It has been a very busy summer. As Minister of National Defence, I had the opportunity to announce a number of military equipment acquisitions and the establishment of new military organizations. As you know, our government committed to rebuilding the Canadian Forces in the last election and the announcements over the last year and a half have certainly started the military on the road to recovery. I am very pleased with the support I received from the Prime Minister and Cabinet that allowed me to accomplish so much in such a short time.

On the 14th of August the Prime Minister appointed me the Minister of National Revenue. This is a new challenge. With more than 40,000 employees and the responsibility for processing federal tax and most provincial taxes, it provides governments with the revenues they need to deliver services to all Canadians. As Minister, my interests lie on both sides of the revenue issue. The Department must do its job efficiently because governments need the taxes. However in securing taxes, the Department must also ensure that the taxpayer whether individual or corporation is treated fairly and timely. I will do my best to ensure that both criteria are met.

Our government has been quite active in implementing the program laid out in the Throne Speech of 2006 as well as Budgets 2006 and 2007. A large number of the initiatives have been completed or are currently being implemented. Given that we are nearly half way through our current mandate, the Prime Minister has decided that there is a need to re-focus our efforts over the next period to ensure that we accomplish what we said we would do as well as addressing other evolving issues. Accordingly, he has prorogued the current parliament and will have a new throne speech delivered by the Governor General on 16 Oct 2007. This speech will guide our government in developing new legislation and delivering services to Canadians.

During the summer I held a number of “In Your Area Days” throughout the constituency, which gave constituents an opportunity to express their opinions on issues of concern to them. As well, I attended the Almonte, Richmond and Carp fairs among a number of other events that allowed me to meet a large number of you face to face.

I look forward to the new parliamentary session, which I expect to be quite active.

Please contact my office at (613) 592-3469 or by e-mail at mp@gordonoconnor.ca if you have any comments or questions for me.

Gordon O’Connor, PC, MP
Carleton-Mississippi Mills
mpmedia.xpr.ca