NDP Press Releases

  • Wed 8 Sep 2010

    OTTAWA –Today’s report from Correctional Investigator Howard Sapers paints a troubling picture of how the Conservative government’s approach to prisons is failing inmates with mental illness, endangering staff while doing nothing to make Canadians safer, according to New Democrat Public Safety Critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway).

  • Tue 7 Sep 2010

    WELLAND – New Democrats reacted today to disturbing new internal documents obtained by Postmedia News that outline another appalling failure in the Conservative government’s record on food safety.

    The internal documents also exposed dramatically overstated claims of low sodium and fat levels, as well as inaccurate claims about whole grains, baked goods, candy and even mislabelled meat products.

  • Tue 7 Sep 2010

    SUDBURY – Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault today announced his support for Jack Layton’s plan to find a compromise on the gun registry that brings rural and urban communities together.

    “I went to Ottawa to work to make our community safer and stronger—not to drive it apart,” said Thibeault. “That’s why I will be standing with Jack Layton, not Stephen Harper and Garry Breitkreuz, on the long gun registry. We need to find a solution that brings rural and urban Canadians together and so far Jack Layton is the only one showing the leadership to do just that.”

  • Fri 3 Sep 2010

    OTTAWA – New Democrat Critic for International Cooperation John Rafferty (Thunder Bay-Rainy River) welcomed Minister Bev Oda’s comments that indicated the Government of Canada will provide funding for safe abortion services in countries where abortion is legal through CIDA’s Maternal Health Initiative.

  • Thu 2 Sep 2010

    YELLOWKNIFE—New Democrat Leader Jack Layton today accused Stephen Harper of failing the needs of Northern Canadians.

    “Whether it’s standing by as our pristine North is polluted, promoting an ill-conceived Northern Strategy or ignoring the calls for a highway along the Mackenzie Valley, Stephen Harper has made it clear that he is not concerned with the problems facing the people of the North,” Layton said.

  • Thu 2 Sep 2010

    OTTAWA- With the deadline for the switch from analogue to digital TV now one year away many Canadians are still unsure how this will affect their television access. 

    “So far the Conservative Government has dropped the ball preparing Canadians for this transition that has been in works since 2007,” said New Democrats Digital Issues Critic Charlie Angus.  “Canadians are completely unprepared for this change in service.  I am hearing from a lot of people who are worried that they won’t be able to watch TV after this goes through.”

  • Wed 1 Sep 2010

    OTTAWA – New Democrat Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) says the Conservative Government has crossed over the line by insinuating that police support for the gun registry represents a threat to Canada's freedom. The suggestion was made in an e-mail note Angus received from Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative Chair of the Public Safety Committee.

  • Tue 31 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – Canada should add its support for the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry into alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed by the military regime in Burma, says New Democrat Leader Jack Layton (Toronto-Danforth).

    “Canadians have spoken out against human rights violations in Burma – from political repression and forced displacement of civilians to sexual violence, torture and murder,” said Layton. “Violating human rights has been used systematically and with impunity by the Burmese junta and it’s time to establish a UN Commission of Inquiry.”

  • Mon 30 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – New Democrat leader Jack Layton today called on Prime Minister Harper and Opposition leaders to stop playing cynical political games and work to strengthen gun control and respect rural concerns.

    “Stephen Harper is pitting Canadian region against Canadian region with his all or nothing show-down. This is un-Canadian,” said Layton. “This is the poisonous politics of the United States. Not the nation-building politics of Canada.”

  • Mon 30 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – On the first International Day against Nuclear Tests, New Democrats renewed their call for Canadian leadership toward achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.

  • Mon 30 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – Yesterday, Mr. Harper announced the creation of a new Marine Protected Area in the Beaufort Sea but failed to mention that the government plans to allow offshore oil drilling within it.

    New Democrat Natural Resources Critic Nathan Cullen (Skeena-Bulkley Valley) suggested that this is clear evidence that our offshore drilling rules need to be overhauled.

  • Wed 25 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – New Democrats today renewed their call for the Government to take action on the challenges arising from Canada’s aging population.

    “We have known for some time that we have a rapidly growing community of seniors in this country yet the government continues to drag its feet,” said New Democrat Critic for Senior and Pensions issues, Wayne Marston (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) “All we have had so far is announcements and re-announcements but no action. Harper seems prepared to let this crisis develop unchecked. Our seniors deserve better.”

  • Tue 24 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – Today, New Democratic Leader Jack Layton called on Prime Minister Harper to stop interfering and let Canadians see the Canadian Firearms Program Evaluation report.  This report, completed in February evaluates the effectiveness of the Canadian firearms program, but has still not been released.

    “This report was supposed to be tabled in May but the government claimed that it was still in translation,” said Layton. “There is no way it takes months to translate a report – they’re stalling for political purposes.”

  • Tue 24 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA — New Democrats are demanding the Conservative government to immediately start a comprehensive review of regulation of unconventional oil and gas production in Canada they promised in the spring.

    On June 2, Conservatives and opposition MPs unanimously voted for a motion by New Democrat Environment Critic Linda Duncan (Edmonton—Strathcona) to immediately conduct an open public review of relevant federal laws, regulations and policies regarding the development of all unconventional sources of oil and gas. Since then the Conservatives have turned their backs on that promise.

  • Fri 20 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – New Democrats today welcomed the federal government’s policy shift in the arctic and called for further cooperation among Arctic countries and engagement with Northerners.

    “Today’s announcement marks a major shift from the Conservatives’ confrontational posture on the Arctic,” said New Democrat Foreign Affairs Critic Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre). “Conservatives are late-comers to cooperation and engagement – but better late than never.”

  • Fri 20 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – New Democrat International Cooperation Critic John Rafferty (Thunder Bay – Rainy River) today criticised the Conservative government’s lack of leadership and slow response to the growing disaster in Pakistan.

  • Fri 20 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – With the flagship of Canada’s potash industry inching towards foreign sale, New Democrat Leader Jack Layton today called on the prime minister to stop rubber-stamping foreign takeovers and start protecting family-supporting jobs and communities.

    “When it comes to ensuring that takeovers deliver a net benefit to this country, Canadians can’t trust Stephen Harper. Too many past takeovers have meant boarded-up mills, shredded collective agreements, and lost jobs and pensions,” said Layton.

  • Wed 18 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – After approving one job-killing takeover after another, the Harper Conservatives must ensure there is a comprehensive public review of any takeover of Potash Corporation by Australian mining giant BHP Billiton.

  • Tue 17 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – The arrival of the 490 Tamil boat people seeking refuge in Canada is a symptom of the continued humanitarian suffering in Sri Lanka. It’s time for the government of Canada to rally international efforts to pressure the Sri Lankan government improve living conditions on the ground, say New Democrats.

  • Mon 16 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – New Democrat Veterans Affairs critic Peter Stoffer today called on the Conservative Government to renew the term of Veterans Affairs Ombudsman Colonel Pat Stogran.

    “Col. Pat Stogran has been a champion and tireless advocate for the rights of both Military and RCMP Veterans and their families,” said Stoffer. “He has acted in the interest of our men and women in uniform and has stood up to the Government when necessary. He shouldn’t be punished for that.”

  • Thu 12 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – New Democrats today reacted to the news that a Tamil migrant ship was approaching Canada off the coast of British Columbia.

    “Each person arriving to Canada must be treated equally under the law, according to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act,” said New Democrat Immigration and Citizenship critic Olivia Chow.

  • Thu 12 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – In the wake of a controversial proposal on net neutrality advanced by Google and Verizon in the United States, New Democrats are calling on the CRTC to lay down clear rules to ensure equality of access to all information on the Internet for all Canadians.

    Google and Verizon announced a proposed net neutrality framework that contains some positive principles but excludes wireless networks and any “managed” services, which could range from health-care monitoring to gambling.

  • Thu 12 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – Supporters of Douglas Gary Freeman called on the government to allow him to return home to Canada today. New Democrat Immigration Critic Olivia Chow and NDP Deputy Leader Thomas Mulcair were joined by Freeman’s wife, Natercia Coelho, at a news conference.

    “Douglas Gary Freeman has been a respected member of the community since he arrived in Canada in 1974. It’s time for the government to stop throwing up obstacles and allow him to return home to his wife and children,” said Chow.

  • Wed 11 Aug 2010

    “The floods in Pakistan are an immense natural disaster and the Government’s response has been completely inadequate,” said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton. “Minister Oda has offered just seven cents of aid to each flood victim in that country. It’s a shameful response to one of the worst natural disasters in recent memory.”

    New Democrat Critic for International Cooperation John Rafferty said the Harper government is out of touch with the growing crisis in Pakistan and that other countries have already stepped forward with more aid.

  • Wed 11 Aug 2010

    OTTAWA – As municipalities in Saskatchewan struggle to address serious flooding, they risk losing access to the federal government’s infrastructure stimulus fund and should be granted an exemption, say New Democrats.

    “Saskatchewan municipalities have had a very difficult summer and many will not be able to complete projects by the March 2011 deadline,” said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton. “The practical and fair thing to do is to grant a special exemption to Saskatchewan so that they can complete these projects and not lose out on the government funding.”