NDP News

OTTAWA – Today, New Democrat MP Jasbir Sandhu (Surrey North) put forward a motion demanding that Prime Minister Stephen Harper officially apologize in the House of Commons to the South Asian community for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident, in which passengers were prevented from landing in Canada. He is also launching a nation-wide petition campaign to collect signatures from Canadians supporting the apology.

“The tragedy of the Komagata Maru marks a dark chapter in Canadian history,” said Sandhu. “The Conservatives must provide closure on the trauma this has caused in the South Asian community. That is the only way that healing and reconciliation can begin.”

Stephen Harper’s failed attempt to make an informal apology in 2008 at an outdoor festival in Surrey was widely regarded as rude and insincere by the community.

“The Conservatives are continuing to deny an official apology for this incident in the House of Commons and it is very disrespectful,” said Sandhu. “A dignified, official apology for the Komagata Maru tragedy is long overdue. That is why the NDP is bringing forward yet another motion, another demand, for this government to finally do the right thing and apologize in Parliament.”

May 23 will mark the 98th anniversary of the date the ship’s arrival from Hong Kong to Vancouver. Due to the discriminatory “continuous journey” regulation, passengers were prevented from disembarking while the ship remained in Burrard Inlet for two months, and passengers were denied basic necessities, including food and water. The ship carried 376 passengers from India. The NDP first called for an official apology in January, 2007.                

OTTAWA – On the 10th anniversary of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, New Democrats are renewing their calls to end discrimination and hatred against LGBT people. 

“Canada has made great progress in ending discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; however, the battle is far from won,” said Official Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair. “Too many LGBT Canadians continue to face discrimination at work and in their community, and tragically some even pay for this discrimination with their lives. This is unconscionable and cannot be tolerated in Canada today.” 

The facts are stark. LGBT Canadians still face harassment, discrimination and violence at a rate higher than others demographics. Hate crimes based on sexual orientation remain as prevalent as ever and these crimes are twice as likely to be violent in nature. 

“A good place to start is right here in Parliament. We need to set the example in the House of Commons itself,” New Democrat LGBT critic, Randall Garrison. “We also need to continue to remove the barriers to political participation for members of the LGBT community by adopting policies of inclusion and encouraging further dialogue between members of the LBGT community and political parties.” 

The NDP remains as committed as ever to end homophobia and transphobia with the most diverse caucus ever, including many LGBT MPs.  

OTTAWA - New Democrats today applauded Official Languages Commissioner Graham Fraser’s decision to launch an important study aimed at improving access to justice in both official languages for all Canadians.

The study will examine in detail two issues under federal responsibility that contribute to the institutional bilingualism of the superior court judiciary: the selection and appointment process for the judiciary; and language training for judges appointed to superior courts.

“I’m heartened that this morning an Officer of Parliament is acting where the Government has failed to act,” said NDP Official Languages Critic Yvon Godin (Acadie–Bathurst). “Access to a judicial system capable of rightfully serving its citizens in the official language of their choice is more than just a question of language policy,” Godin insisted, “it is a fundamental right and a question of equality and fairness.”

“When defendants, plaintiffs and lawyers have their day in court in Canada,” added Tyrone Benskin (Jeanne-Le Ber), NDP Deputy Critic for Official Languages, “they deserve every confidence that their trial is fair, whether they choose to proceed in English or French.”

“This study is a crucial step towards a more inclusive, balanced and accessible justice system,” Godin concluded. “The NDP eagerly awaits the results and will continue to ensure respect for Canada’s official languages.”

HALIFAX – The latest round of job cuts handed to front-line workers in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) severely threaten the sustainability of Canada’s fisheries. The cuts are a direct result of the gutting of environmental protection in the Trojan horse budget bill says the NDP.

 “Yet again, the Conservatives are showing that they just don’t care about real facts and science,” said NDP Fisheries Critic, Robert Chisholm. “These cuts affect biologists, researchers, policy makers, all the people who make decisions based on facts. If the Conservatives don’t agree with something, they just cut and try to make it go away.”

 These cuts affect jobs across Canada – and they also affect key areas of fundamental research on climate change studies and water ecosystem health.

 NDP Deputy Fisheries Critic for the West Coast, Fin Donnelly highlighted the environmental impact of sweeping omnibus budget bill will have.

 “This Trojan Horse bill will kill research. It will gut the Fisheries Act, kill the Experimental Lakes Area program, allow habitat destruction and reduce fish stock monitoring,” said Donnelly. “In the end, Canadians will pay dearly for Conservative environmental mismanagement.”

 The NDP is holding the first in a series of regional hearings on public budget consultations tonight in Halifax. The focus of the public meeting will be the effect of the omnibus budget bill on Fisheries and Oceans.

Ottawa – New Democrats reacted today to the Human Rights Impact Report of the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement tabled by the government in the House of Commons. The yearly report is an obligation under the agreement signed by Canada and Colombia to monitor human rights in the context of increased commercial and trade links between both countries. 

“The report does not provide any information on the human rights situation in Colombia or Canada, although it sees fit to provide an overview of the economies of both countries,” said Hélène Laverdière (Laurier–Ste-Marie), Official Opposition Critic for the Americas. “This is simply unacceptable. Canada has failed in its analysis. This underscores why such reports need to be produced by independent experts, as recommended by the Standing Committee on International Trade in 2008.” 

Said Official Opposition Critic for Human Rights Wayne Marston (Hamilton East–Stoney Creek), “This government has managed to table a human rights impact assessment that says nothing about human rights, has no assessments and has no record of impacts. It makes no attempt at an overview of core human rights concerns, which are numerous. The disregard, even contempt, displayed by the Conservatives for the institutions of human rights and Parliament is truly breathtaking.” 

"While we all want increased trade, Canadians also want human rights and democratic values respected," said Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway), Official Opposition Critic for International Trade. "These concepts must be linked, and this report does little to demonstrate that progress has been made. " 

New Democrats argue that the Canadian government’s Americas Strategy prioritizes trade over human rights. The Strategy has led to accusations that the government is overlooking concerns about the human rights record of Canadian extractive industries operating in the Americas. Said Hélène Laverdière, “we have serious concerns about this government’s commitment to human rights in Colombia and the rest of the Americas. This report is yet another example of Canada’s inaction on this file.”

OTTAWA – New Democrats hailed recommendations from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De Schutter, who concluded his 11 day visit to Canada today. Members of the Official Opposition urged Conservatives to act quickly on the proposals as soon as possible. 

“Like it or not, the situation is bleak for millions of Canadians. Food security is a right. Hunger and malnutrition are unacceptable anywhere, but especially in a country as wealthy as Canada,” said NDP Aboriginal Affairs Critic, Jean Crowder. 

NDP Agriculture Critic, Malcolm Allen, called on the government to establish a national food strategy. 

“Canadians must have access to safe and nutritious food. The Conservatives are failing to guarantee this basic right – and are even making things worse as they cut funding to the Food Inspection Agency,” said Allen. “We need long term solutions and we need to adopt a national food strategy.” 

Crowder added that immediate attention must be given to First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, which are among the hardest hit by food insecurity. “It’s the least fortunate who must choose between paying their rent and putting food on the table. That’s not a choice Canadians should have to make.”

“The Conservatives must show leadership. The choice is clear, instead of funding their misguided priorities, they must ensure the food security of Canadians.” concluded Allen.  

OTTAWA – NDP Environment Critic, Megan Leslie, took advantage of Stephen Harper’s meeting with Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, on the subject of shale gas to criticize Conservative inaction on this issue.

 Conservatives still haven’t imposed shale gas regulations that were promised over two years ago and refuse to answer questions from NDP MPs on the issue in the House, said Leslie.

 “The situation is urgent. The federal government plays its part in shale gas exploration and development. But the Conservatives are avoiding all responsibility by attacking environmental assessments in their budget. How can Stephen Harper tell the Polish Prime Minister about regulating shale gas when the Conservatives refuse to do their homework here in Canada?” said Leslie.

 “Canadians are concerned about this issue and it’s time for the Conservatives to act in their interest instead of that of their friends in the oil industry. It’s time they act to protect Canadians against the harmful effects of shale gas,” she said.

 The NDP is calling on the Conservatives to impose adequate regulations on shale gas exploration without delay.

 “The Conservatives must protect our environment and Canadians who are concerned about the risks of water pollution and earthquakes associated with shale gas fracking. There is a reason why this technique is subject to a moratorium in several provinces.”

OTTAWA – Proposed changes to Meat Inspection Regulations (MIR) will leave Canadians wondering if the meat they buy is actually safe, because of the Conservatives’ reckless cutting spree.  Private inspectors, who may not be qualified, will now be able to inspect meat.  Worse, these changes to meat inspection rules also change what meat is acceptable – meaning already-dead meat and crippled animals’ meat will be okay for processing for Canadians’ tables.

 “First the Conservatives will let private inspectors monitor meat, and now they’re essentially allowing road kill-ready meat into the food supply,” said Malcolm Allen, NDP Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food. “Even scarier is the fact that we won’t know how long animals have been dead before processing – or even that the meat will be inspected at all.”

 NDP Deputy Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food, Ruth Ellen Brosseau (Berthier—Maskinongé), voiced concerns that these changes have been tried before – with disastrous results. “In the 1970s, Quebec had no meat processing regulations, meaning already-dead and crippled animals’ meat entered the food supply, causing the “rotten meat” scandal. The industry collapsed, and federal regulations were created as a result.”

 The strength of our federal meat inspection rules must not be weakened.  The NDP is echoing the calls of industry workers to keep our meat inspection system regulated, and safe for Canadians.  The Conservative government must stop gambling with Canadians’ health and safety.

OTTAWA – Today, Official Opposition Critic for Consumer Protection, Glenn Thibeault and Deputy Critic Annick Papillon called on the Government to reverse its decision to end independent banking dispute resolution in Canada. Both consumer and small business groups have been near unanimous in their condemnation of the move.

Joined by representatives of the Public Interest Advocacy Center [PIAC] and consumer rights organizationOption consommateurs, Thibeault and Papillon also called on banks to use the independent and impartial dispute resolution mechanism offered by the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI).

“Minister Flaherty’s announcement puts an end to independent banking dispute resolution. The government’s decision gives the banks the power to choose which firms will represent consumers and small businesses who have submitted complaints against the banks,” said Thibeault. “There is no way that these firms can be expected to put the concerns of consumers and small businesses ahead of their own profits, which are dependent on keeping the banks happy.”

OBSI offers consumers and small businesses an independent and impartial way of resolving bank complaints, as well as providing broader public policy services, such as monitoring systemic problems in the banking industry. In reaction, the board of OBSI has stated that they have designed a plan to close down their banking dispute resolution service as they refuse to participate in a ‘race to the bottom’ scenario that the government seems determined to engineer.

“The government is ignoring World Bank recommendations that say multiple competing dispute resolution providers erode fairness and confidence in the banking system,” added Papillon. “The Minister of Finance is undermining his own claims that Canada has the best regulated banking system in the world.”

OTTAWA – New Democrats announced today that they will take the study of the sweeping Conservative budget implementation bill to the public, holding a series of hearings in Ottawa and across the country.

“The Conservatives are trying to pull the wool over the eyes of Canadians,” said Cullen. “New Democrats believe that MPs have a duty to study legislation and that the public has a right to know the results of those studies.”

Starting on Wednesday, May 16 in Ottawa the NDP will have hearings on specific sections of the 400+ omnibus bill. There will be testimony from expert witnesses and the sessions will also be open to the public at large. 

“The government seems scared of oversight and of public scrutiny,” said Cullen. “If the government won’t let us do our job in parliament then we have to take it outside. One way or another we are going to ensure that Canadians know what this government is trying to keep behind closed doors.

In addition to the public hearings the NDP is launching a new website and social media campaign designed to raise awareness of the content of the Trojan horse bill.

The first meeting will take place on Parliament Hill at 12 pm on May 16.  The Ottawa hearings will be followed by sessions in Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, Regina and Vancouver.

OTTAWA – NDP Environment Critic, Megan Leslie, took advantage of Stephen Harper’s meeting with Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, on the subject of shale gas to criticize Conservative inaction on this issue.

Conservatives still haven’t imposed shale gas regulations that were promised over two years ago and refuse to answer questions from NDP MPs on the issue in the House, said Leslie. 

“The situation is urgent. The federal government plays its part in shale gas exploration and development. But the Conservatives are avoiding all responsibility by attacking environmental assessments in their budget. How can Stephen Harper tell the Polish Prime Minister about regulating shale gas when the Conservatives refuse to do their homework here in Canada?” said Leslie. 

“Canadians are concerned about this issue and it’s time for the Conservatives to act in their interest instead of that of their friends in the oil industry. It’s time they act to protect Canadians against the harmful effects of shale gas,” she said. 

The NDP is calling on the Conservatives to impose adequate regulations on shale gas exploration without delay. 

“The Conservatives must protect our environment and Canadians who are concerned about the risks of water pollution and earthquakes associated with shale gas fracking. There is a reason why this technique is subject to a moratorium in several provinces.”

GATINEAU – In a speech before members of the Quebec Union of Municipalities today in Gatineau, Official Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair committed to restoring the voice of towns and communities in federal politics.

“For far too long, the federal government has been failing in its responsibility to work with the provinces on issues of importance to municipalities,” he said. “Municipalities have more responsibilities than ever—from economic development to immigrant settlement. But we’re expecting them to fulfill these responsibilities without sufficient funding.” 

Mr. Mulcair cited the Building Canada Fund, which is designed to improve infrastructure but will end in three years. “Municipalities will find themselves without stable and reliable funding. That is why New Democrats will ensure that the government keeps its promise to establish a long-term plan to take over from this program.”

He also underlined the need to combine environmental protection with economic development.

The New Democratic Leader also mentioned some of his party’s achievements on behalf of communities since forming the Official Opposition. It’s thanks to the NDP’s persistence that the Conservatives finally agreed to fund the replacement of the Champlain Bridge in Montreal. He also mentioned the New Democratic proposals for a national public transit strategy and an affordable housing plan.   

Mr. Mulcair concluded: “I look forward to working with the QUM, and municipalities across the province, to build an even stronger and more sustainable relationship—and to guarantee a better future for Quebec towns and communities.”

OTTAWA — In a move that defied common sense, Conservatives voted against a bill to broaden access to preventive withdrawal for pregnant workers tabled by NDP Labour Critic Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie).

Because of the Conservatives’ stubbornness, a pregnant woman who works for a federal company, like an air carrier, and who is placed on preventative leave by her doctor, doesn’t have the same wage protection as another woman in the same situation, but who works for a municipal bus service.

“Why are the Conservatives refusing to recognize this injustice? Why do they persist in creating two groups of workers with different rights? My bill was fair and would have assisted women and their families. If we want to encourage people to have children, we must provide them with the adequate living conditions to do it,” said Alexandre Boulerice.

The NDP considers it essential to protect the health and safety of pregnant women. That was the motivation behind Alexandre Boulerice’s bill.

Bitterly disappointed by the Conservatives’ refusal to support Bill C-307, the New Democrat MP invited them to explain themselves. “The government must tell us why women who work under the Canada Labour Code can’t be as well protected as women working under provincial jurisdiction. The workers deserve an explanation,” he concluded. 

OTTAWA – After a marathon week of damning testimony from legal experts, frontline workers and refugees in opposition to the refugee bill, C-31, New Democrats are calling on the Conservatives to abandon the legislation and go back to the drawing board. 

“Witness after witness has told the committee that C-31 is fundamentally flawed,” said New Democrat Citizenship and Immigration critic, Jinny Sims (Newton-North Delta). “We have to ensure that the claims process is fair and that it helps the right people – but this bill centralizes power in the hands of the Minister while punishing refugees and won’t address the problem of human smuggling.” 

Among the numerous measures highlighted as dangerous by the witnesses are:

• provisions giving the Minister the power to hand-pick which countries he thinks are safe – without the advice from any independent experts;
• the ability to detain refugee claimants for a year without review;
• measures to deny some refugees access to the new Refugee Appeal Division;
• a five-year mandatory wait for bona fide refugees to become permanent residents and reunite with their families. 

“Witnesses raised serious concerns that this bill may even violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and our international obligations under the United Nations Refugee Convention,” added Sadia Groghué (Saint-Lambert), Deputy Citizenship and Immigration critic. “The Conservatives must scrap this dangerous bill and allow time for the current refugee laws to work.”

OTTAWA — After participating in the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association’s 44th housing congress, which took place from May 1 to 4 in St. John’s Newfoundland, the NDP says that, despite advances in housing and the fight against homelessness, the housing crisis is far from over. 

“Over the course of various meetings, we had the opportunity to discuss the New Democrat bill to establish a national housing strategy,” said the NDP representative at the congress, Marie-Claude Morin (Saint-Hyacinthe-Bagot). “I’m proud to see that countless organizations decided to support it. We really need to do something for social and affordable housing and to put an end to homelessness.” 

Morin tabled a bill to establish a national housing strategy in order guarantee the right to housing, as provided for in many international treaties that were ratified by Canada. 

“The strategy we want to implement provides financial support mechanisms as well as incentives favouring a greater availability of housing,” explained MarjolaineBoutin-Sweet, Official Opposition Housing Critic. “We also want to promote access for certain groups of people who are more likely to be refused housing, due to a disability or discrimination, for example. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the Conservative budget to help the less privileged.”     

Canada is still the only G8 country without a national housing strategy. Some 150,000 to 300,000 Canadians live on the street and nearly 1.5 million households are not adequately housed.

OTTAWA – A series of recommendations was tabled by the NDP in the House of Commons today that would bring Canada to the forefront in an increasingly digital marketplace.

“The Conservative government is dragging its heels when it comes to the digital economy. Without proper regulations in the digital world, it’s starting to look like the Wild West,” said NDP Industry critic, Hélène LeBlanc. “The consultations for a digital strategy were launched two years ago, but we still have no indication what the Conservative strategy would look like and when it will be delivered.”

NDP Consumer Protection critic, Glenn Thibeault, pointed out that the lack of strategy also affects how small businesses handle transactions. “The higher rate of merchant fees faced by our domestic businesses in comparison to their US counterparts goes a long way to explaining Canada’s lacklustre performance in the global e-commerce market.”

Government costs for merchant fees have cost taxpayers $61 million over five years. “The government has incredible negotiating power, yet they’re still paying these fees. It’s obvious that small businesses stand no chance against merchant fees. That’s why New Democrats are calling for increased regulation for electronic payments,” added Thibeault.

The full supplementary report can be found online, detailing the NDP’s concerns with rural internet access, data on technology use in Canada, digital literacy and standards and regulations for e-commerce.

OTTAWA – The government must ensure that no Canadian is forced to live without secure access to safe and nutritious food, said NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, following his meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De Schutter.

“Instead of meeting with the UN’s representative and hearing his recommendations, Conservative ministers are refusing to take this issue seriously,” said Mulcair. “It’s unacceptable that, in a country as rich as ours, too many seniors are living in poverty, too many children are going to school on empty stomachs, and too many First Nations communities are living in third world conditions, like those in Attawapiskat.”

Canada is the only industrialized country to be visited by the Special Rapporteur. According to the UN, two million Canadians are currently living without secure access to safe and nutritious food. The NDP Leader also noted that the Conservative’s proposed cuts to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will make it even harder to achieve the goal of Canadian food security.

“Canada’s international reputation, and Canadians themselves are suffering because of Conservative inaction,” said Mulcair. “This is a serious issue and New Democrats will continue to fight to ensure that Canadians have access to healthy food.” 

OTTAWA – Official Opposition Veterans Affairs Critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore) and Deputy Critic Sylvain Chicoine (Châteauguay-Saint-Constant) renewed their call today for the elimination of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB) in response to yesterday’s report by Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent.

“I congratulate the Veterans Ombudsman for his very thorough report,” said Stoffer.  “He made it very clear, like Veterans Ombudsman Pat Stogran before him, that VRAB has been failing to give veterans the benefit of the doubt, not disclosing medical information used in its rulings, and are vague in their explanations to military and RCMP veterans. It is time for the federal government to eliminate the Veterans Review and Appeal Board.”

“The Ombudsman’s report is clearly saying that VRAB is failing military and RCMP veterans,” said Chicoine.  “This Conservative government has taken no action on reforming the Veterans Review and Appeal Board as they promised to do.”

Stoffer noted that veterans and their families have been dissatisfied with VRAB for many years.  It angers them to know that the members of VRAB are often appointed because of their political connections and have little military or medical experience.

“We want VAC to re-assume the responsibility for re-examining a veterans’ application for a disability pension,” said Stoffer.  “ Front-line staff would decide on the merit of an application using peer-reviewed medical evidence, including reports from doctors and specialists.

“We call on this government to do the right thing and eliminate the Veterans Review and Appeal Board.”

OTTAWA – A report tabled today by Canada’s Environment Commissioner blasted the Conservatives for pitting the economy against the environment and warned that government failures will threaten Canada’s economy and its environment for generations to come.

Commissioner Scott Vaughan said that businesses across Canada understand that protecting the environment makes good business sense. New Democrats slammed Stephen Harper for blocking similar progress and threatening the sustainability of our economy and our environment. 

“The report makes it clear that Stephen Harper just doesn’t get what is takes to build a sustainable, 21st century economy,” said NDP Environment Critic Megan Leslie. “The Conservatives are stuck in the past and future generations will have to pay for his mistakes.”

The report outlined how the government has failed to meet Kyoto Protocol targets – and will miss its own weak 2020 targets. It also linked thousands of contaminated sites across Canada to a lack of environmental assessments.

“It’s incredible that in the very same week the Conservatives are trying to dismantle environmental assessments – and ram their omnibus budget bill through Parliament –  we’re reminded of the urgent need for these rules to protect the health of Canadians,” said Deputy NDP Environment Critic Anne Minh-Thu Quach.

Leslie blasted the government for claiming that the Kyoto Protocol was bad for Canada’s economy without even bothering to find out what its own weaker targets would cost.

“The Environment Minister presented an economic doomsday scenario if we stuck with Kyoto. Yet the government is clinging to its own failed plan without even knowing the costs,” Leslie said. “They are making up policy on the fly and refusing to come clean on costs. We’ve seen this story before.” 

OTTAWA – It’s time Parliamentarians took appropriate steps to ensure the protection of Canadians’ personal information on big Internet sites, such as Google and Facebook, says New Democrat Digital Affairs Critic Charmaine Borg (Terrebonne-Blainville).

“Times are changing and Parliament needs to keep up.  In the digital age, major websites, such as Google and Facebook, have become warehouses of massive amounts of personal data,” said Borg (Terrebonne-Blainville). “While these sites provide enormous utility to millions of Canadians from all walks of life, users must have confidence that their personal information is being protected.”

On Tuesday, Borg will bring a motion up for debate at the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, calling for a study to assess the measures taken by Google, Facebook and other social media to protect the personal information of millions of their Canadian users. 

“It is up to Parliamentarians to be savvy and responsive to the changing realities of privacy protection online. This is the new frontier in managing Big Data and keeping Canadians' privacy safe from the appetites of market research interests. Parliamentarians must act now.” said Borg. 

If approved, the study will hold hearings with prominent experts in the field over the next months.