Michael Chong

Wellington-Halton Hills

MichaelChongMP

FEBRUARY 2019

FERGUS

A - 190 St. David St. S.

Fergus, ON

N1M 2L3

519.843.7344

A MESSAGE FROM MICHAEL

Dear Constituents,

The winter sitting of Parliament has resumed.

We have had many opportunities to hold the government

accountable in the House of Commons.

In particular, we are focused on alleged interference by

the Prime Minister in the criminal prosecution of

Montreal-based SNC-Lavalin. The allegations that the

Prime Minister violated the rule of law and undermined

the administration of justice by pressuring Canada’s

Attorney General to set aside the criminal prosecution of

SNC-Lavalin are concerning. The rule of law and the

impartial administration of justice are fundamental

principles on which Canada’s constitutional order is

based.

Both the Duffy and SNC-Lavalin scandals have their start

in the same place: an all-too-powerful Prime Minister’s

Office that thinks it can do what it wants. That’s why I

continue to push for parliamentary reforms to strengthen

checks and balances on the power of the Prime Minister.

Once again, thank you for your continued support. Feel

free to contact me if you have any questions or

comments.

Sincerely,

Michael Chong

TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR CHINA IN EFFECT

A travel advisory remains in effect for

Canadians visiting China. This comes after

recent political developments between

Canada and China over the high-profile detentions of

Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou and three

Canadians: Michael Kovrig, Michael Spavor, and

Robert Lloyd Schellenberg.

Meng Wanzhou was arrested by Canadian authorities

on December 1, 2018. Ms. Wanzhou is currently on

bail and awaits potential extradition to the US over

allegations of fraud. China responded by detaining

Kovrig and Spavor shortly after her arrest and has now

sentenced Schellenberg to death over alleged drug

smuggling charges. Tensions between Canada and

China remain high.

The Government of Canada’s Travel Advice and

Advisory website states that Canadians should

“exercise a high degree of caution in China due to the

risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws.” It also

notes that for any country you visit, it is your decision

whether you go, and you are responsible for your

personal safety abroad.

Travel Advice and Advisories are the Government of

Canada’s official source of destination-specific travel

information. They give you advice to help you make

informed decisions about travelling safely when

abroad.

No matter where you plan to travel, make sure to

check the Travel Advice and Advisories website. On

the site you will be regularly updated on:

Local safety and security conditions and areas to

avoid

Entry and exit requirements

Local laws and culture

Possible health hazards and health restrictions

Natural hazards and climate

Where to find help while you are travelling abroad

For travel advice and advisories for China, as well as

for other countries, please visit:

www.travel.gc.ca MIC

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TAPE

FOLD

CUT

EMAIL | MICHAEL.CHONG@PARL.GC.CA

WEB SITE | MICHAELCHONG.CA

Toll Free | 866.878.5556

OTTAWA

House of Commons

Ottawa, ON

K1A 0A6

613.992.4179

IN THE COMMUNITY

GEORGETOWN

16 Mountainview Rd. S.

Suite 205

Georgetown, ON

L7G 4K1

905.702.2597

@MichaelChongMP @michaelchongmp

Michael attended the opening of the St. David Street/Highway

6 Bridge in Fergus this past fall. Pictured to the right is Mayor

Kelly Linton.

In December, Michael met with Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of

the Netherlands on Parliament Hill. Also pictured are Prime

Minister Trudeau, MPs Todd Dhortey and Anita Vandenbeld.

Michael attended the Open Doors parliamentary launch to

discuss the rise of religious persecution around the world. He

met with Kara Perez, who works at Open Doors, and is the

daughter of constituents Ruth and Ed Kuipery.

Canadian Veteran Jack Harrison of Georgetown celebrated his

85th birthday at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 120 this

February.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contact Information and Message .................................................................... 1

Michael’s Statements in the House .................................................................. 2

Michael’s new Shadow Cabinet Role ................................................................ 3

Dairy Changes under new USMCA ..................................................................... 3

Part 2 of Bill C-46................................................................................................ 3

The Leader of the Opposition ............................................................................. 4

Local Senior Centres ......................................................................................... 4

Travel Advisory to China ..................................................................................... 5

Your Comments .................................................................................................. 5

In the Community ............................................................................................... 6

Members of Parliament pictured in the interim House of

Commons located in West Block in January, 2019. The

renovation of Centre Block is expected to take a decade.

Members of Parliament gathered in the Centre Block House

of Commons for the last time in December, 2018. Centre

Block is closing for much needed structural renovations.

MICHAEL CHONG ASSUMES NEW ROLE AS SHADOW CABINET MINISTER FOR

SCIENCE

IN A STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE ON FEBRUARY 4TH

, MICHAEL CHONG PAID TRIBUTE TO

THE LATE WILLIAM WINEGARD WHO PASSED AWAY ON JANUARY 31ST

SENIORS CENTRES IN THE RIDING

Acton

Hillsview Active Living

Centre — Acton

415 Queen Street East

Acton, Ontario

Phone: 519-853-5951

Puslinch/Guelph

Evergreen Seniors

Community Centre

683 Woolwich St

Guelph, Ontario

Phone: 519-823-1291

Centre Wellington

Victoria Park Seniors

Centre – Centre Wellington

150 Albert Street West

Fergus, Ontario

Phone: 519-846-9691

Georgetown

Hillsview Active Living

Centre – Georgetown

318 Guelph Street East

Unit #9 (back of building)

Georgetown, Ontario

Phone: 905-877-6444

Erin

East Wellington

Community Services –

Seniors Programs Erin

14 Boland Drive

Erin, Ontario

Phone: 519-833-0087

MIC

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THE GOVERNMENT UNEXPECTEDLY CUTS FUNDING FOR SCIENCE AND THE

NETWORKS OF CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE

H olding the Minister of Science Accountable, Michael

questioned the Liberal government’s decision to cut

funding for the Networks of Centres of Excellence

(NCE) program.

The NCE program funded several networks and centres that

brought together Canada’s best research, development, and

entrepreneurial talent in the scientific field. The NCE program

was originally created in 1989. This past December, the

Liberals unexpectedly announced that they would be cutting

the funding for the NCE altogether.

In Question Period, Michael pointed out how the elimination

of funding affects organizations, such as the Stem Cell

Network, which is working on cures for diabetes, blood

cancers, and heart disease.

Michael also questioned why the government did not make a

formal announcement about the funding cuts. The

government did not contact or notify the organizations and

scientists affected by the decision to cut funding. Instead,

both scientists and the public found out about the funding

cuts in a newspaper article.

BILL C-46, A BILL AMENDING IMPARIED DRIVING LAWS, IS NOW IN EFFECT

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES THE UNITED STATES GREATER ACCESS TO THE

CANADIAN DAIRY MARKET UNDER THE NEW USMCA

T his past fall, Michael was named the Official

Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Science. He was

previously serving as the Shadow Minister for

Infrastructure.

In his new role, Michael is responsible for holding the

Minster of Science accountable on matters related to the

federal government’s science portfolio.

The fall Shadow Cabinet announcement was made by the

Leader of the Official Opposition, Andrew Scheer. “Our

Conservative team is focused squarely on holding the

Liberals to account and presenting Canadians with a clear

alternative to Justin Trudeau. The changes to Shadow

Cabinet I announce today reflect the growing strength of our

team and our commitment to helping Canadians not only

get by, but get ahead,” said Scheer.

Michael will continue to work for Canadians on

understanding matters related to science and innovation,

and the role government plays within the Canadian scientific

community.

Highlights of Michael’s work this past fall include promoting

the need for more youth to enter the STEM educational

fields – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

– and bringing scientists to Parliament for the first ever

“Science Meets Parliament” event.

ANDREW SCHEER: LEADER OF HER

MAJESTY’S LOYAL OPPOSITION

M r. Speaker, last Thursday, former member of

Parliament for Guelph—Wellington, Dr. William

Winegard, passed away at the age of 94.

He was part of what many call the “greatest generation”. He

grew up during the Great Depression. He was a Second World

War veteran and served as the youngest officer in the history

of the Royal Canadian Navy. He came back from the war,

became an engineering professor, and eventually the

President of the University of Guelph.

He was then elected to this very House of Commons and

served as minister for science in the government of Brian

Mulroney. Bill was an officer of the Order of Canada, a

recognition of his contributions to the city of Guelph, the

county of Wellington, and to Canada. He was a teacher and a

leader to many and a mentor to me, and for that I will be

forever grateful.

I ask all members of the House to join me in paying tribute to

this great Canadian.

T he Liberal government has given the US greater

access to the Canada’s dairy market under the new

United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA),

formerly the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The government has also given the US oversight over the

Canadian dairy market.

The USMCA opens 3.6 per cent of Canada’s dairy industry to

tariff-free imports from the US, and eliminates milk price

classes 6 and 7. This means that Canada will be flooded

with cheaper and heavily subsidized US milk ingredients

(such as non-fat dry milk).

The Liberal government has also given the US greater

oversight over the Canadian dairy market. When future

changes to Canada’s dairy classification system occur, the

US will now have the right to be consulted and participate.

Pierre Lampron, President of the Dairy Farmers of Canada,

made the following statement about the concessions:

“Justin Trudeau failed the Canadian dairy sector again by

giving up oversight to the US in the administration of our

dairy system, and thus our sovereignty as a nation to

develop and roll out our own domestic policies. The impact

of this decision cannot be understated, and will have a

lasting effect on our domestic dairy sector.”

With over 370 dairy farms, Wellington County is home to

more dairy farms that any other county in Ontario.

M r. Speaker, in the last election, Liberals promised to treat scientists with

respect, but last week, scientists in the Networks of Centres of Excellence

found out about funding cuts in a newspaper article.

The Stem Cell Network is working on cures for diabetes, blood cancers, and heart

disease. Their funding runs out in three months and they have been told that is it.

They have been funded since 2001, for the last 17 years.

How is telling scientists about funding cuts in a newspaper article treating them

with respect?

B oth Michael and the Conservative Party stand firmly

against drink- and drug-impaired driving.

However, Michael recently opposed Bill C-46, which

amended impaired driving laws in Canada. Michael voted

against the bill because he believes it contravenes right to

be protected against unreasonable search or seizure. This

right is guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and

Freedoms. Despite his and his colleague’s opposition, the

bill passed Parliament and came into effect at the end of

2018.

Bill C-46 gives law enforcement officials new wide-ranging

powers to demand sobriety tests from drivers. This includes

the right to require all drivers (including those not suspected

of drinking) to provide a breath sample during a roadside

check.

Under the old law, a police officer had to have a “reasonable

suspicion” that someone was impaired to demand a breath

sample. Under the new law, if a police officer pulls someone

over, they can demand a breath sample even if there is no

sign of impairment. In other words, police no longer need to

suspect if an individual has alcohol in their system and can

demand a breathalyzer test from any driver pulled over.

It is certain that Bill C-46 will be challenged in the courts as

unconstitutional and a violation of the Canadian Charter of

Rights and Freedoms.

Andrew Scheer became leader of

the Conservative Party and the

Official Opposition on May 27,

2017. Mr. Scheer is currently a

Member of Parliament (MP) for

Regina—Qu’Appelle,

Saskatchewan. He has been an

MP since 2004 and was Speaker

of the House of Commons from

2011-2015 – the youngest

person to ever hold that role.

Originally from Ottawa, Ontario,

Mr. Scheer and his wife Jill live in

Regina with their five children.

Andrew believes in lower taxes, controlled government spending,

and economic opportunity for everyone. Andrew Scheer has

stated that his plan for Canada is based on the following goals:

“I’m fighting for the country I believe in – where taxes are low,

government is limited, opportunity is unlimited, freedom is

celebrated, and people are put first.”

—Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer

Lower taxes and balanced budgets

Helping families and seniors save more

Creating opportunity for businesses

Delivering a fair immigration system and secure borders

Putting victims first in Canada’s criminal justice system

IN QUESTION PERIOD ON DECEMBER 13TH

, MICHAEL CHONG PRESSED THE

GOVERNMENT ON GREATER CLARITY OVER UNEXPECTED CUTS TO NETWORKS OF

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE