NDP Press

OTTAWA – New Democrats are calling on the House of Commons to take a stand against Stephen Harper’s move to balance the Conservative deficit by cutting future benefits for seniors.

The NDP opposition motion put forward by MP Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (Pierrefonds-Dollard) asks the House to not only reject changes to the age of eligibility for Old Age Security, but to commit to a reduction strategy for seniors’ poverty.

OTTAWA – Today, New Democrat Post-Secondary Education Critic, Rathika Sitsabaiesan (Scarborough-Rouge River) and Deputy Post-Secondary Education Critic, Matthew Dubé (Chambly-Borduas) joined the thousands of students gathered on Parliament Hill, and across the country, demanding immediate action on post-secondary education funding and student debt.

“The success of our country relies on an educated population,” said Sitsabaiesan. “We need to give our students real access to affordable, good quality post-secondary education, not simply access to more loans.”

OTTAWA — An NDP motion on investment in infrastructure will be put to vote today in the House of Commons. The motion seeks to encourage the government to index the Gas Tax Fund and increase the transfer of gas tax money by one cent.

“This is a concrete solution that would effectively support the work of municipalities to maintain and revitalize our highways, viaducts and bridges. We need infrastructures in good condition to attract investors, stimulate jobs and facilitate the transportation of goods,” explained NDP Transport Critic, Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina).

OTTAWA – Today, one week after the First Nations Summit in Ottawa, NDP Leader Nycole Turmel met with National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Shawn Atleo, to discuss the immense challenges faced by First Nations.

Following the meeting, Turmel urged the Conservative government to keep their word and take immediate concrete action to help First Nations.

OTTAWA — New Democrats are condemning the Conservative government’s policy requiring all RCMP communications be approved by Conservative Public Safety Minister Vic Toews.

“The Conservative’s policy means the RCMP must ask permission from the Minister before doing any media,” said NDP Critic for Public Safety, Jasbir Sandhu (Surrey-North). “This not only muzzles the RCMP but removes the essential arms length distance between Harper Government and Canada’s police force. This is wrong”

OTTAWA – New Democrats are slamming the government for once again pulling the plug on the popular, cost-effective ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program with no warning.

“Thousands of Canadians who were counting on this program are now once again suddenly being told they’re out of luck. It’s mind-boggling. This program is a true no-brainer: it saves families money, creates good local jobs, and reduces energy consumption – and more than pays for itself in economic spinoffs and tax revenues generated,” said Claude Gravelle, NDP Natural Resources Critic.

OTTAWA – New Democrats are blasting Stephen Harper for forging ahead unilaterally with a multi-billion dollar prisons agenda many provinces have said they don’t want – and can’t afford.

“The Conservatives like to talk about working with the provinces and territories, but as we saw with the Health Accord negotiations last week, Stephen Harper has stopped listening to the provinces,” said Jack Harris, NDP Justice Critic and MP for St. John’s East.

OTTAWA – Official Opposition Foreign Affairs Critic Hélène Laverdière (Laurier – Ste-Marie) today condemned the actions of Egypt’s military government towards two independent international development agencies, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI), and urged the Canadian government to take immediate action. Egypt’s military rulers have banned American and European employees of the two organizations from leaving the country.

OTTAWA - New Democrats are condemning the Harper Conservatives for slashing environment-friendly programs and jobs at Natural Resources Canada.
“It seems government officials got a memo to slash anything clean or green – or that even has the word, ‘eco’ in it,” said NDP Natural Resources critic Claude Gravelle, reacting to news of new cuts at the department.

The NDP has a long standing position in support of a humane, market driven and sustainable commercial seal harvest. We also strongly defend the rights of the Inuit to engage in their traditional and commercial seal harvest. And as the industry faces challenges and changes, we must all be focused on working together with those who rely on the seal harvest for their livelihoods to address these very real challenges.

OTTAWA – As First Nations leaders gather in Ottawa for meetings with the federal government, New Democrat Leader Nycole Turmel urged the Prime Minister to work with First Nations, as full and equal partners moving forward.

“We all know the critical challenges facing Aboriginal communities,” said New Democrat Leader Nycole Turmel. “We saw it in Attawapiskat as we see it across the country. That is why First Nations are looking to this summit to reset their relationship with the federal government.”