To You and Yours: I wish you relaxing and meaningful holidays – and a very Happy New Year!

Dirk and I are looking forward to the holiday season, and all that 2024 has to offer

Great to connect with Erin and Joshua from the UBC Alma Mater Society to discuss support for international students, food security, and how no-interest federal student loans help with affordability

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

The House of Commons has risen for the holidays and MPs will return to Parliament later in January. This affords me some down time, and much-valued time in Vancouver Quadra. 

In the Fall session, MPs debated and passed important legislation that will support so many Canadians, including:

• Bill C-226: Develops a national strategy to promote efforts across Canada to address the harm caused by environmental racism
• Bill C-233: Ensures victims of domestic violence feel safe after the perpetrator is released
• Bill C-56: Delivers on our federal Government’s commitment to make housing more affordable,  in addition to stabilizing prices for Canadians
• Bill C-57: The Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, which ensures high-quality market access terms for Canadian businesses participating in Ukraine’s economic recovery.  (Surprisingly, the Conservative Opposition members voted against it, signalling their lack of support for Ukraine and Ukrainian peoples.)

Back home in Vancouver Quadra, I reconnected with the UBC Alma Mater Society, to discuss support for international students, affordability, and food security. 

The annual Dunbar Craft Fair is a great way to kick off the holiday season and find some one-of-a-kind gifts!! This year I brought my four Vancouver-based grandchildren, who loved exploring the many rooms, bought some holiday gifts, enjoyed treats, and chatted with local vendors.

Did someone say jam! Stocking up on some delicious treats and trinkets at the Dunbar Holiday Craft Fair

Working to Achieve Canada’s Climate Targets

Thank you to all who work to put Canada at the forefront of international initiatives to ensure biodiversity is protected on land and sea and that climate goals are met!

Nature is core to Canada’s national identity, and the science is clear. Nature needs more protection, and our government is addressing it with the same ambition and urgency as we are dealing with climate change. 

Minister Guilbeault recently announced that Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan is working. Our government established an interim 2026 climate target that calls for a 20% reduction in emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. Canada is the first country in the world to put a cap on oil and gas production, proving that Canada continues leading the work to ensure the protection of the environment.

Investing in Dental Care for Canada’s Seniors

The Canadian Dental Care Plan will help the affordability of dental care for millions of Canadians

In other great news, on December 11th, the federal government announced a significant milestone for the health and well-being of people in Canada, the rollout of the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Once fully implemented, this Plan will help up to nine million uninsured Canadian residents with annual family income less than $90,000, to afford a visit to their dentist.

To meet anticipated demand and ensure a smooth transition process, the dental plan will first open for seniors 87 and better this month, expand to those aged 77 to 86 in January 2024, followed by ages 72 to 76 in February 2024, and ages 70 to 71 in March 2024. Those who are eligible will receive letters from Service Canada inviting them to apply. This program will significantly improve health, reduce a burden on our health care system, and improve fairness by expanding access to dental care for the millions of Canadians who currently can’t afford it.

Over 30 Hours of non-stop Voting: A Conservative Stalling Tactic

I delivered a Member’s Statement on the housing investments the Conservative voted against, and what it meant for housing Canadians

In early December Members of Parliament voted non-stop for over 30 hours, on individual measures outlined in the Fall Economic Statement.  The Conservative MPs who orchestrated this stunt to showcase their opposition to carbon pricing, Canada’s very effective framework for reducing harmful climate emissions, which for the majority of Canadians returns more money than it costs them. As MPs voted on over 180 distinct initiatives the Conservative members voted against all of them, including funding proposed for:

1. Adding 71,000 new rental homes through the Apartment Construction Loan Program.
2. Constructing 12,000 new affordable homes through the Rapid Housing Initiative
3. Helping Ukrainian immigrants in Canada to find housing, and access financial support.
4. Renewing and expanding the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver and its services
5. Implementing the next step in our $10 a day child care initiative, now saving a family with two children (eg, age 2 and 4) about $13,200 a year in daycare fees!

I was disappointed to see the Conservative MPs waste over 30 hours of our time, and millions of tax-payer dollars to simply vote against every single measure. 

In Case You Missed It

• The Governments of Canada and British Columbia announced an historic agreement, investing nearly $62 million to implement the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence in British Columbia.
• The Canadian Government announced a $1-million investment over two years to the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining (BRIMM).
• The waiver on the 20-hour-per-week limit on the number of hours international students are allowed to work off campus while class is in session will be extended to April 30, 2024, allowing for more than 20 hours per week. 
• Canada’s new 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline is now available to everyone in Canada in English and French.
• Federally funded CSJ jobs for students and young people are a great experience! The Canada Summer Jobs application is open until January 10, 2024 at 11:59 Pacific Standard Time.
  
  

As the holidays approach, I wish you a happy, healthy and safe holiday season and a Happy New Year. See you in 2024!

Warm regards,

Hon. Joyce Murray, P.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra