Local and Regional News
Joe Preston, Member of Parliament for Elgin-Middlesex-London announced that the Government of Canada is providing up to $27,400 in new funding to improve safety at railway crossings in Thames Centre. Six (6) separate locations have been identified in the municipality for replacement of incandescent lights with LED lights.
“Our Government is increasing its commitment to rail safety,” said MP Preston. “While Canada has one of the safest rail systems in the world, improvements can still be made. This additional funding will go a long way toward enhancing safety and helping to save lives.” For more details, visit:http://www.joeprestonmp.ca/media/news/harper-government-invests-in-safety-with-new-funding-for-railway-crossing-improvements-in-thames-centre

Joe Preston, Member of Parliament was elected chairman of the Rural Caucus of the Conservative Party of Canada. The Rural Caucus brings together members representing rural ridings from across Canada to discuss issues effecting rural Canadians. For more details, visit:http://www.joeprestonmp.ca/media/news/chair-of-rural-caucus

The Richard Ivey School of Business celebrated the completion of Phase One of its new $110 million building as the sounds of work on Phase Two banged away outside the windows of the building’s Grand Hall.
Currently, 150,000 square feet of the eventual 270,000-square-foot facility sitting on Western Road are complete. The $110 million price tag, adjusted up in June 2011, will deliver a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold-level certified building. For more details, visit:http://www.joeprestonmp.ca/media/news/ivey-celebrates-phase-one-completion

Government Happenings
Canada's Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz was joined by Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Bob Bjornerud and Alberta Agriculture Minister Evan Berger to welcome Third Reading and the final vote in the House of Commons on the Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act.

The Governments of Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, representing the production of more than 80% of wheat and 90% of barley in Western Canada, expressed their support for giving Western wheat and barley farmers the right to choose how to market their grain. For more details, visit:http://www.agr.gc.ca/cb/index_e.php?s1=n&s2=2011&page=n111128

The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture, met with livestock producers and processors at Soderglen Ranches Ltd., one of Canada's largest purebred seedstock cattle ranches. The ministers welcomed the clear victory for Canada's livestock industry represented by the WTO ruling that the U.S. Country-of-Origin Labelling (COOL) measure is inconsistent with its WTO trade obligations.
“Canada is a trading nation and whatever we can do to make sure our farmers can trade their products, works” said Joe Preston, MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London. “Locally, our producers have been concerned with COOL. I am very pleased with the decision of the WTO.” For more details, visit:http://www.joeprestonmp.ca/media/news/canada-wins-world-trade-organization-case-on-u.s.-country-of-origin-labelling

The Maple Leaf flag that symbolized the Canadian Forces presence in Kandahar Province since August 2005 was lowered for the last time, in a ceremony at Kandahar Airfield to mark the end of Canada’s military presence in southern Afghanistan, under Operation ATHENA.
“Over the past several years, Canada and the Canadian Forces played a significant role in establishing the security foundation in Kandahar Province that set the conditions for governance and development,” said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. “I'm proud of the work of our men and women in Afghanistan's most dangerous province. Our commitment is now centred in Kabul, with our military contribution to the NATO Training Mission, which is building the professional capacities of the Afghan national security forces.” For more details, visit: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do;jsessionid=ac1b105330d7517a1400b99d4cc285f8c9edca11b971.e38RbhaLb3qNe34Say0?m=%2Findex&nid=641109

The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, welcomed the coming into force of Bill C-21, the Standing Up For Victims of White Collar Crime Act. The Minister made the announcement alongside the Honourable Maxime Bernier, P.C., M.P. for Beauce and Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism). The legislation provides tougher sentences for fraud which will help combat white-collar crime. For more details, visit: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/news-nouv/nr-cp/2011/doc_32662.html

The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, issued the following statement in regards to Attawapiskat First Nation:
"Our Government remains deeply concerned with the situation inAttawapiskat First Nation. Departmental officials have been in the community since November 28th to assess the situation and immediate action needed to ensure that residents of Attawapiskat have access to warm, dry and safe shelter.
An on-the-ground assessment has determined that urgent health and safety issues demand immediate action. The Government of Canada has informed the Chief that we are placing the community in third party management to ensure community needs are addressed. Part of the manager's role will be to directly administer my department's funding which is normally managed by a First Nation.
Department officials will continue to work with the Province of Ontario and the community to implement the community's existing emergency management plan and address immediate needs. For more details, visit: http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1322688472328

Program Updates
New proof of parentage requirements for a child's travel document application ~To protect Canadian children against child abduction and to further enhance the security of the Canadian passport program, Passport Canada requires that travel document applications for children under 16 years of age be accompanied by proof of parentage documentation. Effective December 1, 2011, along with standard application requirements, parents or legal guardians must provide with their child’s travel document application a long-form birth certificate. For more details, visit:http://www.ppt.gc.ca/articles/20110512.aspx?lang=eng

Citizen Recognition
I would like to take this time to congratulate Alderman Gord Campbell who was recently honoured by the Province of Ontario for his long-time commitment to our community. Mr. Campbell has served for over 3 decades as a member of city council in the City of St. Thomas and is known for his dedication and eagerness to serve the people. Congratulations Gord and I look forward to continue working with you!

Events
The holiday season is in full swing, and Joe has taken part in many Christmas activities including the Aylmer Santa Claus Parade, St. Thomas Santa Claus Parade, and the Dorchester Festival of Lights. Joe visited the grade 5 classes at Northdale Central Public School and St. Anne’s Catholic School along with a civics class at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School. In the riding he met with local organizations including Port Stanley Festival Theatre and The St. Thomas EDC. In Ottawa he met with the many groups including the Ontario Association of Community Futures and the Ambassador of Norway, the Minister of Defense for Norway as well as officials from Kongsberg Systems. He also took part in pre-budget consultations discussing local and regional issues.