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.

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.

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.

On behalf of the New Democratic Party, I convey my deepest sympathies to the Chilean people as they recover and cope with the devastating 8.8-magnitude earthquake on Saturday. Aftershocks are still being felt and Tsunami warnings were issued around the Pacific Rim. An estimated 700 people are dead, with over two million affected. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone touched by this tragedy.

Ninety-three years ago, a Canadian lad of 16 answered his country’s call to serve. Barely a man, he couldn’t have known how he would go on to stand as an icon, as our last link to the 650,000 Canadian women and men who sacrificed so much in the Great War.

It is with sadness and deep respect today that we note the passing of John Babcock, the last of Canada’s First World War veterans. And for so many of us today, sadness is tinged with a sense of wonder as we reflect on Mr. Babcock’s journey. So much change witnessed; so much life well lived.

These days, we’re seeing an awful lot of those tax-funded ads where Mr. Harper tries to celebrate our so-called “economic recovery.”

But here’s the truth:

There IS no economic recovery until the half-million Canadians thrown out of work this recession are back on the job.

Il est clair pour nous qu’il n’y a pas de véritable relance économique tant et aussi longtemps que le demi-million de personnes qui ont perdu leur emploi ne sont pas de retour au travail.

Les gens se cherchent encore des emplois, partout au pays. Partout ou je suis allé,

Over the weekend we watched with pride as Canadian athletes not only won our first four medals of these games, but made history too.

Saturday, Kristina Groves started it off with a bronze medal in Women’s 3000 Metre Speed Skating, which was followed later in the day by Jennifer Heil’s nail-biting silver win in Women’s Moguls.

On Sunday, all eyes turned to Alexandre Bilodeau’s gold medal win in Men’s Moguls. This was not only the first gold of these games, but the first ever Olympic gold won in Canada. It was an amazing victory that will be remembered for years to come.

Nin Hao.

On behalf of the New Democratic Party of Canada, I join you and your family in celebrating the New Year of the Tiger.

The Tiger is revered and respected for courage, strength, leadership and optimism. The Chinese community in Canada has demonstrated all of these qualities in building this great nation.

New Democrats will be inspired by the Tiger as we work to rebuild our economy for all hard working families.

May the Year of the Tiger bring good health, peace, prosperity and success.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Kung Hey Fat Choy!

I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker in Afghanistan.

The 24 year old member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry), from Edmonton was serving with the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Cpl. Baker was killed and four other Canadian soldier were injured during a training exercise on a range outside of Kandahar City.

On behalf of all New Democrats, I wish to extend my condolences to Cpl. Baker's family, friends and community who mourn the loss of this brave soldier.

With the 2010 Olympics finally underway and the world’s top winter athletes gathering in Vancouver, on behalf of New Democrats from coast to coast to coast, I would like to extend the warmest wishes and best of luck to all of the Canadian men and women who will be competing.

All those who have worked with VANOC to prepare for these games - from Board members to volunteers - have good reason to take pride in what they have accomplished. And Vancouverites, indeed all British Columbians, can hold their heads a little higher as the world’s focus turns to this beautiful part of our country.

My most heartfelt condolences to the family and teammates of Nodar Kumaritashvili, the young Georgian athlete who lost his life on a training run just hours before the opening ceremonies.

To the Vancouver organising committee and all Olympians everywhere, I wish you strength.

The unique quality of the Olympics that brings the world together in the spirit of competition and hope, yesterday united us in grief.

Good afternoon. Thank you all for coming.

As some of you may know, I hurt my back last week. Everyone who leads an active lifestyle knows what it's like to pull a muscle at the gym - it can be pretty painful.

My back is better now, but today I want to let you know about an unrelated health matter.

This year, more than 25,000 Canadian men will be diagnosed with treatable prostate cancer and I have recently learned that I’m one of them.

It’s the same kind of prostate cancer that my father was diagnosed with 17 years ago.

Throughout the month of February, we will celebrate the history and accomplishments of Canada’s Black community. Black History Month is an important occasion to recognize the many contributions of Black Canadians to our society and to thank them for their involvement.

However, while we salute the role the Black Community has played in Canada, it is important to note that there is a long road ahead of us to end the discrimination and racism they have faced. We must continue to strive, as a country and as individual citizens, to promote a fair Canada for all.

Good morning.

The New Democrat caucus is here to do its job.

Later this morning, we will meet to review the situation in Haiti and Canada’s role in providing critical support in this time of desperate need.

We will receive in-depth briefings from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the respected international aid group, Oxfam.

Our caucus is supportive of the government’s actions thus far to help the people of Haiti and those Canadians still missing.

It has now been a week since the 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated much of Haiti leaving thousands dead and an estimated 1.5 million homeless. Since then we have seen the nations and people of the world, including Canada, come together to offer aid and support. On behalf of all New Democrats, we send our condolences and support to the people of Haiti and the Canadian-Haitian community. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.

My thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of Sgt. John Faught of the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton. Faught, 44, was killed Saturday by an improvised explosive device, while on patrol in southern Afghanistan.

Sergeant Faught, originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, was on his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. The veteran soldier’s desire to serve his country inspired those around him and his legacy will be that of a father figure and strong front-line leader.

I fully support the decision by Tribal Wi-Chi-Way-Win Capital Corp. (TWCC) to sue the federal government after being shut out of a new program designed to increase capital available to small and medium businesses in Aboriginal communities.

I fully support the decision by Tribal Wi-Chi-Way-Win Capital Corp. (TWCC) to sue the federal government after being shut out of a new program designed to increase capital available to small and medium businesses in Aboriginal communities.

Canadians have lost an important champion of human rights in the passing of Rémy Beauregard, the President of Rights and Democracy.

Both here in Canada and abroad, Mr. Beauregard’s passionate promotion and protection of human rights have touched many lives. Prior to his position at Rights and Democracy, Mr. Beauregard served as the Executive Director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. He was a driving force in the establishment of the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies, and served as its first Executive Secretary.

By proroguing Parliament, once again, Stephen Harper is shutting down democracy and locking out Members of Parliament, preventing them from doing the very important work they were elected to do in the House of Commons.

New Democrat MPs will continue to work hard in their ridings. That is what they do when the House is not in session. But MPs need to be able to bring back to Parliament the concerns of their constituents.

They won’t be able to, and this constitutes a debasement of Canada’s democratic system.

“Our country has suffered a terrible tragedy in the loss of Canadian journalist Michelle Lang and four brave soldiers, killed yesterday by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. My thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and loved ones.”

“By all accounts Michelle Lang was a thoughtful, talented and kind journalist who was in Afghanistan to tell the stories of the brave men and women serving our country. Her loss will be felt deeply. Hers was a promising life that has been unjustly cut short.”

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is a time of giving and sharing. We gather with family and friends to renew our bonds, to laugh together, and to reflect on the year gone by.

Christmas often brings out the best of our generous Canadian spirit. We turn to those less fortunate and offer a helping hand. This year, that helping hand is more important than ever. Those among us who have lost jobs or are worried about their future need support and New Democrats will do whatever we can to be there for you.

“I wish to extend my condolences to the family and loved ones of Lt. Andrew Richard Nuttall, who was killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Lt. Nuttall made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his country and he will not be forgotten.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues who mourn the loss of these brave men. I know how deeply this loss is felt within Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Regiment, and across the Canadian Forces.”

New Democrats and progressive Canadians from coast to coast to coast are saddened by the loss of our friend, Gordon Brigden. 
Gord passed away at age 84 this week, after a long illness.  And while we take a moment to share our sadness, Gord himself would be the first to say it’s time to get back to work building a better Canada.

Hanukkah begins at sundown tonight and it is an eight-night holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem thousands of years ago.

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

Hanukkah is 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 renew our commitment to the beliefs we hold dear, and to re-affirm our commitment to a better world for all.

Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. In deep sadness, we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre at the École polytechnique on December 6, 1989, where 14 women were shot and killed because they were women.