Summer, 2003
Dear Constituents,

On May 17th, 2003, I was pleased to join in the celebration of the 100th birthday of Mrs. Dorothy May Brown of Port Credit. I had arranged for special greetings from Queen Elizabeth and the Prime Minister, and she was surrounded by a large number of family and friends including Mayor McCallion. On the cover, I am pictured with Mrs. Brown and you can tell from the smile on her face that she was thoroughly enjoying all the festivities. I am told that the night before she was dancing the “hop” with her four daughters. What a great inspiration from a very lovely lady.

Things have also been hopping in Ottawa. I now serve on four Committees including the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, the Subcommittee on Estimates, the Standing Committee on the Environment and the Special Committee on the Modernization of Parliament. This extra workload has kept me very busy in Ottawa but with my excellent staff in Mississauga, we have been able to keep up on the needs of constituents very well. I have also introduced 3 Private Members Bills or Motions and remained very active on key legislation. More information on these is included in this report along with other features, which I hope are of interest to you.

This year, I plan to be working in the riding all summer except for a one week period in August. I will be joining the Canadian Airforce Maritime Patrol in Nova Scotia, and accompany them on their patrols of the east coast. This is a special program of Parliament to allow members to get familiar with our military operations and personnel.

Finally, I wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable summer.

Sincerely,
Paul Szabo

Each July 1st, we celebrate Canada Day and one of the most prominent sights across the country is that of our Canadian flag.

The search for a new Canadian flag started in earnest in 1925 when a committee of the Privy Council began to research possible designs for a national flag. They made no decision. Then, in 1946, a select parliamentary committee was appointed with a similar mandate to call for submissions and they received more than 2600 designs. Again no decision was taken. Then, in early 1964, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson informed the House of Commons that the government wished to adopt a distinctive national flag.

The 1967 centennial celebration of Confederation was approaching and as a result, a Senate and House of Commons committee was formed and submissions were called for once again. In October 1964, after eliminating various proposals, the committee was left with three possible designs: a Red Ensign with the fleur-de-lis and the Union Jack; a design incorporating three red maple leaves; and a red flag with a single, stylized red maple leaf on a white square. Prime Minister Pearson personally preferred the second option.

The committee eventually decided to recommend a single leaf designed, which was approved by resolution of the House of Commons on December 15th, 1964, followed by the Senate on December 17th, 1964, and proclaimed by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's second, Queen of Canada, to take effect on February 15th, 1965. The Maple Leaf, as found on the national flag, is a stylized design. The symbolism lies in the maple leaf itself, which is the traditional emblem of Canada. There is no special significance to the 11 points on the maple leaf design.

The national flag of Canada, then, came into being - almost 100 years after the Dominion was created in 1867.

On the morning of November 4th, 1956, at the United Nations General Assembly, a unique resolution was put forward calling for the setting up of an Emergency Force to secure and supervise the cessation of hostilities in the Suez Canal area. It passed 57 to zero with 19 abstentions.

If the United Nations can be said to have given birth to peacekeeping, then Canadians should take special pride in the knowledge that the resolution was the brainchild of the then Canadian Minister for External Affairs, Lester B. Pearson. He envision a multi-national force to separate the combatants, lower tensions, and ultimately mediate negotiations in order to bring lasting peace to the area.

"Peace," he said in his address to the General Assembly of the UN, "is far more than ceasing to fire, although it certainly must include that essential factor." After outlining his vision for the UN peacekeeping force, he added, "My own government would be glad to recommend Canadian participation in such a United Nations force, a truly international peace and police force."

Within hours of the adoption of Pearson's resolution, the nucleus of the first UN Emergency Force was formed with a Canadian, Major-General Burns, as commander. For the first time ever, a military force was dispatched - not to impose a settlement - but rather to facilitate it.

According to the United Nations, the standard definition of peacekeeping refers to "A United Nations presence in the field (normally involving civilian and military personnel) that, with the consent of the conflicting parties, implements or monitors arrangements relating to the control of conflicts and their resolution, or ensures the safe delivery of humanitarian relief.
Peacekeeping has become an important aspect of Canada's national heritage, as well as being a reflection of our fundamental beliefs. Peacekeeping is a dynamic concept that must respond to a changing international environment. Canada is building on an established tradition by continuing to make solid and imaginative contributions to international peace and security.

50 years of experience in peacekeeping has established an international reputation for Canada. Peacekeeping is an important component of Canada’s foreign policy and its contribution to the multilateral security system. Canada has participated in an overwhelming majority of peacekeeping missions mandated by the United Nations Security Council.

Over 120,000 men and women have served in close to 50 different operations ranging from truce observance to the supervision of elections. Canadian should also be aware that 108 Canadians have given their lives while serving on UN peacekeeping missions.

Perhaps nothing illustrates the difficult nature of peacekeeping more than the complex and longstanding situation in Cyprus. This old conflict between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots has tested the abilities of peacekeepers since 1964 to the present-day.

Since the earliest peacekeeping missions, the presence of the blue helmet has served as reminders of the United Nations' commitment to preserving peace. With the full support and moral weight of the international community behind them, Canadian peacekeeping forces of the United Nations can and do make a difference. In recent times, the complexity of situations has led peacekeepers to increasingly be "Peacebuilders" as they attempt to reconstruct destroyed areas.

In the past 10 years alone, Canada has committed peacekeepers to over 30 new initiatives, compared to only 18 in all previous years.

Each year Canadians make about 100 million trips abroad for both business and pleasure. The vast majority of these excursions go without a hitch. But unfortunately all trips do not come with a hassle free guarantee. Accidents, illnesses, legal problems and linguistics and cultural difficulties do occur. To avoid these problems, preparation is the key to a successful trip. By doing your homework before you leave, you minimize the chances of something going wrong.

Following the September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States, enhanced security measures were instituted for passport application and renewal procedures. Here are a few important changes and other tips which may be helpful to you:

• Using the latest digital imaging and security tools available, new Canadian passports issued after April 2002 will be among the most secure, advanced passport documents in the world. Previously issued passports will remain valid until their expiry.
  
• Effective December 11th, 2001, Canadian children must have their own passport. The practice of adding a child's name to a parent's passport is no longer permitted. This new security measure is also intended to help protect children. If you hold a valid Canadian passport issued before December 11, 2001, that bears the name of your child, the passport will remain valid for both you and your child until it expires. Before any travel by a child, contact the embassy or consulate of the countries the child will be visiting to enquire about entry requirements.
  
• Due to thorough screening procedures, the processing period for passport applicants in Canada has been extended to 10 days for in-person applications. The processing period for mail-in applications has been extended to a minimum of 20 days. So plan to apply well before your departure.
  
• If your passport is due to expire within six months of your arrival in another country, check with that country's embassy or consulate in Canada for its rules and restrictions regarding passport validity and expiration.
  
• Make a photocopy of your passport’s identification page and keep it separate from the original when you travel. For added security, leave a photocopy with a friend or relative at home. These simple steps may speed up the replacement process if you lose your passport.
  
• You need a visa to travel to certain countries. Your travel agent or the country's embassy consulate in Canada can advise you of the requirements. Apply for visas well in advance of your trip.
  
• Based on your current health status, immunization history and anticipated itinerary, a health care provider can assess your vaccination requirements for illnesses. Seek a risk assessment well in advance of departure as you may need to start receiving shots or taking medication a month or two beforehand.
  
• Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover costs if you get sick or injured while you are abroad. It is your responsibility to obtain and understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policies. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage.
  
• Canadian currency and Canadian travellers checks are not always accepted. Before you leave Canada, consult the bank or a foreign-currency agent to find out the most appropriate currency to carry.
  
• Before traveling abroad with valuable items, you can take advantage of a free identification procedure at any Canada Customs office. The service is available for items that have serial numbers or other unique markings. Alternatively, if you request it, customs can apply a sticker to any item to give it a serial number.
  

These are but a few items for you to note. For more detailed information, contact my office for our booklet called “Bon Voyage” or visit the travel web site at www.voyage.gc.ca.

Health is the number one priority of Canadians and the recent challenges of SARS, West Nile Virus and Mad Cow disease have seized the nation. Due to the fluidity of these situations, it is not possible to give you all the information you should know on a timely basis in this report. I would however like to raise for your attention some basic information and advise you where you can get the information that you require.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is an infection in which individuals develop a fever, followed by respiratory symptoms such as a cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. SARS is a communicable disease and the health specialists are still learning how is this transmitted between people. The cause of SARS currently unknown, so doctors are presently treating patients' symptoms.

In the absence of a laboratory test, doctors are using the following criteria to diagnose SARS:

• People who have recently travelled to affected countries in Asia or who have had close contact with persons diagnosed with SARS; and
  
• who develop a fever over 38 degrees Celsius; and
  
• have one or more the following respiratory symptoms: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
  

Practicing good personal hygiene is the key to stopping the spread of this disease. Thorough hand washing using hot, soapy water and lathering for least 20 seconds, is the single most important procedure for preventing infections. This is because disease-causing micro-organisms can frequently be found on hands. Since developments with this disease can happen so quickly, you are urged to consult the news media regularly. It is likely that the risks of SARS will be with us for some time.
West Nile virus is a mosquito borne virus. Mosquitoes transmit the virus after becoming infected by feeding on the blood of birds which carry the virus. In Canada, the virus was first confirmed in birds in Ontario in 2001 and the first human case of West Nile virus was confirmed in Ontario in September 2002. Many infected people have no symptoms and do not get sick or have only mild symptoms. When infection does cause illness, symptoms will usually appear within two to 15 days. The extent and severity of symptoms vary widely from person to person. Persons with weaker immune systems are more likely to develop serious symptoms and health effects.

To protect yourself and your family, you should avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Two actions you can take include minimizing your exposure to mosquitoes and eliminating mosquito-breeding sites around your home or cottage. When going outdoors, use insect repellents and avoid going outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Wear protective clothing such as long sleeve shirts, long pants and a hat. Light-colored clothing is best because mosquitoes tend to be more attracted to dark colors. You should also regularly drain standing water from items like pool covers, saucers under flowerpots, recycle bins and garbage cans and changed the water in wading pools, birdbaths and pet bowls at least twice a week.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is a disease in cattle that has been implicated in the development of the human version of mad cow disease called variant Creutzfed-Jakob Disease (vCJD). We know that processed meat products made from cows infected with BSE present a risk for transmitting the disease to humans. For that reason, please follow the news media reports.

For more details on these or any other health issue, you should contact your doctor or call Health Canada at 1-800-454-8302 or visit their web site at www.hc-sc.gc.ca.

April 17, 1982 was a significant date in Canadian history and one of great importance to every Canadian. It was on that day that the many freedoms Canadians had long enjoyed became enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and became an integral part of our country's Constitution.

The Charter is one of the most important laws we that have in Canada. All other laws must conform to it and this guarantees that all individuals are treated equally, regardless of their race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability. The Charter also protects Canada's linguistic and multicultural character.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is one part of the Canadian Constitution. The Constitution is a set of laws containing the basic rules about how our country operates. For example, it contains the powers of the federal government and those of the provincial governments in Canada. The Charter sets out those rights and freedoms that Canadians believe are necessary in a free and democratic society. Some of the rights and freedoms contained in the Charter are:

• Freedom of expression
  
• The right to a democratic government
  
• The right to live and to seek employment anywhere in Canada
  
• Legal rights of persons accused of crimes
  
• Aboriginal peoples' rights
  
• The right to equality, including the equality of men and women
  
• The right to use either of Canada's official languages
  
• The right of French and English linguistic minorities to an education in their language
  
• The protection of Canada's multicultural heritage
  

Before the Charter came into effect, other Canadian laws protected many of the rights and freedoms that are now brought together in it. One example is the Canadian Bill of Rights, which Parliament enacted in 1960. The Charter differs from these laws by being part of the Constitution of Canada.

The Constitution is the supreme law of Canada. Generally speaking, all other laws must be consistent with the rules set out in the Constitution. If they are not, they may not be valid. Since the Charter is part of the Constitution, laws that limit Charter Rights may be invalid. This makes the Charter the most important law that we have in Canada.

It is important to point out, however, that the Charter itself allows governments to put some limits on Charter rights. Section 1 of the Charter says that other laws may limit the rights and freedoms in the Charter so long as those laws are reasonable and justified in a free and democratic society. So, a law that limits a Charter right is nevertheless valid if it conforms with Section 1.

Generally speaking, any person in Canada, whether a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or a newcomer, has the rights and freedoms contained in the Charter. There are some exceptions. For example, the Charter gives some rights only to Canadian citizens such as the right to vote and the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada.

Governments can make changes to the Charter to add to, or to subtract from, the rights that it contains. However, this is very difficult. To make a change to the Charter, the federal Parliament and 7 of the 10 provincial legislatures must agree to it. The population of those seven provinces must also makeup at least 50 percent of the total population of Canada. When we think of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it should remind us just how fortunate we are to call Canada our home.

Now that my responsibilities as a Parliamentary Secretary are completed, I can resume developing my own legislative initiatives for consideration by Parliament. In the past, I have sponsored over 20 Private Members' Bills and Motions with some success. These include increasing maternity and parental leave benefits under the employment insurance program to a full year and the establishment of the care giver tax credit for those who provide care to a disabled, chronically ill or aged family member.

In the past three months, I have introduced three new items as follows:

1. A motion to permit those who provide direct care to a family member in need, the option to continue to contribute to the Canada Pension Plan during the period of care so that their future pension benefits will be maximized.
2. A motion to create the position of Physician General of Canada who would make pronouncements and provide information to the public on emerging and important health care issues.
3. A Bill to establish the Public Safety Officers Compensation Fund to provide a benefit to the families of police officers, firefighters and other public safety officers who lose their lives in the line of duty.

Private Members' Bills and Motions normally take over one year to work their way through the process. However, it is not unusual for the government to adopt good ideas raised by a Member of Parliament and incorporate them into subsequent budget or program. Success also depends on the support of other Members of Parliament and I will be working to secure that support.

The CANADA SITE (www.canada.gc.ca) provides comprehensive and up-to-date information on government of Canada programs, services and initiatives. It provides a quick resource to locate information from a wide variety of government sources. You can find information on subjects and audiences using an A to Z index or by using the search engine.

The “Services for Canadians” section provides the information you most need. Finding the right documents from Canada Customs and Revenue Agency is convenient and other frequently requested forms are also available. You'll also find timely information on any additional topics including health, laws and public safety.

The “Services For Non-Canadians” section is the source of information and services that are available from the Government of Canada and include information on going to Canada, doing business with Canada and Canada in the world. It is a one-stop information source for foreign students, workers, travellers, potential emigrants, importers and investors are those who simply are interested in learning more about Canada in the global environment.

The “Services For Canadian Businesses” section provides access to up-to-date government information and services for business. This business gateway provides information, tools and services that you need to start a business; apply for government financing; file your business taxes on line; learn about current business regulations; export or import your product overseas; develop new products and protect your patents, copyrights, trademarks, or industrial design; and sell your products or services to government.

Visit the Canada Site at www.canada.gc.ca. You will find a wealth of useful information as well links to other helpful sites.

Visit us on the Internet: www.paulszabo.com

Mississauga Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled during office hours or other arrangements can be made by calling the office.

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.