Dear Constituents:

Before updating you on what is happening around our

riding, I would like to take this opportunity to thank

you for electing me to represent you in Ottawa this past

October. The result of the last federal election

humbled me like never before. I am deeply honoured

that you have entrusted me to represent you and I will

make every effort to ensure you receive the

representation that all of you deserve.

Since then, some major issues have come to the fore

that will challenge us to face these troubled economic

times. But we will adapt and persevere for our future

generations. I pledge to you that I will work with you

to seek a brighter future.

This is a particularly difficult time for our forestry and

newsprint industries and the closure of our mill in

Grand Falls-Windsor. We cannot pretend that this

closure will not affect us greatly because we all know it

will. I continue to work closely with union officials,

displaced workers, government, and company officials

as well as provide support and direction.

In March, I met with the Fisheries Advisory Commit-

tee where a number of important issues were discussed.

I will be addressing some points raised at upcoming

meetings with our NL caucus and DFO officials. We

must challenge Ottawa to ensure a viable and profitable

fishery that supports our communities both big and

small.

In April, I travelled to Europe as part of the Canada-

Europe Parliamentary Association to participate in

meetings with the European Union on the seal hunt.

Unfortunately, our words fell on deaf ears and shortly

thereafter, the ban on seal products was announced.

We will continue with the fight; however, it does not

look promising.

With the recent Cougar helicopter disaster, there has

been an outcry for the establishment of a Search and

Rescue presence in St. John’s. My position is and has

always been that the SAR services of 103 Squadron is

best and properly situated in Gander. Ninety-nine per

cent of the rescue calls for service, I am told, are not

related to offshore oil. I believe that the service needs

to be improved by providing 24-7 coverage from

Gander much as we would expect from fire depart-

ments and other emergency responders. I will continue

to lobby the federal government for improvements.

I am anticipating a very busy summer with community

events and festivals. I will see you there.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I look

forward to hearing from you. As always, it is an

honour to be working for you.

Sincerely,

SCOTT SIMMS, MP

Simms Tables Seal Motion in Parliament

Ottawa, April 6, 2009

Scott Simms MP for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-

Windsor tabled a motion in Parliament on March 25,

2009 calling on the European Union (EU) to comply

with International Trade rules which would continue to

allow Canadian seal exports in their territory.

Simms’ motion also asks the European Union Member

States that manage sealing operations within their

national waters to join Canada in development of a

Universal Declaration that will provide sustainable,

respectful hunting practices and professionalism

amongst all hunters.

“If the EU is serious about animal rights, which I

sincerely doubt, and not merely bowing to pressure

from the extreme lobbying of the animal rights

activists, then they will partner with Canada on this

initiative,” said Simms.

“I am appalled that the EU will ban seal products from

entering Europe. Before they take that step they should

clean up their own back yard first,” stated Simms.

The ultimate hypocrisy and irony of the EU position is

that within the EU Member States - Britain and

Sweden among others - not only hunt seals but do so

with the active support of the EU Commission. The

Dutch and the Belgians do not hunt seals however

annually they kill about a million muskrats and burn

them. The Germans have active boar and deer hunts

that kill thousands of animals, including very young

boar, purely for sport. The French, among others

within the EU, consider it acceptable to kill and eat

horses, the younger the better and of course the

Spanish continue their cultural ritual killing of bulls in

the name of sport.

SIMMS calls on government to increase

funding for Search and Rescue

February 7, 2008

Ottawa, ON - Scott Simms, MP for Bonavista-

Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor, today presented a

petition in the House of Commons calling on the

Conservative government to increase funding for

Search and Rescue across the country.

An increase to the Department of National

Defence, Search and Rescue budget would ensure

that there is 24-hour staffing to respond to

emergency calls in a timelier manner than is

currently possible. The ability of Search and

Rescue personnel to reach disaster scene promptly

would increase their ability to save more lives.

Following the Ryan’s Commander disaster,

Johanna Ryan Guy, sister of the Ryan brothers lost

during the sinking of Ryan’s Commander, initiated

a cross-Canada petition to have the after-hours

response time changed from 2 hours to 30

minutes.

To have crews ready 24 hours a day will require a

moderate increase in the Search and Rescue

budget. This is not an unreasonable request; there

is no price that we can put on saving lives.

In addition to increased funding to the Department

of National Defence budget for rescue squadrons

across the country, I am calling on the government

to increase the Canadian Coast Guard budget. This

would enable them to place lifeboats in strategic

locations on the Northeast coast of Newfoundland

and on the Labrador coast. The Coast Guard

website indicates there are 41 lifeboats littering the

coasts of Canada however there is not one lifeboat

on the Northeast coast of Newfoundland and

Labrador.

“This is unacceptable,” said Simms. “As we have

witnessed in recent years, the North Atlantic is

unforgiving, and time saved in responding to an

emergency means lives will be saved.”

“We in Newfoundland and Labrador, and indeed

in all of Atlantic Canada, live in a harsh

environment. For hundreds of years we have been

exploiting the resources of the sea and we need to

be ready to respond on very short notice when

disaster strikes,” stated Simms.

SCOTT SIMMS Member of Parliament

Working For You!

Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor

Summer 2009

WORKING FOR YOU!

40th Parliament - Swearing In Ceremony

2 Scott Simms, MP Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor

WORKING FOR YOU!

STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Frederick Gordon Bradley

February 2, 2009 Mr. Scott Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on December 10, 2008, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and in particular, the historic town of Bonavista, was deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Frederick Gordon Bradley. Mr. Bradley was the son of the late Senator F. Gordon Bradley and Ethel Louise Bradley. He was successful in business but devoted much of his life to community service. He was a long time town councillor and mayor of Bonavista. He also formed the town's volunteer fire department in the 1960s. History and heritage con-sumed much of his interests. He was an avid storyteller, researcher and collector of information about the past. Mr. Bradley was a long time member of the executive of the Newfoundland Historical Society and served a term on the board of the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2006 Mr. Bradley received the distinguished Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Award in recognition of his longstanding contribution to the preservation of the province's history and heritage.

Ted Patey March 5, 2009 Mr. Scott Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to pay tribute to and honour a fellow Newfoundlander, Ted Patey of Badger, who passed away on December 6, 2008. He was 66 years old. He was known as a cheerful sports reporter across the province, who hosted a popular sports program in the 1980s for nearly 400 episodes. His most memorable event was the play-by-play commentary for the 1991-92 Herder Memorial championship hockey series that was won by his beloved Badger Bombers. In 2006, he was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Hall of Fame. The same year he was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the town of Badger for his outstanding dedication, love and support of the town. Ted took great pride in his community and was always there to lend a helping hand. In April of this year, a heritage park will be named and dedicated to his many accomplishments in the town of Badger. It will be named the Ted Patey Heritage Park.

H O U S E

O F

C O M M O N S

QUESTION PERIOD

March 27, 2009

Mr. Scott Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, in Newfoundland and Labrador, the govern-ment's refusal to offer CBC bridge financing has resulted in job losses in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor.

The minister knows that, as a crown corporation, CBC cannot secure a bank loan. So, with further job losses hitting small towns, and certainly in the rural regions, why is the government refusing to offer the bridge financing to CBC when it appears so willing to helps its commercial competitors in this economic crisis?

Hon. James Moore (Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I will take a third run at it.

Richard Stursberg, Executive Vice-President of CBC, said, “If the government had given us bridge financing, we still would have had to cut 800 jobs”. This is a decision by the CBC, in order to make ends meet. With regard to the CBC, we made a very specific campaign commitment. We kept our campaign commitment. We stand by the public broadcaster with record funding.

When the Liberal government was in office, it cut 4,000 jobs at the CBC, and now the Liberals stand and claim to be defend-ers of the CBC. It is pathetic.

Mr. Scott Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, since the minister likes to trade quotes, I would like to trade a quote with him. I hearken back to the year 1995--please note--when the Prime Minister called the CBC a “government sponsored loser” and argued it should be placed in a situation where subsidies are “weaned away”.

So, perhaps he would like to answer those issues. Today, he is using the economy as a pre-text to watch the CBC bleed. Will the Conservatives admit that this is what they really mean by an opportunity to slash in an economic crisis?

Hon. James Moore (Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, CPC): Mr. Speaker, if my hon. colleague wants to trade quotes, we can go all day. Here is what a for-mer Liberal cabinet minister said, not in 1995, in 2004. Stan Keyes said, “CBC has become a monster, quite frankly”.

The Liberal MP for Pickering—Scarborough East, a current member of the Liberal caucus, said, “It's my belief that the Canadian people have had enough and they don't want the CBC”. That is what the Liberal member for Pickering—Scarborough East said right now.

So, again, the Liberals are trying to have it both ways. They say publicly they support the CBC. However, when it comes time to walk the talk, all they have done over the years is cut the CBC $400 million, 4,000 jobs. Shame on them.

3 Scott Simms, MP Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsorn

WORKING FOR YOU!

RIDING EVENTS/MEETINGS

September Relay for Life-Lewisporte Dietrac Graduation-Lewisporte Men’s Fellowship Dinner-

Bishop’s Falls 50th Anniversary-Bethany

United Church-Pleasantview Bonavista Relay for Life Special Olympics-Gander Exploits Valley Economic

Development Corporation-AGM-Grand Falls-Windsor

October Special Olympics Bowling-

Gander Firefighter’s Ball-Bishop’s Falls Certificate Presentation-Bishop’s

Falls Pentecostal Church Owen Grimes Memorial Walk-

Grand Falls-Windsor Kiwanis Luncheon-Grand Falls-

Windsor November Eid-ul-fitr 2008 Dinner-Grand

Falls-Windsor 50th Anniversary Royal

Canadian Legion-Eastport Bonavista Area Visit Firefighter’s Ball-Joe Batt’s Arm 50th Anniversary-Ostomy

Association-Gander

Riding Photos

December Seniors’ Christmas Party-

Appleton Veteran’s Commemoration

Award-St. John’s-Rev. Ray Cole and Jim Molloy

Town Scape Presentation-Bonavista

Seniors’ Christmas Party– Bonavista

Keep Christ in Christmas-Grand Falls-Windsor

50+ Christmas Party-Botwood Firefighters Medal Presentation-

Northern Arm Presentation of Awards-Leo

Burke Academy-Bishop’s Falls Salvation Army Christmas Kettle

-Gander Mall Santa Claus Parade-Badger Salvation Army Christmas Kettle

-Exploits Valley Mall Little Stepping Stones Christmas

Party-Bishop’s Falls Christmas Social–Gander

Women’s Centre January 100th Anniversary Launch-Town

of Bishop’s Falls AbitibiBowater Meetings-Grand

Falls-Windsor Chamber of Commerce

Luncheon - Gander

January (Cont’d) Roundtable Discussion-Marine

Atlantic-Gander Gander and Area Chamber of

Commerce Roundtable-Economic Outlook

Minor Hockey Week-Lewisporte February Harbour Authority-Musgrave

Harbour Bishop’s Falls Winter Carnival Botwood Winter Carnival-

Sculpture Judge Saunders Shield Hockey Game-

Bishop’s Falls Port Rexton Lions Charter

Dinner Winter Special Olympics-Gander March Marina Conference Committee

Meeting Fisheries Advisory Committee

meetings-Gander April Kiwanis Music Festival-Grand

Falls-Windsor-Adjudicator Local Service District Meeting-

Brown’s Arm Firefighter’s Ball-Charlottetown

April(Cont’d) Fallsview Annual Figure Skating

Ice Show-Bishop’s Falls Community Economic

Development Association-Lewisporte

Town Council Meeting-Point Leamington

SPCA Telethon-Grand Falls-Windsor

New-Wes-Valley Visit Marina Committee Meeting-

Botwood Pee Wee “B” Hockey Closing

Ceremonies-Gander Town Council Meeting-Joe

Batt’s Arm Town of Tilting-Meeting Fogo-island Co-operative

Society Town of Seldom-Little Seldom Town of Fogo Fogo Harbour Authority May Firefighter’s Ball-Peterview 103 Search and Rescue-Change

of Command Parade-Gander Bonavista Visit Patron Event-100th Anniversary-

Bishop’s Falls

Marina Committee Members-Front Row-Perry Pond, Mayor Jerry Dean, Scott Simms, Mayor Bill Hooper, Fred Dalley, Back Row-Ken Hoyles, Gordon Young, Tony Sceviour, Philip Patey,

Rev. Art Elliott, Harold Edison

With Pat Kearney, Gander &

Area Chamber of Commerce and Wayne

Follett, CEO

Marina Atlantic

With Fraser

Warren

as John Cabot

and

Nancy Tilley as

Mattea

Bonavista

With Keith Johnson—Bonavista

Seniors’ Christmas Party-Appleton

Winter Games-Special Olympics-Gander-Opening Ceremonies-Gander

With Special Olympic Participants—Grand Falls-Windsor

With Lydia Jankowski—Eastport Harvest Queen

With Audrey Jewer Northern Arm

2008 Appleton Winterfest

4 Scott Simms, MP Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor

New Home Renovation Program

The Home Renovation Program is a tax credit program where you can claim up to

$10,000 of renovations on your 2009 income tax return. This is a one year program

only and is effective from January 27, 2009 - February 1, 2010. There is no

application process, just save your receipts for the eligible expenses. A new line will be incorporated in the 2009 personal income tax return to allow you to claim the credit.

Some examples of eligible and ineligible

expenditures include the following:

Eligible

Renovating a kitchen, bathroom or basement

New carpet or hardwood floors

Building an addition, garage, deck, garden/storage shed, fence

Re-shingling a roof

A new furnace, woodstove, boiler, fireplace, water softener or water heater

Painting of interior or exterior of a house

Window Coverings directly attached to the window frame and whose removal would alter the nature of the dwelling

Laying new sod

Swimming Pools (Permanent-in ground and above ground)

Fixtures—lights, fans, etc.

Associated costs such as permits, professional services, equipment rentals and incidental expenses

Ineligible

Furniture, appliances, and audio and visual electronics

Purchasing of tools

Cleaning carpets

House cleaning

Maintenance contracts (e.g. furnace cleaning, snow removal, and lawn care)

Financing costs

For more information please call

1-800-959-8281 or visit the Canada Revenue

Agency website at www.cra-arc.gc.ca

CONTACT INFORMATION

With Reverend Ray Cole and Jim Molloy—Veteran’s

Commemoration Award

WORKING FOR YOU!

Congratulations—Town of Bishop’s Falls

100th Anniversary Launch—January

I am most proud to be a lifelong resident of Bishop’s Falls and I was honoured to be part of the launch of the 100th Anniversary celebrations in January. Planning events for a full year to celebrate our history and culture is a major undertaking and I thank and commend the organizing committee, the volunteers, and all of those involved in these celebrations. There are many excellent events planned for our centennial and I encourage everyone to get out, participate and enjoy the celebration of our community.

Parliamentary Office

237 West Block

House of Commons

Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6 Phone: (613) 996-3935 Fax: (613) 996-7622 E-mail: simmssc@parl.gc.ca Gander Polaris Building 61 Elizabeth Drive Gander, NL A1V 1G4 Phone: (709) 256-3130 Toll Free: 1-877-256-3130 Fax: (709) 256-3169 E-mail: scottsimmsgander@nf.aibn.com

Grand Falls-Windsor 1A Pinsent Drive Grand Falls-Windsor, NL A2A 2S8 Phone: (709) 489-8470 Toll Free: 1-877-489-8470 Fax: (709) 489-8478 E-mail: scottsimmsgfw@nf.aibn.com Bonavista 1-866-663-2626

Leading Tickles Fire Department

Long Term Service Awards

Riding Photos

Ottawa Office—West Block

I hope you enjoy the pictures in this newsletter. With over 170 communities in the

riding, it is impossible to include them all. If you haven’t seen your community or

special citizens of your community in past newsletters, I invite you to submit com-

munity photos for consideration for future newsletters. I would be honoured to

include them. Please e-mail them to my Gander office.

Centenary Khilafat

Ahmadiyya - Grand Falls-

Windsor

With Dr. Mohamed Boodhun

and Dr. Ghulan Dogar at the

centenary event

Royal Canadian Legion

103 Search & Rescue Change of Command Parade

With Rodney - 103 Search and Recue Mascot With Major Stephen Reid - New Commanding Officer