Congratulations to the Ranchlands Community Association volunteers and sponsors who once again put on a fantastic Stampede Parade and Breakfast! Much fun was had by all.

Hon. Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State for Seniors, seated on the left, was in Prince Edward Island Tuesday to meet with members of the Prince Edward Island Senior Citizens' Federation to discuss issues important to island seniors. Shown with the Minister are Eric Hammill, seated, president of the Federation, as well as, standing from the left, Robert Rose, Corena Gairns, Susan Birt, and Linda Jean Nicholson, executive director of the Federation.

The Hon. Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State for Seniors, visited computer and spanish classes at Creative Retirement Manitoba with present Margaret Steele.

Thanks to an increased investment by the Government of Canada in the Canada Research Chairs program, Canada will strengthen its position as a world leader in university research and development, which will lead to greater economic opportunities for Canadians. The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Seniors), today announced the Government of Canada is investing $10.1 million to support 13 Canada Research Chairs in Alberta.

“The Canada Research Chairs program is helping our universities develop, attract and retain talented people. This strengthens our capacity for leading-edge research, which builds economic opportunities for Canadians, now and in the future,” said Minister of State Ablonczy. “The funding provided by programs like this allows Canada to remain the leader among G7 countries for support of higher education research and development and overall contributes to a high standard of living and quality of life for Canadians.”

Today’s event at the University of Calgary highlighted the following renewed Canada Research Chairs:

• Dr. David Schriemer, Canada Research Chair in the field of chemical biology; and

• Dr. James D. McGhee, Canada Research Chair in Developmental Biology.

These renewed Canada Research Chairs are part of a total of $165.5 million in funding for 187 Canada Research Chairs newly awarded or renewed at 44 Canadian universities announced today by the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology). The funding announced includes $8.8 million from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for research infrastructure.

“This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Canada Research Chairs program,” said Chad Gaffield, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and Head of the Canada Research Chairs program steering committee. “For the past decade, the program has been integral in funding research excellence in Canada by recruiting and retaining renowned international experts at Canadian universities. The program enables our universities to create the necessary environment for groundbreaking research and to offer first-class learning and training experiences to graduate students, thereby preparing them to become the next generation of world-class leaders in all sectors of society.”

“An innovative society depends on innovative people,” said Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO of the CFI. “The partnership between the CFI and the Canada Research Chairs program helps ensure that Canada preserves its most critical resource in the knowledge economy — intellectual capital. The advancements and discoveries made by these researchers will have a real and lasting impact on the lives of all Canadians.”

“Today’s announcement is another example of the Government of Canada’s strong support for research and a recognition of the important role universities play in driving the economy through innovation and a highly trained work force,” said Dr. Warren Veale, interim President, University of Calgary. “Programs such as the Canada Research Chairs program are critical to ensuring the University of Calgary continues to be among the country’s leading research-intensive institutions.”

A full list of the 187 chairholders is available on the Canada Research Chairs website (www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/chairholders-titulaires/index-eng.aspx).

Today in Ottawa, Diane Ablonczy had the opportunity to meet her constituent, 12-year-old Preetha Gopalakrishnan, winner of the Calgary Herald Regional Spelling Bee. Preetha is in Ottawa from March 24-29 to compete at the 2010 Canwest Canspell National Spelling Bee.

There are a number of exciting tours and activities planned for Preetha and the 20 other young spellers from across Canada who will be in Ottawa to compete for the national title, including visits to the War Museum, the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, a tour of the RCMP Rockcliffe Stables and a  Senators hockey game.     

In addition, this afternoon, Preetha and the 20 other national bee finalists toured Parliament Hill and had the opportunity to sit in the public galleries during Question Period. 

Canwest Canspell is a free, grassroots initiative designed to engage middle school students (Grades 4-8) by celebrating excellence in academic achievement and encouraging positive study habits.  In 2010, Canspell engaged thousands of schools from St. John’s to Victoria with some 250,000 students registered at the entry level to compete in school, regional, and national competitions.

Congratulations and good luck Preetha! 

Government of Canada helps foreign-trained professionals find work in environmental sector

CALGARY, ALBERTA, February 10, 2010—The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament for Calgary–Nose Hill, announced today, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, that the Government of Canada is supporting a project to help better integrate foreign‑trained workers into the Canadian workforce through an initiative with the environmental sector.

The Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada) will receive $1,294,865 in Foreign Credential Recognition Program funding for its Environmental Sector Immigration Strategy.

“Our government is committed to helping newcomers succeed in Canada,” said Minister of State Ablonczy. “Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is taking action to improve foreign credential recognition so that newcomers can maximize their talents. We are proud to support ECO Canada’s Environmental Sector Immigration Strategy, because attracting the best international talent is vital to Canada’s long-term economic success.”

The funding will enable ECO Canada to create an assessment and job matching system that will help foreign-trained workers to find jobs in the environmental sector. This system will place skilled immigrants in areas with the highest demand, and will enhance their employment opportunities in Canada.

“ECO Canada is pleased to be part of this project as it aligns with our mandate of ensuring a sufficient supply of skilled professionals to address the labour requirements of the Canadian environmental sector,” said Mr. Grant Trump, President and Chief Executive Officer, ECO Canada. “The Bridging component of this project provides an effective vehicle to link the environment sector’s labour market demands with competent immigrants arriving in Canada with environmentally related education and experience.”

Canada’s Economic Action Plan invested $50 million to work with the provinces and territories and other partners, such as employers, to address barriers to foreign credential recognition in Canada. This investment directly contributed to the development of the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, which was announced last November.

Under the Framework, foreign-trained workers who submit an application to be licensed or registered to work in certain fields will be advised within one year whether their qualifications will be recognized. TheFramework is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to have the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world.

With this $50-million investment, the Government will:

• develop the principles that will guide the process of foreign credential recognition;
• develop standards for the timely handling of requests;
• identify key occupations that will be the priority for developing recognition standards; and
• help people who want to come to Canada understand what they need to know before they arrive.

The Foreign Credential Recognition Program and the Foreign Credentials Referral Office are the key federal initiatives in place to support pan-Canadian implementation of the Framework.

To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.