Vimy Ridge
On this day in 1917 all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force came together in an assault on Vimy Ridge.
After four days of heavy fighting, the Canadians Corps held the ridge and had captured more than 4,000 prisoners.
This important victory helped define our nation.
Yet, this came at a huge cost, 3,598 Canadians lost their lives and 7,000 were wounded during the battle. Overall, more than 60,000 Canadians were killed during the war and 172,000 were wounded.
Lest we forget.
Remembering Prince Philip
HRH Prince Philip had a long and distinguished career serving Canada, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
From his service in the Second World War to his duty as the consort to Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Philip has embodied honour, loyalty and service.
He will be greatly missed.
Pay hike for MPs is controversial
Many constituents have written to me concerned about the pay hike that Members of Parliament automatically received Apr. 1, 2021. I also share those concerns.
Many people feel that, in the middle of an emergency, the last thing that needs to be done is to increase the pay of politicians.
The pay hike was set up by the Liberals and automatically occurs without a vote in the House of Commons.
As incredible as it sounds, there’s no way I can stop receiving it.
As such there’s the next best thing. I’ll be donating the money I get in this pay hike to charities and organizations in Edmonton that have a good track record of helping folks in our community.
This way the money goes to good causes.
This is exactly what I did the last time we were forced to take an automatic pay raise.
But the idea that the Liberals would continue to raise the pay of federal MPs when so many Canadians are struggling is plainly offensive to taxpayers.
Trudeau government failed Canada in COVID response
By BRIAN LILLEY
Toronto Sun
The Public Health Agency of Canada was woefully unprepared for the arrival and impact of COVID-19 in Canada, according to an audit by Canada’s auditor general.
The agency failed to look at the potential spread of the virus in assessing risk and failed to properly ensure compliance with quarantine rules to contain the spread.
This audit shows PHAC was neither even though responding to pandemics response was the overarching goal of the organization at its inception in 2006.
“We found that the agency’s Global Public Health Intelligence Network did not issue an alert to provide early warning when the virus was first reported,” the audit states, noting that subscribers would have received an email, a lower level of communication than an alert. Essentially, a network designed to alert Canadian officials, and international partners, didn’t do its job.
(Read the full article by Brian Lilley, Toronto Sun at the link below.)
Sign my petition to bring back Bachman
The taxpayer-funded CBC is making a very poor decision by cancelling a popular national radio show called Vinyl Tap by legendary musician Randy Bachman.
Please sign the petition below and let’s fight back against this affront by CBC to a Canadian cultural icon.
I’ll send a letter to CBC on behalf of everyone who signs this petition.
Shortage of volunteers keeps kid waiting for big brother in Calgary
I’ve seen firsthand the great work the Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area do for children in our community so I hope the Calgary chapter can find the volunteers they need shortly.
The Edmonton chapter is also looking for volunteers. If you’re interested or know someone who is, you should reach out to them.
You can find out more here.
In the news
- Egerton Ryerson has been falsely accused of trying to erase Indigenous culture. Link
- Regina council votes in favour of removing statue of Sir John A. Macdonald from Victoria Park. Link
- Trudeau has spent nearly double what government spent during WWII: Fraser Institute. Link
- Public officials have failed to prepare Canadians for COVID-19. Link
- Opposition MPs blast Liberal ‘defiance’ after second staffer blocked from testifying on WE. Link
- ‘It’s unbelievable’: Searchers find Ontario toddler alive after four days in thick woods. Link
- Journalism is pure madness. Link
- Canadians have been patient during the pandemic. That’s not necessarily a good thing. Link
- Vaccinated snowbirds say they’re being ‘punished’ with Canada’s COVID-19 hotel quarantine. Link
- Preposterous NDP policy resolutions suggest the inmates are taking over. Link
- Why did Trudeau trust China on vaccines? Link
You said it
- “Keep up your good work Kerry. These are crazy times. We all have to pay attention to what’s going on. I think our country is in for a very hard time. I feel very sorry for my grandchildren. I always tried my best to do the right thing. Maybe I was too busy caring for my family and making ends meet I forgot to pay attention to what our government was doing. Me and millions of other people. That’s what corrupt governments count on.” — Ellen G.
- Commenting on allowing 16 year olds the right to vote: “Sixteen year old’s can have their ideologies persuaded and have their opinions easily swayed by those on the left who are very adept at pandering to the less seasoned, travelled, and rational person. I don’t believe that they have matured enough to understand the consequences of their decisions can have on the masses. They live at home, believe the world owes them a living, and like Trudeau, they think that budgets balance themselves.” — Fred S.
- “That’s all a Liberal knows to do, tax, tax, and tax again. A Liberal never met a tax he didn’t like. Part of the Liberal party platform is if it moves, tax it. If it’s still moving, tax it again.” — Andrew G.
Last week’s straw poll results
In my last e-newsletter, I asked what people thought about the plans to lower the voting age to 16 introduced by former Green Party leader, MP Elizabeth May.
There was a large turnout and a clear majority. Of those surveyed 96% said they opposed lowering the voting age to 16.
As your Member of Parliament, I’ll continue to support keeping the voting age at 18.
A big thanks to everyone who took part.
Latest news on COVID-19
You can find up-to-date information from Alberta Health Services or the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Alberta Health Services can also be reached by phone at 811.
Benefits available for Canadians
There are programs available to help you and your family during this COVID pandemic.
Share this valuable e-newsletter with a friend or post it on social media
You can share it here.
If you’re not subscribed to this regular e-newsletter, sign up below.
Members of Parliament get the most current, accurate and comprehensive updates regarding the COVID-19 crisis. Want regular highlights of these? Sign up for my e-newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up here.
I want to hear from you
I’m always eager to hear from you. Do you have beefs? Bouquets? Suggestions?
Drop me a note to my e-mail address.
Please note our local Edmonton constituency office is currently still open to serve you but it’s by appointment only. We simply ask that you call ahead to book an appointment.
Call or e-mail us and we’ll be happy to serve you.
Thanks so much. Stay healthy!
E-mail:
[email protected]
Phone:
(780) 495-3261
Mail (postage free):
Kerry Diotte, MP
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
CBC: Cancel your cancellation of Randy Bachman’s popular Vinyl Tap radio show
Randy Bachman is a Canadian musical icon with a popular CBC radio show called Vinyl Tap.
CBC’s mandate is to promote Canadian culture and music yet you’re cancelling the musician’s very popular show.
As a Canadian taxpayer who pays good money for CBC, I strongly urge you to revisit this cancellation decision.
I’ll be writing to CBC on behalf of all the petitioners to bring back Bachman.
Please also subscribe to my weekly e-newsletter. You can subscribe here.
You can unsubscribe at any time.
Green party proposes lowering voting age to 16
In a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons, former Green Party leader, MP Elizabeth May wants to change our federal voting system.
In her proposal the voting age would be lowered so 16-year-old minors can vote.
I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of this proposal. Keeping the voting age at 18 makes sense. At 18, you’re considered an adult and are responsible as such in a way 16 year olds aren’t.
But that’s not just my opinion, in the fall I ran this question to constituents in my weekly survey.
People overwhelmingly voted that they didn’t want to lower the voting age to 16.
But let’s have another survey on that question to see if people have changed their minds.
Have your say at the link below. I’ll publish the results in next week’s
e-newsletter.
Paper immigration files are being held up under the Liberals
By KERRY DIOTTE
Member of Parliament
Edmonton Griesbach
Since I was elected in 2015 our Edmonton constituency office has helped out scores of people who are eager to come to Canada to start a new life.
The vast majority of these folks have dutifully gone through proper channels filling out mounds of official paperwork needed for their immigration files.
But since COVID hit, those cases have stalled in a big way. Federal workers revealed to us that there was virtually no movement at all on cases involving “hard copy” or paper files as opposed to electronic applications.
Because of COVID, civil servants have largely been working at home and haven’t had access to paper records back at their offices, so little or no work was taking place on those files, we were told.
So, these applicants follow the rules, fill out the required paperwork to try to enter this country legally and – well, too bad, it sucks to be you.
I thought this was exceedingly unfair so I filed an official House of Commons Order Paper question asking a variety of things including how many applicants had their cases delayed simply as a result of the fact civil servants didn’t have access to their hard copy case files.
Among other details, I demanded to know how many people were impacted and how long files were being delayed.
The answers I got back via Marco Mendicino, the minister of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), were vague, incomplete and showed me there’s little or no plan to solve this very basic bureaucratic boondoggle…
Trudeau’s blaming of Mulroney on vaccine problems delusional, say experts
In the House of Commons I constantly hear Trudeau blame Stephen Harper for Liberal failings but he’s now reaching back decades to blame former PM Brian Mulroney.
But as this report points out, blame for the trickle of vaccines to Canada rests squarely with this current incompetent Liberal government. It’s time for Trudeau to quit blaming others for his problems, man up to them and fix things.
China sanctions Canadian MPs
Communist China has announced sanctions on Canadians in response to our sanctioning of them for their horrific and genocidal treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslim people.
Included on the list of people being sanctioned is my friend and colleague Michael Chong, the Conservatives Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Chong released the following statement on Twitter:
“We’ve got a duty to call out China for its crackdown in #HongKong & its genocide of #Uyghurs. We who live freely in democracies under the rule of law must speak for the voiceless. If that means China sanctions me, I’ll wear it as a badge of honour.”
As Canadians we have a duty to stand up for human rights around the world.
Standing up for the human rights of the Falun Gong
I advocated for our industries to American Congressional representatives
I was glad to be part of this discussion and lobbying of our U.S. Congress counterparts. I particularly pushed them on the Keystone XL Pipeline and on the planned shutdown of Enbridge Line 5 by Michigan’s Democrat governor.
There’s hope for live summer concerts
We might have a live summer concert or two in Edmonton if conditions are favourable.
Recently I had an excellent meeting with Trixstar president Mike Anderson regarding his company’s desire to hold small-scale concerts this summer at the former Northlands Park in my riding of Edmonton Griesbach.
Mike said he’s proposing them to be held while paying close attention to COVID health measure protocols.
I told him I’d be glad to endorse the idea by contacting Premier Jason Kenney.
Here’s the premier’s official response. Fingers crossed we will soon see a return of this type of live entertainment.
It was great to talk with folks of the National Council of Canadian Muslims
I had an informative meeting with representatives of the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM). They met to advocate for the Canadian Muslim charitable sector, that includes humanitarian organizations, mosques, social service organizations and others. Kudos for the charitable work you do for all Canadians.
In the news
- Federal government spent nearly $11K on Bill Morneau’s failed bid for OECD job. Link
- Trudeau Liberals call Pierre Poilievre a ‘white supremacist’ for wearing a pro energy sweater. Link
- A devastating review of Canada’s COVID response. Link
- Documentary reveals the false hope of so-called ‘green tech.’ Link
- The new Inquisition must never win. Link
- Delays plague ‘inconsistent and incomplete’ $188B infrastructure program: auditor general. Link
- Michael Chong’s badge of honour. Link
- Tories demand Trudeau testify on WE Charity deal after Liberals reject hearing from PM staff. Link
- Liberals say they won’t call an election—but open campaign office. Link
You said it
- “There’s a lot of unanswered questions!” [regarding the WE Charity scandal] — Hazel C.
- “The investigation into the Liberal WE scandal is taking too long. Trudeau is afraid the investigation will reveal his corruption. No wonder he is putting in so many road blocks!” — Mary P.
- “The opposition must be more aggressive regarding no budgets, the committees controlled by the liberals who refuse to co-operate in hearings!” — Denis L.
Last week’s straw poll results
In my last e-newsletter, I asked folks if they thought senior Liberal staffers should appear as witnesses in WE Charity review as we Conservatives are demanding.
A clear majority of folks wanted to see the staffers appear as witnesses.
Unfortunately, the Liberals are committed to blocking their senior staff from testifying on the record.
A big thanks to everyone who took part.
Latest news on COVID-19
You can find up-to-date information from Alberta Health Services or the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Alberta Health Services can also be reached by phone at 811.
Benefits available for Canadians
There are programs available to help you and your family during this COVID pandemic.
Share this valuable e-newsletter with a friend or post it on social media
You can share it here.
If you’re not subscribed to this regular e-newsletter, sign up below.
Members of Parliament get the most current, accurate and comprehensive updates regarding the COVID-19 crisis. Want regular highlights of these? Sign up for my e-newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up here.
I want to hear from you
I’m always eager to hear from you. Do you have beefs? Bouquets? Suggestions?
Drop me a note to my e-mail address.
Please note our local Edmonton constituency office is currently still open to serve you but it’s by appointment only. We simply ask that you call ahead to book an appointment.
Call or e-mail us and we’ll be happy to serve you.
Thanks so much. Stay healthy!
E-mail:
[email protected]
Phone:
(780) 495-3261
Mail (postage free):
Kerry Diotte, MP
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
There’s hope for live summer concerts
We might have a live summer concert or two in Edmonton if conditions are favourable.
Recently I had an excellent meeting with Trixstar president Mike Anderson regarding his company’s desire to hold small-scale concerts this summer at the former Northlands Park in my riding of Edmonton Griesbach.
Mike said he’s proposing them to be held while paying close attention to COVID health measure protocols.
I told him I’d be glad to endorse the idea by contacting Premier Jason Kenney.
Here’s the premier’s official response. Fingers crossed we will soon see a return of this type of live entertainment.
Paper immigration files held up under Liberals
By KERRY DIOTTE
Member of Parliament
Edmonton Griesbach
Since I was elected in 2015 our Edmonton constituency office has helped out scores of people who are eager to come to Canada to start a new life.
The vast majority of these folks have dutifully gone through proper channels filling out mounds of official paperwork needed for their immigration files.
But since COVID hit, those cases have stalled in a big way. Federal workers revealed to us that there was virtually no movement at all on cases involving “hard copy” or paper files as opposed to electronic applications.
Because of COVID, civil servants have largely been working at home and haven’t had access to paper records back at their offices, so little or no work was taking place on those files, we were told.
So, these applicants follow the rules, fill out the required paperwork to try to enter this country legally and – well, too bad, it sucks to be you.
I thought this was exceedingly unfair so I filed an official House of Commons Order Paper question asking a variety of things including how many applicants had their cases delayed simply as a result of the fact civil servants didn’t have access to their hard copy case files.
Among other details, I demanded to know how many people were impacted and how long files were being delayed.
The answers I got back via Marco Mendicino, the minister of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), were vague, incomplete and showed me there’s little or no plan to solve this very basic bureaucratic boondoggle.
The ministry response crowed that, despite the pandemic “all IRCC offices in Canada are open and operating at various capacities and nearly 80% of our in-Canada officers are working remotely.” I think the key words there are offices are “operating at various capacities.” What’s that mean? Is that 5% or 99%? Maybe they could narrow it down just a wee bit?
The department didn’t answer my main questions clearly at all but merely provided an unhelpful appendix containing a hodgepodge of statistics. None of those stats answered the primary questions asked of the ministry or Minister Mendicino.
One small detail, however, provided a smidgen of hope to those wanting to legally immigrate to our great country. “IRCC has contracted a third-party service provider to complete the scanning and digitization of certain Permanent Resident paper files … to increase the speed of processing …”
Wow, so even though the Immigration ministry had all their staff working at home or remotely, they STILL had to hire a contractor to try to solve the alleged problem in the first place?
To restate that problem: Immigration files submitted by “hard copy,” on paper, have not been fully accessible to staffers, so case files were not being adequality processed.
This, by the way, is not to say we don’t have capable federal civil servants. Our office deals with many who are dedicated and care deeply about helping Canadians.
What this does show is that the “system” and the way it functions is deeply flawed. Canadians who pay their taxes deserve much better.
So do the earnest people from all over the word who are dutifully following the rules to legally apply to come to Canada to build a better life.
I really feel sorry for folks from Ethiopia or Mexico or Lebanon or Ukraine or from the dozens of other countries who are stuck in this bureaucratic quagmire of inefficiency through no fault of their own.
Maybe next time one of these fine folks calls my office for the third time wondering how on earth it could take so long to bring their wife and family to Canada I should just transfer them to Immigration Minister Mendicino.
Let him explain how his Liberal government-led immigration system has failed them.