National unemployment rate lowest in 40 years
I would like to begin by thanking the Centennial Community Recreation Association volunteers for 70 successful years of service to our community! Although I was unable to attend the CCRA volunteer appreciation night on May 2 due to parliamentary affairs in Ottawa, I was honoured to have my office present a special congratulatory message from the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, to current CCRA President Kathy Rowe in recognition of the outstanding work the CCRA has done, and continues to do, for our community.
Unprecedented Job Growth
Since November 2015, our government’s strong and progressive economic policies, coupled with our comprehensive international trade agreements, have helped add more than one million jobs to the Canadian economy. This unprecedented job growth has propelled Canadian national unemployment to its lowest rate in 40 years. Continuous job growth is a cornerstone of our government’s economic action plan and helps ensure that the 825,000 Canadians we have lifted out of poverty since taking office, remain out of poverty. Although there is still much work to be done, our government is committed to ensuring greater economic prosperity and opportunity for all Canadians.
Scarborough-Rouge Park School Visits
Throughout the year, I have the opportunity to engage with community organizations, businesses and institutions in Scarborough-Rouge Park. These visits give me an opportunity to hear first-hand what matters most to the members of our community. While each visit is important, one of my favourite places to interact with our community is in our local schools. Here in Scarborough-Rouge Park we are uniquely situated in that students have access to local elementary, secondary and post-secondary education.
Throughout the years, Scarborough-Rouge Park students have been interested in discussing a wide range of local and global issues including climate change, community safety, human rights, Indigenous relations, international trade and gender equity. Recently, local students have become fixated on the uncertainty of their academic futures. Time and again, students have reiterated their concerns about the Government of Ontario which has proposed to defund arts and technologies classes, significantly increase class sizes, eliminate important funding for autistic, at-risk, Indigenous and racialized students, and neglect crucial school infrastructure.
Although the Government of Canada has made significant investments in education, including easing access to the Canada Student Loans program, increasing funding for Canadians pursuing co-operative, graduate and international education, and enabling marginalized communities to access support, it will not be enough if the provincial government does not provide our children with access to the supports they need during their crucial and formative years.
As the father of two young children, I echo the concerns of local students and will stand with our community to ensure that the Government of Ontario is held accountable.
Canada Day Supplies
Are you hosting a Canada Day celebration this year? Be sure to contact my constituency office before July 1 for some great supplies! We have plenty of Canada pins, flags, buttons and more!
Summer Barbecue
Join my team and I on Saturday July 6 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m at Joyce Trimmer Park for my Annual Summer Barbecue. It promises to be a fun-filled afternoon with delicious food, exciting games and fun activities for the whole family! All are welcome to attend!
As always, my team and I are eager to hear from you! I encourage you to contact my constituency office at (416) 283-1414 or Gary.Anand@parl.gc.ca to share your comments or for more information about future events.