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Minister of Industry working for Canadians

Over the course of the summer, our federal regional minister for British Columbia and Minister of Industry, the Honourable James Moore, has made several announcements that will have a direct impact on folks here in the Okanagan.

 

Removing Barriers to Internal Trade

Canada has been successful in pursuing an ambitious international trade strategy, but progress on domestic trade has not always kept pace.  That is why Minister Moore recently announced One Canada: One National Economy, a plan that lays out a broad proposal to remove barriers to internal trade.  You can visit www.ic.gc.ca/internaltrade to learn more.

As one of the premier wine regions in Canada, we are familiar with the ongoing efforts to encourage freer trade between the provinces and territories so that Canadians across the country can enjoy our award-winning wine.  While there has been movement from provinces like Manitoba and Saskatchewan, it is still easier for Canadians to access wine from the US or France than from our own country.

At a time when Canada is entering into new trade agreements around the world that seek to eliminate irritants and barriers to international trade, our Government is determined to eliminate domestic regulation that leads to increased and unnecessary costs for our businesses, and limits growth and job creation.

Minister Moore, on behalf of the Government, is committed to working with the provinces and territories to bring about a better agreement and begin the essential work of renewing internal trade.

I support the Minister in this endeavour and look forward to hearing more about the progress made as the federal, provincial and territorial governments work together to achieve freer internal trade for the benefit of all Canadians.

 

Connecting Canadians

More and more, access to the Internet is essential to creating jobs, realizing economic opportunities, and linking Canadians to online services, as well as far-off family members and friends.

That is why Minister Moore recently announced Connecting Canadians, the Government of Canada’s plan to bring high-speed Internet to 280,000 Canadian households, mainly in rural and remote communities.

Between now and 2017, the Government will invest up to $305 million to extend access to high-speed Internet at 5 megabits per second (Mbps) to 98 percent of Canadian households, and will provide incentives for the private sector to invest in wireless and wireline Internet services in areas of the country where they currently do not exist. 

By ensuring rural and remote communities have access to high-speed Internet, the Government is taking important steps toward giving all Canadians the chance to take full advantage of Canada’s digital economy.

For more information on your connectivity or to provide feedback on service in your area, please visit the Connecting Canadians website (www.ic.gc.ca/ConnectingCanadians).

 

Ending Paper Billing Charges on your Telecom Bill

Minister Moore has also recently announced that the federal government will introduce legislation to end pay-to-pay billing practices in the telecommunications sector.

Canadian consumers have been clear that they expect lower prices and better services from telecommunications providers. That is why our government committed to ending this unfair practice and putting the interests of Canadian consumers first.

As the Minister noted, "More and more Canadians are finding a new charge appearing on their monthly bills, including their wireless bill. This fee is charged to those who receive their bill in the mail. Increasingly, many Canadians are being charged this new fee by companies from whom they have been receiving service for decades. We do not believe that Canadians should pay more to receive a paper copy of their telephone or wireless bill.”

In the 2013 Speech from the Throne our government committed to end this unfair practice and to continue to promote policies that support Canadian consumers putting more money back in the pockets of hard-working Canadian families.

I want to congratulate the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Industry on a productive summer and for working on behalf of British Columbians and Canadians across the country.

 

Ron Cannan is the Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country and welcomes your feedback at [email protected].  Information on local announcements and federal government programs can be found at www.cannan.ca.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.



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About the Author

The Honourable Ron Cannan was first elected as Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country in January, 2006. He was subsequently elected in the 2008 and 2011 federal elections. He is a member of the Conservative Caucus.

On September 13th, 2012 Ron was summoned to be a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and will provide advice to the Government as a member of the Priorities and Planning Sub-Committee on Government Administration.

Ron successfully uses his experience and knowledge as a long-time Kelowna City Councillor and regional government representative to be an effective and enthusiastic champion for his riding and his constituents.

His greatest satisfaction comes from helping local organizations and citizens obtain the support they require from Ottawa. 

He is also dedicated to doing what it takes to ensure that the growing and vibrant communities in his riding continue to thrive and prosper.

He is proud of the partnership and cooperation between federal, provincial and municipal governments which have resulted in significant infrastructure projects including upgrades to Highway 97, expansion of the Kelowna International Airport, a new horticulture strategy for fruit growers, obtaining a full service passport office for Kelowna and addressing critical economic issues such as labour skills shortages.

He works closely with the local Chambers of Commerce and once a year arranges meetings for the Chamber with Cabinet Ministers and senior policy staff in Ottawa to move forward important local issues such as crime prevention and labour skills shortages.

He is also an ardent champion for important community initiatives including homelessness, mental health, women’s resources, and support of arts and culture.

On Parliament Hill, Ron has been a member of the Standing Committee on International Trade since 2006 supporting initiatives which will broaden the economic opportunities for local businesses and businesses Canada-wide.

In previous parliamentary sessions Ron has been a member of the Standing Committee for Government Operations and Estimates, Veteran’s Affairs, Human Resources and Social Development, the Scrutiny of Regulations Committee, and the Standing Committee for Fisheries and Oceans.

Ron is also involved in a variety of inter-parliamentary organizations: he is Vice Chair of the Canada-US Inter-Parliamentary Group, and a member of the Canada-Taiwan Friendship group.

As Chair of the Conservative Wine Caucus, Ron works with his colleagues across the country to promote the wine regions of Canada.  Ron tabled Motion 218(formerly Motion 601) which supports direct to consumer purchasing of Canadian wine. His motion became Bill C-311, sponsored by MP Dan Albas, seconded by Ron, which was passed into law on June 28th, 2012.

Prior to entering politics, Ron developed a diverse business background as a small business owner and had several years experience in marketing and sales management working with corporations including Coca-Cola, Costco and Corus Entertainment.
 

Very active in his community, Ron has been a Director for both the Central Okanagan Regional District and the Central Okanagan Hospital Board. Ron also served on the Okanagan University College Access to Training Advisory Board, the Glenmore Elementary School Parents Advisory Council, and the Kelowna Christian School Fund Raising Committee. He was co-founder of the Okanagan Volunteer Festival. Currently Ron is a member of the Sunrise Rotary Club of Kelowna and, along with his wife Cindy, was the honorary Chair of the 2012 Canadian Cancer Society Daffodil Ball.

Ron lives a family-oriented and active lifestyle with his wife Cindy. He is the proud father of three daughters and grandfather to three grandsons. His hobbies include music and sports.



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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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