This has been a productive and busy parliamentary session.  Despite being faced with a minority Parliament, our Government successfully implemented an ambitious governing agenda, responding to the real priorities of Canadians.

Being in Ottawa is a chance to make a real contribution towards making Canada work better for us all.  Being back in Kootenay Columbia gives me the chance to fill you in on what is going on in Ottawa and what it means for your family and our community.

Our Government’s unprecedented effort to accelerate the job-creating investments contained in Canada’s Economic Action Plan is paying dividends.   In just 72 days, our government has eighty percent of the largest economic recovery program in Canadian history underway.

Our Government introduced Canada’s Economic Action Plan – the largest economic recovery program in Canadian history – as a response to the global recession.  Our plan lowers taxes, helps create jobs through construction projects, guarantees stability in the financial system and provides help to the Canadians who have been hardest hit by the global recession.

We took unprecedented and extraordinary action to cut through political and bureaucratic red-tape to implement our plan – and today 80% of this year’s commitments under the Economic Action Plan are already being implemented.

Our Government successfully passed 20 pieces of legislation.  Thanks to Conservative leadership Canada now has strong environmental protections;  new free trade agreements with our partners in Europe and South America; and more control over our Arctic sovereignty.

These are investments that hit home because it is investment in things that families in our community use and depend on every day.  All this construction means more jobs, more money in people’s pockets, and more support for our local businesses.

The bottom line is that the Conservative government is working hard to advance Canada’s interests abroad, protect families and stimulate businesses and that includes right here in Kootenay Columbia.