Mona Fortier

August 30, 2024

A word from you MP

Dear residents,

I want to start by thanking everyone who participated in my community BBQ last Saturday. I sincerely appreciated the conversations and exchanges with community members who were present, and I also want to thank all the partners and community organizations, including the Eastview Legion, the Public Health Agency, the Ottawa Police and Fire Services, the Titans baseball team, Hospice Care Ottawa, Centre Espoir Sophie, BGC Ottawa, Burundi we want, Colleges & Institutes Canada, and the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre, who were there to share their services with the community. I would also like to thank City Councillors Rawlson King and Tim Tierney, as well as MPP Lucille Collard. And a big thank you to my team and the volunteers who made this event a great success.

On Monday, I attended the funeral of Marlene Catterall, former MP for Ottawa West-Nepean, who passed away on August 12th. As the first woman to serve as Chief Government Whip, she played a crucial role in opening doors for women in politics like myself and in promoting equality. Thanks to her, the Famous Five are honored with a monument on Parliament Hill. Her loss leaves a tremendous void, as she was an inspiring pioneer for our community. I once again offer my sincere condolences to her family and loved ones.

On Wednesday morning, in the presence of the Honourable Minister Randy Boissonneault and Marie-France Lalonde, MP for Orléans, we announced an investment of over $18.3 million to support the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française (FCCF) and the Fédération jeunesse canadienne-française (FJCF) and their programs PassepART, La Ruchée, ImmersART, and Vice-Versa. Thanks to this support, Francophone schools and community organizations will be able to offer a wide range of cultural, artistic, and social activities to young people, thereby strengthening their sense of belonging to the Francophone community while fostering their personal and academic development.

On Wednesday evening, I visited the Ottawa New Edinburgh Club (ONEC) to meet one of their six employees hired through the Canada Summer Jobs program. He shared his valuable experiences with me, and I also had the opportunity to hear about the positive impact the Canada Summer Jobs program has had on their club.

During my visit to the ONEC, I was invited to their celebration for new Canadian citizens who completed the "Learn to Row" program, a wonderful initiative in collaboration with Rowing Canada! Alongside Councillor Rawlson King, we presented certificates of completion to these new Canadians. It was a beautiful celebration, where many participants brought dishes from their home countries, surrounded by their family and friends, making for a warm and moving evening.

I met with the Vanier Community Service Centre to discuss current issues and ongoing projects. At the same time, I had the privilege of meeting Peter, a young employee and recipient of the Canada Summer Jobs program, who works as a communications officer. It's always rewarding to hear directly about the success that programs like Canada Summer Jobs bring to our community, its members, as well as the businesses and organizations that make up Ottawa-Vanier.

On Thursday morning, I was in Wateridge Village, alongside Minister Jenna Sudds, MP for Kanata-Carleton, and Yasir Naqvi, MP for Ottawa Centre, where we announced the plan to build housing on public lands, which will add 495 new housing units in Ottawa-Vanier's Wateridge Village. These homes will be accessible and affordable, creating communities where families can thrive. Additionally, we are unlocking underutilized public lands in Ottawa and across Canada to address the housing crisis. The goal is to build 250,000 homes by 2031. Already, 56 sites, approximately 305 hectares—the equivalent of 2,000 hockey rinks—have been identified for this development, and we will continue to unlock more.

Before I conclude, I want to wish all children and youth a great start to the new school year and strongly encourage community members to be extra vigilant on the roads and near school zones.

Finally, I wish you all a wonderful long weekend.

Minister Miller announces new Francophone Students Minority Communities pilot program and 10 New Welcoming Francophone Communities

Francophone immigration plays a critical role in strengthening local economies and building up French-speaking minority communities across the country. It’s why today, Minister Miller announced a new Pilot Program for Students in Francophone Minority Communities, as well as the addition of ten new communities to the Welcoming Francophone Communities Initiative.

The new Pilot Program, launching on August 26, 2024, will help ensure that the Canadian International Student Program is more equitable for international students from Francophone countries with low study permit approval rates destined for eligible Designated Learning Institutions, while also promoting Francophone immigration outside of Quebec.

Welcoming Francophone Communities Initiative - ten additional Francophone host communities

Earlier this year, Minister Miller announced the renewal and expansion of the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative. We are happy to share that 10 new communities will be joining the initiative, in addition to the 14 existing communities whose contribution agreement was recently renewed in order to expand the range of services available to French-speaking newcomers and help them settle and build their new lives in Canada.

Click here to learn more about these announcements.

Government of Canada launches call for proposals for community projects to help seniors

Canadians deserve to age with dignity. That comes down to choice, to affordability, to inclusion, and to community. For 20 years, the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) has helped the Government of Canada deliver on that promise to Canadian seniors by supporting those organizations working to make their lives better.

The government launched the 2024–25 call for proposals for community-based projects through the NHSP.

Organizations can apply for funding to deliver projects that will help seniors be more connected and active members of their communities. Organizations are encouraged to reflect the four national priorities for this cycle as part of their projects:

supporting healthy aging;
preventing senior abuse;
celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion; and
supporting financial security.

The NHSP funds a wide variety of projects, such as online computer classes, financial literacy and fraud prevention education, meal deliveries, and the purchase of equipment to help keep seniors informed, connected and engaged.

The call for proposals is open until September 12, 2024. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications electronically on the Grants and Contributions Online Services portal. Creating an account is a one-time process that allows organizations to apply for various Employment and Social Development Canada funding opportunities in a secure web environment. Organizations serving seniors can access support to prepare their application by contacting their nearest NHSP office. For details on how to apply, visit https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/new-horizons-seniors.html.

In the community