Notice

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper - Public Events

April 12, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

Public events for Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Thursday, April 13th are as follows:

Wainwright, AB

10:30 am: Prime Minister participates in the Basic Infantry Qualification/Primary Graduation Parade

11:20 am: Prime Minister speaks to Graduate Parade

12:20 pm: Media availability

Media will first gather at this location, prior to the availability:

CFB/ASU Wainwright

Tommy Prince Drill Hall

Building 211

Calgary, AB

6:00 pm: Prime Minister arrives at the Saddledome to attend Calgary Flames hockey game

*Access for media through the Avison & Young club entrance

6:15 pm: Media availability:
Telus Conference Room

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
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Speech

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Address by the Prime Minister on the weather forecast office reinstated

April 12, 2006
Gander, NL

PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY


Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen:

It’s a pleasure for me to be here today, and to be here with many special people.

I would like to make particular note of:

Newfoundland and Labrador’s representative in the federal Cabinet, Fisheries Minister, the Hon. Loyola Hearn,

Member of Parliament and Chair of our Atlantic Canada caucus, Fabian Manning,

a young man who deserves considerable credit for why we are here today, Aaron Hynes,

and last but not least, a man who I first met in St. John’s a couple of months ago, where I signed his petition – something I’m sure he had many of you do as well – the chair of the committee to reinstate the gander weather centre, mr. Pat Dwyer.

Last December I made a promise to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador – to recognize and respect the fact that theirs is a unique geographic area with many special characteristics.

And Newfoundland and Labrador is a land of majestic, raw beauty – a gem in the North Atlantic.

But being situated in these highly charged waters does create complications – including making the province susceptible to harsh turns in weather.

Of course, bouts of wild and unexpected weather are nothing new.

For Newfoundlanders have weathered the forces of mother nature for generations.

What is relatively new though is scientifically accurate weather forecasting technology

a technology our government believes the people of Newfoundland and Labrador should be able to benefit from.

In a short-sighted decision, the previous government closed the forecasting capabilities of the office,

forcing the province to use the weather forecasts from Nova Scotia.

This closure may have saved a few dollars to the Liberal government, but with poor results for Newfoundland and Labrador.

That is why i am announcing today our plan to restore the weather forecasting capabilities of the office here at Gander.

For years now, this province has had to endure inaccurate weather forecasts from nearly a thousand kilometres away in the Maritimes.

Such forecasts aren’t just an inconvenience, but at times pose a real danger to public safety.

Particularly affected by inaccurate forecasts are the thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who work offshore.

These men and women have to contend with some of the harshest conditions in the Atlantic on a good day.

On the bad days, raging winds and frigid swelling waters pose a grave danger to their personal safety.

This is a reality that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians know only too well.

That is why I am announcing today that one of the first acts of our new government is to restore forecasting capabilities to the weather office here in Gander.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve better than to be told to expect five centimetres of snow over night only to wake up to ten times that amount.

The education of the province’s youngsters shouldn’t suffer because schools close their doors for storms that fail to materialize.

The lives of the men and women who work in the already choppy waters of the Atlantic shouldn’t be needlessly endangered because of the arrival of unforecast squall.

In short, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve accurate forecasts that reflect the reality of the province’s unique weather.

This is the commitment I made to you in December.

Now, as Prime Minister, I can say without reservation – “promise made, promise kept.”

Our government is committed to strengthening safety in Canadian communities from coast to coast to coast.

And restoring forecasting capabilities through the reopening of the Gander weather office is just such a step here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In the months and years to come, our new government will continue to fight for this province and its unique needs,

including examining whether any greater use can be made of the weather office here in Gander.

Whether it’s:

acting to protect your fishing resources inside or beyond the continental shelf;

exempting fishing property transferred within a family from capital gains tax; or

working with the province to increase its power over the local fisheries.

Our government will continue to stand up for the interests of Newfoundland and Labrador in ottawa.

Thank you very much.

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
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News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper promotes tax relief for all Canadians

April 12, 2006
St. John's, NL

At a speech given today to the St. John’s Board of Trade, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the case for broad-based tax relief. The Prime Minister said tax relief must benefit all Canadians.

“To deliver tax relief for all Canadians, the Government will reduce the GST from seven to six percent, and move towards five percent over the course of its mandate.” The Prime Minister went on to note, “A cut to the GST benefits everyone - including those who have modest or low incomes – because it is the one federal tax that everyone pays.”

Prime Minister Harper went on to discuss the additional tax relief measures that Canada’s new Government will introduce over the course of its mandate in keeping with the Conservative platform.

Included among the other measures outlined by the Prime Minister were:

Providing students or their parents with a federal tax credit on spending up to $500 per year on textbooks;

A “Tools Tax Deduction” of up to $500 for the men and women who enter the economically vital trades;

A federal tax credit of up to $500 per year per child for families with children in sporting activities;

And, of particular interest to Newfoundland and Labrador, exempting from capital gains tax the first $500,000 worth of fishing property transferred within a family.

“Hardworking, ordinary Canadians have been over-taxed for far too long,” the Prime Minister said in closing. “In order for Canada to be strong, our country must work for us all. And that is what our Government’s tax relief plan is designed to do.”

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
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News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Weather Forecast Office for Newfoundland and Labrador Reinstated

April 12, 2006
Gander, NL

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment, and the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced the reinstatement of a weather forecast office for Newfoundland and Labrador located in Gander.

"Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve accurate forecasts that reflect the reality of the province’s unique weather. This is a commitment I made to you in December. Now, as Prime Minister, I can say – Promise made, Promise kept"

"I am very pleased that with my colleague Rona Ambrose, Minister of Environment, we have been able to respond to the strong concerns of the residents of my province by reinstating the weather forecast office in Gander," said Minister Hearn.

The plan is to restore the complement of Environment Canada personnel in Gander to 25 people and begin forecasting by early fall, adding to the existing staff of ten members. New funding in the amount of $7.89 million over four years and $1.66 million ongoing will be provided to implement this proposal. The reinstatement of the weather forecasting office will take place in phases over the next 18 months. During this period, personnel will be trained and relocated and the office will be equipped with the required computer and communications technology.

"Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve better than to be told to expect five centimetres of snow over night only to wake up to ten times that amount. The education of the province’s youth shouldn’t suffer because schools close their doors for storms that fail to materialize. The lives of the men and women who work in the already choppy waters of the Atlantic shouldn’t be needlessly endangered because of the arrival of unforecasted squall. In short, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians deserve accurate forecasts that reflect the reality of the province’s unique weather", concluded Prime Minister Harper.

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
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