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Summer 2000
Dear Constituents, The New Year has been very eventful for me and I want to update you on some of my activities. Needless to say, I was delighted that the 2000 Budget included my Private Members' Bill to extend Employment Insurance maternity and parental leave benefits to a full year. This is good news for parents whose newborn or adopted child needs direct parental care. Launching my new book on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was also very gratifying. Further information is provided in this report. Pictured on the cover are Lucy and Sandra Falcone. Sandra won my 1999 essay contest and came to Ottawa to present the essay to the Prime Minister. Her essay is reproduced inside. This year in addition to serving on the Finance and Health Committees, I have taken on two other responsibilities. I now also Chair a Commons Committee on improving the financial reporting to Parliament and the process of review by M.P.s. In addition, I also Chair a caucus committee of M.P.s on Income Tax reform. This committee was established by the Finance Minister to provide him with input for the next budget. In April, I finalized the design of a new Internet Site which I think you will find informative. The address is www.paulszabo.com and I have provided a description of its features in this issue. I hope you will visit the site and pass on your comments on how I can improve the site to better meet your needs. Thank you for your kind support of my work and I hope that you and your family have a safe and enjoyable summer season. Sincerely, Paul Szabo
Each year, the International Association of Fire Fighters come to Ottawa to discuss issues with Parliamentarians. Issues such as emergency response, safety initiatives and health impacts on fire fighters were discussed. I am pleased with the active role that our own Mississauga Fire Fighters have played in bringing important matters to our attention. Currently, I have two Private Members initiatives before the House of Commons. Bill C-246 calls for the establishment of a Public Safety Officers Compensation Fund to assist the families of police officers and fire fighters who lose their lives in the line of duty. I also have Motion M-418 which proposes to increase the CPP accrual rate from 2% to 2.33% to take into account the lower life expectancy and shorter careers of public safety officers than the national average. Debate on this Motion starts in October 2000.
Each year, I co-sponsor an essay contest for grade school students in Mississauga and this year's winner was Sandra Falcone who was in grade 8. Her prize was a trip to Ottawa to have lunch with me, to get a tour of Parliament and to meet the Prime Minister to give him a copy of her essay. There are many other prizes given to students from all grades and I am very pleased with the number of students who participate. The other co-sponsor is Grade Expectations Learning Centres and the judging is conducted by their teachers. As a final recognition of Sandra, here is a reproduction of her winning essay.
By "The place in Canada I would most like to visit" is - Eastern Canada's smallest province - PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, an island resembling a crescent. I've heard that it is the prettiest and most relaxed place in North America! Prince Edward Island was known to the Micmac Indians as Abegweit ("Cradled in the Waves"). In 1534, explorer Jacques Cartier described it as "the fairest land 'tis possible to see". There are many reasons why I want to visit Prince Edward Island. The Island lets you know that you really have "got away from it all". The air is so fresh and clean you can taste it! Also, there is a sense of freedom here and much, much more. Charlottetown is the Island's capital and largest city. In the summer, it is wonderful to see the Charlottetown Festival, which includes my favourite - the musical Anne of Green Gables! At Cavendish Beach is Green Gables, the farmhouse that was made famous in Lucy Maud Montgomery's novel of Anne of Green Gables. L.M. Montgomery described the Island best. "It is the sea which makes Prince Edward Island in more senses than the geographical. Save for a few places in the interior, it is ever visible somewhere, if only as a turquoise gleam through the dark boughs of spruce fringing an estuary. Great is our love for it, its tang gets into our blood: its siren call rings in our ears..." Unfortunately, L.M. Montgomery died in 1942. It would have been an honour to personally meet this famous writer! Anne of Green Gables has made the province of Prince Edward Island known all over the world. This book has been translated into more than thirty languages, and read by literally millions of people! Anne, the spunky "redhead" in the novel, has so much enthusiasm for life and the world around her. Even though Anne was so mischievous, she still won people's hearts, and in the end, she turns out to be a fine young lady. Prince Edward Island is a beautiful land, surrounded by gorgeous beaches and waters that offer: salt water fishing excursions, seal watching, harbour tours, sea kayaking, wind surfing, and more! When I visit this fascinating place, I'll be sure to keep my camera handy for shots of colourful harbours, potato farms and rolling sand hills. A highlight, I'm certainly not going to miss for the world is a lobster supper! And, when I'm finished this delicious meal, I am going to let the sea sing me to sleep under the stars! Prince Edward Island is truly a magical land, and the place in Canada I would most like to visit in the near future!
In April, 2000, we finally launched an Internet Site to provide you with a complete source of information about myself, my work as a Member of Parliament and about other work related matters. Here is a brief summary of the key features of the site: BIOGRAPHY - a summary of my personal background and highlights of my Parliamentary work. CURRENT EVENTS - includes my Press Releases, newspaper articles and other documents on both my personal initiatives and on other matters before Parliament. This section is updated weekly. QUARTERLY REPORTS - copies of all of my quarterly "HOUSE OF COMMONS REPORT" since January 1999. IN PARLIAMENT - provides a complete summary of all the Private Members' Bills and Motions that I have introduced since I was first elected in 1993. In addition, you will find a detailed index by subject and link to the transcripts of Parliament for every occasion on which I have spoken in the House of Commons since 1993. MY BOOKS - provides you with opportunity to read and print all or part of the 5 books which I have written in support of my work as a Member of Parliament. These books deal with Divorce, Family, Domestic Violence, Child Poverty and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. DRINK SMART - is a national public awareness campaign which I founded on the risks associated with the misuse of alcohol. This link includes information on the campaign and copies of the brochure and two posters which I designed and circulated all across Canada. INFORMATION LINKS - provides internet addresses and links to government, media and other sites of interest. You will have easy access to Canada, Parliament and Government sites as well as useful sites on Business and Jobs, Finance and Social Benefits, Legal and Constitution, Electoral and Political, newspapers etc. Here are just a few of the links:
CONTACT US - provides details of my addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail addresses and a link to send us your comments or questions. There is also a form which you can use to electronically request special greetings for anniversaries and birthdays. These are available from the Queen, the Governor General, the Prime Minister or myself . I am very encouraged by the response I have already received to the site. As part of my April campaign to promote awareness of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, I sent out posters and letters advising of my new book and the fact it was available on my site. During the month of May, there were over 10,000 visitors to my site. I hope that you will visit the site as well. I know you will find it informative and I would appreciate receiving your comments on how I can improve the site to provide you with useful information.
In my last householder, I reproduced a poem on raising children and invited you to send me copies of inspirational poems, stories or sayings. It seems this was a very popular feature because I received dozens. Here are a couple of samples: The Big Rocks First A teacher of business students put a large glass jar on his desk and filled it with fist-sized rocks. He asked the students if the jar was full and some said yes. He then pulled out a bag of gravel, poured them in and shook the jar to allow the gravel to work its way into the spaces between the rocks. Then he asked if the jar was full and again some said yes. He then pulled out a bag of sand and poured it in filling in the space between the rocks and the gravel. Once more, he asked if the jar was full and some still said yes. He then pulled out a pitcher of water and poured it in until it filled the jar to the top. Now it was full. When asked what the point of the demonstration was, one student suggested that no matter how full your schedule seemed to be, if you try real hard you can also fit in some more. The teacher had another point. He said that if you don't put the big rocks in first, you will never get them in at all. The big rocks
in life are:
Years ago, I worked with children as a coach in hockey and baseball. Every now and then, I encountered a child with problems and it was sad knowing that most behaviour problems usually last a lifetime. That is why so much of my MP work involves children.
In 1996, I founded Drink Smart Canada to promote responsible use of alcohol. Honourary Patrons now include the Canadian Police Association, The Canadian Medical Association, The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs and The Canadian Nurses Association. Initially, the campaign produced posters and brochures for distribution across Canada. We also have a toll free number to provide information and materials - 1-888-463-1111. In April, following the launch of my book "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - The Real Brain Drain", we launched our new poster on FAS. Over 7,000 posters have already been distributed to municipalities, fire stations, hospitals, doctors offices, social service offices, police stations and Health Canada offices across Canada. I am also pleased that Health Canada has also created a National FAS Advisory Committee to promote primary prevention measures. The posters and book are on www.paulszabo.com.
On May 10th, my Private Members' Motion M-69 was debated in Parliament. It proposed to amend the Criminal Code to strengthen the definition of obscenity. Currently the Criminal Code does not use the term pornography but rather obscenity. However, sexual exploitation is not an offence unless it is linked to violence, horror, cruelty or crime. The motion called for the elimination of that link. The Motion was not votable but the debate in the House of Commons does give the Government an indication of the mood of the House in regard to the subject matter. In addition to debating the specific motion, I took the opportunity to speak about the current case of possession of child pornography which has been appealled to the Supreme Court. When the case was first heard in B.C., the court ruled that the laws were too broad and constituted an infringement on the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression. On appeal to the B.C. Court of appeal, the decision was upheld therefore leading to a final appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. The case was heard in January and a decision is pending. In previous cases, the Supreme Court has defended Canada's laws on possession of child pornography. However, with the appointment of some new members of that Court, there is growing concern that the laws may be struck down. It is possible that the decision will come down after Parliament adjourns for the summer. In that event, I thought that it was important that the subject be debated in Parliament so that the Government would have the input of M.P.s. My position was that if the Supreme Court strikes down the laws on child pornography, the Government should invoke the "Notwithstanding Clause" which would over-ride the court decision and give us a chance to amend the laws as required. Your views on this important matter would be appreciated.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian men. In 1999, it is estimated that over 16,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. More than 40,000 Canadians died in the same year from this disease. Overall, one in eight men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and those diagnosed too late to be cured must live with complications of the disease and the side effects of life-long treatment. There are many unanswered questions about prostate cancer. We know that heredity is a factor but do not know how factors such as diet or physical activity increase the risk of developing it. However, the older you are, the more likely you are to develop prostate cancer. Early detection of prostate cancer before symptoms are present or while it is confined to the prostate gland, offers the best chance of cure and control. The Canadian Prostate Cancer Network strongly recommends that men over 50 speak to their physicians about early testing with a PSA blood test and exam as part of their regular check-ups. These tests can signal prostate cancer often before symptoms appear. Men in high risk groups, such as Afro-Canadians, and those with a strong family history of prostate cancer should discuss the need for testing at age 40. Taking care of yourself pays off. Talk to your doctor about regular check-ups. For further information contact: Canadian
Prostate Cancer Network
From time to time my office receives complaints about the service provided by the Post Office. Sometimes mail is delayed, delivered to the wrong address or some other problem. When you bring your concerns to the attention of postal authorities, the problems can often be corrected. However I understand that not everyone is comfortable making a complaint. You should know that there is an Ombudsman available to speak to you on a confidential basis. If you have a concern, I encourage you to raise the matter directly with the office Ombudsman. They have the tools to help and that office also produces an annual report on what problems have been identified and how they have been dealt with. Further information is provided in the flyer presented below.
Special personal messages of congratulations may be requested for those Birthdays and Anniversaries listed below. As these events are very important occasions, you may want to request a message, when applicable, from Her Majesty The Queen, the Governor General and the Prime Minister of Canada. Greetings from Her Majesty the Queen are available for 100th Birthdays and every 5th year thereafter, and 60th Wedding Anniversaries and every 5th year thereafter. Please note that copies of birth certificates and marriage certificates are required by Government House for messages from The Queen. Birthdays 75th and over - message from the Prime Minister 90th - 99th - message from the Governor General 100th and over
- message from Her Majesty The Queen Wedding Anniversaries 25th and over - message from the Prime Minister 50th - 59th - message from the Governor General 60th and over
- message from Her Majesty The Queen
Constituents may write to any Member of Parliament or Cabinet Minister postage free. Simply address your envelope to the particular Member, c/o House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6. Your views and suggestions are important.
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