Since Tuesday, the neighborhood of Vanier now has a new electronic community board at the corner of Montreal Road and the Vanier Parkway! This digital resource will keep residents informed about local events, available services, and important community updates. A great initiative to foster communication and engagement. 

On Wednesday, we proudly celebrated Franco-Ontarian Day! I had the honor of marking this occasion alongside Minister Randy Boissonnault, the Mayor of Ottawa Mark Sutcliffe, MPP Lucille Collard, City Councillor Stéphanie Plante, and Commander Jean-Philippe Perron from the Ontario Provincial Police. Together, we proudly raised the Franco-Ontarian flag at the Francophone Square, joined by many community members. A big thank you to the volunteers from the Vanier Community Association's Francophonie Committee for organizing an engaging and fun activity to highlight the francophone culture of Ottawa

This week, I also met with Francophone organizations to get a sense of our ongoing efforts to protect and promote linguistic duality and Francophonie at home, by meeting with representatives from the Réseau pour le développement de l'alphabétisme et des compétences (RESDAC) and the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne (ACUFC). We discussed the challenges these organizations face and our plan to protect and promote linguistic duality and francophone culture here in Ottawa-Vanier and across Canada.

Friday morning, I took part in panel alongside other federal MPs as part of a new segment that will air every Friday morning on the show Les matins d'ici on Radio-Canada 90.7 FM. I invite you to listen to the interview in French through the following link: here! (Please not that this interview is available in French only)

Next Monday, September 30, we will mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is a day dedicated to the memory of the children who never returned home and a time to express our solidarity with Survivors, families, and communities affected by the legacy of residential schools. True reconciliation requires understanding the past and a respectful partnership with Indigenous peoples. Our government is committed to implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, of which 85% are completed or underway. Among our recent initiatives, we have advanced the creation of the National Council for Reconciliation, supported the search for unmarked graves, and improved the well-being of First Nations children. We continue this work with determination, day by day, to ensure accountability, healing, and education for all Canadians.

To mark this important day, a commemorative service will be held at Beechwood Cemetery starting at 2 p.m. There will be a screening of the short film Spirit Bear: Echoes of the Past in the sacred space of the Beechwood National Memorial Centre. Following the screening, visitors will be invited to participate in a 45-minute reconciliation tour, where they can learn more about historical figures involved in the Indian residential school system while discovering the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

You can find more information here.

Wishing you an excellent weekend!

The Government of Canada launches Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate

Minister LeBlanc launched the new Canada Community Security Program (CCSP) and announced that the program will open a call for proposals for eligible organizations as of October 1^st, 2024.   

Under the CCSP: 

• Eligibility for funding has expanded to include office and administrative spaces, cemeteries, and childcare centres. 
• Funding for time-limited third-party licensed security personnel is now eligible. 
• Up to 70% of a project’s eligible costs may be covered, an increase from 50% of the cost under the SIP. 
• The maximum level – or stacking limit – of total government assistance (across federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal sources) has been removed, which opens up more opportunities for organizations to apply for other sources of funding. 
• Application requirements have been changed to reduce administrative barriers. 
• Organizations can apply for funding at any time throughout the year through a continuous intake application process. 

Our government has listened to organizations and partners and has designed the CCSP to be more responsive to community needs and provide more flexibility to organizations seeking financial support.  

Organizations interested in staying informed about the upcoming CCSP Call for Applications are encouraged to subscribe to the National Crime Prevention Strategy mailing list. 

To learn more about the Action Plan on Combatting Hate, click here 

National Capital Region — On October 1, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and the National Capital Commission (NCC) will launch public consultations to seek input on proposed design concepts for the replacement of the Alexandra Bridge.  

The Alexandra Bridge has been an iconic feature of the Ottawa-Gatineau skyline for over 120 years. The bridge has reached the end of its service life and has to be replaced. 

PSPC is leading the bridge replacement project. The NCC, as part of an integrated project team, is leading a comprehensive engagement process, as well as many studies on this project. On October 1, the NCC Board of Directors will receive an update on the project, including a presentation of the proposed design concepts that will be shared for public consultation.  

For this second round of public consultations, partners, stakeholders and the public will have an opportunity to learn more about the process and provide feedback on various elements of the proposed design concepts. The comments will inform the project team as they further refine the design concepts. 

Online public consultation will take place from October 1 to 24. The integrated project team will also welcome members of the public at two open house events: 

• Wednesday, October 2, 2024 

4 pm to 9 pm 
River View Salon  
Canadian Museum of History 
Gatineau, Quebec 

• Thursday, October 3, 2024  

4 pm to 9 pm 
Gatineau Salon
Shaw Centre
Ottawa, Ontario 

LINKS

• Link to open-house calendar events
• NCC’s Alexandra Bridge Replacement Project 
• PSPC Alexandra Bridge Replacement Project