Dear Friends,

It has been just more than one year since I was asked by the Prime Minister to take on the portfolio of Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (PSEPC), Anne McLellan. I have found this time to be both challenging and exciting.

These new responsibilities have given me the opportunity to work closely with the Deputy Prime Minister, as well as the department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and its portfolio agencies. Some of these agencies include; the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), and Corrections Canada, amongst others.

In addition to working on Portfolio legislation which is the traditional responsibility of the Parliamentary Secretary, I have been actively engaged on several other important files that impact Canadians. Two of these files are linked to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The first of these files calls on me to work with the CBSA on a new cost recovery regime. This project will allow the CBSA to modernize the way it recovers fees, and increase its efficiency. The second is the development and implementation of a new Fairness Policy for the CBSA. This includes the creation of a Fairness Statement, and will lead to a form of traveller's code of rights and responsibilities.

When we began this minority parliament last fall, our government committed itself to working with opposition parties to make government work. While at times this has been challenging, we have done just that. Since the session began we have introduced 69 bills, 32 of which having already received Royal Assent. I have included some of the highlights of the session on the following page. This legislation together with initiatives such as the Health Care Accord, and the Child Care agreements with the Provinces, have demonstrated that meaningful progress can be made in a minority government.

I will continue to work hard for you, and together with our government continue to put Canadians and the citizens of Etobicoke North first. I hope you all have a safe and enjoyable summer, and I wish you all the very best.

Yours sincerely,

Roy Cullen, M.P.

Since the 38th Parliament began, the Government of Canada has introduced 69 bills, 32 of which have received Royal Assent.

This is a record that is comparable to the legislative achievements of majority governments in the 1980s and the 1990s, and is substantially better that the record of previous minority Parliaments.

Our legislative program, with national projects like the New Deal for Cities and Communities and the National Child Care and Early Learning Program, illustrates that this government can work and plan not just for the Canada of today but for the Canada of tomorrow.

A high point was the House passage of Budget Bills C-43 and C-48. The Budget Bills provide the framework for the funding of major government initiatives such as the New Deal for Canada's Cities and Communities, a national Child Care and Early Learning System, and new financial help for students and seniors.

This is vigorous democracy in action. The record shows that the government has not only been able to meet the challenges of minority government, but has done this while providing outstanding legislation that addresses the needs and aspirations of Canadians.

Highlights of the session included the following:

C-2: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children and other vulnerable persons) and the Canada Evidence Act, enables the further protection of children against abuse and sexual exploitation.

C-13: An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the DNA Identification Act and the National Defence Act, to amend the provisions in the Criminal Code respecting the taking of bodily substances for forensic DNA analysis and the inclusion of DNA profiles in the national DNA data bank and makes related amendments to the DNA Identification Act and National Defence Act. It clarifies that the forensic DNA analysis of the bodily substances taken from convicted offenders for the purposes of the national DNA data bank will be conducted by the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

C-37: An Act to amend the Telecommunications Act will protect consumers and the privacy of Canadians at home by reducing unsolicited telemarketing calls through the establishment of a national do-not-call list.

C-39: An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Fiscal Arrangements Act to respect the provisions of funding for diagnostic and medical equipment implements the historic 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care. The plan, signed by all first ministers, will deliver $41 billion in federal support to the provinces and territories over the next 10 years to support the provision of health care.

C-43: An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget emphasizes investments in our cities and people. The Bill includes funding for early learning and child care, increased financial support for low-income seniors, and initiatives for the environment to improve Canada's air, water, soil and climate protection.

C-45: An Act to provide services, assistance and compensation to or in respect of Canadian Forces members and veterans, is known as the Veterans Charter and improves services available to Canada's veterans.

C-49: An Act to amend the Criminal Code (trafficking in persons) creates an offence of trafficking in persons that prohibits a person from engaging in specified acts for the purpose of exploiting or facilitating the exploitation of another person; creates an offence that prohibits a person from receiving a financial or other material benefit that they know results from the commission of the offence of trafficking in persons; creates an offence that prohibits concealing, removing, withholding or destroying any documents related to this matter ; and establishes exploiting's definition.

C-50: An Act to amend the Criminal Code in respect to cruelty to animals by consolidating animal cruelty offences and increasing the maximum penalties.