By: Hon. Lena Metlege Diab, Member of Parliament for Halifax West
GETTING MORE HEALTH WORKERS TO WORK
Health care remains a top issue for the people of Halifax West. As an MP, I hear about these concerns every day from constituents who want to see our health care system strengthened, and I agree. It’s clear that we need more health care workers in this province, and yet it seems like we have all heard stories about friends or neighbours who trained in a health care field abroad and can’t get their credentials recognized in Canada.
Last month, I hosted an information session with ISANS targeted at internationally trained health care workers. By linking them with existing credential recognition resources and providing a forum to share firsthand experiences navigating the credential recognition process, the session helped to set community members on a path towards working in our health care system. I appreciated hearing the thoughtful suggestions of the dozens of people who attended and will be bringing those forward so that we can do more to support people with valuable skills that our system needs.
CELEBRATING LOCAL RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
As a member of the House of Commons standing committee on Science and Research, I was pleased to see two recent votes of confidence in our local post secondary sector: Mount Saint Vincent University was the only university in Atlantic Canada to receive a Dimensions recognition from Minister Champagne in acknowledgement of their work to advance diversity, inclusion, and equity in research. Dalhousie University also just received the largest-ever federal research grant in their history—$154 million in funding to investigate the ocean’s role in climate change through the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.
MORE SUPPORT FOR CANADA’S OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
To support bilingualism in Canada and promote the vitality of our official language communities, our government has launched a new 5-year action plan for official languages. The plan includes an unprecedented investment in more than 30 measures—from encouraging francophone immigration to supporting French-language education—to breathe life into Canada’s official language regime and support a substantive equality between French and English.
STRENGTHENING AIR PASSENGERS’ RIGHTS
As part of this year’s Budget Implementation Act, our government is acting to hold air carriers’ accountable and ensure travelers are treated fairly. Proposed changes to air passenger rights include: a simplified, faster complaints process, mandatory compensation for almost all types of travel disruptions, standards for treatment for passengers facing cancellations and delays, and shifting the burden of proof onto air carriers instead of passengers.
