Dear Constituents,

 

This Christmas season, I hope that you are able to come together with your loved ones to enjoy the company of family and friends and the joys of the holiday.

 

It has been quite a year for all of us, and as 2008 draws to a close, it’s good to look back and reflect.  Looking back, I’m very proud of the accomplishments of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and our Conservative government in 2008.

 

During this time of global economic turmoil, it is particularly important that Canadian workers and families keep more of their own money. Whether it’s so you can provide for your family or keep money moving through our shops, businesses and manufacturing sector, our Conservative government understands how important it is to keep taxes low for all Canadians during this challenging time.  

I’m proud to say that, thanks to Conservative action, the average Canadian family is now paying $3,500 less in taxes every single year.  Also, our latest tax-cutting measure, the Tax-Free Savings Account, allows all Canadians to save up to $5,000 a year, tax-free. We have also cut the GST by another point – ahead of schedule – to five per cent on January 1st of 2008. Lower taxes for families, seniors and businesses are all a part of keeping the economy on the right track during tough economic times. 

Families are now safer because the Conservative government’s Tackling Violent Crime Act is now law –raising the age of protection from 14 to 16, giving police and judges better tools to crack down on impaired drivers, and increasing mandatory jail time for serious gun crimes.  It also sets tough bail conditions for dangerous gun criminals and provides more effective sentencing and monitoring for dangerous, high-risk offenders.

Also this year, new product safety legislation was brought in to protect Canadians from dangerous products by overhauling the existing system and implementing tough new standards and screening. This year, Canada was the first country in the world to ban the use of the potentially toxic chemical Bisphenol-A in baby bottles.

In June, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a historic official apology to the Aboriginal people of Canada for the abuses incurred in the past by the Residential School System. We hope that this will signal the start of a new chapter of healing and reconciliation with Canada’s aboriginal people as we all work together toward a stronger future.

This past fall, Canadians re-elected Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative government with a strengthened mandate to govern. You also saw fit to re-elect me as your Member of Parliament.  Once again, thank you – it is indeed an honour.

More recently, Canadians witnessed a combative parliament and an opposition coalition which rose up to try and wrest power from the newly elected Conservative government.  Many of you wrote to express your frustration and outrage over the situation – feelings that many others across Canada, including myself, shared.  Your comments and thoughts were greatly appreciated and will continue to be important during the month to come.  

I am pleased that The Governor General, acting upon the advice of Prime Minister Harper, wisely chose to suspend Parliament until January, to give all parties an opportunity to take a step back, and focus all our energy on Canadians’ number one priority: the economy. 

During the past few weeks and in the days and weeks to come, we will continue to meet with business leaders, provincial governments and members of the opposition to gather ideas and discuss suggestions in order to present the 2009 budget on January 27th.  I am very pleased with the sense of cooperation we are seeing from all parties so far, as we attempt to address the global economic crisis that threatens Canada’s prosperity.

I invite all interested Canadians to make their suggestions for the upcoming budget at www.fin.gc.ca, in the section called “Budget 2009 Consultations”, as soon as possible. The more that we work together to solve this financial crisis, the more success Canada will have.

Additionally, I have been working with Minister Baird, Minister Prentice, and Minister Flaherty towards approval of funding and infrastructure projects in Northern Alberta in order to provide a better quality of life for our residents, stimulus to our oilsands industry, our secondary industries and the Canadian economy as a whole. (All of which would all be jeopardized by a change in government.)

In the days ahead, I look forward to speaking with many of you about the concerns you have about the challenges facing our community and our country.  As always, you can contact me at 780-743-2201, 1877-532-6272 or send me an e-mail at jeanb@parl.gc.ca. 

Once again, from my family to yours, I wish you a safe and happy holiday and all the best in the year to come.

Sincerely,

Brian Jean, MP
Fort McMurray - Athabasca