MP Van Kesteren Announces Funding for Leamington Tomato FestivalMay 16, 2013,Dave with L) Festival Co-Chair Mike Ciacelli and R) Leamington Mayor John Paterson
Leamington, ON – Dave Van Kesteren, Member of Parliament for Chatham-Kent--Essex, today announced that the Leamington Tomato Festival will received $11,800.00 in federal funding through the Government of Canada’s Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program for this year’s festival.“Our Government is proud to support this great annual event,” said MP Van Kesteren. “The high point of the summer in Leamington is always the Tomato Festival. It is a great, family-friendly event that draws together people from all over Southwestern Ontario, which encourages tourism and benefits our local businesses.”
“We are so happy that we have again been supported by our friends at Heritage Canada,” said Mike Ciacelli Co-chair of the Tomato Festival. “The Tomato Festival operates on a shoe string budget, so every dollar counts and we are committed to making this, the 30th Anniversary of the festival – one of the best.”
The Government of Canada created the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage program in September 2007. This program provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in local activities that present arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage. This program will benefit many community events and celebrations throughout Canada this year.
The 2013 Leamington Tomato Festival runs from Friday August 16th thru Sunday August 18th for more information please visit leamingtontomatofestival.com.
Major Investment in Leamington’s Road SystemApril 11, 2013,
Improvements made possible thanks to Government of Canada funding
LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO – Road improvement work is set to begin soon at one of Leamington’s busiest intersections – Erie Street South and Oak Street – thanks to funding announced today by the Government of Canada and the Municipality of Leamington.
Federal Gas Tax funding is being used to improve the intersection with the addition of new left-turn lanes. As well, the traffic signal system and street lights are being replaced with more energy-efficient LED systems. Finally, the nearby Heinz Parkette will receive a new landscape feature, and a nearby pedestrian trail is being extended so that walkers, joggers and cyclists can more easily access the trail. Together, these changes will reduce commute times, reduce energy costs, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, promote alternative modes of transportation and beautify the area.
“With the start of a new construction season, there is no better time to celebrate road upgrades that will contribute to the creation of local jobs and long-term economic growth in Leamington,” said the MP for Chatham-Kent-Essex, Dave Van Kesteren, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. “Not only will these investments improve commute times and road safety, they will also reduce future maintenance costs and save taxpayers’ money.”
“The Municipality views the Erie/Oak intersection as an important people mover, including vehicles, walkers and cyclists,” said John Paterson, Mayor of the Municipality of Leamington. “Getting rid of the old infrastructure, providing a better design and installing energy efficient and reliable LED lighting and traffic signals is long overdue.”
The Municipality of Leamington will use just over $1 million of its federal Gas Tax Fund transfer towards this project. The total cost for the improvements is close to $2.1 million.
The Gas Tax Fund, part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, provides long-term funding to help every municipality across the country build and revitalize public infrastructure. The Government of Canada has invested over $10 billion to date in municipal infrastructure through this Fund alone, which is now a permanent transfer of $2 billion per year. Between 2010 and 2014, the Municipality of Leamington will receive $3,537,809 from the Gas Tax Fund to improve local infrastructure.
"Canada's Gas Tax Fund acknowledges that all orders of government must work together to address the pressing need for infrastructure investment in our municipalities," said Russ Powers, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO). "Stable and predictable, the Gas Tax Fund is supporting long-term investment in local priority projects right across Ontario."
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering a New Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 898,000 net new jobs created since July 2009. The New Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, supports Canada's infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
Van Kesteren leads trip to Turkey, meets with President GülApril 11, 2013,
Chatham-Kent, ON- Strengthening an already good relationship between Turkey and Canada was the purpose of a trip by Canadian parliamentarians lead by MP Dave Van Kesteren. The two countries have worked together as members of NATO, the G20 as well as share an economic relationship with a trade volume of nearly 2 billion dollars, yet Van Kesteren is encouraged that trade figure could grow exponentially.
"From a briefing with our Canadian ambassador and embassy officials, to meeting with President Gül, I was fortunate to lead an extremely successful parliamentary delegation,” said Van Kesteren. “Turkish officials agree with our government's focus, that increased economic activity and trade between our two nations will lead to increased trade and jobs within our countries. This is our number one shared objective."
President Gül in the meeting with the delegation, spoke about Turkey and Canada’s shared values such as democracy, the rule of law, basic rights and freedoms and a free market economy. He also underscored that Turkey “lays great emphasis upon her relations with Canada” pointing to their work for peace and prosperity in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Passport Clinics being offered in 2013March 20, 2013,Chatham, ON--Six passport clinics will be offered again this year by MP Dave Van Kesteren. The first is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2nd at Blessed Sacrament Church, 145 Victoria Avenue in Chatham. It will be held between the hours of 10am and 2pm.
Participants can pick up applications upon arrival at the clinic, in advance at any post office, or one of the Member of Parliament’s offices. Volunteers will be on hand to assist those needing help in completing their application and to ensure the application is fully completed before mailing. A photographer will be at the clinic to take passport photos and copying is available for any documents to be submitted. Passport photos cost $18.06 (including tax), payable in cash.
The cost of passports remains unchanged from past years. The costs are $87.00 for adults (16 years of age and older), $37.00 for children 3 to 15 years and $22.00 for children under 3 years. Payment can be made either by major credit card or certified cheque or money order payable to the Receiver General for Canada.
Please note that passports are NOT issued at these clinics. The Chatham office provides mailing during the week following the clinic. This allows participants several days to complete requirements if needed. In this case, applications received at the Chatham Office by 5pm, Monday, April 8 will be mailed the following day. You will receive your passport in the mail within 20 business days of our mailing date.
Each applicant (with the exception of an adult renewal) requires a guarantor, any person who has known the applicant for a minimum of 2 years and has a valid Canadian passport. The guarantor is required to sign the back of one of the applicant’s passport photos and A COPY OF ONE PIECE OF THE APPLICANT’S PHOTO IDENTIFICATION. There is also a section within the application for the guarantor to complete and sign.
Any questions should be directed to the MP’s office either in Leamington 519-326-9655 or Chatham at 519-358-7555.
