“Our Government is proud to invest in this new facility that will provide the community of Truro with many new opportunities,” said MP Armstrong, on behalf of the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA. “The Cougar Dome will support recreation opportunities for local residents and attract national and international sporting events to the region. These sporting events will create economic development spin-offs, translating into jobs, growth and prosperity.”

The Government of Canada is investing $300,000 in the construction of the new facility through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund (ICF). The tennis component of the facility will be built to International Tennis Federation standards, qualifying the site to host national and international events.

The CSAE was established to oversee the development and management of a versatile indoor athletics facility, the Cougar Dome. The investment enables CSAE to construct a multi-sport facility that will include six indoor tennis courts, a three-lane competition-quality running track, a multi-use turf surface to accommodate indoor football and track and field events and a club house. The project will result in both short-term local employment during the construction phase, as well as long-term local employment following completion.

Nova Scotia Health & Wellness is also contributing $100,000 towards this project.

“Supporting facilities like the Cougar Dome is one way that we’re helping Nova Scotians to lead healthier, more active lives,” said Truro-Bible Hill MLA Lenore Zann. “When this facility is built, residents of all ages in Truro, Bible Hill and surrounding area will have new, year-round opportunities to enjoy some friendly competition and social interaction on the tennis courts, track and multi-use turf.”

The project has also received a $175,000 investment from Tennis Canada.

“Supporting the construction of the Cougar Dome brings us one step closer to our vision of Canada becoming a world-leading tennis nation,” said Derek Strang, Chief Operating Officer of Tennis Canada. “We are thrilled to be a part of the growth of tennis in the beautiful community of Truro, and congratulate the CSAE on the result of their hard work and dedication to the sport.”

“Since it was established, the Cobequid Society for Athletic Excellence has been committed to the development of this facility,” said Tanya Colburne, Director of the CSAE. “The construction of the Cougar Dome is something we are all very excited about. We are looking forward to the completion of the facility and all of the benefits that it will bring our community.”

FOR BROADCAST USE:

MP Scott Armstrong announced a $300,000 investment from the Government of Canada for the construction of a new multi-sport facility in Truro today. The Cougar Dome will feature indoor tennis courts, a running track, an indoor turf surface and a club house. The facility will provide more recreational activities in the community, and will also accommodate regional, national and international sporting events.  

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“Our government’s top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity,” said Mr. Armstrong. “The Government of Canada and the trucking industry are partnering to ensure more employees have the essential skills required to succeed in today’s economy.”

Trucking Human Resource Sector Council Atlantic is receiving over $640,000 from the Adult Learning, Literacy and Essential Skills Program to undertake a study of literacy and essential skills levels among employees in the trucking industry. The study will allow the industry to better assess the impact of literacy and essential skills on safety, productivity and employment patterns. From this study, a toolkit will be developed to help employers address essential skills challenges in the workplace.

“Our organization is very proud to be leading this exciting initiative,” said Kelly Henderson, Executive Director of Trucking Human Resource Sector Council Atlantic. “We are aware that low essential skills levels can impact safety performance. This project will allow us to work with multiple partners, including the Province of Nova Scotia, to explore this relationship and identify a plan companies will be able to implement.”

The trucking industry will need 30 000 more qualified workers by 2015. Increased literacy levels in the industry will become increasingly important to both safety and productivity as technology becomes more complex, and this project will help employers meet their current and future human resources needs.

Economic Action Plan 2013 introduces a number of measures to connect Canadians with available jobs and equip them with the skills and training they need. These include the Canada Job Grant, creating opportunities for apprentices and providing support to under-represented groups such as persons with disabilities, youth, Aboriginal people and newcomers.

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“I am very excited to announce that I will visit Advocate Harbour next Tuesday evening and Dean next Thursday evening to meet with constituents from Advocate Harbour and Dean and surrounding areas. These community-based meetings give local constituents the opportunity to bring up their issues with their Member of Parliament and provides an opportunity to discuss issues of concern to them,” said Armstrong.

“I also want to make sure that I continue to be accessible to all the citizens of this large and diverse riding to ensure I understand their views and concerns when I return back to Ottawa,” Mr. Armstrong stressed.

The meeting in Advocate Harbour will take place Tuesday May 14^th at the Fundy Tides Rec. Centre 93 Mills Road, and that meeting commences at 6:30 pm.  The meeting at Dean will take place Thursday May 16^th at the Sharon Presbyterian Church Hall 1880 Hwy 336, and that meeting commences at 7:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome!

These Town Hall meetings are the second and third this year and the thirteenth and fourteenth in a series that commenced back in August 2011.  The series is one of a number of initiatives undertaken by the MP’s office to increase accessibility and engagement with the people of the riding. Since assuming office, MP Scott Armstrong has pursued a greater online presence to update and engage with constituents regarding his activities in the riding. He has also increased awareness of the riding’s priorities in Ottawa by bringing a number of high profile MP’s and Cabinet Ministers to tour the area and meet with constituents and local community leaders.

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On April 23^rd, I was pleased that Prime Minister Harper met with the family of Rehtaeh Parsons to discuss measures to combat cyberbullying. As a school principal and an MP representing communities which have experienced the loss of young people as a result of bullying, the issue is close to my heart. That is why this month’s column will focus on efforts to combat this issue.

Over the last few years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of reported cases of youth being exploited by their peers online. When a young person’s privacy suddenly goes public, the consequences can be devastating. Too many youth are dealing with online bullying – it has to stop.

What’s become clear is that our children need a place to access information on dealing with such incidents of bullying. In the most extreme of cases, they need a place to safely report their concerns. That’s why our Conservative Government was pleased to witness the recent launch of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s new website, www.needhelpnow.ca.

NeedHelpNow.ca provides youth with information they need, ranging from recognizing the warning signs of when a situation has gone too far, to learning what to do if you want a picture/video removed from the internet. It provides real-life skills to help our youth attract and deal with healthy relationships, establish personal boundaries, manage stress and develop problem-solving skills.

Our Conservative Government is pleased to support the work of organizations like the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. In fact since 2006, we’ve delivered a number of initiatives to educate and help protect our youth, including through our Safe Streets and Communities Act which delivered mandatory jail time for offenders who sell drugs to youth. We also delivered a new law to protect children from online sexual exploitation, making mandatory that internet hosting services and social networking sites report instances of child pornography to police immediately. Meanwhile since 2007, we’ve delivered over $54 million to projects that address violence against women and girls.

Since the launch of the NeedHelpNow.ca website, Laureen Harper, wife to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, has been promoting the benefits of this new online resource. In a situation where a youth experiences online bullying, some cannot handle the stress and take extreme measures to deal with anxiety. Mrs. Harper said, “…the website is a way to give people information and teach children no, your life isn’t over, there are things you can do.” Our youth are the next generation of great Canadians. Let’s work to protect them and help them navigate the use of new technologies.

In addition to these measures, I was pleased to hear that Justice Minister Rob Nicholson has sped up the review of criminal laws surrounding cyberbullying. The review will now be completed by the summer. In addition, the Minister hosted a meeting of all provincial and territorial Justice Ministers in order to present a united front to combat this issue.

As I am writing this column I have received information on the Provincial Government’s Cyber-Safety Act.  From reviewing the legislation it appears to put in place several important measures that will help law enforcement officials and school administrators intervene and help protect children from those who seek to harm them on-line.  This legislation is welcomed and I encouraged that all political parties in Nova Scotia are in support of it.

As an issue that hits particularly close to home for all residents of Cumberland – Colchester – Musquodoboit Valley, I am pleased to see concrete action being undertaken to address these criminal acts.

As always, if you have questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact my office toll free at 1-888-752-0552. You can also follow my activities online at www.scottarmstrongmp.ca, on Facebook or on Twitter @Armstrong_MP.

Yours sincerely,

Scott Armstrong, MP
Cumberland – Colchester – Musquodoboit Valley

“Can the Minister of Justice please inform this House other steps our Government is taking to prevent bullying?” Armstrong asked.

In response, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson acknowledged the partnerships undertaken with groups like the Canadian Red Cross and Sheldon Kennedy’s Respect In Sport to provide online resources for youth. In addition, he stated that he has ordered an expeditious review of the criminal code to identify gaps and deficiencies in laws and regulations that protect youth from cyberbullying.

Today’s query in Question Period comes on the heels of a similar question Armstrong posed to the Government last week in the aftermath of Prime Minister Harper’s meeting with the Parsons family, and a roundtable in Truro with the Minister of Public Safety and community stakeholders on the matter in Truro in August 2012. As a former educator, member of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, and the MP from a riding that has lost several youth to suicide related to cyberbullying, Armstrong continues to cite the matter as a top priority.

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NOTE: To watch full video go to www.scottarmstrongmp.ca

“While Canada has the best job creation record among all G-7 countries since the worst of the global recession with over 950,000 net new jobs, we recognize that the global economy remains very challenging,” said MP Armstrong. “In Economic Action Plan 2013, our Conservative government remains squarely focused on the number one priority of Canadians, with a forward-looking plan to help create jobs and grow the economy in Nova Scotia and across Canada.”

MP Scott Armstrong outlined that Economic Action Plan 2013 includes key measures to strengthen Canada’s economy, including:

• Increased skills and training support, including the new $15,000 Canada Job Grant, to help more Canadians find high-quality, well-paying jobs;
• Tax breaks for manufacturers who buy new machinery and equipment to stay competitive, and an extended ‘hiring credit’ for small businesses who create jobs;
• A record $70 billion federal investment in infrastructure across Canada, including roads, bridges, subways, rail lines, and ports;
• Major investments in research and technology;
• New tax relief for Canadians who give to charity, adopt a child, or rely on homecare services;
• Elimination of ‘import tax’ tariffs on everyday items Canadian families buy, like baby clothing, sports gear, and exercise equipment;
• Enhancing the Veteran’s Funeral and Burial Program by simplifying it and more than doubling the current funeral services reimbursement rate from $3,600 to $7,376.

 Economic Action Plan 2013 also confirmed the Conservative government’s continued all-time record support for hospitals, schools, and other important health and social services in Nova Scotia. In fact, in 2013-14, federal transfer support to Nova Scotia will be $386 million higher than under the former federal Liberal government.

“We all remember the former Liberal government slashed transfers for health care and education. Our Conservative government rejects that shameful practice, and is protecting and growing transfers to help support the services that Nova Scotia families depend on,” said MP Armstrong.

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“Our Government is pleased to support infrastructure projects across the country like the North Shore Recreation Centre and the Fraser Cultural Centre,” said MP Armstrong. “Families and communities across the province will benefit from these projects, which will also boost economic activity, as well as leave a lasting legacy of modernized community facilities for future generations.”

An investment of $47,108 made under the Government of Canada’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF) will help the North Shore Recreation Centre add a baseball diamond to its existing multi-purpose sports field. The Centre currently offers users an indoor rink/arena, a soccer pitch and a running track. The project will include field seeding, fencing installation and the construction of a baseball dugout.

“This investment helps us meet the recreational needs of the people who rely on and support this facility day after day,” said John K. MacDonald, President, North Shore Recreation Center.  “This work will create a more vibrant North Shore Recreation Centre―a space we can all be proud of.”

A federal investment of $20,000 will help the Northumberland Arts Council to make upgrades to the Fraser Cultural Centre. The Centre promotes arts, crafts and cultural activities in the North Shore area, showcasing the area’s heritage. This investment will support improvements to the centre’s basement, exterior painting, window replacement and electrical and heating upgrades.

“The Fraser Cultural Centre is more than a heritage building with a rich history. It is an arts and culture centre that provides a venue for arts education, exhibitions, and many community functions,” said Suzanne Allen Bastow, First Vice, Northumberland Arts Council.  “The much needed renovations will preserve and provide a safe, archival exhibition space, improving the experience that is warm and welcoming for our visitors.”

The Municipality of the County of Colchester is supporting both projects with a combined investment of $40,000.

“The North Shore Recreation Centre and the Fraser Cultural Centre are important fixtures at the heart of our community’s recreational and cultural amenities,” said Bob Taylor, Mayor, Municipality of the County of Colchester.  “I am pleased to see the hard work and dedication of the many volunteers and local leaders pay off and see this important work taking place.”

In Economic Action Plan 2012, the Government of Canada announced further support to help communities across the country modernize their infrastructure, committing $150 million over two years for the Fund. The Fund supports projects that look to improve existing community infrastructure, such as community centres, recreational buildings, local arenas, cultural and other community facilities.

The Fund supports, on a cost-shared basis, repairs and improvements to existing community infrastructure that is accessible for use by the public. Recipients of the Fund may receive contributions of up to $1 million and must leverage a minimum of 50 per cent of funding from other sources.

Our Government remains focused on four priorities, as outlined by the Prime Minister, that Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen of this country, and of course, their personal financial security.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

As part of Economic Action Plan 2012, Scott Armstrong, Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, today announced support for improvements to the North Shore Recreation Centre and the Fraser Cultural Centre in Tatamagouche under the Government of Canada’s Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund.

Through the fund, the North Shore Recreation Centre will receive $47,108 to add a baseball diamond to its existing multi-purpose sports field, and the Northumberland Arts Council will receive $20,000 to assist with upgrades to the Fraser Cultural Centre.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is delivering the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund in Atlantic Canada with an allocation of $16.6 million over two years.

“The Kohler brand represents quality, dependability and value,” said MP Armstrong.  “Through this investment we will help Kohltech reach new markets in Central and Western Canada with their superior Atlantic Canadian-made product.”

A business loan of $430,612 will allow Kohltech to carry out a marketing strategy in Central and Western Canada, including a print, television and radio advertising campaign; ads in homebuilding and trade magazines; and expanding their presence through trade shows and dealer visits.

“We are pleased to be able to embark on this next stage of growth and development for our company,” said Kevin Pelley, President, Kohltech International.  “We pride ourselves on creating superior products and opportunities within our community and are anxious to see our company’s commitment to excellence and innovation taking root in new markets.”

Our Government remains focused on four priorities, as outlined by the Prime Minister, that Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen of this country, and of course, their personal financial security.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

MP Scott Armstrong today announced a $430,612 ACOA business loan for Kohltech International Incorporated. The Debert window and door manufacturer will undertake  a marketing strategy to expand its presence in Central and Western Canadian markets.

MP Armstrong said the Kohler brand represents quality, dependability and value.

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“The Harper Government is committed to eliminating violence against women and girls,” Minister Ambrose added. “Our government has been working with communities to improve safety and security of women – funding hundreds of projects across Canada to end violence against women and girls.”

“I encourage everyone in Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit-Valley to celebrate the women in our community this International Women’s Week and to work together, with women, to prevent violence against women and girls in all its forms, wherever it occurs.” said MP, Scott Armstrong.

The Harper Government is committed to supporting projects that yield concrete results for women and girls in Canada, while strengthening families and communities. Through Status of Women Canada, the government’s support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, from $10.8 million to close to $19 million, its highest level ever. Since 2007, more than $57 million in funding has been approved for projects that seek to address violence against women and girls.

International Women’s Week takes place this year from March 3 to 9, with International Women’s Day March 8. For further information on International Women’s Day and International Women’s Week, please visit the Status of Women Canada web site at http://www.iwd.gc.ca.

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I was recently appointed as the newest member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Not only is this appointment important from a legislative standpoint due to our Government’s commitment to make changes to Canada’s criminal justice system, it carries a deep personal significance as a former educator and someone who has spent their adult life helping and mentoring young people.

Committee work is one responsibility of an MP. Along with debates, votes, and helping constituents, MPs are appointed to serve on committees that study legislation and make recommendations to Parliament. The Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights reviews the true impact criminal activity has on its victims and study how best to keep Canadians safe. This Government has been unwavering in its commitment to victims of crime, specifically by ending house arrest for violent offenders, increasing penalties for serious drug crime, and stiffening penalties for those who commit sexual offenses against children.

The statistics on the impact of crime in Canada are staggering: a 2008 Department of Justice study put the total costs of crime in this country at $99.6 billion per year, and 83% of those costs are borne by victims. That is why I believe firmly that victims should be the focus of the Government’s focus, not those who commit the crimes. I intend to use my voice at the Committee table to loudly advocate for the protection of victims, particularly children.

As a school principal, I witnessed first hand the devastating impact violence and abuse can have on our children. It was truly heart wrenching to see children so young, innocent, and full of life be subject to unspeakable acts that they will be forced to carry with them for the rest of their lives. For these young children the emotional scars will last a lifetime. That is why I feel we need to do all in our power as a Government to put in place legislation that truly punishes those responsible and keeps all our children safe. While I feel much has been accomplished by tightening loopholes and sentences within the justice system, important work still lies ahead.

I look forward to this challenging and important new role. A primary role of government is to keep its citizens safe and secure, and a key component of this is to ensure that the punishment fits the crime. Public officials serve to improve the lives of those they represent, and to that end I hope to use my time on this Committee to improve the safety and well being of children, not only in Cumberland – Colchester – Musquodoboit Valley but across the country.

As always, if you have questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact my office toll free at 1-888-752-0552, or you can keep in touch on Facebook or on Twitter @Armstrong_MP.

Yours sincerely,

Scott Armstrong, MP