As we head in to the final days of the fall session of Parliament, I’d like to alert you to a “good news” items.
The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) have signed a memorandum of understanding to make Canada more prosperous by supporting the growth and competitiveness of Canadian businesses in world markets.

The announcement directly and positively affects the Kelowna BDC office extending for 5 years the BDC’s working relationship with DFAIT to help our local agriculture, industrial and technology sectors find new market opportunities abroad.

The memorandum of understanding will facilitate the sharing of information about global markets and enable BDC and DFAIT to collaborate more closely on joint marketing initiatives.

BDC clients will benefit with targeted information about leads and international opportunities and will receive more personalized assistance with their overseas business planning and operations.

If you are interested in obtaining more information you can e-mail Trade Commissioner Harvey Ribalkin at Harvey.ribalkin@international.gc.ca.
It’s good news and just one more way the government is working to help local businesses succeed.

Whether its infrastructure, skills training, housing, arts and culture or our very own passport office, our riding has worked closely with the federal government to obtain some important funding.

With a great track record of cooperation between all three levels of government, our business and education sectors, our entrepreneurs and our support and volunteer agencies, we have a recipe for ongoing success and growth.

More importantly, it’s evidence that our community is hard at work, staying optimistic and keeping the local economy on track.
I encourage you to go to www.cannan.ca to look at the Year in Review and see for yourself.

On another note, another good news announcement this week about funding for Project Literacy Kelowna and its Esteem program created a bit of controversy when it was learned that Project Literacy Kelowna is barely keeping its head above water.  While the funding was good news for the Esteem program, which helps young people gain the skills they need to move into the job market, a shortfall in provincial funding has put the organization’s adult literacy programs in jeopardy.

Non-profit organizations like Project Literacy Kelowna provide valuable services to our community but must rely on several different sources for funding including the United Way and private sector support.  While the federal government will continue to offer support through program funding, we need to rally as a community to help fill the void left by the shortfall.  Anyone considering a fundraiser might think of sponsoring Project Literacy Kelowna.  It’s the kind of organization we need here in our community and I encourage anyone who thinks they can help out to do so.  Please contact me.  I’d love to help you.

This is the last column I’ll be posting before the holidays.  I’ll be available to meet with constituents next week and in January.  No doubt I’ll see many of you around the riding before we all take some time for Christmas. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you feel there is anything I can do to help.  I look forward to hearing from you and working with you in the New Year to continue to make our communities all that they can be.  As always, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you.  From my family to yours, Merry Christmas and the best in 2011.

Ron Cannan is the MP for Kelowna-Lake Country.  If any of you have any questions or comments on federally-related matters, please contact Ron at ron@cannan.ca or by phone at 470-5075.