Describing the stimulus package presented earlier this year as large and timely, Sweet told guests in attendance that the federal government is keen on helping kick-start this year’s construction season by providing much-needed infrastructure funding.

To date, noted the local conservative MP, more than $300,000 million worth of projects are slated to start in the City of Hamilton this year. “Some people joke that Canada has two seasons, winter and construction, and with this economic action plan all I can tell you is that this construction season will be more formidable...and that’s good news here locally,” he said.

With considerable buzz surrounding employment insurance in recent weeks, Sweet took the opportunity to explain Canada’s current employment insurance system to the early morning crowd at the Dutch Mill Country Market meeting.

The system, noted Sweet “was designed with good logic in that these 52 economic regions across the country would face different challenges at different times.”

However, since employment rates have plummeted since the economy has taken a turn for the worse, a blue ribbon panel has been called in to review the EI program and offer ways to modify it to ensure it is fair for all Canadians.

“Right now, we’ve bolstered the system with five more weeks plus added billions of dollars more for training, so those people who require that, it will be available for them,” he said.

Sweet also broached the subject of law enforcement, noting that criminals haven’t taken “any time off as far as their law breaking agenda is concerned,” so the federal government continues to “crack down” on their activities.

A bill was passed in the House of Commons earlier this month that proposes a minimum of two years behind bars for criminals convicted of selling drugs to children, trafficking illegal substances near schools and/or in other public areas where children play.

The new bill, stated Sweet, would also “secure jail time for drug dealers who use guns and criminals who manufacture and grow illegal drugs for sale.”

Currently, individuals convicted of a crime are offered a two-for-one sentencing credit for time served.

“I don’t think that anybody who has been convicted of a crime should get two or three times bonus for the time already spent (in jail),” said Sweet. “We are moving to fix that and make sure that they don’t get anywhere near that kind of credit for time already served.”

Sweet’s brief report on business recently conducted on Parliament Hill was followed by questions from the audience.

With parliament currently out of session, Sweet said he is looking forward to assisting constituents over the summer months.