Leon Benoit, MP -- Vegreville

Letter to the Editor

June 18, 2013,

Recently I’ve noticed a number of Letters to the Editor in local papers from Liberal Members of Parliament, on topics such as student summer jobs. These MPs should have the decency to inject at least some truth and reality into their propaganda. For instance, in the case of student summer jobs, our government has actually increased funding by 10 million dollars per year on an ongoing basis. This is the simple truth. Our Government is remaining focused on jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity for Canadians.

One way we’re doing so is by investing in the Canada Summer Jobs initiative. We’re proud to announce the creation of 36,000 jobs for Canadian youth through the program.

Creating these jobs for students benefits not only youth and employers, but local economies as well. That’s why our Government permanently increased the funding for the Canada Summer Jobs initiative by $10 million.

Our Government’s action on youth unemployment stands in stark contrast to that of the Liberal party. While they talk a lot about wanting to help spur job creation, they continue to play political games by voting against job-creating legislation such as our Economic Action Plan.

So while Liberals are just talking about helping youth and misleading them, Canadians can rest assured that our Conservative Government is focused on helping connect them with available jobs.

Sincerely,

Leon Benoit, MP

Vegreville-Wainwright
Conservative Government remains focused on Jobs and the Economy

June 13, 2013,
OTTAWA 13th June, 2013 – Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright, is pleased to announce that our Conservative Government has passed, at Report Stage, the next step of Canada’s Economic Action Plan – Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 1. “Our Conservative Government remains squarely focused on what matters to Canadians – jobs, economic growth, and Canada’s long-term prosperity,” said Benoit.

Contained within Economic Action Plan Act No. 1, our Conservative Government is:
- Extending for two years the temporary accelerated capital cost allowance for new investments in machinery and equipment by Canadian manufacturers;
- Indexing Gas Tax Fund payments to better support job-creating infrastructure in municipalities across Canada;
- Reforming the Temporary Foreign-Worker Program to ensure that Canadians are given the first crack at available jobs;
- Extending for one year the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for flow-through share investors;
- Promoting adoption by enhancing the Adoption Expense Tax Credit to better recognize the costs of adopting a child;
- Introducing a new, temporary First-Time Donor’s Super Credit for first-time claimants of the Charitable Donations Tax Credit to encourage all young Canadians to donate to charity;
- Expanding tax relief for home care services to better meet the health care needs of Canadians; and
- Removing tariffs on imports of baby clothing and certain sports and athletic equipment.
“Despite ongoing global economic challenges, our Conservative Government remains focused on growing the Canadian economy and creating jobs,” added Benoit. “This is in stark contrast to the Liberals, who have no plan, and the NDP’s high-tax schemes – like their $21 billion carbon tax – which will kill Canadian jobs and put our economy at risk.”
Thanks to Canada’s Economic Action Plan, Canada has created over 900,000 net new jobs since the depths of the global recession – the best job creation among all G7 nations. More information can be found at www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Benoit applauds conservative Government on tax relief for small business people in Vegreville-Wainwright

June 07, 2013,

OTTAWA 7^th June, 2013 – Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright, is pleased to announce that our Conservative Government has introduced new tax relief for small businesses, including the extension of a popular federal tax break for local small businesses looking to hire more workers. “Small businesses are the economic engines of our communities and the Canadian economy,” said Benoit. “This low-tax plan will have positive effects for Canada’s long-term prosperity.”

The extremely popular Hiring Credit for Small Business, extended and expanded as part of Economic Action Plan 2013, provides a credit of up to $1,000 against a firm’s increase in its 2013 EI premiums over those paid in 2012. Approximately 560,000 small businesses will benefit from this measure, allowing them to invest $225 million in 2013.

Our Conservative Government is also increasing the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption for farmers and other small business operators to $800,000 from $750,000 (up from $500,000 in 2006 when Conservatives formed government) and indexing it going forward. This new relief will increase the rewards of investing in small businesses and makes it easier for owners to transfer their family businesses to the next generation. This is very important to the people of Vegreville-Wainwright constituency.

“Our Government has been a strong supporter of small businesses since being elected in 2006,” added Benoit. “A typical small business with a taxable income of $500,000 has seen their tax bill drop by over 34% or $28,600.”

Those looking for more information on the Hiring Credit for Small Businesses or on other Economic Action Plan 2013 measures to help small businesses are encouraged to visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Government of Canada invests in projects to support Canadian seniors

May 13, 2013,

TOFIELD, AB, MAY 13 - Seniors in Tofield at the Tofield Golden Club will soon have new opportunities to volunteer, mentor younger generations and help raise awareness of elder abuse thanks to funding through the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP).

Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors).

“Our government recognizes the diversity of skills, knowledge and experience that seniors contribute to our society and the economy,” said Mr. Benoit. “Through initiatives such as the New Horizons for Seniors Program, we are helping to ensure that seniors maintain a high quality of life and continue as active, participating members of their communities.”

The Tofield Golden Club in Tofield will receive $12,000 for its project Senior’s Helping Seniors which will support social participation by starting a fitness and computer class giving seniors and opportunity to stay healthy and keep up to date with technology.

Since its beginning, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded more than 12,200 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada. This year, the Government of Canada will provide more than $33 million in funding for approximately 1,750 community projects.