This week Parliament is rising after a productive winter session. Thanks to strong leadership from Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative Government, Canadian families are seeing real results.

Canadian families are safer. The Tackling Violent Crime Act¸ a Conservative Bill that will impose mandatory minimum sentences on gun criminals, keep repeat violent and sexual offenders behind bars and protect children by raising the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16 is now law. This was a key confidence measure. The Stéphane Dion Liberals in the Senate reluctantly helped pass this Conservative Bill.

The Canadian economy is now on a responsible and prudent course. Budget 2008; a balanced budget which provides Canadians with a powerful new way to save through Tax Free Savings Accounts and which pays down more than $10 billion in debt was approved by the House of Commons.

The Canadian forces serving in Afghanistan now have the clear support of Parliament. A consensus motion extending the military mission in Afghanistan to 2011 was passed last week.

The Conservative Government announced a real greenhouse gas reduction plan, the first to ever include mandatory emission reduction targets. The NDP opposed the Conservative plan by introducing a non-confidence motion on the environment.

I’m proud of our accomplishments this Winter Session. Of course there is more to be done and I can assure you this Government is determined to work with the other parties to get things done in the interests of Canadians. I look forward to the return of Parliament in the spring, but in the mean time I will be here in the riding, working for constituents. I’d like to conclude by wishing everyone in SDSG a happy Easter.