As the year draws to an end, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family best wishes for the holiday season and good health and prosperity for 1998. My family and staff also join me in extending their best wishes.

In reflecting upon the last year, my re-election as your Member of Parliament was certainly one of the highlights for me. I am honoured by this confidence and will do my utmost to ensure that Etobicoke North is well represented in Ottawa. The new parliament is proving to be an interesting place. With four opposition parties in the House of Commons, debates have tended to be somewhat raucous, but our government has shown capable leadership on the issues that matter to Canadians.

I hope you find this Constituency Handbook a helpful tool. There are many useful government programs available, and I hope that this booklet will help you access them more readily.

Again, best wishes and I hope to see you on December 14th at our Winter Social to celebrate the best of the season.

Sincerely,

Roy Cullen

• Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Transport. With the world becoming ever smaller due to globalization, Canada needs a transportation system that will be ready for the next millennium. I am pleased to be able to contribute to this committee, particularly since Lester B. Pearson International Airport neighbours Etobicoke North.

• Member of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations.

• Member of the Gasoline Pricing Caucus. Many constituents were alarmed when gas prices rose so steeply this summer. I am involved with this group which is examining the issue of gasoline pricing and, more specifically, the rationale for gas price increases.

• Chair of the Brewing Industry Caucus. Two of Canada's largest beer manufacturers are located in Etobicoke North and I will work with the industry and with caucus on issues of mutual concern.

While I am fully supportive of the government's priorities, I am also focusing on these specific initiatives:

• Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC). TPC investment has greatly benefited the high-tech industry in Etobicoke North, and across Canada, and I am working to find ways to augment this type of investment.

• Internships and Apprenticeships. I have been working with Humber College to identify areas where the government can assist the education and private sectors to get our young people the right type of training for career success.

• Green House Gases & Economic Instruments. I want our government to look at ways the private sector can be induced to be "green", and ways in which economic instruments can improve our environmental performance.

• Semi-Conductor Computer Chip Plant. I am working with my provincial and municipal counter-parts to leverage Etobicoke's strengths to attract a computer chip plant here. There is potential for 700-900 jobs to be created.

• Employee Share Ownership Programs (ESOP's). Companies that grant employees a share of the ownership have been proven to be more productive, and have more favourable worker/management relations. I am looking at ways to create a tax climate in Canada that would encourage more companies to implement ESOP's.

1. The Economy:

   • Jobs. With so many jobs created in the export sector, we will continue to promote Canada through Team Canada missions and trade liberalization. We will increase support for high-tech industries to stimulate job creation in the knowledge-based sectors. Information and technology infrastructure will be accessible to many more Canadians by the year 2000.

   • Finances. Economic expansion is based on the renewed stability of our finances. The Liberal government will balance the budget no later than 1998-1999. Budget surpluses will be allocated amongst investments in social and economic priorities and tax reductions and debt repayment.

2. Our Children:

   • Annual funding for the Canada Child Tax Benefit will be increased to $850 million, and we hope to work with the provinces to double that increase.

   • As part of our Youth Employment Strategy, thousands of work experience opportunities will be provided. The Canada Millennium Scholarship Fund will be created to help low and moderate-income families with the costs of higher education.

3. Health Care:

   • We will work to ensure that we have quality health care in Canada. Previously budgeted levels of cash payments to the provinces under the Canada Health and Social Transfer will be increased.

   • We will work with our provincial partners to make home care more available, and to develop a plan to give all Canadians access to medically necessary drugs.

4. Unity:

   • We will build upon the recent declaration of the Premiers to recognize Canada's diversity, especially the unique character of Quebec society.

   • The Liberal government will work to remind all Canadians of the values that bring us together, and to challenge those who want to partition Canada, by bringing clarity to the unity debate.