Chris Warkentin: Your Member of Parliament for Peace River

Conservative action helping workers and businesses in Canada
(February 05, 2010)

On Friday, our Conservative Government announced a successfully negotiated agreement with the Obama Administration that will allow Canadian companies to participate in U.S. infrastructure projects financed under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Our Government stood up for Canadians in resolving this issue with our American partners and the result is an agreement that will benefit both sides of the border.

Canadian suppliers will have access to projects under the Recovery Act in a range of areas, including programs of the U.S. Department of Energy; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and the Environmental Protection Agency. Our Government and the Obama Administration have also agreed to establish a fast-track consultation process in the event that similar Buy American provisions are applied to future funding programs.

Furthermore, the agreement grants access to further opportunities under the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA).

This negotiation with the U.S. is helping to create jobs in Canada as well as recognize the integrated nature of our two economies.

Looking ahead to the future, Canada and the U.S. have agreed to further discuss a more comprehensive and permanent agreement for increased opportunities between our two countries over the long-term.

Preserving and creating jobs is our Conservative Government’s priority. Our Conservative Government is delivering the right action for workers and businesses in Canada.

Conservatives continue to work on Canada’s economy
(February 04, 2010) [Read More]

This week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Cabinet are meeting to work on Canada’s economy.

The Prime Minister will lead a discussion on the best way to create jobs, opportunity and economic growth for all Canadians. The meeting will also include important input from Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on the following issues:

An overview of his pre-budget consultations;
An update on planning for the Budget; and
The latest projections for economic growth.

Our Government will also examine ideas to tackle unemployment, and to ensure we have a workforce that is ready for tomorrow’s economy.

These topics are all important ones; and we will also examine the consultations we’ve done to date, start planning for the new Budget and lay down longer term plans for the Throne Speech.

While our Conservative Government wants to restore balanced budgets, Michael Ignatieff himself has told Canadians that when it comes to the deficit: “it’s not my problem.”

While the Liberals and their Coalition partners play political games on Afghan detainees, our Government is delivering real results. We are working to ensure we excel against foreign competitors and to ensure our place on the world stage. We will continue to work for the creation of new jobs, new opportunities and a more prosperous future for Canada’s economy.

Canadians providing aid to Haiti
(January 26, 2010) [Read More]

On Monday, during the Ministerial Preparatory Conference on Haiti in Montreal, Prime Minister Stephen Harper rallied the international community to a strategic and coordinated effort to help rebuild Haiti.

The Prime Minister outlined three principles to guide the work of Haiti reconstruction:

Sustainability – the world must commit to Haiti for the long-term.
Effectiveness – resources must be directed to where they are most needed.
Accountability – the commitments we make must be firm and lasting to ensure Canadian tax dollars are used effectively.

Last week, our Government was proud to announce Canada will provide an additional $80 million for humanitarian aid and assistance in Haiti. This brings our total response to a potential $135 million.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Laureen Harper recently visited the Canadian Red Cross office in Ottawa to make a personal donation towards the relief efforts in Haiti. Our Government is reminding Canadians that cash donations are the fastest, most efficient way to get help to people living in a disaster zone. We encourage all Canadians to contribute to the registered charity of their choice to help in the earthquake relief. In order to avoid potential fraud, we urge everyone to ensure that their charity of choice is a registered charity. More information can be found at: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/donors/index.html

To acknowledge the generosity of Canadians, our Government has also announced that we will match, dollar for dollar, Canadians’ charitable contributions to registered organizations for disaster assistance in Haiti. Thus far, over $30 million has been donated. This is in addition to the $5 million preliminary emergency contribution announced earlier this week.

To date, Canada has provided rapid response to the current situation in Haiti:

A Canadian Forces DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) team has been sent to Haiti.
Canadian Forces aircraft are being dispatched daily to bring such things as emergency supplies, personnel, and search and rescue helicopters.
These same planes are being used to bring Canadians home. To date, almost 1000 people have been brought safely back home.
Within a short time, we will have approximately 2,000 men and women, seven helicopters and two ships contributing to rescue, recovery and reconstruction efforts in Haiti.
The HMCS Halifax and HMCS Athabaskan, two Canadian naval ships loaded with food, bottled water, medical equipment and humanitarian supplies, have left for Haiti.
A Canadian field hospital is now operating in Haiti.
We are setting up expedited immigration procedures for Haitians with family in Canada.
The Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince continues to provide emergency support to Canadian citizens in need.

Our Government offers our most sincere condolences to those who have lost friends and family in this terrible event. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Haitian people, as well as those who are worried about the safety and security of their loved ones.

Friends and relatives in Canada seeking information on Canadian citizens believed to be in Haiti should contact the Emergency Operations Centre by calling 1-800-387-3124. They may also send an email to sos@international.gc.ca.

Updates on the situation in Haiti are available at: http://www.international.gc.ca/humanitarian-humanitaire/earthquake_seisme_haiti.aspx.

The Government of Canada Supports Seniors in Peace River Riding

(1/26/2010)

The Government of Canada Supports Seniors in Peace River Riding

Grande Prairie, Alberta, January 26, 2010—Chris Warkentin, Member of Parliament for Peace River, today announced federal support for seniors’ initiatives under the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program.

Mr. Warkentin made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

The following organizations have received funding for projects that facilitate the participation and leadership of seniors in their communities:

Organization	Location	Project	Funding
Golden Range Society	High Level	Historic Storytelling	$12,647
Keg River Our Children Society	Keg River	KROC New Beginnings	$15,000
Woodland Cree First Nations	Cadotte Lake	Tepakohpimitanaw	$14,900
Metis Nation of Alberta Local Council 1990	Grande Prairie	Cooking Up Memories	$24,192
High Level Native Friendship Centre Society	High Level	Rural Aboriginal Elder Inter-generational Project	$24,375
Peace Association for Lifelong Learning (on behalf of the Sir Alexander Mackenzie Historical Society-Book Committee	Peace River	Peace River Remembers	$22,400

“Seniors are valuable members of society who contribute a diversity of skills, knowledge and experience to their communities,” said Mr. Warkentin. “Through the Community Participation and Leadership component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, the Government of Canada is supporting local projects that enable seniors to contribute to their communities through social participation and active living.”

The investment highlighted today falls under the Community Participation and Leadership component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which encourages seniors to continue to play an important role in their communities by helping those in need, providing leadership, and sharing their knowledge and skills with others.

With two additional components of the New Horizons for Seniors Program—Capital Assistance and Elder Abuse Awareness—the overall budget of the Program is now $35 million per year.

Since its beginning, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded over 5,500 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada. For more information about the Program, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors.

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For more information, please contact Mr. Warkentin's ofice at: (780) 538-1677.

Federal Investment in Coca-Cola Centre Upgrades to Benefit Residents of Grande Prairie

(1/5/2010)

Federal Investment in Coca-Cola Centre Upgrades
to Benefit Residents of Grande Prairie

Grande Prairie, Alberta, January 5, 2010 – The City of Grande Prairie is moving forward with upgrades to the Coca-Cola Centre thanks to the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, a major job-creating investment from Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

Today, Chris Warkentin, Member of Parliament for Peace River, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced federal funding for the project that will strengthen Grande Prairie’s recreational infrastructure and stimulate the local economy.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to announce funding through the Economic Action Plan for this important project,” said MP Chris Warkentin. “These upgrades will allow more residents to participate in activities at the facility, contribute to the success of the upcoming Arctic Winter Games and aid in Grande Prairie’s bidding for other such major events in the future.”

Federal funding of $652,000 is provided for the upgrades through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The total project cost is $2,040,000.

“This investment in community infrastructure is exciting news,” said Mayor Dwight Logan. “The Coca-Cola Centre is a key recreational facility for Grande Prairie and region and these funds will provide important enhancements. We appreciate the federal government’s recognition of what this complex means to our community and our local area.”

The upgrades to the Coca-Cola Centre, which will play host to the Arctic Winter Games in March 2010, involve adding features such as bleachers, dehumidifiers, lighting, tempered glass and new mechanical system units. In addition, the front entrance and viewing area will also be renovated, while the ice plant will undergo modifications to increase the facility’s energy-efficiency. The upgrades will increase the facility’s usage and longevity, while helping the region to attract more economic generators such as major athletic events and tournaments.

The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program will invest $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. It will provide a temporary economic stimulus that will help reduce the impacts of the global recession while renewing, upgrading and expanding recreational infrastructure in Canadian communities. A total of almost $163 million in RInC funding will be invested across the four western provinces. Western Economic Diversification Canada is delivering the program in Western Canada.

Visit the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program in the West, or Canada's Economic Action Plan for more information.

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For more information, please contact Mr. Warkentin’s office at: (780) 538-1677.

MP WARKENTIN WILL SPEND “NIGHT IN THE TRENCHES”

(11/10/2009)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MP WARKENTIN WILL SPEND “NIGHT IN THE TRENCHES”

GRANDE PRAIRIE, November 10, 2009 – This evening, Chris Warkentin, Member of Parliament for Peace River is travelling to Eaglesham to participate in a unique event planned by teacher, Mike Mckay and Junior and Senior High students of Eaglesham School.

This is the second year that Eaglesham students decided to dig trenches and occupy them all night in an effort to gain an appreciation for some of what our veterans may have gone through as they spent a night in the trenches during war-time serving our country. This experience may only offer a brief glimpse into what was actually endured by our soldiers but it will no doubt have a profound impact on participants.

“I am really looking forward to digging trenches and spending the night with Eaglesham students as we experience this together,” said Chris Warkentin, MP for Peace River. “I commend all of those participating in tonight’s event and for undertaking this initiative. I anticipate that this will be a moving and emotional experience for all of us. We have so much to be thankful for and we owe a great debt of gratitude to all those who served our nation and to those who continue with these efforts today. The Peace and Prosperity that we enjoy today is a result of the high price paid by those who fought and died for Canada.”

On Wednesday morning, November 11th, after their “Night in the Trenches”, participants will share their experiences with local veterans and the general public. Chris will then take part in the local Remembrance Day ceremony at the Eaglesham Hall where he will lay a wreath on behalf of the Government of Canada to honour and remember our veterans.

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For more information, please contact Mr. Warkentin’s office at: (780) 538-1677

The Olympic Torch Passes Through Grande Prairie

(11/6/2009)

The Olympic Torch Passes Through Grande Prairie
November 6, 2009
http://www.discoverthepeacecountry.com/videos/olympic-torch/olympic-torch.html
(Video Produced by Ken Connors, Owner and Developer of DiscoverThePeaceCountry.com)

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Conservative Party of Canada - Top Stories

Conservatives continue to work on Canada’s economy
(February 04, 2010)

Canadians providing aid to Haiti
(January 26, 2010)