Dear Mr. Harper, Please support my Bill C-562.
Dear Mr. Harper, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” You said those words, and I could not agree more. In May 2014, you committed Canada to spend $3.5 billion over five years, starting in 2015, to improve the health of…
Conservatives closed the prison farms, got it all wrong about the skills deficit in the economy
When the Prison Farms were closed in 2010, the Conservative government’s rationale was written down in a letter from Public Safety Minister, Vic Toews, to the House of Commons committee on Public Safety and National Security CSC has been gradually phasing…
Lifelong pension option for injured veterans instead of lump sum payments: reduces risk
Throughout the last Parliament, my Liberal Party colleagues and I have been advocating for the proper treatment of veterans, who have put themselves in harm’s way in the service of Canada. This is now continued with the Liberal Party’s promises…
Energy Retrofits: Instead of the Conservative plan to renovate million dollar homes, we could make old homes more affordable
Prime Minister Harper recently made an election promise to establish a home renovation tax credit. It has been rightly criticized for spending lots of money on people who are already well housed without government help. People who own million dollar…
Low income people breathe more than high income people too: Budget 2015 and the TFSA
(I want to thank an observant constituent who alerted me to this) Raising the TFSA contribution limit from $5,500 to $10,000 benefits wealthy people more. Budget 2015 uses a deceptive figure to hide that. The Conservatives have been quoting again and again a…
Veterans and mental health care – a guest post
Today’s guest post has some personal reflections by a mental health professional who treats veterans with PTSD here in Kingston and the Islands and knows the life, family, and community context in which this doctor and his/her clients work. After…
Response to letters on Canada's combat mission in Iraq
Thank you to all the constituents who wrote to me to express your thoughts on the Conservative Government’s motion in the House of Commons regarding air strikes against ISIL in Iraq. I received about 300 personally written letters and I…
Federal policy on affordable housing affects Kingston municipal election
The recently announced closure of The Gathering Place, a drop-in centre operated by the Salvation Army, was a hot topic of discussion at a recent all-candidates meeting in Kingston’s mayoral race. I want to point out that there is a…
Our tourism economy depends on efficient border control policies
On November 19, 2013, I asked the following question at the House of Commons Finance Committee: “U.S. tourists are very important for my riding of Kingston and the Islands… I have heard from one person who had a DUI conviction…
Checking if there are enough staff helping soldiers with mental health injuries
When a Canadian Forces member suffers serious illness or injuries, they are posted to a unit called the Joint Personnel Support Unit and assigned to be at an Integrated Personnel Support Centre (IPSC) in order to be treated, receive support,…
How does the Hamilton CCC half-way house closure affect Kingston?
Late last spring, an individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, first brought the closure of the Hamilton Community Correctional Centre to my attention. Specifically, good corrections practices recommends that offenders at the half-way house stage be near their communities of origin so…
How I will vote on the Reform Act, 2014 and why
MP Michael Chong’s revised “Reform Act, 2014”, Bill C-586, seeks to reduce the power of political party leaders, and loosen the leader’s control over the party’s MPs. I agree with this in principle. One good thing this bill does is…
Summer jobs: an important part of skills and training
It’s often useful to look south of the border for examples to learn from and apply in Canada. A recent article in the on-line journal Five Thirty Eight highlighted how summer jobs have been disappearing in the United States over decades. Research…
What’s next in choosing the next MP? A nomination contest!
My announcement last week that I will not seek re-election in 2015 was unanticipated by the community. While the decision was a family one, the short notice for its announcement allows for a level playing field for the people thinking…
I am choosing not to run for re-election in 2015
Since my election in 2011, it has been an honour and a privilege to serve my country and the people of Kingston and the Islands as your Member of Parliament. My original reason for entering political life still guides me:…
[redacted]
As an MP, one of my main responsibilities is holding the government to account. Ministers give instructions to their departments, and public servants follow these instructions. I may criticize Ministers when I have good reason to believe they could be…
Services for Aboriginal Families in Kingston after the Katarokwi Native Friendship Centre Closure
Yesterday (July 29, 2014) I had the opportunity to meet with federal government officials concerning the aftermath of the closure of the Katarokwi Native Friendship Centre. The Centre had been delivering two evidence-based federal programs, the Canadian Pre-natal Nutrition Program (CPNP)…
Can we make better use of the KP site by allowing tourists to visit?
Back in April I wrote Minister Stephen Blaney about the missed opportunity to re-open the Kingston Penitentiary site for tourism. It has been several months without a reply now and I thought we should publicly remind the minister that many…
Veterans Affairs Advertising – where was the sound economic management?
I responded to a letter from Minister of Veterans Affairs, Julian Fantino, to the Kingston Whig-Standard on Saturday, June 12: Here is what I wrote, published on July 15: Indeed, they had a choice, spend more money on advertising or spend…
Infrastructure funding falling into an abyss
Next week, on April 1, the 2014 Building Canada Fund will expire. The Harper Conservatives had the opportunity to put forward a plan for long-term, stable funding for municipal infrastructure. This is especially important because infrastructure projects require multi-year planning and substantial funding….
Happy Anniversary, #ygk
I use twitter a lot. I’ve found that it’s a great way to communicate with constituents from Ottawa, and it’s really helpful for sparking important discussions with constituents. That said, sometimes twitter can be a bit overwhelming: I follow over…
My Bill C-578: Completed apprenticeships are crucial for a skilled workforce
Yesterday I introduced my new bill, Bill C-578, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (removal of waiting period for apprentices). The intention behind the bill is simple: I want to make it easier for apprentices to finish their…
I am going to go without refined sugar in March
The World Health Organization has just published a draft guideline with the suggestion that not more than 5% of one’s calories come from sugars, as compared to the more conservative “recommendation” that not more then 10% of calories come from…
Promoting Kingston Tourism
Travel and tourism are critical to the Kingston and the Islands economy and youth employment. I was pleased to speak at a recent event in Kingston hosted by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and the Canadian Tourism Commission…
Environmental Charities Threatened by Government
The Harper government is again showing that it will let nothing — including Canada’s democratic traditions — stand in the way of its headlong pursuit of an economy based on fossil fuel extraction with little regard for sustainability. Some of…
Propane Shortage not my Problem: federal Minister of Natural Resources
Update: Here is an article from the New York Times about the U.S. situation: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/us/as-propane-prices-rise-worries-grow-for-millions-of-americans.html Permalink: http://nyti.ms/1g2SiwO Three things we could do to prepare for the next time this happens: 1) Local Storage: one person I know owns a large…
Science Infrastructure Needs Operational Funding: The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope
UPDATE:I had a chance to rise in the House and ask the Minister of Industry to provide this important operational funding: Science requires an investment in infrastructure to build research facilities, but it also requires ongoing operational funding for those…
Dropping a Russian flag on the North Pole didn't make it Russian territory and placing a maple leaf there doesn't make it Canadian Territory either
Justin Trudeau is on the side of scientists. Update: July 13, 2014: Here is another reason to do basic science research, to understand the country we live in, so that we’re not lacking crucial information needed to hold our own…
Countering Conservative claims with a real calculation on real data
Update: Thomas Kwon asks on Facebook why I did not ask the question in simpler terms. The answer is that the Government usually interprets Order Paper questions to minimize the information they have to give you. So I used mathematics…
Worried about Canada's economic future depending on a PR campaign
Canada is spending $40 million this year on advertising to portray Canada as a “stable and environmentally responsible source of energy”. Canada is regularly labelled as a world laggard in action on climate change and recently won a “Lifetime Unachievement…
Canada's race car in the world economy is in a year-long pit stop
November 7th, in Finance Committee, we learned that, while Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax credits are already being withdrawn, the direct grants to replace them won’t be rolled out until later next year. This is like Canada’s race car…
Checking the government’s numbers on taxes and spending
“…we want to see taxes lowered in this country. That is why they are now $3,000 lower for every Canadian family in this country.” Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Question Period, May 7, 2013. “Earlier today the Prime Minister claimed,…
City budget burdened by expiring Federal support for affordable housing
It’s the time of year for City Councillors to do the difficult but critical job of setting priorities and determining the municipal budget and possible property tax increases. The federal government’s lack of attention to affordable housing is making this…
The Harper/Senate Ethics Scandal
A lot of people have been asking me about the Harper/Senate ethics scandal. I certainly agree that has hurt the trust that Canadians need to have in their federal government and indeed in all politicians. Members of the Prime Minister’s Office and Senators are being investigated by the RCMP and…
Statement of MP Ted Hsu on the Retirement of the Hon. John Gerretsen, MPP for Kingston and the Islands
I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Honourable John Gerretsen for his dedicated service, stretching over four decades, to the people of Kingston and the Islands and to the people of Ontario as an elected representative. There are…
The Big Chill
Yesterday the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) released The Big Chill, a survey posed to their 15,398 science-based members, including federal scientists, researchers and engineers. The survey looked at the scale and impact of “muzzling” federal scientists, and…
Kingston Penitentiary to close its doors after 178 years
On Monday, September 30, 2013, Kingston Penitentiary will close its doors after 178 years of operation. I have already written about the problems arising from this unexpected closure and I have questioned the Conservative Party’s claims on the costs and…
Standing up for Science and Academic Freedoms
Last week, I was honoured to speak at the Stand Up for Science rally in Kingston, as well as to debate the subject of freedom of speech for government scientists with my Parliamentary colleagues on Power and Politics. I am…
Conservatives agree to freeze EI premiums
Today, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is announcing a three year freeze on increases in Employment Insurance premiums for both employers and employees. These premiums have been increasing yearly and I and the Liberal Party have been calling for just what…
Reading for Labour Day – from Liberal leader in the Senate, Senator Jim Cowan
On Labour Day 2013, I’d like to post the record from Hansard, April 16, 2013, a record of the speech by my colleague, Liberal Senate Leader, Senator Jim Cowan of Nova Scotia. Senator Cowan rose to speak to Bill C-377,…
My roles on the Liberal team in Ottawa this fall
The benefit of belonging to a political party in parliament is that working together as a team you can get much more done than working individually. I am happy to be working on the Liberal Party team. I have great…
Lake Ontario Park Re-Opening
Sunday, June 23, was the grand re-opening of Lake Ontario Park, which now features easy waterfront access, a new splash pad, a play structure, a beach volleyball court and a skating rink for the winter. I brought my daughters and joined the hundreds of…
House debate sparks experts to expose faulty government arguments on ELA
There was an excellent example recently of how true debate in the House of Commons should provide a fertile ground for the public to engage in and contribute to improved governance. The Society of Canadian Limnologists (scientists who study bodies…
Rideau Canal and Budget 2013 – an update
Background Funding cuts for the operation of the Rideau Canal were announced by Parks Canada in 2012. But the Rideau canal is a crucial piece of infrastructure for the Eastern Ontario tourism economy. Following an outcry, the cutbacks were scaled…
What if you are not satisfied with the answer you got in Question Period?
I am often asked, “Are you frustrated by the non-answers you sometimes get in Question Period?” Well, it turns out that there is actually a time, 30 minutes each day, when MPs can quiz the government for a longer period…
Why Liberals and Greens voted against the NDP climate change motion
On April 29, 2013, we voted on the following NDP opposition day motion which was debated the previous Thursday: Ms. Leslie (Halifax) — That this House: (a) agree with many Canadians and the International Energy Agency that there is grave…
Questioning Natural Resources Minister and staff on 2013-14 spending
I recently had the opportunity as the Liberal member of the Natural Resources Committee, to question Minister Joe Oliver and Ministry staff on their spending plans. Here are some videos of that session: Minister Joe Oliver Ministry Officials
Liberal position on NDP motion regarding Canada-China FIPA
Update: have a look at this article published September 17, 2014 http://www.macleans.ca/economy/economicanalysis/dont-fear-the-fipa/ The NDP Opposition Day motion of Thursday, April 18, is worded as follows: “That, in the opinion of this House, the government should inform the Government of the…
Electing House of Commons committee chairs instead of letting Party leaders have the power to appoint and dismiss them
I am pleased to have been the first MP to become a seconder of motion M-431 (see below). This motion proposes to have chairs of House of Commons committees be elected by a preferential ballot in the whole House, instead…
NRTEE: pretend it never happened?
Environment Minister Peter Kent is not only defunding the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, but taking measures to make records of its work over the last 25 years more difficult for the public to access, including wiping out…
Prison Overcrowding Town Hall and Petition
On March 16th I attended a town hall on Prison Overcrowding hosted by the Kingston and the Islands Federal Liberal Association. The discussion was very constructive and the 150 people in attendance drafted a petition, copies of which I will present in the House of Commons…
Of Oil Spills and Black Holes
Update 2 (March 19, 2013): I was recently asked to discuss this issue with the Blacklock’s Reporter Digest, you can read my comments from that interview here. Update (March 1, 2013): After I posted this blog, issuing a press release as…
Pending sale of former prison farm land: no information forthcoming from Correctional Service of Canada
Update March 26, 2014: The Government responded to my order paper question in the House of Commons. The purchaser was the Royal Kingston Curling Club. The price was $18,500. The closing date was October 31, 2013. A Notice of Intent…
Reducing taxpayer liability for offshore drilling and nuclear accidents
Canadian taxpayers may not realize it, but we are all collectively liable for billions of dollars in damages in the event of a major oil spill or a terrible accident at a nuclear power plant. http://youtu.be/SEqfJQYd5mw (link to video of my…
Skating at Market Square
My family and I took advantage of a sunny afternoon in Kingston to join skaters at Market Square. Photo Credit: Guillaume Nolet
Committing to the polluter-pay principle – I applaud Minister Joe Oliver.
Last week, the Harper government said that it will be raising the liability cap for offshore oil drilling. This is the maximum amount that a company drilling offshore need be liable for in an accident. (they could be liable for…
Senate Reform – asking Supreme Court to rule on constitutionality of unilateral action is right thing to do
Yesterday, Democratic Reform Minister Tim Uppal announced that the Harper government would be asking the Supreme Court to opine on the constitutionality of the government’s plan (bill C-7) for unilateral reform of how Senators are chosen, and to limit their…
Idle No More
Aboriginal Canadians do not share fully in Canada’s prosperity. That is clear from the poverty and powerlessness that has been there for us to see, and the broken promises we know from our history. But what is the source of…
Statement on becoming the Natural Resources critic for the Liberal Party
I am honoured to be asked by interim Liberal leader Bob Rae to take on the role of Natural Resources critic for the Liberal Party until the new leader is chosen in April. Pipelines, oil and gas, and climate change…
A small step towards defending the rights of elected MPs from the Government of the day
[update, March 25, 2013: I have found one other instance in which the House votes by secret ballot. When a private member’s motion is found by the Procedures and House Affairs committee to be non-votable, the Member may appeal to…
Minister Toews, I am reminded of this passage from the Gospels: "In truth I tell you, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury"
A story today from the CBC sheds some light on a recent story in the Kingston Whig Standard about inmates at Collins Bay Institution who, with their warden’s permission, donated their own money to the local food bank in a…
Let’s move on processing Record Suspension applications and reap the social and economic benefits
(see update with link to article in the Kingston Whig Standard at the bottom of this page) Canadians wait their turn in line. That’s what M., my constituent did, after applying for a record suspension for a 13 year old…
Should I have to resort to Twitter to get an answer for my constituents?
Yesterday, after getting the same story from two independent sources inside Correctional Services Canada (CSC), and no story from CSC officials who were not allowed to talk to me (they passed me on to the media relations people, who passed me on to…
Where will new jobs come from?
On October 24, 2012, I used a slot for member’s statements to congratulate Paul Webster, founder of a new company in Kingston and recipient of a grant from Ontario Centres of Excellence. Here is the text of my member’s statement…
Cutbacks to Prison Chaplaincy
The federal government has decided to eliminate all 49 part-time contracts for federal prison chaplains. This will not only reduce the number of chaplains, but will also have the effect of eliminating most non-Christian chaplains (79 of the remaining 80 full time…
Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement
Canadians have voiced significant concerns about the Canada-China Investment Agreement. It is clear that this foreign investment agreement is different from any previous ones that the Conservative government has signed. There is a provision in this agreement that allows the…
Support for Private Members’ Bill C-427 (Artist Income Tax Amendment)
PRESS RELEASE For immediate release MP Ted Hsu announces his support for Private Members’ Bill C-427 October 4, 2012 – MP Ted Hsu (Kingston and the Islands) is pleased to announce his support for Private Members’ Bill C-427, An Act…
Two more strong statements I'll stand by
This past week I made two strong statements that I’ll stand by. You can watch them here: http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=763942&playlistId=1.961599&binId=1.811563 One was in response to the war of words on parliament hill this week which started as soon as we got back…
My position on MP pensions
Today I issued a press release on my position regarding reforming MP pensions. In addition, in Question Period today, Liberal Party House leader, MP Marc Garneau, said that the Liberal Party would be willing to fast-track legislation to…
Trivia Night with Youth
Thank you to a group of youth in the riding who organized a fun night of trivia with questions on everything from Greek mythology to Justin Bieber! My wife Tara and I enjoyed the challenge and the opportunity to meet each of them.
Princess Street Promenade 2012
Princess Street was closed to vehicles for a day during the third annual Princess Street Promenade — an event where local businesses and organizations set up stalls, demonstrations, and fun activities. I took advantage of the opportunity to make myself…
Visiting the Queen's University Biological Station
Thanks to everybody at the Queen’s University Biological Station for their hospitality during my recent visit. Students were studying how human development affects bio-diversity and aquatic environments. Here their T.A. introduces me to a baby gray rat snake.
The 'Harper Government' again, really? …
Welcome Minister Nicholson, but in this riding we call it the ‘Government of Canada’, like Sir John A. Macdonald would, not the ‘Harper Government’. Media Advisory – Harper Government Will Make an Announcement About Culture in Kingston OTTAWA, July…
Happy Canada Day!
The Canada Day celebrations in front of City Hall offered a great opportunity to meet with constituents and, of course, celebrate our wonderful country.
High School Graduation Ceremonies
I attended three high school graduations this June at Bayridge, QECVI and LCVI. Seeing these students and their proud parents on such an important day is a very special experience. I was also able to present the new “Ted Hsu…
Veteran's Appreciation Day
A relatively new event in Kingston, Veteran’s Appreciation Day at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 560 was a fantastic way for me to talk to and learn from current and past members of the Canadian Forces.
Kingston Pride!
A very successful event promoting equality and diversity. I attended the Kingston Pride Parade with my family and was happy to speak about the importance of celebrating and embracing diversity in Canada.
Visiting Local Firefighters
Visiting local International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Workshop on Hazardous Materials for First Responders at the Fire Station on Gore Road
Successful first Facebook town hall discussion on funding for discovery research
This evening I talked online for two hours with over 50 researchers and we generated about 200 comments from across Canada. I hope it was useful to all participants and that they came away with some ideas on how we…
Discuss the 2012 federal budget!
Thursday at 4 pm, you can watch along with Members of Parliament as Conservative finance minister Jim Flaherty unveils his 2012 budget. To watch online, go to cpac.ca I have been working hard to prepare for this budget. Like many…
Visiting the India-Canada Heritage Day Celebration
Sunday March 25 marked the annual India-Canada Association Heritage Day celebration. An absolutely fabulous yearly event in Kingston and the Islands.
Nominations being Accepted for Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medals
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS! Nomination deadline EXTENDED to May 15, 2012 Jubilee Nomination Form February 6, 2012 marked the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne. To commemorate this historic occasion Canada created the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond…
Ted participates in SWITCH's Green Profit Conference and Exhibition
On Sunday March 18, Ted spoke to the participants of SWITCH’s Green Profit Conference and Exhibition. He also spent time speaking with individuals in attendance. More photos from this event taken by volunteers for SWITCH are available on Flikr here….
Why is this Conservative government against free speech for our tax-supported scientists?
First published in Kingston This Week and EMC, March 2012 Finding cures for deadly diseases, understanding weather patterns, protecting our rivers and lakes, slowing the pace of climate change — it all starts with science. Long before I was an…
Ted touring Kingston General Hospital
Ted tours KGH’s Human Mobility Research Centre and the Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Unit. Seen in first picture below is Paul St. John (Researcher), Leslee Thompson (CEO) and Ted Hsu in the Computer Aided Surgery Research Laboratory. …
The LOCAL View with Ted Hsu: Sustainable Cement
Tuesdays at 6pm and Wednesdays at 12:30 catch The LOCAL View with Ted Hsu. This month’s episode is about Cement 2020, a Lafarge initiative to find fuel solutions for making cement. The show also highlights local green initiatives by Burt’s…
The government says it needs to cut services. Does it make sense then to add 30 new MPs?
First published in Kingston This Week and EMC, March, 2012 Recently the Conservative government rushed through a bill that will add 30 new MPs to the House of Commons. While claiming this was necessary to maintain the democratic goal of…
New Queen's University Lions Club
Ted gives the Canadian Flag to the new charter Lions Club at Queens University. Receiving the flag is the newly installed president of the Lions Club Hilary Hung.
Harper’s government: Skip the debate, close the doors, we’ll tell you what you need to know.
Published first in EMC and Kingston This Week, February 2012 Because it’s not practical for 34 million Canadians to talk to the Prime Minister, you elect a member of Parliament to bring your concerns to your government. But when the…
Do you have a story about robo-calls or voter harassment during the 2011 election?
I invite you to contact the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections. As outlined in the Canada Elections Act, complaints pertaining to irregularities, fraud, or corrupt or illegal practices that affected the result of…
GreenCentre: a home-grown model for unlocking the value of Canadian basic research
The following was published in the February 27, 2012 issue of The Hill Times: Canada faces an urgent challenge to increase the productivity of its workforce in the face of demographic shifts, budgetary pressures, and international competition. One weak link is…
Ted tours Kingston Home Base Housing
Ted tours Kingston Home Base Housing. Here he is seen at Lily’s Place, which received a donation of a hot water heat recovery system. From left to right is Justin Potts of Lyman Potts Construction, Ted Hsu, Tom Greening, Nicki…
Homeowners, local businesses, environment – all losers under this Conservative government
Published first in EMC and Kingston This Week, February 2012 The Conservative government has once again brought the Eco- ENERGY Retrofit program to a sudden halt. This popular program — which offered homeowners grants of up to $5,000 to make…
Affected by the Conservatives' changes to Old Age Security: Municipal property tax programs for seniors
I’m about to pay my City of Kingston 2012 interim property tax bill and noticed three programs to help low income seniors manage their property tax bills — the Seniors Property Tax Grant Program, Tax Deferral Program, and Tax Increase…
Parliamentary procedure serving Canadians: Liberal-Green cooperation in the House
Why is the Liberal Party working with the Green Party on amendments to delay by a few hours the copyright bill C-11 and the refugee and immigration bill C-31? On Tuesday night in the House of Commons we voted on…
An unexpected difference in voting between the NDP and Liberals: re-naming a national park
Private Member’s Bill C-370 proposes to rename St. Lawrence Islands National Park to Thousand Islands National Park. The rationale for this is that Thousand Islands is a much more recognized international brand which would attract more tourism business to the…
Pitch-In Kingston 2013
Thanks to all who joined me and my team on April 26 as we worked at Shannon Park during this year’s Pitch-In Kingston event.
Too much manufactured indignation in the House of Commons
Manufactured indignation takes away from the authenticity and honest clash of ideas and arguments that should be the purpose of debate in Parliament. Here is the worst example I’ve personally witnessed of how certain MPs are all too ready to score a political point by…
Some thoughts on the recent sex work legislation
Prostitution itself has been legal in Canada since the criminal code came into force in 1892. But certain activities around prostitution have been illegal. Regardless of Canadians’ moral views on prostitution, the Supreme Court’s recent instruction to Parliament in its…