April Community News

Happy Spring to everyone. It feels like the weather has been improving but it is Calgary so we all know that we’re not out of the snow yet.  The war in Ukraine continues to occupy a great deal of our time in Ottawa. This past week, I introduced a motion in Committee and then the House of Commons to allow for Visa-free entry to Canada for Ukrainians fleeing the war. It passed the House but we are still waiting for the Liberal government to respond as they have been refusing. The Minister of Immigration offers weak excuses and I expect that the bureaucratic red tape and inefficiency is what is putting lives in danger. I hope that its not the Afghan situation repeating itself all over again but I fear that the government is prioritizing their processes over people.  Inflation continues to be the biggest concern that I hear about in emails, meetings and when I’m out and about in our constituency. The cost increases on literally everything are rapidly growing out of control. The Liberals continue to say that its an international phenomenon and out of their control. Some aspects certainly are but if they truly wanted to help Canadians that are struggling with these costs, the government could take certain actions. However, the Liberal-NDP government refuses to discuss pausing the carbon tax, the GST on fuel, or any other measures. Unfortunately, its our problem, not theirs. If there are other issues that are on your mind, please let me know. My office is always open to answer questions and help with federal government issues.  In your service,

Jasraj Singh Hallan Member of Parliament Calgary Forest Lawn

InflationIf it feels like everything is getting more expensive, that’s because it is. The inflation rate in Canada hit 5.7% in February, that was the biggest single increase since 1991. The average family grocery bill will be over $1000 more than last year.We have asked the Liberals to help hard-hit Canadians by postponing the carbon tax increase and to stop collection of the GST on fuel. They have refused to consider these options and the NDP have joined the Liberals in voting down these options.The cost of financing the federal debt is projected to exceed $40-billion a year by 2025-26 – more than double the cost at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux.  The report also says Canada’s debt costs will grow more quickly than what the government has forecast.  This can only be solved with increased taxes or spending cuts.  Stay tuned.

From The Mailbox  Here is a list of issues that I have received correspondence on from Calgary Forest Lawn constituents over the last month – inflation, Canada/Russia relations, Ukraine, crypto currency, Emergencies Act, vaccine safety, vaccine requirements and travel restrictions, fur farming,  support for Seniors and the T4 delay, forced sterilization of Indigenous women, charities legislation, Middle-East peace, medical assistance in dying, housing costs, party leadership, Indigenous rights, travel rules, climate change, universal basic income, social credit system, pipelines, energy security, abuse of power, refugees, foreign aid, gas prices, mask rules, Arctic sovereignty, passenger rail, animal cruelty, ocean health, cell phone rates, cost of living, lobbying rules, Juno Beach development, Fraser River development, carbon tax increase, censorship and arts funding. Due to the volume of mail and the variety of issues, we appreciate your patience in awaiting a response.

All That Jas Podcast  Hopefully you have had a chance to take in the podcast, it has had an exciting start and I hope that you feel we’re bringing you interesting and relevant conversations. This month’s guests were Cody Battershill of Canada Action to discuss Canadian resource development and Foothills MP and Shadow Minister of Agriculture John Barlow to talk about agriculture, the effect of carbon taxes on farmers and more.   Please let us know your thoughts, in comment sections or by email. Got a guest that you think would be fantastic? Send that over too. YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCryuIRLdoAsv6EhEPhomS3g Google https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xOTI2MTg4LnJzcw?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwj4qeq4–b1AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQNQ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0ipU8dwqjQg7UA3BfTExni Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/all-that-jas-podcast/id1608037143

Firearms Confiscation Delayed The Liberal government has quietly published an update that the amnesty period for their arbitrary firearms ban that was due to expire next month.  It will be extended for an additional year and a half because they are unable to get the program up and running.  The reality is a majority of shootings causing death in Canada are attributed to illegal guns from the U.S. in the hands of gangs and criminals. The Liberal firearm ban is a logistical nightmare that will cost Canadians billions of dollars while doing little to get guns away from gangs and criminals or stop the flow of illegal guns entering Canada.  The Liberals promised this policy for three elections and have failed to deliver.  Instead of pushing it off for yet another election, the Liberals should scrap their arbitrary firearms ban and their plans for a buyback program and provide those resources to our police officers, border officials, and grassroots youth diversion programs.

Still No Plan!  Conservatives continue to press the Trudeau government to give Canadians a plan to lift the travel restrictions that have affected so many people. We have asked for the metrics that the government would consider to allow Canadians to prepare for life after the pandemic.  Unfortunately, the Liberals and NDP continue to team up to defeat any motions and keep Canadians in the dark. Like I said in last month’s newsletter – I think that Canadians deserve to see a plan.

My office has received many calls on the delay of delivery of T4s from Service Canada to many seniors for this year’s tax season. The deadline is May 2 but we feel that Canada Revenue can extend that deadline to allow for their own mistakes.

Liberal-NDP Agreement The Liberals and NDP have entered into a formal agreement to keep the Liberal government in power until 2025.  Such agreements are permitted, but both leaders should have been honest with Canadians in the last election.  They were asked many times if they would ever enter into a formal agreement if they did not get the election results they wanted and denied it over and over.  Canadians did not vote for an NDP government – this is about Justin Trudeau’s desire for power, not democracy.  This type of backroom deal-making only undermines the confidence all Canadians have in our political system.  I will continue to work with my Liberal and NDP colleagues when it makes sense but will also call them to account when necessary.

Which Benefits Are You Eligible For? The Benefits Finder tool allows you to determine what benefits you may be entitled to by answering a few easy questions.  After completing the quick multiple-choice questions, your possible benefits are short-listed and additional information is provided.  Many federal-provincial programs are also incorporated into the search results. Link here.

Canada Job Bank If you need help getting back to work, try accessing the jobs being listed on the government website, visit www.jobbank.gc.ca to see the latest opportunities.  Hundreds of jobs are listed that are in our community and they offer Canadians with a wide variety of work experiences.

Stay Connected I regularly provide timely updates and critical information via my social media accounts.  I strongly encourage all residents to follow these accounts to receive the latest information.  Just click one of the following links to subscribe.