2007/06/19 2:04:14 PM:
Mr. Speaker, I am indeed proud of Jeremy Wedallas, a 12-year-old from Erin, Ontario, who recently wrote me a letter, visited my office, and was welcomed by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans as well.

He outlined his concerns about ocean ecology. Jeremy pointed out three areas of importance to him related to the preservation of our fishery: shark finning, bycatch and bottom trawling.

He stated that he was pleased that Canada had banned shark finning, where sharks were caught, the fins were cut off, and the shark was thrown....More

February 2008
Provincial Olympics Winter Games: Gambo
Click here for more.

Simms calls on government to increase funding for Search and Rescue

Ottawa, February 7, 2008

Scott Simms, MP for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor, today presented a petition in the House of Commons calling on the Conservative government to increase funding for Search and Rescue across the country.

An increase to the Department of National Defence, Search and Rescue budget would ensure that there is 24-hour staffing to respond to emergency calls in a timelier manner than is currently possible. The ability of Search and Rescue personnel to reach disaster scene promptly would increase their ability to save more lives.

Following the Ryan’s Commander disaster, Johanna Ryan Guy, sister of the Ryan brothers lost during the sinking of Ryan’s Commander, initiated a cross-Canada petition to have the after-hours response time changed from 2 hours to 30 minutes.

To have crews at the ready 24 hours a day will require a moderate increase in the Search and Rescue budget. This is not an unreasonable request; there is no price that we can put on saving lives.

In addition to increased funding to the Department of National Defence budget for rescue squadrons across the country, I am calling on the government to increase the Canadian Coast Guard budget. This would enable them to place lifeboats in strategic locations on the Northeast coast of Newfoundland and on the Labrador coast. The Coast Guard website indicates there are 41 lifeboats littering the coasts of Canada however there is not one lifeboat on the Northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

“This is unacceptable,” said Simms. “As we have witnessed in recent years, the North Atlantic is unforgiving, and time saved in responding to an emergency means lives will be saved.”

“We in Newfoundland and Labrador, and indeed in all of Atlantic Canada, live in a harsh environment. For hundreds of years we have been exploiting the resources of the sea and we need to be ready to respond on very short notice when disaster strikes,” stated Simms.

Fred J. Cuff
Scott Simms MP
Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor
Tel: 709-468-2626

Simms calls on all MPs to support C-219

Ottawa, February 28, 2008
Scott Simms, MP for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor, will vote in favour of Bill C-219, an Act to amend the Income Tax Act, which will be debated in the House of Commons today.

The proposed changes to the Income Tax Act will allow a deduction of $1000 if the taxpayer performed in the taxation year at least 100 hours More

2008 Archive:
• 02/28/08 Simms calls on all MPs to support C-219. More

• 02/14/08 IT TAKES A COUNTRY: Ken Dryden in Gander on cross-country National Anti-Poverty Tour. More

• 02/07/08 Simms calls on government to increase funding for Search and Rescue.

• 02/05/08 Canada Summer Jobs Program announced. More



2007 Archive:
• 11/07/07 Fisheries Critics Slam NAFO Amendments. More

• 10/22/07 Simms says NAFO Convention seriously flawed. More

• 09/19/07 Simms Demands Immediate Action on Visitor Visa Requirements. More

• 06/29/07 Simms warns: Canada’s Sovereignty at Risk. More

• 05/03/07 Simms calls on all Newfoundland and Labrador MPs to support C-269. More

• 04/18/07 Simms calls for Ice Compensation Program. More

• 02/28/07 Simms puts motion before the House of Commons. More

• 03/30/07 Simms: Cuts to Seal Quota Severe. More

• 03/27/07 Simms Says Hearn Neglecting Fishing Harbours and Infrastructure. More



2006 Archive:
• 11/06/06 Scott Simms Welcomes Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans to Gander. More

• 10/27/06 Scott Simms Congratulates Pope Productions on Release of the Mini-Series "Above and Beyond". More

• 10/04/06 Scott Simms Upset Over Conservative Cuts. More

• 06/06/06 Scott Simms to defend Seal Hunt. More

• 06/01/06 Scott Simms Calls for Extension of EI Pilot Project. More

• 05/30/06 Scott Simms Calls on the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to announce a Limited Commercial/Food Fishery More

• 05/10/06 Scott Simms Disappointed in Cancellation of Low Income Housing Program. More

• 12/21/06 Simms calls on Hearn to put more money into Small Craft Harbours More



2005 Archive:
• 04/27/05 Scott Simms Pleased with Conservative Reversal on Youth Program. More

• 08/27/05 Commemorating the Tilting Cultural Landscape District. More

• 07/18/05 2005 Summer Career Placements Announced. More