Karen Ludwig June 2017, Volume 5
www.karenludwigmp.ca CONSTITUENCY OFFICE
Tel: 1.888.350.4734
Facebook: @karenludwigNB
Member of Parliament • New Brunswick Southwest
49 King Street
St. Stephen, NB E3L 2C1
Our Constituency Office:
49 King Street, St. Stephen, NB E3L 2C1
Telephone: 506.466.3928
Toll-free: 1.888.350.4734
Email: [email protected]
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MESSAGE FROM YOUR MP
In March, Budget 2017 was delivered in the
House of Commons and builds on our plan
to grow the middle class, help strengthen
our communities, increase opportunities for
all Canadians and future generations.
This spring, I was pleased to hold my first
"Trade and Opportunities Luncheon", where
I and key international business agencies,
spoke with our local NBSW business
community on how to expand and increase
employment opportunities through
exports.
In May, I attended the Can/Am Border
Trade Alliance Conference where we
focused on improving the efficient and safe
flow of people and goods across the
Canada/USA border crossings. Canada and
the USA share the most open border in the
world and approximately 400,000 people
and 30,000 trucks cross the international
border daily. With $2.4 billion in daily
trade, Canada and the USA demonstrate
the largest trading partnership in the world.
As a member of the Standing Committee
for International Trade, in June I will have
meetings in Chicago, Detroit, and
Washington with Governors, Chambers of
Commerce, business leaders, and Congress
members. Strengthening relationships and
trade opportunities in North America is our
priority.
With Canada Day only weeks away, I am so
looking forward to seeing our communities
come together to celebrate Canada's 150th
anniversary of confederation. Throughout
New Brunswick Southwest, so many events
have been inspired by innovative ideas for
rediscovering Canadian history.
As your representative in the House of
Commons, one of my most important
duties is listening to you through
community events and at my town
halls. To date, we have hosted a total of 19
town halls across NBSW!
Thank you for your ongoing support.
#BUDGET2017
On March 22, 2017, Minister of Finance Bill
Morneau unveiled Budget 2017. I am
proud to support this budget that works
for Canadians, and continues to strengthen
the middle class.
Budget 2017 puts Canada’s skilled,
talented, and creative people at the heart
of a more innovative future economy – one
that will create middle class jobs today and
tomorrow. Some key highlights include:
Creating a new Strategic Innovation
Fund in order to attract, support, and
grow Canadian business in dynamic
and emerging sectors through an
investment of $1.26 billion over five
years. This is in addition to the $325
million fund recently announced to
support innovation through the Atlantic
Fisheries Fund.
Investing in the unique infrastructure
needs of rural and northern
communities by investing $2 billion
over 11 years.
Supporting trade and transportation
corridor projects, including on the east
coast, through an investment of $10.1
billion over 11 years.
Making home internet more affordable
for low-income families, and providing
them with computers under an
Affordable Access program, with an
investment of $13.2 million over 5
years. This is in addition to the $500
million announced in Budget 2016 to
support the expansion of high-speed
internet for rural communities.
Through these steps and more, we are
committed to working for all Canadians.
Visit budget.gc.ca for more details.
SOFTWOOD LUMBER
Our government has been clear: we plan
on fighting the new tariffs that have been
imposed on our softwood lumber
industry.
The softwood lumber industry is a major
driver of both jobs and the economy of
New Brunswick. New Brunswick has 29
saw mills, and many of these businesses
are major employers in our rural
communities.
Softwood lumber is used in the
manufacturing of such goods as pellets,
pallets, pulp and paper, tissue, particle
board, power plants, fencing, lattice,
house siding, trusses, molding, decking,
trim, packaging, and much more.
Duties on softwood lumber exported
from Canada to the United States will put
jobs and communities at risk on both
sides of the border.
The softwood lumber industry provides
12,000 direct jobs in Atlantic Canada, and
the Canadian forest industry employs
more than 200,000 Canadians in more
than 170 rural and Indigenous
communities across the country. The
residential construction industry in the
US employs 3.8 million Americans, and
duties could jeopardize as many as 8,000
American jobs.
New Brunswick's softwood lumber
industry is an exceptionally well managed
forest industry, and is not unfairly
subsidized. The Government of Canada
strongly believes the historic exclusion
from duties on softwood lumber exports,
which has been in effect for the past 35
years, should remain.
The federal and provincial governments,
along with the New Brunswick lumber
producers, are committed to working
together for the best outcomes for our
communities and businesses both in the
short and long term.
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REPORT
I was proud to join my colleagues on the Standing
Committee on the Status of Women in submitting our
report to the House of Commons, “Taking Action to End
Violence Against Young Women and Girls in Canada.”
In our report, we made 45 recommendations to the
government, including that they resume tracking the
national rate at which sexual-assault allegations are
dismissed as “unfounded.”
Violence is a part of the daily lives of far too many young
women and girls. I am proud of the work our
government is doing and continues to do. Budget 2017
includes many of our Committee’s recommendations,
including the establishment of a new national strategy to
address gender-based violence.
THE LAUNCHING OF THE
ATLANTIC FISHERIES FUND
How proud I am to be part of a
government that is working with the
provinces to establish an Atlantic
Fisheries Fund! Working together, we
can advance a more sustainable and
prosperous fish and seafood sector.
The fish and seafood sector is integral to
the economic and social fabric of
thousands of coastal communities across
Canada including New Brunswick
Southwest and overall generates $2.3
billion (GDP) for the national economy.
I was pleased to participate in the
announcement of this $325-million
Fund.
The Fund will encourage innovative ways
to harvest, process and deliver the
highest quality and sustainably sourced
fish and seafood products from Canada’s
wild capture and aquaculture fisheries. It
is based on Partnerships, Innovation and
Knowledge-sharing.
The federal and provincial governments
will work with industry, unions,
Indigenous communities, scientists, and
other experts in the fish and seafood
sector to help identify priorities for
investments, project possibilities, and
potential partnerships.
Let`s look to the future of the fish and
seafood industry and take the necessary
steps to transform and drive innovation
in this sector so it’s positioned for even
greater success.
Funding for this new initiative is in
addition to existing federally funded
programs.
OUT AND ABOUT IN NEW BRUNSWICK SOUTHWEST
In New York, representing Canada at
the United Nations Convention on the
Status of Women.
I was so proud to have Sarah
Alston, from Grand Bay-Westfield,
New Brunswick take my seat in
the House of Commons as our
ridings “Daughter of the Vote”!
At the announcement of the $325 million Atlantic
Fisheries Fund. Great opportunities for New Brunswick!
With the Honourable Minister Dominic LeBlanc, NB
Southwest MP Karen Ludwig, and Deputy Premier
Stephen Horsman.
At the St. Stephen Aces Hockey game
against the Campbellton Tigers. Great
to see the Aces get a big win, and have
the chance to ‘drop the puck’!
Always a pleasure to see F/L
James A. Stewart, ONB, DFC, CA
(Ret.). Here we are at the 100th
anniversary of the Battle of Vimy
Ridge
So happy to be joined by Sgt. Kevin MacIntyre and the
161 C.K. Beverage Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in
Ottawa. Planning a trip to Ottawa? My office can help you
book tours and reserve seats in the House of Commons for
Question Period. Call 1-888-350-4734 or email us at
[email protected] for details!
Our Government recently increased this Award to a maximum of $360,000, retroactively,
and all recipients are eligible. Through this increase, we will be paying $700 million to Veterans.
19,000 Veterans still have not received their payment.
Why?: Their banking information or address are not up to date with Veterans Affairs Canada.
Make sure Veterans Affairs Canada has your current information so that you can get yours!
Call 1-866-522-2122 or visit www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/e_services
www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/e_services 1-866-522-2122 Update Your Information:
Are you a Veteran?
Are you a Veteran who received the Disability Award for a service related illness or injury?
Karen Ludwig, MP, New Brunswick Southwest
As your Member of Parliament, one of the most important parts of my job is to listen and engage with all residents of New
Brunswick Southwest. Please use this form for feedback, or to tell me what issues are important to you.
Name: Phone:
Address: Email:
To return survey: 1) Cut along the dotted line 2) Place in envelope to Karen Ludwig,
MP, House of Commons, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6 4) Mail, no postage is required!
Lyme Disease Roundtable
I was proud to Co-Chair the second Parliamentary Roundtable on Lyme
disease, with Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands ). We were joined by
Senators and Members of Parliament from all parties, and heard
testimony from both Lyme disease patients, advocates, and experts.
The goal of the roundtable was to give parliamentarians the
opportunity to listen and share the experiences of constituents battling
the illness, while raising awareness for the disease on the Hill.
Upcoming Town Halls
As of the end of June, I will have
hosted 19 Town Halls in New
Brunswick Southwest! My goal is to
hear from as many of my
constituents as possible, and one of
the best ways to do that is by
meeting with as many people in
our riding as possible.
These Town Halls are an
opportunity for me to learn what
issues are most important to you!
For details on my upcoming Town
Halls, visit karenludwigmp.ca, or
call us at 1-888-350-4734.
See you at my next Town Hall!
As an active member of the House
of Commons Standing Committee
on International Trade I like to
focus on the positive.
I had the pleasure to co-host with
the St. Stephen Chamber of
Commerce a Trade and
Opportunities Workshop for potential
exporters. The workshop was attended by
many business people who heard from
representatives of numerous boards,
organizations and agencies in the export
business. Participating in the workshop were
representatives of the Export Development
Corporation (EDC), the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Business
Development Bank of Canada (BDBC), the
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
(CME), Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB)
and many others.
Our business success in markets abroad –
and trade in general – is essential for
Canada. Trade has helped build this country
into a top 10 global economy and New
Brunswick is well-placed for its piece of the
pie.
Experts at the workshop all agreed: Trade
raises living standards and increases
prosperity.
Let me thank all those who came out to
participate and learn more about the
opportunities arising from trade.
Trade and
Opportunities
Marine Protected Areas (MPA)
I brought concerns to the Minister’s Office regarding MPAs in NBSW. Consultation by Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(DFO) on the draft design of Marine Protected Areas (MPA) network planning in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion which in-
cludes the Bay of Fundy, will continue into 2018 prior to finalization.
The MPAs network design will identify a range of areas for future implementation, including those for meeting Cana-
da's marine conservation target for protecting 10 percent of marine and coastal areas by 2020. Some areas will even-
tually become MPAs under the Oceans Act, while others will be given legal designations to ensure that their key fea-
tures are protected, such as a migratory bird sanctuary or as an "other effective area-based conservation measure"
under the Fisheries Act (e.g. sensitive benthic area).