Summer 2009

NEWS UPDATE Hon. James Moore PC MP Port Moody - Westwood - Port Coquitlam Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

Ph. 604.937.5650

www.jamesmoore.org

NO PAROLE FOR MURDERERS

Conservatives Push Legislation to Scrap the “Faint Hope” Clause Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson and the Conservative Government recently introduced legislation that would amend the Criminal Code to repeal the “faint hope” clause. This would mean that criminals who commit first- or second-degree murder will no longer be able to apply for early parole. “Our government believes murderers must serve serious time for the most serious crime,” said Minister Nicholson. “By ending „faint hope‟ reviews, we are saying „No‟ to early parole for murders. We are also sparing families the pain of attending repeated parole eligibility hearings and having to relive these unspeakable losses, over and over again.” Currently, first-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence with no eligibility for parole for 25 years. Second-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence with no eligibility for parole for a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 25 years. Under Section 745.6 of the Criminal Code -the “faint hope” clause -- offenders sentenced to life imprisonment can apply, at the 15-year mark in their sentence, for an earlier parole eligibility date. Offenders who commit murder on or after the day this legislation comes into force will not be eligible for early parole under the “faint hope” regime. Those offenders currently serving their life sentence or awaiting sentencing will face tougher rules when they apply for early parole.

The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages was in Vancouver and met with families of murdered victims who all applauded the Conservative Government‟s efforts to tackle crime and hold the worst of our society accountable for their acts. “Law-abiding Canadians often wonder why those convicted of taking a life can get out of jail early,” said Minister Moore. “Our Government believes that these crimes must be punished and that these offenders must serve their full sentences.” ■ _______________ More information is available at : www.justice.gc.ca _______________

“Eliminating the „faint hope‟ clause is long overdue. For murderers, the worst of the worst in our society, if they receive a life sentence, it should mean just that— life.” James Moore

Moore Backs Summer Jobs for Tri-City Students James Moore, MP for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam and Minister of Canadian Heritage recently announced the organizations and students in his constituency that will benefit from this year‟s federal Canada Summer Jobs program. Thirty organizations in the Tri-Cities will be able to create 120 summer job opportunities for students, thanks to an investment of $329,105 by the Government of Canada. Local community organizations receiving funding through the Canada Summer Jobs program are: the Howe Sound, BC SPCA, Simon Fraser Society, Tri-Cities Area Office, Seaview Community School, Sasamat Outdoor Centre, YMCA Camp Deka, Community Recreation Association of Belcarra, Evergreen Cultural Centre, Coquitlam Alliance Church, City of Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam Christian Centre, Shining Star Daycare, New Life Community Church, City of Coquitlam - Leisure & Parks, Terry Fox Foundation, Northside Foursquare Church, Westwood Community Church, Eagle Ridge Bible Fellowship, Coquitlam Farmers Market Society, Volleyball BC, Port Coquitlam Daycare Society, Hawthorne Seniors Care Community, REO Rafting Resort, Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, Pajo's Fish & Chips Gates Park, Eagle Ridge Animal and Bird Hospital, Finders Forum Inc, and Zee Infotech Inc. “I am very pleased that students in our community will be able to benefit from quality summer job opportunities right here in the Tri-Cities,” said Minister Moore. “These projects, while providing students with work experience, will also benefit local organizations and small businesses.” Canada Summer Jobs is a Government of Canada initiative that supports work experiences for students while also helping organizations that provide important community services. It encourages not-for-profit organizations, public sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to create jobs that not only meet their needs, but also benefit students looking to gain work experience. “In light of the current economy, it is more important than ever that we help our students,” added Moore. “This means creating more jobs that prepare them for the workforce through experience and learning opportunities across the country.” Canada‟s Economic Action Plan contains increased funding of $20 million for Canada Summer Jobs to help Canadian students acquire skills and work experience. With the additional funding, the Government of Canada will now make $107.5 million available annually through Canada Summer Jobs for the next two years. About 300 Service Canada Centres for Youth are also helping both students and employers. Located in communities across Canada, these centres are generally open to the public from May to August. They provide a variety of services, free of charge, to help employers advertising summer work opportunities and youth looking and applying for jobs in their communities. ■

CONSERVATIVE ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN DELIVERING RESULTS Prime Minister Stephen Harper‟s Government‟s unprecedented effort to accelerate the job-creating investments contained in Canada's Economic Action Plan is paying dividends, with 80% of this fiscal year's (2009-2010) Economic Action Plan initiatives already being implemented. Prime Minister Stephen Harper provided Canadians with an update recently on the Government‟s progress in implementing Economic Action Plan initiatives to stimulate the economy, create jobs and support those who are hardest hit by the global recession. “In just 72 days, our Government has eighty percent of the largest economic recovery program in Canadian history underway,” said the Prime Minister in Cambridge, Ontario. “In every region of Canada, families and businesses are paying less tax, unemployed workers are receiving enhanced benefits and training, and major jobcreating projects are breaking ground. Our absolute priority as a government is to continue doing everything we can to deliver timely, targeted and affordable support to the Canadian workers, families and businesses who need it most.” The Prime Minister summarized the Economic Action Plan measures already being implemented. These include: ■ permanently reducing the tax burden on Canadians; ■ providing tax relief and improved access to financing for Canadian households and businesses; ■ assisting unemployed workers through extended EI benefits and improved skills training; ■ supporting home ownership and creating jobs through housing construction; ■ creating jobs through a massive injection of infrastructure spending; ■ supporting the industries and communities hardest hit by the global recession; and ■ investing in the jobs of tomorrow through new supports for research and technology. The report highlights that Canada continues to be in the strongest financial position of any G-7 country, even with these historic investments. Experts such as the International Monetary Fund judge the Economic Action Plan to be a “timely, appropriately sized, diversified and well structured” response to the global recession. Specific Economic Action Plan initiatives will continue to roll out over the two-year time frame spelled out in the plan. The Government of Canada has re-launched www.actionplan.gc.ca to help Canadians learn more about the initiatives underway in their own communities and provide more local and up-to-date information on the progress being made in every region of the country. ■

“In every region of Canada, families and businesses are paying less tax, unemployed workers are receiving enhanced benefits and training, and major job-creating projects are breaking ground.” Prime Minister Stephen Harper

2010 TORCH RELAY ROUTE ANNOUNCED The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay Route includes a tour through the Tri-Cities! The torch relay will pass through Belcarra, Anmore, Port Moody, Coquitlam, AND Port Coquitlam. Coquitlam has been designated as one of the “Celebration Cities” where there will be an organized celebration for the community to be involved in. For more information on the relay, and the 2010 Games, visit www.vancouver2010.com

Supporting Victims of Crime

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Canada‟s Conservative Government recently pledged to boost the government‟s support for victims of crime. “Supporting victims takes a collaborative effort, and this Government is committed to continuing to work with our partners to help victims of crime navigate the criminal justice system,” said Minister James Moore. “It is important that we all work together to ensure that victims of crime have a greater voice and more access to available services.” The Government recently announced the launch of a new online Victim Services Directory that will connect victims of crime with services available in their local communities. Developed by the Department of Justice's Policy Centre for Victim Issues, the directory lists more than 350 organizations from all across the country that provide services to victims. This valuable tool enables victims and family members to identify local services in their area. It can be found at: victimservices.justice.gc.ca An overview of federal government programs and services follows: The Department of Justice – Policy Centre for Victim Issues The Policy Centre for Victim Issues at the Department of Justice provides a victim's lens for criminal law reform and policy development. The Centre works closely with other federal departments to ensure a consistent approach to improving the experience of victims in the criminal justice system. The Policy Centre for Victim Issues has a broad mandate that includes: ■ conducting research; ■ raising awareness about the needs and concerns of victims; ■ developing public information materials; ■ consulting with stakeholders to identify areas of concern and options for law and policy reform; ■ administering the Victims Fund, which supports victims through funding to provinces and territories; ■ funding victim services organizations and providing limited financial assistance directly to victims so they may travel to National Parole Board hearings of the offender who harmed them; ■ and offering financial assistance to Canadians victimized abroad.

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The Department of Public Safety The Department of Public Safety and its agencies also have responsibility for victim issues. The agencies include the National Office for Victims, the Correctional Service of Canada and the National Parole Board. National Office for Victims The National Office for Victims is a central resource for victims of offenders under federal jurisdiction. It offers information and support on federal corrections issues. As part of its mandate, the Office: ■ operates a toll-free line, which victims may call from anywhere in Canada or the United States; ■ provides referrals to the Correctional Service of Canada and the National Parole Board for specific enquiries; ■ ensures that a victim‟s perspective is included in national policy development; and ■ develops information products for dissemination to victims, victim service providers, and the general public. Correctional Service of Canada The National Victim Services Program of Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) provides services to and shares information with registered victims based on the legal mandate outlined in section 26 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. Each of CSC‟s five regions has a Victim Services Unit that provides front-line services to registered victims within the overall mandate of the program. The Program aims to: ■ implement an enhanced model for service delivery to victims (30 full-time dedicated positions) based on a management structure at the regional and national levels and subject to an extensive evaluation and monitoring process; ■ encourage victims of federal offenders to register and ensure that they receive timely information about the offender who harmed them;

play an active role in developing initiatives to reach out to Aboriginal victims; engage in ongoing consultations with victims and victim advocacy groups in order to provide the best possible services to registered victims and to create forums for victims to have their voices heard within the criminal justice and correctional systems; promote partnerships with government and nongovernmental agencies to strengthen CSC‟s capacity to respond to the needs of victims; and examine the recommendations in the report of the Independent Review Panel, A Roadmap to Strengthening Public Safety.

National Parole Board The National Parole Board (NPB) is committed to providing victims with information in a timely manner, through a team of regional communications officers. As part of its mandate, the NPB is responsible for: ■ assisting victims understand the conditionalrelease process; ■ notifying victims of relevant information related to NPB hearings; ■ providing an opportunity for victims to present impact statements at NPB hearings; ■ providing an opportunity for observers, including victims, to attend NPB hearings; ■ providing, upon written request, a copy of NPB decisions; ■ delivering community outreach programs to ■ enhance awareness of NPB‟s role within the criminal justice system. ■ NPB has also recently developed a virtual tour of a parole hearing for their Web site. Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime The Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime is a new, independent resource for victims in Canada. The Office was created in 2007 to ensure the federal government meets its responsibilities to victims of crime. Victims of crime can contact the Office to learn more about their rights under federal law and the programs and services available to them, or to make a complaint about any federal agency or federal legislation that has an impact on victims. In addition to its direct work with victims, the Office also works to ensure that policy makers and other criminal justice personnel are aware of victims' needs and concerns. The Ombudsman can also identify and review emerging and systemic issues that may have a negative impact on victims and make recommendations to the federal government in this regard. ■

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security 1.800.277.9914 Social Insurance Number 1.800.206.7218 Canada Customs 1.800.461.9999 Child Tax Benefit 1.800.387.1193 Revenue Canada General Inquiries: 1.800.959.8281 GST Credit: 1.800.959.1953 Tax Refund Status: 1.800.959.1956 Employment Insurance 1.800.206.7218 Canada Immigration/Citizenship 1.888.242.2100 RCMP Public Complaints 1.800.665.6878 Veterans Affairs 1.866.522.2122 Passport Office 1.800.567.6868 Other Government of Canada programs and services, call: 1.800.622.6232 1.800.O.CANADA PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT Iain Black MLA 604.933.2312

Mike Farnworth MLA 604.927.2088 Doug Horne MLA [email protected] Diane Thorne MLA 604.933.2001 Enquiry BC 604.660.2421 Earthquake, Flood, Dangerous Spills 1.800.663.3456 I.C.B.C. New Claim: 604.520.8222 Book a driving test: 604.661.2255 Health Information Line 1.800.465.4911 B.C. PharmaCare 1.800.663.7100 Crisis Centre 604.540.2221 B.C. Transit 1.250.385.2551 B.C. Hydro 604.224.9376 Workers’ Compensation Board Claim Centre: 604.231.8888 Employer Assessment: 604.244.6181 Help Line for Children 604.310.1234 Power Outages & Emergencies 1.888.769.3766 Youth against Violence 1.800.680.4264

TransLink 604.453.4500 Crime Stoppers/Tips 604.222.8477 LOCAL PHONE NUMBERS Port Coquitlam City Hall 604.927.5411 Port Moody City Hall 604.469.4500 Coquitlam City Hall 604.927.3000 Village of Anmore 604.469.9877 Village of Belcarra 604.937.4100 Police (Non-Emergency) Coquitlam: 604.945.1550 Port Coquitlam: 604.945.1550 Port Moody: 604.461.3456 Fire: (Non-Emergency) Coquitlam: 604.927.6400 Port Coquitlam: 604.927.5466 Port Moody: 604.469.7795 Ambulance (Non-Emergency) Coquitlam: 604.872.5151 Port Coquitlam: 604.872.5151 Port Moody: 604.872.5151 School District 43 604.939.9201 Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce 604.464.2716