSD and their families through the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund.
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On January 19th, we welcomed the New Year with friends and neighbours from across Don Valley West at the Annual New Years' Levee, which I traditionally co-host with Kathleen Wynne, MPP.
This year's celebration was a somber one as we paid tribute to the victims of the Flight PS752 plane crash. Following a moment of silence, Essie Saedi performed a solo piece, Raindrop, by Iranian composer Morteza Mahjoobi. When words fail, we turn to music.
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I rose in the House of Commons this week to remember Maya Zibaie. On January 8th, travelling back to Canada after spending time with her family in Iran, Maya tragically died, along with 175 others, when Flight PS752 was shot down out of the skies. Maya Zibaie was a Grade 10 student at Northern Secondary School in Don Valley West.
Maya was bright, ambitious, and was always ready to help those around her. She was an eager learner, who quickly moved from ESL classes to Grade 10 English, while helping her friends with their academic work. Maya was looking forward to attending university in a few years and often discussed her future with everyone.
Her teachers and friends describe her as kind, happy, compassionate, and as someone who always had a smile on her face. Don Valley West and Northern Secondary School have lost a wonderful neighbour, friend, and student.
In the midst of this tragedy that has gripped our entire country, our thoughts are with Maya’s family, friends, and the community at Northern Secondary School. Maya will be greatly missed.
A full video of my statement in the House can be viewed here.
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Representing Canada in Africa
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For a week in mid-January, I had the privilege of travelling to Africa on behalf of Minister Champagne to continue Canada’s ongoing commitment to engaging with African partners in a sustained and meaningful way. I visited Sudan, Mozambique, and Ethiopia to meet with government officials and other African partners to discuss shared opportunities and priorities.
I was pleased to meet with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and share that Canada will be elevating its diplomatic representation to the Ambassadorial level. Our two countries have had diplomatic relations for nearly 60 years. Elevating our representation in Sudan is an important step in strengthening our bilateral relationship. I also met with civil society leaders, business leaders, members of Sudan's Sovereign Council, and women and youth, to learn about Sudan's vision for a stable, secure, and prosperous Sudan.
In Mozambique, I congratulated President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi on his re-election at the official inauguration ceremony. It was also an honour to meet Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique, to discuss Mozambique’s fight for independence, its role in the region, and the opportunities and challenges facing the international community today. Canada is supporting Mozambique in many ways including providing development support to ensure access to maternal and newborn child health, sexual health and reproductive rights, and civil registration.
My trip to Ethiopia began with a visit to the memorial for Flight ET302 at the Embassy of Canada, where I paid my respects to those who lost their lives in this tragic incident a year ago. While in Ethiopia, President Sahle-Work Zewde and I discussed deepening relations on peace and security, democratic reforms, youth engagement and gender equality. I also met the Vice Chairperson of African Union Commission, Kwesi Quartey, to congratulate the African Union for their leadership on continental free trade, peace and security, development and governance.
Canada is committed to listening to our African partners and working together to ensure a more peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and sustainable world. Collaborating with our partners in Africa is key to promoting inclusive economic growth, job creation and conflict prevention, and to advancing gender equality and human rights worldwide.
Top to bottom on the left: Rob meeting with Prime Minister Hamdok, President Nyusi, former President Chissano, and President Zewde.
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With Parliament back in session, we're moving quickly to ratify the new NAFTA to secure millions of jobs, create more opportunities for Canadian businesses, and to keep our economy strong. This week, Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister, introduced legislation to implement the new NAFTA agreement, an important step towards ratification.
As one of our first orders of business, our Government has also taken steps to lower taxes for middle-class Canadians. Starting in 2020, this change would put more money back in the pockets of Canadians by increasing the amount of money they can earn before paying federal income tax. This could save a single person almost $300 a year, provide a couple or a family close to $600 a year in savings, and nearly 1.1 million more Canadians would no longer pay federal income tax at all.
The Government is also committed to protecting the environment by banning harmful single-use plastics, keeping communities safe by banning military-style assault rifles, and improving our health care by introducing national pharmacare.
These are a few of the many initiatives our government will undertake this term. You can learn more by reviewing the Speech from the Throne here or by reading mandate letters sent by the Prime Minister to each cabinet minister here.
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The Government of Canada is working closely with provincial and territorial partners as well as allies to ensure that our country is prepared to limit the spread of the coronavirus in Canada.
While the Public Health Agency of Canada has determined the risk to Canadians associated with the coronavirus is low, you should see your doctor if you have traveled to an affected area of China, developed flu-like symptoms, or suspect that you have come in contact with someone who has the coronavirus.
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Did you know that Veterans Affairs Canada has been sending valentines from Canadians to Veterans in long-term care facilities across the country for over 20 years?
This Valentine's Day, express your thanks to Canadian Veterans for their service. For more information about this program, click here.
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Have ideas for Budget 2020? The Government of Canada is looking for your input on how to grow the middle class and the economy! More information about submitting your thoughts and ideas is available here.
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Community Environmental Projects Proposals
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Do you have ideas on how to tackle climate change and protect the environment in your community? Environment and Climate Change Canada has launched a call for applications for eight funding programs to support community-based, environmental projects.
Click here to apply today!
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Connect with me on social media
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