NDP Statements

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.

OTTAWA – I have just concluded a face to face meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The meeting was cordial and focussed on the upcoming budget.

I urged Mr. Harper to ensure that the upcoming budget does not harm families or cut the services they rely on in these tough times. I also urged him, in the face of rising unemployment numbers and yet another plant closing today, to ensure his budget focusses on real job creation above all else.

Today marks the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, one of the largest Nazi death camps. The United Nations declared this day as International Holocaust Remembrance Day so that we have the opportunity to honour the memory of Holocaust victims.

‪Nin Hao.

‪On behalf of the New Democratic Party of Canada, I wish you and your family a Happy New Year as you celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

‪The Dragon is respected in Chinese lore because it represents good fortune. Dragons foster bold ideas, grand gestures, and great ambition. They are confident and fearlessly take on challenges.

It’s time to come together around these values once again and make change happen in this special New Year.

Again, we wish you and your family the best of health and happiness.

Happy New Year!
Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Like many Canadians, I was saddened to hear of the passing of Jean Pigott. Ms. Pigott left her mark as a pioneer—both in politics and business—and as a passionate builder of Canada’s capital city.

In 1976, Ms. Pigott earned an impressive byelection win to become one of just two women in the Progressive Conservative caucus. She became a strong advocate for gender equality and inspired a generation of female politicians.

Before that Ms. Pigott was one of only a handful of female CEOs in Canada, and served as the first female director of Ontario Hydro.

Merry Christmas!

The holiday season is a time to reconnect with family, be grateful for your loved ones, reflect on the year that has passed, and embrace the possibilities the New Year brings.

This time of year brings out the best of Canadians’ giving spirit. In 2011, we have seen hardships across the country and across the globe, and this Christmas, I hope that we can all reach out a bit further.

Christmas is about celebrating new hope, and regardless of faith, culture, tradition or heritage, hope is something we can all believe in.

On behalf of New Democrats across Canada I wish you a Hanukkah filled with joy and hope for a bright future.

The next eight nights are a time for remembering the blessings that we have and the accomplishments of those who came before us. It is a time to remind ourselves of challenges to overcome, to reflect on the beliefs we hold dear, and to re-affirm our commitment to a better world for everyone.

It was with great sadness that I learned about the death Sunday of ex-Czech president, Vaclav Havel, following a long illness at the age of 75.

He was the craftsman of the 1989 anti-communist “velvet revolution” and became president of Czechoslovakia and of the Czech Republic from 1989 to 2003.

Today, on this National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, my thoughts turn to 14 young women whose lives were so brutally cut short on December 6, 1989.

Twenty-two years after the massacre at l’École Polytechnique in Montréal, we are still mourning the loss of these women and we will remember them always. But this is not enough.

The New Democratic Party of Canada condemns the hateful and threatening letter to the Toronto Chinese Business Association earlier this week.

The racist targeting of the Chinese community and businesses is something New Democrats will not condone or ignore. Actions or threats of violence and criminal activity will not be tolerated.

The letter, allegedly signed by an unknown group calling itself Animal Liberation Canada/USA, which used racist language, and threatened to poison and contaminate Chinese restaurants in Toronto’s Chinatown.

New Democrats commend the United Nations Security Council for removing Abousfian Abdelrazik from its 1267 list, despite the inaction of Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.

For years, while Mr. Abdelrazik remained in limbo in Sudan, New Democrats pressured the Conservatives to take up Mr. Abdelrazik’s case, but they refused. Even after being cleared of all links to terrorism, the government has allowed Mr. Abdelrazik to linger on this list. The list freezes assets and prevents travel, making it impossible for him to find a job or receive child support.

Assalam-O-Alaikum and Eid Mubarak!

During this special time, as Muslims are coming together to share the values of sacrifice and devotion, the New Democratic Party of Canada wishes you all a Happy Eid al-Adha as you celebrate and reflect with your family, friends and community.

Eid-al-Adha is also a time to gather to celebrate unity, forgiveness, charity and peace.

In the spirit of peace and friendship, Eid Mubarak!