With
summer fast approaching, I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy
summer. I hope to see many of you at the Highland Creek Heritage Parade
and Festival in June and at my upcoming community picnic on August 10th.
Brenda
Martin
Over a
year ago I raised the case in the House of Commons of Brenda Martin, a
Canadian who had been jailed without conviction in a maximum-security
prison in Mexico for almost two years. In April of this year, Ms. Martin
was convicted and sentenced by a Mexican court. After a prisoner
transfer to Canada, Ms. Martin was recently released on parole from the
Grand Valley Institute in Kitchener.
While I
and many other concerned Canadians are thankful that Ms. Martin is home
now, it is my belief that Brenda Martin’s government abandoned her for
much of the two years she was incarcerated in Mexico. Furthermore, the
Government of Canada also bungled any effort to pressure Mexico for her
release prior to her conviction in Mexico. The fact that she was
convicted makes it very clear that the lack of evidence against Ms.
Martin couldn’t overcome the need to cover up the farce of the
prosecution’s case in Mexico against her. Ms. Martin was used as a pawn
in a judicial fraud that was abetted by the gross inaction of the
Canadian government. It was only when growing media attention and public
pressure forced the Government to at least pay lip service to the case
that anything was done to assist Ms. Martin.
Gasoline
With
the anticipated summer travel season approaching, the rising price of
gasoline is certain to be a major issue for all Canadians. Currently,
oil companies are reaping record profits at the expense of consumers who
are forced to pay prices far above market value. It is my belief that
market speculators, not the forces of supply and demand, are driving up
the price of oil. In fact, demand for gas is down 7 per cent in North
America, which should result in a drop in price at the pump, yet oil
prices are still spiking.
Gas
companies continue to pass on to consumers bloated prices at the pump
because of a severe lack of competition in the industry and a reduction
in the number of refinery plants in North America. Because of their
oligopoly the major distributors of gasoline in Canada are able to set
prices, leaving Canadians with few options. With hard working Canadians
suffering the economic consequences of this anti-competitive market,
it's important for Ottawa to work together and change the Competition
Act.
It is
my belief that the price of gasoline will eventually go down because the
world economy cannot survive these kinds of shocks. Furthermore, if the
U.S. economy worsens, oil demand drops and speculators desert the oil
market- motorists may be in for a break.
I
encourage you all to visit my website daily at http://www.mcteague.ca,
where I post tomorrow’s gas prices today.
Keep in
Touch!
Please
do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions or concerns
relating to the federal government.
I also
encourage all constituents to visit me in Ottawa and take a tour of the
Parliament Buildings
