OTTAWA - What do Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, NDP MP Olivia Chow and the President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities have in common?
OTTAWA – Official Opposition Veterans Affairs Critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore) and Deputy Critic Sylvain Chicoine (Châteauguay-Saint-Constant) are pleased the federal government will not appeal the recent Federal Court decision on the Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) Long Term Disability payments that ruled in favour of injured veterans. The federal government had until May 31st to announce its intention to appeal.
OTTAWA — Conservative government mismanagement of the RADARSAT program is costing well-paying jobs in robotics and aerospace, says Official Opposition Industry Critic, Hélène LeBlanc (LaSalle‒Émard).
OTTAWA – Today’s announcement to further restrict EI qualifications is just another example of bad news for Canadians hidden within the Conservatives’ Trojan Horse budget bill, according to the NDP.
SAGUENAY – Official Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair called out Stephen Harper’s Conservative government today for their failure to protect Canadian jobs when reviewing and enforcing foreign takeover agreements.
OTTAWA – The NDP is calling on the Canadian Pacific (CP) workers’ union and management to continue negotiations in order to reach an agreement as soon as possible to end the strike.
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.
OTTAWA – NDP Environment Critic Megan Leslie criticized the Conservative government’s decision to cut the Freshwater Institute’s Experimental Lakes program in Northern Ontario, which contributed to groundbreaking research on the effects of pollutants on freshwater ecosystems for the past fifty years.
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.
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.
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.
OTTAWA – Official Opposition Veterans Affairs Critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore), Deputy Critic Sylvain Chicoine (Châteauguay-Saint-Constant) and Halifax MP Megan Leslie urged the federal government today to not appeal the recent Federal Court decision on the Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) that ruled in favour of injured veterans. The federal government has until May 31st to announce its intention to appeal.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
DRUMMONDVILLE – On the heels of the anniversary of the historic orange wave that swept New Democrats into a majority of seats in Quebec, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair spoke to members at the Quebec Council.
VANCOUVER – NDP Leader Tom Mulcair spoke to the BC NDP’s provincial council today, bringing with him the NDP message of building a more prosperous Canada to a province dominated by recent NDP wins. Mulcair also spoke about the worrying results of Stephen Harper and his Conservatives’ reckless cuts.
OTTAWA – The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) slammed the Conservatives for repeatedly ignoring the independent agency’s calls for improved safety regulations. NDP Transport Critic Olivia Chow welcomes the long-needed wake-up call for the Harper government to protect the safety of Canadians after years of Conservative inaction.
OTTAWA — The Canadian government must seek clemency for Ronald Allen Smith, the only Canadian citizen on death row in the United States, according to NDP MPs Françoise Boivin (Gatineau) and Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek).
OTTAWA – New Democrats today pledged to be a stronger and more united opposition than ever after re-electing Peter Julian as their caucus chair and choosing Rathika Sitsabaiesan as the new vice chair.
OTTAWA – New Democrats strongly criticized the majority report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources tabled today in parliament calling it a whitewash which simply echoes the Conservative’s unbalanced oil extraction policy that doesn’t take into account the damage to Canada’s environment and economy.
OTTAWA – Officers of Parliament, who are appointed by resolution of the House of Commons, Senate, or both chambers, should be capable of expressing themselves clearly in both official languages and understanding both languages without the help of an interpreter, says the NDP.
OTTAWA – Official Opposition Veterans Affairs Critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore) blasted the Conservative government today for their plans to close nine Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) District Offices across the country. He was joined by Yvan Thauvette, National President of the Union of Veterans Affairs Employees (UVAE) and other staff representatives to outline the serious affect that these closures will have.
OTTAWA – Official Opposition Veterans Affairs Critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore) and Deputy Critic Sylvain Chicoine (Châteauguay-Saint-Constant) said the federal government must honour today’s Federal Court decision on the Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) program that ruled in favour of injured veterans.