February 9, 2018 – I have learned over the years that service takes many forms.
I began my career serving as an Air Force Officer in the Royal Canadian Armed Forces. I was proud to serve my country as an Officer, and in 2015 you gave me the opportunity to serve my country again, but this time as your Member of Parliament. A few months in to my term, I was honoured to have been asked to serve as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement.
As Parliamentary Secretary I enjoyed every minute of working on files like
Shared Services Canada, Canada Post, and Procurement Modernization. I am proud
to have served in this role, supporting the Hon. Judy Foote, but am now excited
to have been asked to serve in a different role.
Member of Standing Committee on National Defence
I am happy to announce my new role as a member of the Parliamentary Committee
on National Defence. In this role, I will be serving Canadians in a new way and
firmly believe this committee’s work is of the utmost importance at this time
in our nation’s history to ensure that Canada’s interests are represented both
at home and abroad.
Given recent changes on the world stage, Canada must stand strong. As many
nations are turning in and becoming both more populist and isolationist, Canada
must play to our strength of being an outward and open contributor to military
and economic alliances.
In March, as part of the Defence Committee I will be traveling to Washington
where the Canadian Defence Committee will meet with American Elected Officials
as well as military senior leaders at the Pentagon to discuss the ongoing
military relationship between our two countries. The United States is one of
Canada’s greatest defence allies and we want to ensure that this relationship
remains as strong as ever.
Executive Member of NATO Parliamentary Association
I look forward to visiting the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Headquarters in Brussels later this month as part of a delegation with the NATO
Parliamentary Association. Our delegation will meet with the Canadian
Ambassador to NATO, as well as political officials from NATO countries to
discuss NATO priorities, Canada’s role in the organization, and how it can be
strengthened.
NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance comprised of 28 member states.
NATO’s essential purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its
members through political and military means. The organization promotes
democratic values and encourages consultation and cooperation on defence and
security issues to build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict. NATO is
committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail,
it has the military capacity needed to undertake crisis-management operations.
Canada has been a proud member of NATO since the Alliance was founded almost 70
years ago. Canada is committed to promoting international peace and security,
responding internationally to today’s complex security challenges. The world
needs more Canada. Canada alone cannot solve the world’s greatest problems, but
together with our partners around the world, we can.
Contact Me!
In addition to my role on Defence Committee, and the NATO Parliamentary
Association, I am looking forward to the contributions that I can continue to
make not only for you, the people in my community, but also for Canadians
across the country.
As always, please feel free to reach out or visit my office should there be
anything you want to discuss. You can email: Leona.Alleslev@parl.gc.ca, phone:
905.773.8358, or drop by: 12820 Yonge St. Suite 202, Richmond Hill, ON L4E4H1.
Thank you!
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This article was made for The Auroran http://www.newspapers-online.com/auroran/?p=16505