NDP Press

OTTAWA – Official Opposition Foreign Affairs Critic Hélène Laverdière today called on Members of Parliament to sign the Global Parliamentary Declaration on the Arms Trade Treaty.

She was joined by Denise Savoie, the Deputy Speaker of the House to raise awareness about this important initiative which has received support by Parliamentarians of all political stripes around the world. The next round of negotiations for the Treaty will be held in New York City from February 13 – 17th.

OTTAWA – Today, New Democrats joined with the Canadian Coast Guard’s Marine Communicators Union to slam budget cuts that could jeopardize the lives of fishers and other mariners.

“We demand the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans stop gambling with people’s lives,” said Fin Donnelly, New Democrat critic for Fisheries and Oceans. “The government should immediately reverse its decision to cut Coast Guard officers and close Search and Rescue Centres. These cuts put fishers and other mariners at risk while also threatening the ocean environment,” added Donnelly.

In the thick of the 2004 election campaign, Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party sent out a “REALITY CHECK” titled: Paul Martin’s hidden seniors agenda . 

Conservatives claimed that Liberals were hiding a plan to raise the retirement age to 67 for Old Age Security (OAS). They ridiculed the idea of raising the eligibility age for OAS because “Canadians would have to work two years longer only to receive less from their public pension.”

OTTAWA –Today New Democrat MPs announced that they will be fanning out across the country to consult Canadians about changes to the Old Age Security (OAS) program planned by the Conservatives.  The MPs will promote practical options the NDP has to address the changes that are happening as our population ages while still ensuring retirement security for all Canadians.

OTTAWA — NDP Status of Women Critic Françoise Boivin (Gatineau) and MP Mylène Freeman (Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel) today introduced a bill seeking to implement the recommendations of the pay equity task force.

“The report was tabled in 2004 and the Conservatives left it on the shelf. The bill we presented today will require them to take action and implement the report’s recommendations,” said Boivin.

Established in 2001, the pay equity task force concluded that the system of relying exclusively on the employer to ensure pay equity is inefficient.

On behalf of Canada’s Official Opposition, NDP leader Nycole Turmel congratulates the Queen on her Diamond Jubilee. 2012 marks the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne.

The Jubilee provides an opportunity for all Canadians to mark the Queen’s lifetime of public service.

New Democrats join all Canadians in thanking the Queen for her continued dedication and service.

LONDON – In another stunning indictment of the Conservatives failed jobs plan, Caterpillar Inc. has announced that the Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) plant in London has permanently shut its doors after 63 years, putting more than 450 workers out of job.

“This is a trend we are seeing across Canada. Companies are taking Harper’s corporate tax cuts and then shipping Canadian jobs overseas” said NDP leader Nycole Turmel. “What this country needs is real job creation. Corporate tax cuts cannot guarantee a single job.”

OTTAWA – NDP Fisheries and Oceans critic, Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam) and Deputy critic Phil Toone (Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine) are demanding that the government take action after the Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel released their report today, “Sustaining Canadian Marine Biodiversity.”

OTTAWA – The Conservative government was grilled today by New Democrat MPs Randall Garrison (Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca) and Dany Morin (Chicoutimi Le-Fjord) during Question Period regarding the recent rule change that requires airlines to deny boarding to transgendered and transsexual Canadians on the basis of their appearance not matching their sex indicated on their ID. Garrison and Morin, New Democrat Critic and Associate Critic on LGBT issues, called on the government to replace these regulations with something that doesn’t discriminate against transgendered and transsexual Canadians.

GATINEAU – In a speech delivered today, the Leader of the Official Opposition, Nycole Turmel, slammed the impact of looming Conservative budget cuts on the quality of life of Canadians.

Turmel, speaking at the annual general meeting of the Gatineau chapter of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, highlighted the potential harm of the Harper government’s looming slashes to the budget.

Black History Month is a wonderful opportunity for Canadians to celebrate the history and accomplishments of the members of the Black community in our country and around the world. This is also an occasion to thank the African-Canadians for the vital contributions they’ve made to improve Canadian society for everyone.

OTTAWA – New Democrat leader Nycole Turmel echoed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) call today for action to improve the stock of rental housing in Canada today.

The FCM released a report calling on the federal government to invest in practical, low-cost options that would increase the housing stock while also creating new jobs.