IN TOUCH WITH MP EARL DREESHEN

MEETINGS

January 23, 2009

Since prorogation, I have been busy meeting with constituents, community organizations and the municipalities.  Many people have called in wanting to meet with the new MP to discuss their issues and I wanted to formally introduce myself to community stakeholders and learn about their issues and needs.  All the meetings, tours and consultations have kept me very busy.  I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to write in, call into the office or come in and meet with me to share their ideas and views; it is greatly appreciated and helpful.

My January schedule typically had me working in Red Deer on Mondays and meeting with constituents.  I would fly to Ottawa on Tuesday, work and participate in Caucus meetings on Wednesday and then return home late on Thursday.  On Friday I would be back at work meeting with constituents and visiting community organizations.  On the weekends I would attend events happening in the riding.  

Over the past month I have toured the Nova plant at Joffre, Red Deer College, the Service Canada Centre, met with City and Town councils, met with many community organizations, social services and individuals.  There are many more organizations, councils and people I would like to meet with and over the next few months I hope to arrange more visits.

The Government has consulted widely in preparing the budget and I have had a number of opportunities to relay Central Alberta’s concerns and needs to the Minister of Finance and his staff.  The next few weeks in Ottawa will be very interesting and I hope that all Parliamentarians will rise to the occasion and work hard to deal with the issues our country faces.

I will be giving my first speech in the House of Commons soon and it will be on the budget.  I do not know what day yet, but I will keep you appraised.  In next week’s In Touch I will talk about the budget and the reaction in Ottawa.

Please note: For organizations interested in hiring summer students there will be an employer information session about the Canada Summer Jobs program at 11 AM on February 4th at the Red Deer Service Canada Centre, located on 2nd Floor of First Red Deer Place, 4911-51 Street, Red Deer.

Until next time. . .

Earl Dreeshen, MP
Red Deer