Over the last few months, a community group in Saskatoon has been campaigning to raise awareness about issues involving prostitution and exploited women and children.

Drawing attention to the evils of prostitution is especially timely now, considering that Canada`s prostitution laws are being challenged in court.

I oppose striking down any of Canada’s prostitution laws. But I’m actually glad these court challenges are going ahead.  Currently, our laws are an odd patchwork that doesn’t technically outlaw prostitution, just everything involved with prostitution.  The federal government needs to directly ban prostitution. We then need to develop a strategy that helps those people who feel trapped and are unable to leave this lifestyle.

One way to judge a society is by the way that it treats its weakest and most vulnerable.  Prostitution is a nasty business. Those caught up in it almost always want to find a way out.  We, as members of the greater Canadian society, owe them that way out.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.

One common stereotype in politics is that Conservatives and unions don’t get along. Even though certain unions are strongly opposed to the Conservative government, I think people would be surprised how often many Conservative MPs work side by side with unions on a variety of issues.

Take the AFL-CIO and pipelines, for example. A couple of weeks ago, representatives from the AFL-CIO were before my committee (Natural Resources). The Union reps were arguing for pipelines to be built so that our oil exports can increase. The AFL-CIO wants good jobs for its members. The union sees the Conservatives’ support for pipelines as a way to secure good, high-paying jobs.

But the AFL-CIO isn’t the only union I’ve worked with: the Teamsters, Police and Firefighter unions have also had proposals that I have supported because they make for a better, stronger Canada.

It doesn’t matter where an idea comes from—business, labour or coffee row. It just matters that it’s a good idea, and that we get it done.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.

Last week, my colleague James Bezan (Conservative MP from Manitoba) introduced Private Member’s Bill C-478, the Respecting Families of Murdered and Brutalized Persons Act.

This legislation would strengthen the criminal justice system by restricting parole eligibility for some violent murderers. This bill concerns murders that occur in the context of a kidnapping, abduction or sexual offence committed against the murder victim. Under these circumstances, offenders would not be eligible for parole for at least 25 years. C-478 will also give a judge the discretion to replace the current 25 year parole ineligibility with a longer period of up to 40 years.

These extra 15 years should give families more peace before they have to relive the trauma and confront their loved one’s murderer at a parole hearing.

Even though C-478 is not a government bill, the proposed legislation is in keeping with the Conservative’s Plan for Safe Streets and Communities. This Plan focuses on tackling crime, victims’ rights, and fair and efficient justice, all of which are strengthened by this bill.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.

One of the tasks that MP offices do on a regular basis is answer correspondence. We get everything from dense, 30 page briefs (dealing with supposed faults of the government) to short one line e-mails expressing opinions on the issue of the day.

While we try to do our best with every piece of correspondence, there are a few things that you can do to help us do our job.

First be clear: Know what you are writing about and express it in a few short paragraphs.  When our office receives e-mails, it is helpful when two subjects are not mixed up in the same sentence or paragraph.

Second, be direct on your Ask: Do you want me to write back? Are you trying to get me to vote for or against a specific bill? Sometimes, incoming letters are so general in nature that we send them back, asking the writer for clarification.

These little tips will help us help you when you contact my office.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.

The funeral of Margaret Thatcher has been in the news recently, and her legacy has been debated by friends and foes alike. But whether you loved or hated her, people agree: the decisions that she made as Prime Minister were driven by her deep conviction of what was right for her country.

Thatcher didn’t take an opinion poll to decide what her economic policy should be for Britain. She never used a focus group to decide to go to war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands.

It’s fashionable to attack other politicians for being ideologues — criticizing people for having deep principled beliefs. But I think the world is better served by Thatcher-like politicians on both the left and the right. That is, politicians who are leaders, politicians who have ideals and try to implement them. Politics is at its best when it’s about choice and vision. The world needs more Margaret Thatchers.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.

In late February, I introduced a motion in the House of Commons called Motion 431. M-431, if passed, will require Members of Parliament, who serve as the chairs on parliamentary committees, to be elected by their fellow MPs in the House of Commons.

This may not seem like a big deal. However, M-431 will allow a greater number of Members of Parliament to be more independent. In addition, the election of parliamentary committee chairs would also make MPs more accountable to each other.  The reason why NDP and Liberal MPs are supporting my motion (along with many of my fellow Conservatives,) is because we believe that Canadians elected us in a democratic fashion. And, as your representatives in Ottawa, we should operate that way in Parliament.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.

It’s not just the general public who gets irritated with the Senate. Members of Parliament, who sit in the House of Commons, also have their gripes with the Senate too.

While the press gets worked up about spending irregularities, MPs are more concerned with some of the undemocratic practices of what we call the “Other Place.”

Consider two Private Members Bills: one helps libraries keep mailing costs down; the other concerns breast cancer screening. These two issues are not controversial. Both were supported by all political parties. Yet, these two pieces of legislation have been languishing in the Senate for over a year.

Has there been a heated debate over either of these two bills?  Was there something controversial in either bill that was missed by the House of Commons? In both cases, the answer is no.  MPs in the House of Commons are accountable to the Canadian people. When MPs pass legislation, Senators need to take action–not sit on a bill until it dies.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.

Last Thursday, the federal budget was tabled by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. The core of the budget contained money for job skills/training and an infrastructure fund for projects like bridges and water systems. In addition, there were a series of tax cuts in the budget to clean up the tax code and bring down the costs of goods for Canadian consumers.

For example, import tax tariffs on baby clothes, ice skates and hockey equipment dropped from 18% to zero. The tariff on golf clubs dropped from 7% also to zero. The 20% tariff on snowboards was also scrapped.

Overall, these tax cuts will save Canadian consumers $76 million per year–and help to bring the costs of these goods closer to prices in the U.S.

While these tax cuts may not make a huge deal to the bottom line, they continue the Conservative goal of setting fairer, lower tax rates for all Canadians.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.

Wireless services are changing. In 2008, the federal government set aside wireless spectrum for new entrants.

Since then, a number of new wireless competitors have emerged, and wireless prices dropped by more than 10% across Canada.

But more changes are coming:

The Conservative government is expanding — and extending — the requirement for wireless companies to provide roaming on their networks to competitors.

New rules are also being introduced to increase cell tower sharing, which helps limit the need to build new cell towers.

In addition, upcoming wireless spectrum auctions will promote four competitors in each region of the country. With four competitive wireless companies in each market, consumers will have more choice. Consequently, pressure should increase to bring down prices.

Canadian families work hard for their money. Competition ensures Canadians have access to the wireless services at a price they can afford for their BlackBerrys and iPhones.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.

Did you know that bribery used to be tax deductible in Canada?
But as Canadians, we believe that corruption needs to be stopped at home and abroad.
That`s why amendments to the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act have been introduced.
Canadians expect Canadian businesses to play by the rules. To signal our commitment and our expectation that other countries do the same, we are redoubling our fight against bribery and corruption.
Recently, our Government introduced reforms that will further deter and prevent Canadian companies from bribing foreign public officials.

These amendments will help ensure Canadian companies continue to act in good faith in the pursuit of freer markets and expanded global trade.

Canada is a trading nation. Our economy and future prosperity depends upon expanding our trade ties with the world, in a fair and honest manner.

I’m Brad Trost, your Member of Parliament in Saskatoon-Humboldt. You can reach my office in Saskatoon at 975-6133. Feel free to drop by my two offices for a visit: Saskatoon (Monday to Friday) or Humboldt (Tuesday and Wednesday). I always appreciate your feedback.