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Finley: Helping People from Haldimand County Get Passports Ready

August 11, 2009

Caledonia, ON — Diane Finley was pleased to bring a passport clinic to Caledonia Public Library on Tuesday, August 11th, 2009.

The aim of the clinic was to help constituents applying for their passports. Staff and volunteers helped fill out and review passport applications from constituents across Haldimand County.

Diane Finley reminds all constituents to prepare now for any travel plans to the United States by applying for a passport to enter the United States under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).

The WHTI is a US law that requires all travelers, including Canadian and American citizens, to present a valid passport when entering the United States.

For additional information, constituents are encouraged to visit the Passport Canada website at www.passportcanada.gc.ca or call Diane Finley’s office at 519-426-3400.

For inquiries (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
613-218-9288

Application Process for Infrastructure Stimulus Fund open to non-profit…

August 4, 2009

Simcoe, ON – Diane Finley, Member of Parliament for Haldimand-Norfolk, encourages eligible non-profit organizations in Haldimand-Norfolk to apply for infrastructure funding through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, a joint initiative between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

Eligible project categories include temporary housing structures, community centres, community services and cultural infrastructure. For-profit projects in the categories of short-line rail and port/cruise ship infrastructure are also eligible.

“I encourage all Haldimand-Norfolk non-profit organizations to apply for funding through the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund,” said Diane Finley, “Programs like these are extremely valuable to our community by funding local infrastructure needs, creating local jobs and stimulating the local economy.”

Under the program, the federal government will contribute up to one-third of eligible project costs, and in exceptional cases, up to one-half of eligible project costs. The funding will be matched by the province. Non-profit organizations are responsible for the balance of eligible project costs.

Successful applicants from Haldimand-Norfolk will need to prove that their projects would not have been built over the next two construction seasons without federal and provincial funding.

Priority will be given to the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, but new construction will be considered if it can be completed by March 31, 2011. Projects should be shovel-ready with designs and approvals well advanced or in place. Projects must be for the substantial renovation or rehabilitation of existing infrastructure or new capital infrastructure. Minor improvements such as painting, flooring and interior decoration, as well as vehicles and equipment are not eligible.

It is important to note that to be considered an eligible recipient, the non-profit organization must have been incorporated as a non-profit entity for at least three years.

The eligible project categories include:

Temporary Housing Shelters – infrastructure providing temporary or emergency shelter to the disadvantaged or homeless.

U.S. Steel Update

July 20, 2009

Member of Parliament for Haldimand-Norfolk Diane Finley would like to inform her constituents of her support of her colleague, the Hon. Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, who today issued the following statement:

“When U.S. Steel acquired Stelco Inc. in 2007, it committed to a series of undertakings regarding, among others, capital expenditures, research and development, and production.

“On May 5, 2009, in response to production cutbacks in Canada, I sent a demand letter to U.S. Steel asking the company to comply with its undertakings under the Investment Canada Act. This demand letter, which was sent pursuant to Section 39 of the Investment Canada Act, represents the first step of the enforcement process under this legislation.

“I have carefully reviewed U.S. Steel’s response to my letter. I remain of the view that U.S. Steel is not complying with its undertakings, and I amnot satisfied by its explanations for non-compliance.

I am therefore announcing today that, on my instructions, an application has been filed with the Federal Court of Canada asking the Court to order appropriate measures to remedy this situation. This is the next step in the enforcement process under Section 40 of the Act.”

Finley: Supporting Families and Children in Haldimand-Norfolk

July 14, 2009

“Our Conservative government is providing federal investments for early childhood development that are at the highest level in Canadian history,” said Diane Finley. “We’re committed more than ever to supporting families and children in Haldimand-Norfolk through investments such as the Universal Child Care Benefit.”

This year marks the third anniversary of providing choice in child care through the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) . More than 2 million Canadian children have been provided with the UCCB since it was launched by Diane Finley in July 2006.

The benefit provides families with $100 a month for every child under the age of six. Since its launch, the UCCB has provided approximately $7.5 billion in direct funding to parents across Canada.

The UCCB is the first part of Canada’s Universal Child Care Plan (UCCP), which helps families balance work and home responsibilities. The second part, introduced in Budget 2007, is the provision of an additional $250 million per year to the provinces and territories to create new child care spaces. In addition, a 25-percent investment tax credit is available for businesses that create new child care spaces in the workplace.

Since 2007, many provinces and territories have announced plans for new child care spaces-over 60,000 so far. Others are investing in enhancing the quality of their spaces, or making child care more affordable for families. This $250 million is on top of the $850 million that the provinces and territories already receive through the Canada Social Transfer for children’s programs and services, for a total of $1.13 billion this year alone.

For more information and to subscribe to the UCCP electronic newsletter, please visit www.universalchildcare.ca

Haldimand County to receive $4M in Fed. and Prov. funding

July 3, 2009

Haldimand County to receive $4M in Fed. and Prov. funding

Cayuga, Ontario, July 3, 2009 – MP for Haldimand-Norfolk Diane Finley and MPP for Brant Dave Levac were pleased to announce that Haldimand County County residents will benefit from a joint federal and provincial investment of over $4 million for the Cayuga Arena Replacement and the Dunnville Arena Replacement under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program in Ontario (RInC Ontario) and Recreation Ontario (Ontario REC).

Both Levac and Finley were extremely pleased that they were able to deliver the maximum amount eligible through this program to Haldimand County for these two projects.

“Recreational infrastructure strengthens our communities, both physically and economically,” said Member of Parliament for Haldimand-Norfolk Diane Finley. “These projects will bring communities together to get fit and have fun, as well as create local jobs, something this government is committed to doing. We are pleased to work with our provincial partners to deliver funding that will create jobs and make a difference in the lives of the residents of Norfolk County.”