In This Issue

1 Employment insurance
is worth protecting

2 2

Trains and residents in Pointe-Saint-Charles Supporting public transit for our cities

Tyrone Benskin
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT / / JEANNE-LE BER

2 Protecting your pension 2 4

The Disability Tax Credit In the community

Parliamentary Bulletin Winter/Spring 2013

A Message from Tyrone Benskin
Dear friends, Among the great pleasures I have in being your representative in Ottawa are speaking to issues that are of concern to you and celebrating the great work being done by so many in our community. In Ottawa, under Official Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair, my colleagues and I continue to bring major issues to the forefront on your behalf, such as the changes to your EI system, the defense of social housing (NDP Bill C-400), and the questions surrounding the Champlain Bridge. Unfortunately we will soon be hit by even more drastic cuts in the upcoming 2013 budget from this Conservative Government. And as always, we will fight vigorously for you and your families. At home, I and my team continue to work with the many dedicated organizations in our community, taking those issues back to Ottawa on your behalf. We also continue to work with you individually on immigration and other federal matters, and we will continue to keep you informed on the issues that matter to you, whether they are affairs here at home or events abroad that affect how you and On a more celebratory note, I must say that some of the most exciting moments during Februarys constituency week were awarding Diamond Jubilee Medals to many of our neighbours who have contributed so profoundly to our community. Finally, I would be remiss if I didnt thank all of you who have responded so positively to our newsletters and communiqus, and who take the time to respond to our mini-surveys. Your participation helps us better understand the issues that are important to you. I trust you will find the articles in this issue informative. As always, if you have thoughts, questions, or comments, please dont hesitate to contact me or my staff, either in the riding or in Ottawa. As a party the NDP has always been committed to people first; as your MP I am committed to making that a reality. Until next time, your Canada are reflected internationally.

Tyrone Benskin

Ofcial Opposition Deputy Critic for Ofcial Languages

Riding Ofce
2403, rue du Centre Montreal QC H3K 1J9 Charlevoix Phone: 514.496.4885 Fax: 514.496.8097

Employment Insurance is Worth Protecting

In the last issue, I told you about the Harper governments attacks on workers and the employment insurance system. Unfortunately, since then the attacks have gotten worse. Its crucial to remember that EI is not a gift. Its a system that Canadians pay into throughout their working lives. And EI strengthens our workforce by helping jobless Canadians continue on career paths that take advantage of their education, training and experience. Starting under the Liberals, $57 billion has been siphoned from the EI fund to pay for corporate tax giveaways. As a result, 6 in 10 Canadians have been disqualified from their benefitsand still Harper continues to cut. The Conservatives have now set quotas for how much money agents have to save by kicking people off EI. Minister Finley denied it in the House, but documents obtained by Le Devoir showed that she wasnt telling the truththe quotas are very real. that the government is sending agents without notice to disturb people in their homesall the while being unable to answer peoples phone calls due to a lack of staff! Its absurd, and threatening.

Ottawa Ofce
950 Promenade Building House of Commons Ottawa ON K1A 0A6 Phone: 613.995.6403 Fax: 613.995.6404 Mail to your MP does not need a stamp. tyrone.benskin@parl.gc.ca tyronebenskin.ndp.ca facebook.com/tyronebenskin Twitter: @tbenskin

A growing grass-roots movement is protesting these unacceptable measures throughout Qubec, and the NDP is in solidarity. We are pressing the government daily in the House to cancel these devastating changes and maintain workers fair access to the decent benefits theyve paid for. At the same time, we learned Find out more: ndp.ca/EI

Trains and Residents in Pointe-Saint-Charles

A recent report from the federal Transportation Safety Board (TSB) on the freight train derailment in PointeSaint-Charles on September 24, 2011 concluded that the accident was caused by excessive speed and ambiguous speed limit signals in the area. CN must take this reports findings to heart. It was sheer luck that no CN workers or residents were injured and that no dangerous goods were spilled. These issues are all the more urgent since the derailment took place in the heart of Pointe-Saint-Charles, a residential area in which CN continues to run, switch, subdivide, and store trains. Numerous residents have expressed their concerned with the risks of these operations, especially the transportation of dangerous goods and the high noise levels. Ive called on CN to ensure that its train operations are conducted with the greatest prudence and consideration for Pointe-Saint-Charles residents. The Conservative government must also act. However, last year, 80% of the TSBs recommendations to the government went unanswered. Instead of acting, Conservatives preferred to continue with drastic cuts that endanger the safety of our transportation systems.

Supporting Public Transit For Our Cities

Year after year, Canadian transit ridership breaks new records, but cities are struggling to keep up. The result: longer commutes, less reliable transit service, and gridlock that costs our Canadian economy a whopping $10 billion each year. Despite the evidence, the Conservative government continues to disengage from funding transit. The Conservatives voted down a motion by my colleague Olivia Chow for stable, predictable federal funding for infrastructure, including public transit, across Canada. As a result, Canada will remain the only G8 country without a federal transit strategy. can they build more reliable and modern transit services that meet citizens needs. The question isnt whether Canada can afford to invest a transit. Its whether we can afford not to. In particular, my colleagues and I are supporting the many voices at the provincial, municipal, and community level calling for federal funding for a rapid and efficient mass transit system to be included in the plans for the new Champlain Bridge. We need a project thats adapted to the realities of the 21st century. Among other things, the health of Jeanne-Le Ber residents depends on it.

What cities need is long-term, predictable funding from the http://petition.ndp.ca/transit federal government. Only then Well return the retirement age to 65, strengthen public pensions, increase the GIS, protect pension plans so workers dont lose everything if the company they work for goes bankrupt, and bring in a range of measures to lower the cost of medications.

Protecting Your Pension

Have you been asking yourself howor ifyoull be able to retire? Ive spoken to many of our friends and neighbours who are asking themselves the same question. Seniors are struggling to pay their bills and buy their medications, and more and more of them are having to turn to food banks just to get by. But Conservatives have responded by raising the age for Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) from 65 to 67 years old. Beyond being just plain cruel, it threatens to worsen seniors health and social conditions, and in the end will cost taxpayers more, not less. The NDP has a better way.

matically registered for the GIS as soon as they become eligible. Right now, people have to apply on their own, and red tape means that some 135,000 seniors arent getting the GIS payments they have a right to. Laurins bill is another great example of the NDPs commitment to the people whove My colleague Laurin Liu, MP built this country our for Rivire-des-Mille-les, has seniors. just tabled a private members bill that will see seniors auto-

Disability Tax Credit

In our community, thousands of people with disabilities, as well as their spouses and family members who care for them, have never been made aware that they are eligible for an important tax credit that often includes a significant refund. The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is a non-refundable tax credit of as much as $1,380 per year applied against any income tax you owe. If its more advantageouse.g. if the disabled person has no revenue and pays no income taxthe credit can be transferred to a spouse or family member. If you are eligible, you can claim the DTC retroactively going back up to ten 2 Tyrone Benskin, MP years! You could be eligible if you are always or nearly always unable to perform a normal task of daily living, such as walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, eating, dressing, or bathing, or need an excessive amount of time to do so; if you almost always have significant difficulty perceiving instructions, thinking, or remembering (e.g. dementia, Alzheimers disease); if you live with mental health problems that require constant monitoring or nearly always prevent you from leaving your house; if you have major problems with bowel or bladder function; or if you continually need life-sustaining therapy (e.g. chemotherapy, dialysis). To gain access to this tax credit, you need to fill out a request form and have your disability attested to by a doctor or another qualified professional. There are several other tax credits that people with disabilities can access. Let us help you find them. For all the details on the DTC and other credits, please contact my office or consult my website at tyronebenskin. ndp.ca/disability-tax-credit .

Important
During our recent information session on the Disability Tax Credit, a number of you expressed dismay over the unannounced changes to how you receive your tax forms. At your request, I raised your concerns in the House on February 28. The governments decision to stop automatically mailing out tax forms will disproportionately affect groups who often lack Internet access, such as seniors, disabled people, and people with low incomes. You can still have forms sent to you by mail by calling 1-800959-8281. If necessary, you can also contact my riding office for more help.

Photo Album

11 The Auberge communautaire du Sud-Ouest celebrated its 25th anniversary in December. 2 Christmas Mass at Formosa Christian Church in Verdun. 3 The Christmastime distribution of groceries at the glise St-Charles food bank in Pointe-St-Charles. 4 Presenting certificates to police officers Franois Paquette and Simon Rivard, decorated for bravery for risking their lives to save a woman from drowning in Verdun in 2009. 5 The Burgundy Awards Gala honoured the perseverance and success of students in the Sud-Ouest. 6 Visit to the offices of Habitat for Humanity in St-Henri, with Charmaine Borg, MP for TerrebonneBlainville. 7 Presenting the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal to Giovanni Iuliani for his services to the art of circus. Mr. Iuliani is best known for playing the clown Patapouf for more than 50 years. 8 Tyrone takes a citizens question during the information session on the Disability Tax Credit, organized with fellow MPs Hlne LeBlanc (LaSallemard) and Peter Julian (BurnabyNew Westminster, BC).

We Want to Hear From You

Every day, New Democrats are holding the Harper Conservatives to account on all the issues and where they are ignoring Canadians well-being. As we continue to do this work, I want to make sure that Im focusing on your priorities in the House of Commons. In your opinion, what are the 5 most important issues on which the federal government must do better? Comments:

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Jeanne-Le Ber

Photo: Dave Huehn

In the Community
form to common ideas of what boys or girls are like, or insist that they belong to a different gender than expected, parents can often feel at a loss as to how to respond. Famijeunes in St-Henri offers a free, bilingual support group for parents of transgender and gender-creative children, to give them resources and help them better understand, accept, and support their children as they discover themselves. A supervised play area adapted to the childrens needs is available for them and their siblings during the meetings. Congratulations to Famijeunes for supporting these children and their families! 2nd Monday of each month, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 3904, rue Notre-Dame O. (Place-St-Henri metro) planetetransgenre@yahoo.ca 514-585-6706 Henri-based dance company, has been shaking up the Montreal dance scene with its intriguing and innovative mix of ballet, contemporary dance, and breakdance. It has appeared on such prestigious stages as Usine C and Place des Arts, and in the USA, Europe, and Japan. Its 10th anniversary was recently crowned by receiving the Canadian Dance Assemblys Aga Khan Museum International Award at the firstRUBBERBANDance, a StWhen children do not con-

ever national I Love Dance Awards. Congratulations and best wishes to RUBBERBANDance, which incarnates the boiling creativity of the SudOuest and reminds us that artistic innovation is at the very heart of our identity. rubberbandance.com Association is considering expanding to bring together the residents of the whole area east of Little Burgundy and north of Griffintown, a neighbourhood that currently doesnt have a specific community organization. The area in question is the rectangle bounded by SaintAntoine, Guy, Notre-Dame, and University streets. If you live in this area and would like to get involved, email residents.vh@gmail.com . residentsvh.wordpress.com ing on Verduns Promenade Wellington. On March 12, the borough and its partners released Orientation CentreVille, an action plan to create an even more welcoming, attractive Wellington Street and stimulate Verduns small businesses. Then on March 23 and 24, Wellington Street was transformed into a sugar bush! Maple taffy on snow, a a gourmet sugar shack menu, DJs, animation, and prizes delighted young and old alike. ville.montreal.qc.ca/verdun promenadewellington.com
Exciting things are happenThe Victor Hugo Residents

On Parliament Hill
As chair of the All-Party Arts Caucus, on February 27 I had the honour of presiding over a forum celebrating and strengthening cultural understanding across the country. Major cultural organizations took part to impress upon MPs the profound and even healing effects that arts and culture can have on those who take part. Among the groups represented were Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, the Canadian Dance Assembly, Le Lab, BluePrintForLife, and the Art for Healing Foundation, whose headquarters are right here in Jeanne-Le Ber. At right, Earl Pinchuk and Gary Blair, co-founders of the Art for Healing Foundation, attending the forum in Ottawa.

E-Newsletter
My office is getting ready to launch a regular e-bulletin. Sign up now to stay up to date on current events in politics, what Im doing for you in the House, community events, and other local information. Mail in the attached reply coupon, sign up on my website, or e-mail tyrone.benskin@parl.gc.ca .

At Your Service
My team is here to help you with any concerns you may have regarding federal services, such as immigration, employment insurance, and federal pensions (CPP, OAS, and GRS). I am here to make sure your voice is heard in Parliament. Dont hesitate to write, telephone, or e-mail to let me know your opinions about the issues that affect our community.

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Tyrone Benskin
Member of Parliament for Jeanne-Le Ber House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6