With Gratitude for Our Teachers

Today, I had the honour of delivering the following two-minute statement in the Legislature to mark World Teachers' Day:

“I rise today to honour World Teachers' Day. I stand before you as a former teacher. It was my absolute pleasure to engage young learners, enjoy their curiosity and be energized by their awareness and their humour.

“I taught children with autism, children with learning disabilities, children with a myriad of interests and pursuits. I wanted the children I taught to see all sides of a question, to seek fairness and to possess tremendous humanity.

“My students are adults today, many of them parenting their own children. It is a joy when they stop by to say hello. I couldn't be more proud of their accomplishments or their achievements.

“The teachers I had the privilege to work with are magical — Max Caroll, Marlene Yurichuk, Bosso Gill and countless others.

“It was my privilege to attend the 45th reunion of David Thompson Secondary on Saturday last. Teachers came out to acknowledge a grad class that they last saw as students in 1966. The memories were fresh. The stories were wonderful. Students and teachers alike shared stories of events that transpired 45 years ago.

“Schools and teachers will always have the ability to inspire future generations.

“It is generational work. Whether it is the teacher I met last year in Cairo or the plethora of international students and teachers that come from across the globe to Richmond, teachers understand that students desire a sense of belonging.

“Schools and teachers assist in building civil societies.

“Thank you to all the teachers across the globe. My daughter wants to be a teacher. She will have wonderful colleagues who today are celebrating World Teachers Day.”

Please visit my website at www.lindareidmla.bc.ca

CAMP OLAVE

A group of former Girl Guides, leaders and friends of Guiding have come together to ensure the future of one of British Columbia’s best-loved Guide camps.

 Camp Olave, located on the oceanfront at Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast, celebrated its 80^th anniversary in 2010. However, the long-term future of the camp is threatened by the spectre of increasing property taxes on the 56-hectare waterfront property. The current Sechelt municipal council graciously provided a grant in lieu of taxes for the coming year, but cannot guarantee what any future council might do. If full property taxes were demanded, they could be paid only by raising camp fees well beyond the range of the average family, thus denying future generations of guiders access to this amazing oceanfront experience.

The supporters of Camp Olave have concluded the best solution to the problem is to start now an Endowment Fund, the interest from which would cover the taxes should this ever be necessary. If the taxes remain low, as is hoped, the interest would be used to maintain and upgrade the facilities and to provide camperships for girls who would otherwise not be able to afford a week at camp.

The group has started the Camp Olave Endowment Fund under the auspices and management of the Victoria Foundation. It is hoped the fund will grow to about $200,000 to ensure the tax payments would be available if needed.

Over the years, thousands and thousands of girls and young women have enjoyed Camp Olave,  we are hoping many of them will hear about this new fund, and give – a little or a lot – so thousands more girls will be able to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities available at this oceanfront camp over the coming decades.

Anyone interested in donating to the fund should make contributions payable to Camp Olave Endowment Fund and send to the Victoria Foundation at 109 – 645 Fort Street, Victoria, BC V8V 1G2, or make an online gift by going to the website: www.victoriafoundation.bc.ca and click on the red Make a Donation button located in the upper right hand corner.

Do You Want to Connect?

Community gaming grants provided by the Province of BC are a very important part of what makes so many non-profit events and services possible. Everything from youth sporting events and community fairs, to art exhibits and extra-curricular school activities, may be eligible for funding from the Province.

On July 28 it was announced by the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development that BC's Community Gaming Grant Review team, led by independent reviewer Skip Triplett, will visit 14 different communities across the province between August 11 and September 7 to hear from British Columbians and examine the role of government in allocating gaming funds.

The team is looking to discover more about how we can improve things such as the application process, criteria and eligibility, existing legislation governing gaming grants, and the future role of government in providing grants.

Submissions can be mailed, faxed, submitted online, or presented at one of the community forums. Anyone interested in participating in this exercise is encouraged to register online as space is limited.

Triplett's final report is due on October 31, 2011.

You can register to attend a community forum, submit ideas, and learn more at:

http://www.communitygaminggrantreview.gov.bc.ca

The Gift of Literacy

On Monday, Premier Christy Clark awarded the 2011 Council of the Federation Literacy Award to Dee McRae. This award recognizes Dee's outstanding efforts to improve adult literacy in her home town of Houston, B.C. – and beyond.

One million adults in our province have challenges with literacy. Dee is one of many in B.C. who are working to bring this number down. Her years of hard work and dedication have significantly improved the lives of many people, giving them confidence and the ability to reach their potential.

Since 2001, the Province has invested approximately $1.5 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives, such as StrongStart BC early learning programs. The programs this funding makes possible are vital.

But so are the contributions of people like Dee McRae and many others like her throughout the province who give of their time, energy and passion to help others who need to improve their levels of literacy.

Perhaps you might like to make such a difference. If so, please contact Literacy BC at 1-800-663-1293 or email info@literacy.bc.ca to find out how.

July Newsletter

Thank you to the constituents of Richmond East for the trust you have placed in me over these twenty years of public service.  There is no other work I would rather be doing.  I consider it both an honour and a privilege to live and work with you in this riding.

It was a joy for me to be present at the opening of the newly enlarged Hamilton Community Centre.  This is a great addition to a wonderful Richmond East neighbourhood.  Thank you to all who made it possible.  I especially enjoyed the fact that the Legislative channel was playing on the small TV’s on each of the treadmills.

I had the opportunity to represent our government at the July 4^th announcement of the partnership between Genome BC and the BC Cancer Foundation.  Both organizations are focused on the potential of genomics to improve patient outcomes.  Genome BC is funding three applied genomic research projects totaling 9 million so that the clinical tools we do have are better able to treat each patient’s individual cancer.  This is good news for patients and their families.

I look forward to the summer opening of the new Nelson Road Interchange which we can all see taking shape in East Richmond.  This new infrastructure will redirect container truck traffic off Westminster Highway and directly into the Port via Nelson Road from the Alderbridge Connector -  a win for farmers and residents alike.

Have a safe and enjoyable summer with family and friends.

Linda Reid MLA Richmond East and Deputy Speaker

July 2011

HST Helps the Whole Country

We have lost sight of one important point in the debate over the fate of the HST here in British Columbia. It is good for Canada as a whole.

Here is something well worth reading:

“Provincial retail sales taxes (RSTs) are outdated and inefficient. They impose a significant tax burden on new business investment and increase the day-today operating costs of Canadian businesses. Unlike the Goods and Services Tax (GST), under which businesses receive a credit for the sales tax they pay on their inputs, these costs are subsequently embedded in the prices consumers pay for goods and services."

- Government of Canada, Budget 2009: Canada's Economic Action Plan

People wanting to invest in Canada and do business here should not have to struggle with a myriad of different sales tax systems, varying from province to province.

The Potential of Genomics

This morning it was my pleasure to represent our government at the announcement of the partnership between Genome BC and the BC Cancer Agency. Both organizations are focused on the potential of genomics to improve patient outcomes. Genome BC is funding three applied genomic research projects totalling 9 million so that the clinical tools we have are better able to treat each patients's individual cancer. This is good news for patients and their families. Special guest included Sindi Hawkin's sister Rupie and Sindi's Dad. Rupie spoke beautifully of her sisters' contribution to cancer care in our province.  I will be there when the Cancer Care Center for the Southern Interior carries the name Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins.