Don Davies M.P. for Vancouver Kingsway
Community Newsletter April 2010 Dear Neighbours,
親愛的鄰居們,
ipAwry gvWFIa, Kính gởi cộng động, Mga kapitbahay,
I have spent the last three months meeting with constituents, community groups and businesses, listening to your ideas and concerns about our country. I heard a fantastic range of views, but a clear message has been expressed: you care deeply about our democracy, our economy and our environment. With Parliament now sitting, I will work to bring your opinions and voice to the House of Commons. I will work on your behalf for a fairer, more compassionate country. Vancouver Kingsway is a wonderful, diverse community of communities. I am very proud to represent you. Please feel free to contact me at any time to discuss your federal views and needs. 在過去的三個月我與選民、 社區團體和商界人士開會， 聽取你們對我們國家的意見 和你們關心的問題。 我聽到了各種意見，但都表 達了一個明確信息：你們十 分重視加國的民主制度、經 濟和環境。 現在國會既已復會，我將努 力把你們的主張和願望帶到 眾議院。我會代表你們為一 個更加公正、更富有同情心 的國家而努力工作。 溫哥華京士威是一個優秀 的、匯聚了各種文化群體的 多元化社區。 我為能夠代表你們感到非常 自豪。 請隨時與我聯絡，討論你們 對有關聯邦政府的看法和需 要。
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Trong ba tháng vừa qua tôi đã tiếp xúc với các cử tri, các đoàn thể cộng đồng và giới doanh nghiệp để tiếp nhận các ý kiến và các mối quan tâm của quí vị. Tôi đã được nghe rất nhiều quan điểm khác nhau, nhưng tất cả đều có một thông điệp rất rõ là quí vị quan tâm rất nhiều tới chế độ dân chủ, nền kinh tế và môi trường của chúng ta. Bây giờ Quốc hội đang nhóm họp, tôi sẽ nỗ lực chuyển các ý kiến và tiếng nói của quí vị tới Hạ nghị viện. Tôi sẽ thay mặt quí vị hoạt động để xây dựng một quốc gia công bằng và bác ái hơn. Vancouver Kingsway là một cộng đồng tuyệt vời đa dạng gồm nhiều cộng đồng khác nhau. Tôi rất tự hào đã được đại diện cho quí vị. Xin quí vị cứ liên lạc với tôi bất cứ lúc nào để thảo luận về các quan điểm và nhu cầu của quí vị đối với chính quyền liên bang.
Nitong nakaraang tatlong buwan, nakipagkita ako sa mga manghahalal, lupon ng pamayanan at mga negosyante, upang makinig sa inyong mga ideya at mga inaalala tungkol sa ating bansa. Marami akong iba’t-ibang mga mahusay na mga tanawing pederal na narinig, pero may isang malinaw na mensaheng ipinahayag: malaki ang inyong pagmamalasakit tungkol sa ating demokrasya, ating ekonomiya, at ating kapaligiran. Habang nagpupulong ngayon ang Parlamento, patuloy akong maglilingkod upang dalhin ang inyong mga opinyon at boses sa House of Commons. Magtratrabaho ako para sa inyo para sa isang mas makatwirang bansa na mas maawain. Ang Vancouver Kingsway ay isang maganda at magkakaibang komunidad ng mga komunidad. Lubos na pinagmamalaki kong katawanin kayo. Mangyaring huwag mag-atubiling kontakin ako kahit kailan upang talakayin ang inyong mga pederal na tanawin at mga pangangailangan.
Upcoming Events In Vancouver Kingsway APR| 08 APR|10 APR|11 Garden Bed Preparation Workshop Hosted by the Renfrew/Collingwood Food Security Institute, this workshop gets you ready for the gardening season! Email: foodsecurity@cnh.bc.ca
Vaisakhi Parade 2010 Take in the amazing and colourful parade, music, and of course food! The parade’s route is centred along Main Street south of 49th Ave.
Easter Eggstravaganza Face painting, crafts, & an easter egg hunt for children 2-10yrs at Renfrew Community Centre. Buy tickets early, $4 per child. Call: 604-257-8338.
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Trout Lake Farmers Market Take in the first market of the season May 1st, and every Saturday until October. Visit eatlocal.org for details.
Keep Vancouver Spectacular! Join Don for a community cleanup in the Fraser/King Edward Neighbourhood. Email us for more information.
Collingwood Days 2010 An old-fashioned fair with a multicultural flair! Food, shows, games, and a parade! For more info visit: collingwooddays.com
Scottish Ceilidh Family Dance Learn Ceilidh dances at Renfrew Community Centre - instruction incl no partner req. 7 PM-11PM, $7 (Child/ Youth: Free). Call: 604-257-8338
18th Annual Community Carnival Come down to the Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House between 10 AM-4 PM for all ages fun. Call: 604-874-4231 for info.
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Don talking about salmon with Grade 5 students at Grenfell Elementary School. The class was learning about the environment and how important wild salmon are to our economy. Don explained the role of the federal government and his work as an MP on this issue.
Don at Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House presenting longtime Kingsway resident Florence Anderson with a certificate honouring her 95th birthday. Don brought special greetings from the Prime Minister and New Democrat Leader Jack Layton.
Tupper Secondary Students organized an amazing event to celebrate youth, unity and multiculturalism called “CommUnify”.
Don (who is born in the year of the Tiger!) participated in Lunar New Year celebrations across Metro Vancouver.
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屬虎的戴偉思參加大 溫哥華地區的農曆 新年慶祝活動 。
Don took part in the dedication of the new mural at Jones Park on Victoria Drive. This great project was a partnership between the Victoria Drive Business Improvement Association and the City of Vancouver. One of the largest murals in Vancouver will help publicize one of the most vibrant centres of small business in the city!
Don participated in the 19th Annual Women’s Memorial March to show support for the missing and murdered women of British Columbia. We must make a strong commitment to end poverty, homelessness, and violence against women.
Tax Tips 2010 The April 30th tax filing deadline is just around the corner. Here is some information on federal government tax credits and deductions that could save you and your family money: Home Renovation Tax Credit Receive a credit of up to $1350 on eligible expenses for home renovations between January 27, 2009 and January 31, 2010.
Medical expenses You can deduct the cost of eligible medical expenses that total more than 3% of your net income, including prescription drugs.
First Time Homebuyer’s Tax Credit First time homebuyers after January 27, 2009 can receive a $750 tax credit.
Tradesperson Tools Deduction You can deduct the cost of tools purchased that you used to earn employment income as a tradesperson.
Tuition Tax Credit Students can deduct their tuition costs and an allowance for textbooks and living expenses. To claim this deduction, you need a T2202A tax receipt which should be provided by your educational institution.
Children’s Fitness Tax Credit Receive a tax credit of up to $500 per child for registration fees for sports teams, dance classes or other programs involving physical activity.
Student Loan Interest You can deduct the cost of any interest you have paid on student loans from your taxable income. Public Transit Passes You can claim the cost of your monthly transit pass and receive a 15% non-refundable tax credit. 2 Vancouver Kingsway
Seniors’ Tax Credit If you are 65 or over, and have an income of less than $32,312, you can claim an additional income exemption of $6,408. You can claim a partial exemption for income less than $75,032. (This information is provided to inform you of tax savings you may be eligible to claim. For more information on these or any other federal tax credits, please contact the Canada Revenue Agency at www.cra.gc.ca or 1-800-959-8281.)
Don attended the No Prorogue rally in Vancouver. He joined thousands of citizens united in their support for democracy in Canada. Kasama si Don ng may isang libong mamayan na nagtipontipon konstra sa “Prorogue” O pagsasara ng Parlamento at sumusuporta sa pagtataguyod ng demokrasya sa Canada.
The Olympic Torch came through Kingsway on February 11, and Don joined thousands of Kingsway residents to show our pride. Events were held at Trout Lake, Collingwood and Oak Street... and Don was there to hand out flags and celebrate our spirit.
Don with members of the “Athletes” team after appearing on CBC’s Test The Nation. Don was on the “Politicians” team that finished second in the nationallytelevised IQ test. The NDP members of the “Politicians” team scored highest of all the political parties!
Don has worked with many veterans’ groups in Kingsway to help advance the care of those who served. Here, Don is honouring the contributions of Vietnamese veterans of the land, air, and sea. Don rất tôn trọng những đóng góp việt cựu chiến binh về đất đai, không khí và biển.
Don visited businesses along Kingsway Avenue and handed out New Year Red Packets to the people who help make these businesses successful. Don is working to build a future that allows all Canadians to enjoy lives of security and prosperity.
Don appeared at the Park Board to fight for the preservation of the Mount Pleasant Pool. Community facilities make our neighbourhoods sustainable, keep our kids fit and active, and bring our residents together.
Green Tips – Saving Money, and Our Environment On April 22nd, 2010 people around the world will mark Earth Day – a day to inspire awareness and appreciation of our shared environment. I am at work in Ottawa pressing the federal government to take action on the environment. As individuals, there are simple actions we can take to reduce our waste and energy consumption. Here are just a few ideas: Unplug your appliances Anything with a remote control, digital clock or indicator light consumes power all the time, even when it is turned off. Unplug these devices when not in use, or connect them to a power bar that you can turn off at the end of the day. Recycle your old electronics Computers, phones and TVs all contain toxic metals and dangerous chemicals. These toxins can leach into our soil and water from the landfill if they are not safely disposed of. The Electronic Recycling Association will take your unwanted electronics and recycle them. Visit www.era.ca for details. Cold-water laundry Use cold-water wash settings and detergents. 85% of the energy used for washing clothes is used to heat the water.
Smart food choices Buying locally produced food reduces emissions for transportation. The food is often healthier, because fewer preservatives are required to keep it fresh. For information on Vancouver Farmers Markets, visit eatlocal.org. When you eat seafood, choose fish that is harvested sustainably – for more information, visit http://www.vanaqua.org/oceanwise/ or http://www.seachoice.org/ Install low-flow shower heads 25% of home energy use is for heating water. You can save up to $200 a year by switching to low-flow shower heads. You can pick up a water saver kit at City Hall for only $12. For more tips like these, visit www.onedayvancouver.ca
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Here’s What You Had to Say! Don held a community Town Hall meeting to help prepare for the current Parliamentary session. He invited all Vancouver Kingsway residents to share their ideas and comments on federal issues of every type. Here’s a sample of what you had to say...
“Government needs to be flexible and nimble. We need to respond quicker and better to people’s needs....” “Copenhagen was a dismal failure. We must acknowledge the reality of climate change and start addressing CO2 emissions now....” “We must protect the Public Service Pension Plan. These are workers’ deferred wages and it is unfair to cancel benefits that were earned....” “I’m concerned about food security and genetically modified foods....” “There is undue corporate influence in government. I like an election system that is publicly financed and takes big money out of the equation....” “I’m for fair copyright laws and a free and open internet. Media concentration is bad for our democracy....”
New Democrats: Working Hard For You. . . NDP MPs are some of the hardest-working representatives in Ottawa. Let’s compare NDP MPs, Liberal MPs, and Conservative MPs from all across the Lower Mainland. In the House of Commons: • NDP MPs spoke an average of 74,000 words
13,000
• Liberal MPs spoke an average of 19,000 words
19,000 74,000
NDP
Conservative
• NDP MPs introduced an average of 7 bills each (or 85% overall)
2%
• Liberal MPs introduced an average of 1 bill each (or 12%)
12%
• Conservative MPs spoke an average of 13,000 words
Liberal
85%
NDP
Conservative
• Conservative MPs only introduced an average of 0.2 bills each! (or 2%)
Liberal
. . . and Don Working Hard For You! The final numbers are in - during the last session of Parliament: • Don ranked 19th out of 308 MPs for words spoken in the House of Commons. • Don was the 2nd most active newly-elected MP. • Don introduced 4 Bills and 9 Motions. • Don was a co-sponsor of 72 Bills.
Contact Don Davies, MP facebook.com/DonDaviesNDP twitter.com/dondavies dondavies.ca 4
Community Office
Ottawa Office
2951 Kingsway Vancouver, BC V5R 5J4 Tel: 604-775-6263 Fax: 604-775-6284
518 Confederation Bldg. House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Tel: 613-943-0267 Fax: 613-943-0219
Email: Davies.D@parl.gc.ca dondavies.ca