The start of the fall session in the House of Commons is going to be exciting. Our Conservative Government plans to get to work passing our “Tough on Crime” legislation, keeping Canadians safe as we have been mandated to do. I have had many queries on when we will fulfill our election promise to get rid of the expensive and ineffective Long-Gun Registry and I am excited to let Northern Albertans know that the time has come.

While we have been fortunate to enjoy some fabulous early fall weather, Northern Alberta is famous for its dramatic weather changes. Please be careful driving our highways. Let’s all make it our goal to arrive home safely.

News from Ottawa

Canada Leading the Way: The Soundest Financial System in the World

On September 7th, the World Economic Forum released its annual Global Competitiveness Report again declaring Canada to have the soundest financial system in the world.

Our Conservative Government is focused on what matters to Canadians – creating jobs and promoting economic growth.

For the fourth consecutive year in a row, the World Economic Forum has ranked Canada’s banks the soundest in the world.

Through sound and prudent regulation, Canada’s financial sector has weathered the ongoing economic turmoil better than anywhere else in the world and served as an example for the world to follow.

A sound financial system has helped support Canada’s economic recovery and also helped Canada avoid taxpayer bailouts or nationalization experienced in the United States and Europe.

This is yet another example of Canada’s global economic leadership, which includes:

• 600,000 net new jobs created since July 2009 – the strongest job growth record in the G-7;
• IMF and OECD forecasting Canada’s economy will be among the strongest in the G-7 this year and next; and
• Fitch Ratings affirmed Canada’s AAA credit rating highlighting Canada’s “enviable fiscal position to face the global financial crisis;”
• Moody’s renewing Canada’s AAA credit rating due to our “economic resiliency, very high government financial strength, and a low susceptibility to event risk.”

While these are encouraging signs, Canada is not immune from the economic storms facing the global economy. That’s why we need to complete the next phase of our government’s Economic Action Plan to create jobs for Canadians.