Foothills Focus, 10ed.

Home sweet home.

The Parliament rose for the summer on Friday, June 19, meaning I was able to head home for the summer.

I thoroughly enjoy working with Prime Minister Harper, my colleagues in the House of Commons and my dedicated, hard-working staff in Ottawa. However, there is still nothing better than being home in southern Alberta.

We will not likely be sitting again until after the Oct. 19 election meaning I will have several months at home with my family and friends.

We accomplished a great deal during the 41st Parliament and it is something our government is extremely proud of. For example, we passed 117 Government Bills, 40 Private Members Bills, four Private bills and 30 Private Members Motions.

This is the most by any government over the past two decades and it is a testament to how hard we worked and how well we worked together – with our colleagues, in committees and our leadership – to move initiatives Canadians wanted through government.

We often hear Members of Parliament do not have a voice in government and over the past year I have learned that is not the case. To further that is the fact under Prime Minister Harper’s leadership, more than three times as many substantive Private Members’ Bills have become law than under any other prime minister in history. I believe that shows how much our Government has listened to its members.

I have included a complete list of the bills this Parliament at the end of the newsletter if you would like to see what was accomplished.

Of course, as we are now home for the summer many assume this is holiday time for Members of Parliament, but I assure you this is simply not the case.

In fact, our schedules are usually busier when we are home in the ridings as we have the opportunity to meet with constituents, business owners, farmers and ranchers as well as local municipal and provincial officials to discuss various issues and initiatives.

I am really looking forward to a busy summer in the riding attending local events and festivals in communities across the riding to celebrate our rural lifestyle, our agricultural heritage and entrepreneurial spirit.

During the week I will be splitting my time between our two offices in the riding. As a reminder, earlier this spring we opened a second constituency office as a means to better serve our residents in the southern part of the riding. Many people do not realize just how big Macleod is. Covering more than 23,000 square kilometers the riding of Macleod if one of the largest in Canada. It stretches from Cochrane in the north down to the United States border in the south and west from Kananaskis Country to the County of Vulcan.

As a result, I felt it was important to be accessible and to do so we needed an office in the north and south.

Therefore, throughout the summer, I will be in Fort Macleod on Tuesdays and Thursdays and in High River on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Pleased stop in and say hello if you are in town.
Of course, with such a large riding we spend a lot of time on the road getting to as many communities as possible – from Glenwood to Bragg Creek, from Champion to Crowsnest Pass. I hope I will see you at an event sometime this summer.

UPCOMING EVENTS
July 1 – Canada Day!
July 4 – Turner Valley Legion Stampede Breakfast
July 5 – George Lane Induction into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
July 8 – Southern Alberta Summer Games

MEETINGS/EVENTS
• I was honoured to be invited to the grand opening of the Lions Spray Park in Turner Valley on May 30. Congratulations to Barry Crane and his team for this amazing facility.
• Attended the High River Rotary Lobsterfest at Lynnwood Ranch to raise funds for the High River Cancer Clinic.
• Met with representatives of the Insurance Brokers of Canada to discuss lessons learned from the 2013 flood and potential for flood insurance program in Canada.
• Met with representatives from the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association to discuss initiatives to reduce fossil fuels.
• Attended an event with chicken, egg and turkey producers.
• Attended the Leighton Arts Centre’s Sunset Soiree to kick-off the famous clothesline art sale.
• June 6 was a busy day. We attended the Black Diamond parade and hosted a BBQ afterwards. After that we headed south to Crowsnest Pass for Stewardship Day before heading back to Longview for the seniors club’s potluck dinner.
• Met with delegates of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region to discuss trade and tourism.
• Participated in the Sandbox Project to raise awareness for children’s health
• Our Tourism Caucus met with presidents of Canadian Tourism Commission and Tourism Industry of Canada to discuss new funding to market Canada in United States.
• I attended the installation of our new Alberta Lt. Governor Lois Mitchell in Edmonton.
• Canada-Netherlands Friendship Group AGM
• Hunting and Angling Caucus Open House of Commons
• MLAs Wayne Anderson and Pat Stier met in our High River office to discuss DRP, New Building Canada Plan and other local issues.
• June 20 was another crazy day. I did the 50km bike ride for the cure for AT Research in Fort Macleod (congrats to Rhona and Conrad Van Heirdan for another successful event), then zipped to Okotoks for the annual parade, then north to Bragg Creek where I spoke at the 50th anniversary of Easter Seals Camp Horizon, and then finished the day at the Guy Weadick rodeo and chuck-wagon event in High River. It was a great day enjoying a big chunk of the riding.

SPEECHES
• On June 3, I spoke in support of Bill S-6 Yukon Nunavut Regulatory Improvement Act
• On June 4, I spoke in the House on Nutrition North Program.
• On June 5, I spoke about new seniors funding and programs at the Seniors Week celebration in Okotoks.
• On June 20, I spoke about the impact Easter Seals Camp Horizon has had on Alberta at the Camp’s 50th anniversary.

GOVERNMENT BILLS

Royal Assent and Private Members’ Motions Adopted: 41st Parliament (as of June 18, 2015)

First Session (61)
• C-2, Fair and Efficient Criminal Trials Act
• C-3, Supporting Vulnerable Seniors and Strengthening Canada’s Economy Act
• C-6, Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act
• C-8, Appropriation Act No. 1, 2011-12
• C-9, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2011-12
• C-10, Safe Streets and Communities Act
• C-11, Copyright Modernization Act
• C-13, Keeping Canada’s Economy and Jobs Growing Act
• C-15, Strengthening Military Justice in the Defence of Canada Act
• C-16, Security of Tenure of Military Judges Act
• C-18, Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act
• C-19, Ending the Long-gun Registry Act
• C-20, Fair Representation Act
• C-22, Eeyou Marine Region Land Claims Agreement Act
• C-23, Canada-Jordan Economic Growth and Prosperity Act
• C-24, Canada-Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act
• C-25, Pooled Registered Pension Plans Act
• C-26, Citizen’s Arrest and Self-defence Act
• C-27, First Nations Financial Transparency Act
• C-28, Financial Literacy Leader Act
• C-29, Appropriation Act No. 3, 2011-12
• C-31, Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act
• C-32, Civil Marriage of Non-residents Act
• C-33, Protecting Air Service Act
• C-34, Appropriation Act No. 4, 2011-12
• C-35, Appropriation Act No. 1, 2012-13
• C-36, Protecting Canada’s Seniors Act
• C-37, Increasing Offenders’ Accountability for Victims Act
• C-38, Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act
• C-39, Restoring Rail Service Act
• C-40, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2012-13
• C-41, Appropriation Act No. 3, 2012-13
• C-42, Enhancing Royal Canadian Mounted Police Accountability Act
• C-43, Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act
• C-44, Helping Families in Need Act
• C-45, Jobs and Growth Act, 2012
• C-46, Pension Reform Act
• C-47, Northern Jobs and Growth Act
• C-48, Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012
• C-50, Appropriation Act No. 4, 2012-13
• C-51, Safer Witnesses Act
• C-52, Fair Rail Freight Service Act
• C-53, Succession to the Throne Act, 2013
• C-55, Response to the Supreme Court of Canada Decision in R. v. Tse Act
• C-58, Appropriation Act No. 5, 2012-13
• C-59, Appropriation Act No. 1, 2013-14
• C-60, Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1
• C-62, Yale First Nation Final Agreement Act
• C-63, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2013-14
• C-64, Appropriation Act No. 3, 2013-14
• S-2, Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act
• S-3, Federal Law-Civil Law Harmonization Act, No. 3
• S-4, Safer Railways Act
• S-5, Financial System Review Act
• S-7, Combating Terrorism Act
• S-8, Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act
• S-9, Nuclear Terrorism Act
• S-11, Safe Food for Canadians Act
• S-14, Fighting Foreign Corruption Act
• S-15, Expansion and Conservation of Canada’s National Parks Act
• S-17, Tax Conventions Implementation Act, 2013

Second Session (56)
• C-2, Respect for Communities Act
• C-3, Safeguarding Canada’s Seas and Skies Act
• C-4, Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 2
• C-5, Offshore Health and Safety Act
• C-6, Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act
• C-7, Canadian Museum of History Act
• C-8, Combating Counterfeit Products Act
• C-9, First Nations Election Act
• C-10, Tackling Contraband Tobacco Act
• C-12, Drug-Free Prisons Act
• C-13, Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act
• C-14, Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act
• C-15, Northwest Territories Devolution Act
• C-16, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Governance Act
• C-17, Protecting Canadians from Unsafe Drugs Act (Vanessa’s Law)
• C-18, Agricultural Growth Act
• C-19, Appropriation Act No. 4, 2013-14
• C-20, Canada-Honduras Economic Growth and Prosperity Act
• C-21, Red Tape Reduction Act
• C-22, Energy Safety and Security Act
• C-23, Fair Elections Act
• C-24, Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act
• C-25, Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Act
• C-26, Tougher Penalties for Child Predators Act
• C-27, Veterans Hiring Act
• C-28, Appropriation Act No. 5, 2013-14
• C-29, Appropriation Act No. 1, 2014-15
• C-30, Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act
• C-31, Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 1
• C-32, Victims Bill of Rights Act
• C-34, Tla’amin Final Agreement Act
• C-36, Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act
• C-37, Riding Name Change Act, 2014
• C-38, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2014-15
• C-39, Appropriation Act No. 3, 2014-15
• C-40, Rouge National Urban Park Act
• C-41, Canada-Korea Economic Growth and Prosperity Act
• C-42, Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act
• C-43, Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2
• C-44, Protection of Canada from Terrorists Act
• C-45, Appropriation Act No. 4, 2014-15
• C-46, Pipeline Safety Act
• C-47, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2014
• C-51, Anti-terrorism Act, 2015
• C-52, Safe and Accountable Rail Act
• C-54, Appropriation Act No. 5, 2014-15
• C-55, Appropriation Act No. 1, 2015-16
• C-63, Déline Final Self-Government Agreement Act
• C-66, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2015-16
• C-67, Appropriation Act No. 3, 2015-16
• S-2, Incorporation by Reference in Regulations Act
• S-3, Port State Measures Agreement Implementation Act
• S-4, Digital Privacy Act
• S-5, Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve Act
• S-6, Yukon and Nunavut Regulatory Improvement Act
• S-7, Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILLS

First Session (19)
• C-278, Purple Day Act (Hon. Geoff Regan: Halifax West, Nova Scotia)
• C-288, National Flag of Canada Act (John Carmichael: Don Valley West, Ontario)
• C-293, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (vexatious complainants) (Roxanne James: Scarborough Centre, Ontario)
• C-299, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (kidnapping of young person) (David Wilks: Kootenay—Columbia, British Columbia)
• C-300, Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention Act (Harold Albrecht: Kitchener—Conestoga, Ontario)
• C-304, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (protecting freedom) (Brian Storseth: Westlock—St. Paul, Alberta)
• C-309, Preventing Persons from Concealing Their Identity during Riots and Unlawful Assemblies Act (Blake Richards: Wild Rose, Alberta)
• C-310, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons) (Joy Smith: Kildonan—St. Paul, Manitoba)
• C-311, An Act to amend the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act (interprovincial importation of wine for personal use) (Dan Albas: Okanagan—Coquihalla, British Columbia)
• C-313, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (non-corrective contact lenses) (Patricia Davidson: Sarnia—Lambton, Ontario)
• C-316, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (incarceration) (Richard Harris: Cariboo—Prince George, British Columbia)
• C-321, An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act (library materials) (Merv Tweed: Brandon—Souris, Manitoba)
• C-370, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act (St. Lawrence Islands National Park of Canada) (Gordon Brown: Leeds—Grenville, Ontario)
• C-383, Transboundary Waters Protection Act (Larry Miller: Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, Ontario)
• C-419, Language Skills Act (Alexandrine Latendresse: Louis-Saint-Laurent, Québec)
• S-201, National Philanthropy Day Act (Hon. Geoff Regan: Halifax West, Nova Scotia)
• S-206, World Autism Awareness Day Act (Harold Albrecht: Kitchener—Conestoga, Ontario)
• S-209, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (prize fights) (Massimo Pacetti: Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, Québec)
• S-213, Korean War Veterans Day Act (Blain Calkins: Wetaskiwin, Alberta)

Second Session (21)
• C-217, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (mischief relating to war memorials) (David Tilson: Dufferin—Caledon, Ontario)
• C-247, Main Point of Contact with the Government of Canada in case of Death Act (Frank Valeriote: Guelph, Ontario)
• C-266, Pope John Paul II Day Act (Wladyslaw Lizon: Mississauga East—Cooksville, Ontario)
• C-394, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the National Defence Act (criminal organization recruitment) (Parm Gill: Brampton—Springdale, Ontario)
• C-428, Indian Act Amendment and Replacement Act (Rob Clarke: Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, Saskatchewan)
• C-442, Federal Framework on Lyme Disease Act (Elizabeth May: Saanich—Gulf Islands, British Columbia)
• C-444, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (personating peace officer or public officer) (Earl Dreeshen: Red Deer, Alberta)
• C-452, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (exploitation and trafficking in persons) (Maria Mourani: Ahuntsic, Québec)
• C-462, Disability Tax Credit Promoters Restrictions Act (Cheryl Gallant: Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, Ontario)
• C-479, An Act to Bring Fairness for the Victims of Violent Offenders (David Sweet: Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, Ontario)
• C-483, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (escorted temporary absence) (Dave MacKenzie: Oxford, Ontario)
• C-489, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (restrictions on offenders) (Mark Warawa: Langley, British Columbia)
• C-501, National Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Heritage Day Act (Rick Norlock: Northumberland—Quinte West, Ontario)
• C-525, Employees’ Voting Rights Act (Blaine Calkins: Wetaskiwin, Alberta)
• C-555, An Act respecting the Marine Mammal Regulations (seal fishery observation licence) (Greg Kerr: West Nova, Nova Scotia)
• C-591, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act (pension and benefits) (Dave Van Kesteren: Chatham-Kent—Essex, Ontario)
• S-211, National Health and Fitness Day Act (John Weston: West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country: British Columbia)
• S-213, Lincoln Alexander Day Act (David Sweet: Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, Ontario)
• S-218, National Fiddling Day Act (Tilly O’Neill Gordon: Miramichi, New Brunswick)
• S-219, Journey to Freedom Day Act (Mark Adler: York Centre, Ontario)
• S-221, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (assaults against public transit operators) (Corneliu Chisu: Pickering—Scarborough East, Ontario)

PRIVATE BILLS

First Session (3)
• S-1001, An Act respecting Queen’s University at Kingston
• S-1002, An Act to authorize the Industrial Alliance Pacific General Insurance Corporation to apply to be continued as a body corporate under the laws of Quebec
• S-1003, An Act to authorize Industrial Alliance Pacific Insurance and Financial Services Inc. to apply to be continued as a body corporate under the laws of Quebec

Second Session (1)
• S-1001, An Act to amend the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Act

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ MOTIONS

First Session (10)
• M-230, Anaphylaxis (Dean Allison: Niagara West—Glanbrook, Ontario)
• M-269, Financial literacy (James Rajotte: Edmonton—Leduc, Alberta)
• M-274, Multiple sclerosis (Leon Benoit: Vegreville—Wainwright, Alberta)
• M-315, Income inequality (Hon. Scott Brison: Kings—Hants, Nova Scotia)
• M-319, Children’s health (Royal Galipeau: Ottawa—Orléans, Ontario)
• M-331, Housing (Réjean Genest: Shefford, Québec)
• M-382, Religious freedom (Bev Shipley: (Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, Ontario)
• M-387, Blue Sky Policy (Hon. Rob Moore: Fundy Royal, New Brunswick)
• M-388, Firefighters (Hon. Ralph Goodale: Wascana, Saskatchewan)
• M-412, Lower Churchill hydroelectric projects (Jay Aspin: Nipissing—Timiskaming, Ontario)

Second Session (20)
• M-425, Obesity (Mike Wallace: Burlington, Ontario)
• M-428, Electronic petitions (Kennedy Stewart: Burnaby—Douglas, British Columbia)
• M-430, Strengthening employment of persons with disabilities (Phil McColeman: Brant, Ontario)
• M-431, Election of committee chairs (Brad Trost: Saskatoon—Humboldt, Saskatchewan)
• M-448, Afghan Veterans Monument (Ray Boughen: Palliser, Saskatchewan)
• M-455, Homelessness (Peter Goldring: Edmonton East, Alberta)
• M-456, Pan-Canadian Palliative and End-of-life Care Strategy (Charlie Angus: Timmins—James Bay, Ontario)
• M-489, Election of the Speaker (Scott Reid: Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, Ontario)
• M-496, Dairy producers (Ruth Ellen Brosseau: Berthier—Maskinongé, Québec)
• M-502, Georgian Bay Channel to Lock 45 – Port Severn (Bruce Stanton: Simcoe North, Ontario)
• M-504, Violence against women (Bryan Hayes: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario)
• M-505, Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Stella Ambler: Mississauga South, Ontario)
• M-532, Care for veterans (Hon. Laurie Hawn: Edmonton Centre, Alberta)
• M-534, Child poverty (Rathika Sitsabaiesan: Scarborough—Rouge River, Ontario)
• M-545, Stratford Festival (Gary Schellenberger: Perth—Wellington, Ontario)
• M-550, Rail service (Hon. Mark Eyking: Sydney—Victoria, Nova Scotia)
• M-553, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (Pierre-Luc Dusseault: Sherbrooke, Québec)
• M-575, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias (Ben Lobb: Huron—Bruce, Ontario)
• M-587, Genocide recognition (Brad Butt: Mississauga—Streetsville, Ontario)
• M-590, Free votes (Ed Komarnicki: Souris—Moose Mountain, Saskatchewan)

I hope you will join me in the next e-newsletter when I provide details on roundtables we held in the riding with veterans and my meeting with a ‘Royal’ couple.

John Barlow
Member of Parliament