Category: Canada

Canada is tracking influenza viruses circulating in its wild bird population

November 5, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The Government of Canada is asking Canadians for help to guard Canada’s farmed birds and flocks against the introduction of disease.

Every year live and dead wild birds are tested as part of the Wild Bird Influenza Survey. The survey, in its tenth year, is an important part of Canada’s avian influenza prevention and preparedness strategy.

Testing live wild birds enables scientists to identify and watch for changes in viruses circulating in the wild bird population. Testing dead wild birds allows scientists to monitor for the highly pathogenic strains of the influenza virus.

Canadians can help by reporting sightings of dead wild birds to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) at 1-866-544-4744. While the risk of infection with avian influenza is extremely low, members of the public should avoid handling dead birds.

Quick facts
The Inter-Agency Wild Bird Influenza Survey is coordinated by the CWHC on behalf of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Environment Canada, as well as provincial and territorial government partners.
The survey is part of a global effort to detect and track avian viruses that could negatively impact human health and animal health.
If a virus of concern is detected close to a poultry flock, producers will be alerted and on-farm surveillance will be heightened in the area.
Based on current scientific knowledge, the risk of migratory birds carrying deadly influenza viruses to Canada is low.
Additional links
Contacts

Media Relations
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
613-773-6600

Source:: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=900129

      

Project possible thanks to New Building Canada Plan

October 31, 2014 – Digby, Nova Scotia – Infrastructure Canada

Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova, on behalf of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, the Honourable Denis Lebel, was joined today by Gordon Wilson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Clare-Digby, on behalf of the Honourable Geoff MacLellan, Nova Scotia Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, to announce that the Government of Canada has conditionally set aside up to $7.558 million under the New Building Canada Plan for the construction of a portion of Highway 101 in Nova Scotia.

A new controlled access highway will be built from Digby to Marshalltown, as part of the construction of a controlled access highway from Digby to Weymouth. The new highway corridor will replace an uncontrolled access section of Highway 101. It will enhance safe flow of traffic, effectively managing traffic volume to improve the flow of people and goods in the region.

The New Building Canada Plan is the largest and longest federal infrastructure plan in Canada’s history. This unprecedented commitment will provide $53 billion over the next decade to support provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure.

Over the next ten years, Nova Scotia will benefit from approximately $1 billion in dedicated federal funding, including almost $426 million under the New Building Canada Fund.

Quick facts
The Government of Canada is conditionally setting aside up to one half of eligible costs, to a maximum of $7.558 million for this project under the New Building Canada Fund’s Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component-National and Regional Projects. This funding is conditional on the project meeting applicable federal eligibility requirements with respect to the New Building Canada Fund and the signing of a contribution agreement.
The Government of Nova Scotia will be responsible for all remaining costs of the project, which has a total estimated cost of $16.78 million.
The $53 billion New Building Canada Plan provides stable funding for a 10-year period, and includes:
The Community Improvement Fund, consisting of the Gas Tax Fund and the incremental Goods and Services Tax Rebate for Municipalities, which will provide over $32 billion to municipalities for projects such as roads, public transit and recreational facilities, and other community infrastructure.
The $14-billion New Building Canada Fund, which consists of:
The $4-billion National Infrastructure Component that will support projects of national significance; and
The $10-billion Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component for projects of national, regional and local significance. Of this amount, $1 billion for projects in communities with fewer than 100,000 residents through the Small Communities Fund.

An additional $1.25 billion in funding for the Public-Private Partnerships (P3) Canada Fund administered by PPP Canada.
$6 billion in funding continues to flow across the country this year and beyond under existing infrastructure programs.

Quotes

“We are pleased to work with the Province of Nova Scotia to approve projects under the New Building Canada Plan, to ensure that infrastructure funding continues to flow in Nova Scotia as we focus on creating jobs, promoting growth, and building strong, prosperous communities across Canada. Infrastructure investments not only strengthen our communities, but are an important driver of economic growth and job creation in Nova Scotia and across Canada.”

– The Honourable Peter MacKay, Member of Parliament for Central Nova, Regional Minister for Nova Scotia, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

“Our Government’s support for public infrastructure has never been stronger. Canada’s highways are important links between our communities and across our country. We are proud to invest in projects like this new controlled access highway from Digby to Marshalltown. The Highway 101 project will help families, residents and visitors reach their destinations more safely and efficiently, while enabling our economy to remain competitive well into the future.”

– Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova

“This is the first step in continuing the controlled access highway between Digby and Weymouth. The province is completing detailed surveys in the area and determining access and right-of-way requirements. The province has major construction jobs going all over Nova Scotia and is taking advantage of federal dollars that are available.”

– Gordon Wilson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Clare—Digby

Associated links
Contacts

Vincent Rabault
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838

Pam Menchenton
Media Relations Advisor
Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
902-424-1750 – work
902-719-4950 – mobile
E-mail: menchepm@gov.ns.ca

Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll-free 1-877-250-7154
Email: media@infc.gc.ca
Twitter: @INFC_eng
Website: Infrastructure Canada

Source:: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=898609

      

October 31, 2014 – Hamilton, ON

David Sweet, Member of Parliament for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale; Ted McMeekin, Member of Provincial Parliament for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale; and Mary Proc, Vice-President of Customer Service for GO Transit, a division of Metronlinx, today visited the construction site of the new GO Transit bus storage and maintenance facility in Hamilton.

The new facility will make it easier for GO Transit to provide timely, reliable and efficient service in the area and is strategically positioned to provide good access to the highway network on which GO Transit bus service operates. It will include indoor bus storage for up to 40 buses; indoor service bays for fuelling, bus wash, inspection, cleaning and repairs; building service support areas including equipment and storage rooms; and staff facilities and parking.

The facility aims to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification through the use of energy efficient systems, such as recycling water from the bus wash, energy efficient heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) and LED lighting systems, and a white roof, which reflects the sun and saves energy. It will also feature an on-site fuelling station that will result in less travelling for buses not in service, saving money, time and reducing gas emissions.

Quick Facts
The total cost of the project is $24 million.
The Governments of Canada and Ontario will each contribute up to $9.75 million, through the GO Transit Improvement Program, a $500-million joint investment announced by the federal and provincial governments to support the expansion of GO Transit bus and rail services in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, the Niagara Region and the Waterloo Region. The Government of Ontario through Metrolinx will contribute the remaining amount.
Completion of the facility is expected in early 2016.
Quotes

“Our government is pleased to invest in this important project that supports efficient, environmentally sustainable transportation. This investment demonstrates our commitment to working toward improved public transit infrastructure in the GTHA and across the country.”
David Sweet
Member of Parliament for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale

“The new Hamilton GO Transit bus facility is in line with the government’s long-term transit and infrastructure plan, Moving Ontario Forward. The Ontario government’s investments are making public transit a better choice. This is proof of our government’s commitment to making the daily commute and quality of life better for Ontario families.”
Ted McMeekin
Member of Provincial Parliament for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale

“This new facility will help us provide the reliable and timely service our customers depend on, and it will also help us run a more efficient and environmentally friendly operation.”
Mary Proc
Vice-President of Customer Service, GO Transit

Associated Links

Find out more about the opportunities in the Economic Action Plan 2014 at http://www.budget.gc.ca/2014/home-accueil-eng.html.

For more information on how Ontario is revitalizing its infrastructure, visit www.ontario.ca/buildingtoday.

For more information on Metrolinx, The Big Move or GO Transit, visit www.metrolinx.com.

Contacts

Vincent Rabault
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Ottawa
613-943-1838

Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055

Patrick Searle
Minister’s Office
Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Toronto
416-327-1815

Bob Nichols
Communications
Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Toronto
416-327-1158

Malon Edwards
Media Relations
Metrolinx
416-202-5945

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to e-news at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news or stay connected through RSS, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons living with visual disabilities.

Source:: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=898899

      

October 31, 2014 — London, Ontario — Department of Finance

Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and Minister responsible for Southwestern Ontario, Diane Finley, today highlighted new proposed measures to make life more affordable for Canadian families and to help them prosper:

Increasing the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) for children under age 6. Parents will receive a benefit of $160 per month for each child under the age of 6—up from $100 per month—as of January 1, 2015. In a year, a parent would receive up to $1,920 per child.
Expanding the UCCB to children aged 6 through 17. Under the expanded UCCB, parents will receive a benefit of $60 per month as of January 1, 2015 for children aged 6 through 17. In a year, a parent would receive up to $720 per child.
Introducing the Family Tax Cut, a federal tax credit that will allow a spouse to, in effect, transfer up to $50,000 of taxable income to a spouse in a lower tax bracket. The credit will provide tax relief—capped at $2,000—for couples with children under the age of 18, effective for the 2014 taxation year. Income splitting has been helping seniors across the country, which is why the Government is now providing similar relief for families.
Increasing the Child Care Expense Deduction dollar limits by $1,000, effective for the 2015 taxation year. The maximum amounts that can be claimed will increase to $8,000 from $7,000 for children under age 7, to $5,000 from $4,000 for children aged 7 through 16 (and infirm dependent children over age 16), and to $11,000 from $10,000 for children who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.  
Earlier this month, the Government announced its intention to double the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit and make it refundable. The maximum amount of expenses that may be claimed under the credit will be doubled from its current limit to $1,000 for the 2014 tax year and subsequent tax years, and the credit will be made refundable effective for the 2015 and subsequent tax years.

Families can claim the Family Tax Cut in the spring of 2015 when they file their 2014 tax returns. They will begin to receive payments under the enhanced UCCB in July 2015. The July UCCB payment will include up to six months of benefits to cover the period from January through June 2015.

The enhanced UCCB will replace the existing Child Tax Credit for the 2015 and subsequent taxation years.

Quick Facts
All families with children will benefit from the new measures introduced by the Harper Government. The average tax relief and benefits for these families will be $1,140 in 2015.
Low- and middle-income families will receive two-thirds of the overall benefits provided by the package.
The Family Tax Cut will eliminate or significantly reduce the difference in the federal tax payable by a one-earner couple relative to a two-earner couple with a similar family income.
Canadians at all income levels are benefiting from federal tax relief measures introduced since 2006, with low- and middle-income Canadians receiving proportionately greater relief.

Previous tax relief measures introduced by the Harper Government since 2006 have cut taxes by close to $3,400 in 2014 for an average two-earner family with two children.

Quote

“Our Government is focused on helping hard-working Canadian families make ends meet, by making important priorities like child care and after-school sports more affordable. Under this plan, every family with children will have more money in their pockets, to spend on their priorities as a family.”

Diane Finley,
Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister responsible for Southwestern Ontario
Related Product

Backgrounder—Helping Families Prosper

Media Contacts

Nicholas Bergamini
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance
613-369-5659

Stéphanie Rubec
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-369-4000

Source:: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=898509