OTTAWA – NDP Human Rights Critic Wayne Marston held a press conference today to announce the tabling of his “Prevention of Torture Act.” The bill is designed to end all possible government complicity in torture. The bill, among other things, makes it a criminal offence to use information known to be derived from torture; and prohibits Canadian officials from handing over prisoners to be tortured at home or abroad; and establishes diplomatic protocols for the immediate repatriation of any Canadian citizen at risk of torture abroad.

Almost two weeks after the Olympic flame was extinguished, it will be relit tonight. Vancouver will once again be host to elite athletes from around the world proudly representing their countries in inspiring competition – this time, for the Paralympic Games.

The top Paralympic competitors from more than 40 countries will spend the next 10 days on the world stage. While these athletes may not be household names, their drive and determination will burn no less bright and the competition will be no less thrilling.

OTTAWA – New Democrats welcome the legislation introduced today to allow some women to pass on their Indian Status to their grandchildren but are concerned that the government has not yet provided any new funds to meet the financial impact this change will have on band councils.

There was a time when people could count on certain things in life.

Like Monday coming after Sunday. And the Harper Conservatives railing against judges who delivered legal judgments they disagreed with.

That’s all changed with the “lucky break” former Conservative MP Rahim Jaffer got in Ontario Court earlier this week.

OTTAWA– With the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians' decision yesterday to turn financial control of First Nations University over to the University of Regina, federal New Democrats are today calling for Ottawa to reinstate its funding.

OTTAWA –Peter Julian, MP for Burnaby-New Westminster, today tabled Bill C-494 in the House of Commons that will include nanotechnology in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and require the Health and Environment Ministers to act.

“There is a need for public policy governed by the precautionary principle,” said Julian. “We need a proper balance between protecting Canadians from potential harmful consequences and allowing us to reap the benefits of nanotechnologies. This Bill fulfills that need for sound legislative guidance.”

OTTAWA - The government must launch an investigation into Toyota that parallels actions taken in the United States so that Canadians receive equal treatment and protection, says New Democrat Industry and Automotive Critic Brian Masse (Windsor West).

“The inaction of this government in dealing with Toyota recalls has left Canadian consumers with nothing compared to their American neighbours,” says Masse. “Toyota is providing better compensation, more information and better protection to Americans. Why won’t this government stand up for Toyota’s Canadian consumers?”

OTTAWA – The rapidly-growing recall of foods containing contaminated hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) highlights dangerous gaps in Canada’s food safety system which were ignored in the recent federal budget, says New Democrat Food Safety Critic Malcolm Allen (Welland).

OTTAWA – Last week’s federal budget confirmed what observers were worried about--that not only was the government’s stimulus plan faulty, the Conservatives are also cutting back on stimulus spending early.

The 2009 budget promised a $6.4 billion dollar stimulus investment over two years in provincial, territorial and municipal infrastructure. However, in last week’s budget that money was cut by $500 million to just under $5.9 billion.

OTTAWA – An international backlash against Conservative meddling at Rights and Democracy is yet another reason to conduct an inquiry into the crisis at the organization, says New Democrat Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar.

“The international community is condemning the Conservative government for trying to infect Rights and Democracy with its ideology,” says Dewar. “This is a devastating blow to Canada’s reputation on the international stage – it’s time for parliament to take action.”

Women and men around the world recognize International Women's Day as a time to reflect upon and celebrate women’s social, political and economic achievements, both globally and locally. In this country, much progress has been made since Canadians first marked International Women’s Day in 1977.

Sadly, there is still much work to be done. Women across the world continue to suffer extreme poverty, violence and violations of their basic human rights.

OTTAWA –Stephen Harper has made it clear that he plans to once again put oil companies before Canadian children, says New Democrat Children and Childcare Critic Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina).

“This budget clearly demonstrates where Stephen Harper’s priorities lie. Billions in corporate tax cuts for oil companies while childcare and childhood nutrition are ignored,” says Chow.

Budgets are about choices. But the one delivered by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty yesterday chose to give billions in corporate tax giveaways to profitable banks and oil companies while ignoring the priorities of pensioners, the jobless and hardworking Canadians.

Here’s what they are saying:

“In the end all CARP members got from this budget are some nice words and the promise of more consultation.” – Susan Eng, Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), March 4, 2010

OTTAWA – The Harper government’s priorities for public safety are misguided, wasteful and ineffective says New Democrat Public Safety Critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway).

“The Conservative plan is to spend 43% more on building prisons,” said Davies.  “They are pushing a US-style approach that is expensive and totally ineffective at bringing down the crime rate.”

The Conservative spending plan tabled this week shows a 43% increase in the budget for prison construction, from $230 million in 09/10 to $329 million in 10/11.

OTTAWA – The Harper government’s priorities for public safety are misguided, wasteful and ineffective says New Democrat Public Safety Critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway).

“The Conservative plan is to spend 43% more on building prisons,” said Davies. “They are pushing a US-style approach that is expensive and totally ineffective at bringing down the crime rate.”

The Conservative spending plan tabled this week shows a 43% increase in the budget for prison construction, from $230 million in 09/10 to $329 million in 10/11.

Budgets are about choices.

And with middle-class Canadians working harder to make ends meet, Stephen Harper had an opportunity to give them some much needed relief.

But instead, he chose to increase payroll taxes that individuals and their employers pay by $19 billion. At the same time, Stephen Harper announced $5 billion in new spending to cut corporate taxes, a third of which will go exclusively to the big banks and big oil companies.

Budgets are about choices.

With record level smog and pollution, and growing concern over air and water quality throughout Canada, Stephen Harper had an opportunity in the 2010 budget to crack down on big polluters and bring in effective environmental protection laws.

But instead, he chose to reward polluters and take a pass on reigning in his big oil friends in the tar sands.

Harper’s budget makes it easier for companies to pollute by slashing environmental regulations even further.

Harper’s budget further weakens environmental protection by:

Budgets are about choices.

And with seniors’ poverty doubling and countless workplace pension plans failing each month, Stephen Harper had an opportunity in the 2010 budget to protect our seniors and the retirement savings of hard-working Canadians.

But instead, he chose to allocate billions in new spending to lower the tax rate for Canada’s most profitable corporations, a third of which goes directly to the banks and oil companies.

OTTAWA – People who lost their jobs and other victims of this recession are the losers in this budget while banks whose profits just doubled hit the jackpot, said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton.

“Budgets are about choices. Mr. Harper has chosen to enrich banks and oil companies, the most profitable corporations in the country, with billions in spending on corporate tax cuts rather than help lift seniors out of poverty by increasing the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Instead, they are promising nothing more than to consult seniors about their poverty. That`s not help. That`s a stalling tactic.

The Harper Conservatives have a message for all those Canadians hoping for a change in the government’s recent arrogant and autocratic behavior: get ready for more.

The latest example of running rough shod over democracy comes courtesy of Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon who announced yesterday—at 10:46pm no less— that Gérard Latulippe will be the next president of the troubled Rights and Democracy (International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development).

OTTAWA – Self-employed workers in Canada can now register voluntarily for the Employment Insurance plan in order to qualify for parental, maternity, sickness and compassionate care benefits. Yvon Godin (Acadie-Bathurst) encourages the self-employed to register quickly, in order to be able to use this improved system if the need arises.

Notes Mr Godin: “The New Democratic Party has been asking the government for years to include the self-employed in the Employment Insurance scheme. There is still room for improvement in the system, but this is a step in the right direction.”

OTTAWA- New Democrats are calling on Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney to immediately apologize for censoring references to gay history and gay rights from the latest edition of the Citizenship study guide.

Following today’s lay-off announcement of more than 1,000 Air Canada machinists, New Democrats are proposing measures which would help these workers and their families in these tough economic times.

“With our economy still on shaky foundations, we need to make sure that we are proactive to help lessen the damage caused by these layoffs,” said New Democrat Deputy Leader Thomas Mulcair (Outremont). “This isn’t just about 1,000 workers, but a choice by our government to put jobs first in our economic recovery.”

The New Democrats propose that the government:

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I write to you today to inform you of my request to hold an emergency debate on recent advice given by the Prime Minister to Her Excellency, the Governor General, requesting that the second session of the 40th parliament be prorogued. I do not make this request out of any question of the role of Her Excellency, but rather because I believe the judgement of the Prime Minister in offering such advice was deeply flawed.

What a time to be Canadian!

The heart-stopping overtime goal that brought men’s hockey gold back to Canada was the perfect finish to a historic Winter Games for our country.

As Canadians from coast to coast to coast poured out into the streets to celebrate the gold medal win at the hockey game, it was clear that the celebration was about much more than that single victory. It wasn’t even just that Canada’s fourteen gold medals is one more than any other country has ever won at a Winter Olympic Games. We were united with pride and a sense of accomplishment.