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1 Frank Baylis • Pierrefonds-Dollard 514-624-5725 | [email protected] | 501-3883 St-Jean, DDO, QC H9G 3B9
PARLIAMENTARY BULLETIN SUMMER 2019
FRANK
BAYLIS Member of Parliament, Pierrefonds-Dollard
S AV E TH E DA TE : OUR ANNUAL BBQ/frankbaylisliberal
Fourth Annual Free BBQ Saturday, July 13, 12-3 pm
Centennial Park 3000 Rue Lake
DDO, QC H9B 2M1
A TEA M D EDIC A TED TO TH E C OMMUN ITY
Happy Saint-Jean Baptiste Day!
I look forward to seeing you!
Happy Canada Day!
Philippe Ricard Anahita Beladi Caroline Morchat Zachary Sykes Zack Masson
Frank Baylis • Pierrefonds-Dollard 514-624-5725 | [email protected] | 501-3883 St-Jean, DDO, QC H9G 3B9 2
When I first arrived in Ottawa as a newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) in 2015, I had a lot to learn. Though I knew about the general ways in which the government worked, being elected gave me the opportunity to see how things worked up-close. One of the very first things that I noticed was the lack of decorum and respect in the House of Commons. This was particularly obvious during Question Period. With time, I came to believe that there were areas that could be significantly improved. This led me to propose the Democratic Empowerment Motion M-231, on which I am proud to have collaborated with MPs from the Liberal, Conservative, New Democratic, and Green parties. These are Members of Parliament who, like myself, felt strongly about improving our democracy.
With motion M-231, I am hoping to strengthen our democracy by increasing respect and civility in Parliament, increasing the Government’s productivity, and empowering citizens to bring issues directly to Parliament. Improving decorum during debates can be achieved by strengthening the role of the Speaker, giving him the tools to better control the behaviour of MPs. Productivity can be improved by giving MPs a stronger say in how legislation is reviewed in committee and by enabling each of them to propose their own laws and motions. As well, M-231 would give citizens the ability to request a debate through a petition. Specifically, if 70,000 Canadians sign a parliamentary petition, it would trigger a debate, as long as the topic is appropriate and falls within federal jurisdiction.
WORD OF TH E MP
Announcing details of Motion M-231 at a press conference in Ottawa with MPs from the Liberal, NDP and Green parties.
As I write this, I do not know if these proposed changes will be supported by the majority of Members of Parliament. However, I am working hard to make this a success, as I truly believe it will help foster a more collaborative environment where all parliamentarians can work together for the betterment of Canada.
Frank Baylis
For many, a Canada Summer Job (CSJ) is their first experience in the workforce and a great opportunity to begin building a resume. The CSJ program provides wage subsidies to employers to create quality summer work opportunities. This year, the program has approved a total funding of $933,645 to be injected in our riding . With this funding, our community organizations will be able to create up to 268 summer jobs. This year, all youth between the ages of 15 and 30 are eligible to apply for positions, not just currently-enrolled students. For more information about the CSJ program, visit:
Canada.ca/Canada-summer-jobs
I NCOME TA X PREPA RA TI ON CL I N IC FUN DIN G FOR YOU TH EMPL OYMENT
Every year, our office collaborates with Volunteer West Island to host an income tax return preparation clinic for residents of Pierrefonds-Dollard with low income. This year, we are proud to have served 146 families with the help of Volunteer West Island’s excellent volunteers. Filing taxes can be a stressful experience for those unfamiliar with the tax system, but these volunteers worked hard to ensure everyone who came to see us was helped. Our thanks to Terry Aitken and our team of volunteers Salvatore D’urso, Kathryn Hejnar, Linda Lepore, Samir Ackad, Francine Thomson, Christine Parent, and Barbara Best for their service to the community!
Mr. Baylis with Volunteer West Island’s dedicated team of volunteers.
Mr. Baylis speaking with members of the Pierrefonds-Dollard Youth Council at the riding office
3 Frank Baylis • Pierrefonds-Dollard 514-624-5725 | [email protected] | 501-3883 St-Jean, DDO, QC H9G 3B9
S PEC IAL MENT ION
S PRI NG FL OODS
On Rock’s Kim Reid and Craig Shaw helping with sandbagging efforts at l'Île-Bizard.
The spring floods in Pierrefonds-Dollard, though tragic, showed us once again what a great community we have in the West Island. Hundreds of volunteers poured into the boroughs of Pierrefonds-Roxboro and L'Île-Bizard–Sainte- Geneviève to make a difference in the lives of their neighbours. One of these organizations is On Rock Community Services, a Pierrefonds-based community organization offering a food bank, a school lunch program, and a community diner. Since the beginning of the floods, President Kim Reid and his dedicated team of volunteers, including but not limited to Craig Shaw, Sylvia Kass, Brigitte Puccio, Ted Sparkes, Kathryn McCreath, Kim Neelin and Jo-Anne Harvey, played a vital role in providing flood relief in Île-Bizard. In addition to helping feed displaced flood victims, the organization also helped bag, distribute and place sandbags, protecting many homes from being flooded. On behalf our community, we thank them and everyone else who helped!
Île Mercier residents host a “solidarity brunch” in defiance of spring floods
It is worrisome to think that we may need to become used to floods in Pierrefonds-Roxboro and Île-Bizard-Sainte-Genevieve. Sadly, this year’s spring was yet again tragic for many. As water rushed down the Ottawa River and over our riverbanks, the West Island community rose to the challenge. Volunteers streamed into Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School parking lot and the Île-Bizard public works yard to make sandbags and organize local response on a street by street basis. Local organizations such as On Rock, Rapid Relief Team, AJOI, the Roxboro Legion and others also answered the call. Local restaurants donated food. This neighbourly assistance, as well as the hard work of our municipalities, undoubtedly saved countless homes.
This community spirit was exemplified perfectly by a celebratory outdoors brunch on a sunny May morning. Interestingly, it took place amidst the chaos on flooded Île Mercier off of Île-Bizard, on the only private lot remaining above water level. All who could attend were present. The islanders were proud to say that their common front against the floods saved all 23 permanent residences on the little island. Breakfast was donated by local restaurants. Outside guests, such as ourselves, were ferried by boat since the bridge was still roughly 3 feet below water. In the middle of this pancake breakfast a Search and Rescue patrol walked by and waved. Geese floated by. We were shown both improvised and planned flood defences. They were ready, they helped one another relentlessly, and it paid off.
For its part, the Federal government assisted in two ways. In terms of immediate assistance, our Armed Forces were deployed here and elsewhere across the province. Canadian soldiers worked side by side with municipal workers and volunteers to build and repair dikes.
Less visible to the public is the fact that the Federal Government funds disaster preparedness and relief. Aside from being ready to assist the province financially to help rebuild, our Government is supporting community resiliency via the Disaster Mitigation and Assistance Fund. Announced in 2017, DMAF aims to provide funding to projects such as the building of permanent dikes, the engineering of new wetlands and other public infrastructures mitigating natural disasters.
Frank Baylis • Pierrefonds-Dollard 514-624-5725 | [email protected] | 501-3883 St-Jean, DDO, QC H9G 3B9 4
Minister Ahmed Hussen visited the riding of Pierrefonds-Dollard to discuss the role of immigration in strengthening our community and creating economic growth. During his visit, Minister Hussen and Mr. Baylis met with staff and students at le Centre d'intégration Multiservices de l'Ouest-de
-l'Île to thank them for their excellent work helping newcomers settle into life in Canada, learn French and find work.
A warm welcome to the High Commissioner of India to Canada, His Excellency Vikas Swarup by the Sikh community of Pierrefonds-Dollard on the occasion of Vaisakhi. The Gurudwara Sahib Greater Montreal organized a fantastic celebration to mark this occasion. Congratulations to the
organizing committee on the success of the event and on its service to the Sikh community in the West Island!
Celebrating the Feast Day of Saint Maron at a Solemn Mass held at the Cathédrale Saint Maron. Thank you to His Excellency Paul-Marwan,
Bishop of the Maronites in Canada, for the kind invitation.
A visit to the DDO Library, where Code Club Canada and Kidscode Jeunesse are doing a wonderful job teaching computer coding to
children across the country!
I N OU R COMMUNITY
