Federal Politics Journal

Layoffs will affect Air Canada workers in Montreal, Winnipeg and Vancouver

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.”

Read full article: 'New Democrats propose help for laid-off aviation workers'

Following four years of Conservative disinterest in China, Liberals are meeting today to work on Canada’s long-term strategy for China.

“China has the world’s third largest economy, the largest population and is growing at full speed,” said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. “In order to compete internationally and assert our voice in the Asia-Pacific region, Canada needs a comprehensive plan for engagement with China.”

Read full article: 'Liberals are working to realize Canada’s full potential with China'

The Green Party of Canada is calling for the immediate release of the panel report "2010 And Beyond" on the future of high performance athletics in Canada. The panel, chaired by policy expert David Zussman, toured Canada and received advice from Canada's sports community on how to better support athletes.

"The panel report has been on Gary Lunn's desk since October 2009. Now that a very successful Olympics--showing the benefit of investments in high-performance athletes--has closed, it is time to look to the future," said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada.

Read full article: 'Beyond the Olympic Games'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today congratulated the Canadian athletes, coaches, volunteers and organizers who contributed to making the 2010 Olympic Winter Games held in Vancouver and Whistler a tremendous success:

“These Games were Canada’s time to shine. With the hopes of millions of Canadians resting on their strong shoulders, our Olympic athletes more than shone, they swept away records, amazed us with their courage and showed the world the strength of Canadian athletics.

“On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to thank the entire national Olympic team for providing us with some of the most exciting moments in Canadian sporting history. Your commitment, dedication, spirit and success at these Games have inspired the nation and will undoubtedly motivate young Canadians to follow in your footsteps.

Read full article: 'PM marks closing of Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games'

Le chef du Bloc Québécois, Gilles Duceppe, a exprimé sa tristesse à la suite du décès de l’écrivaine Madeleine Ferron. Vous trouverez ci-joint le message livré un peu plus tôt par le chef du Bloc Québécois.

« Permettez-moi ces quelques mots pour exprimer ma tristesse à la suite du décès de Mme Madeleine Ferron au cours de la dernière fin de semaine. Écrivaine engagée, Mme Ferron est issue d’une famille qui a grandement contribué à la culture et à l’identité sociale des Québécoises et des Québécois. Elle était notamment bien connue pour ses actions significatives pour la protection du patrimoine beauceron.

Read full article: 'Message de Gilles Duceppe à l’occasion du décès de l’écrivaine Madeleine Ferron'

The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Marc Mayrand, announced today that the registered parties' fourth quarter financial returns for 2009 are now available on the Elections Canada Web site.

The chief agent of a registered party that is entitled to a quarterly allowance must submit a quarterly return on the party's contributions and transfers to the Chief Electoral Officer within 30 days of the end of the quarter.

Read full article: 'Registered Political Parties' Fourth Quarter Financial Returns for 2009 Now On-line'

Prime Minister Harper’s prorogation of the 40th Parliament last December for the reasons he has given sets a dangerous precedent. And the op-ed piece by Paul Benoit in The Ottawa Citizen on January 15th failed miserably in its attempt to refute an earlier article written by 170 university professors who accused the Prime Minister of undermining our system of democratic government.

The Professors were right and Mr. Benoit reflects the problem we have with Harper’s bias towards American philosophies. He works with Hill & Knowlton, one of the largest public relation firms in the U.S. In 2009 Harper’s government paid them over $132,000 for their services as “Management Consultants”. Will that op-ed be part of their next bill?

Harper states the government needs time to recalibrate. He wants time to develop new policies and programs. But that is what Parliament and its committees are designed to do! Why send the MPs and Senators home when the government is looking for new ideas?

Read full article: 'Prime Minister Harper is acting like a ‘King of Olde’'

New Democrat Employment Insurance Critic Yvon Godin (Acadie—Bathurst) is calling on the Minister of Human Resources to help the more than 500,000 unemployed who have still not found work and who have exhausted their employment insurance benefits.

“Without an effective job creation strategy, the unemployed will need government assistance. The government cannot simply offload the problem onto the provinces,” said Yvon Godin. “People who are unemployed and without employment insurance benefits still have to pay their bills and pay rent. Since social assistance benefits are just above the poverty line, there is cause for concern about these families.”

Read full article: 'New Democrats call for extension of EI benefits'

New Democrat Sports Critic Glenn Thibeault (Sudbury) and Deputy Leader Thomas Mulcair (Outremont) called today for a Royal Commission on violence in sports.

New Democrats made this demand on behalf of the millions of people concerned about the increase in disgraceful and violent behaviour in sport, and the inability of professional and amateur leagues to solve the problem.

“It is high time this issue is taken seriously. League authorities need to explain why a savage attack, which would result in charges of aggravated assault anywhere else, warrants nothing but a few game suspensions,” said Thibeault.

Read full article: 'New Democrats call for Royal Commission on violence in sports'

Liberals are working on Parliament Hill today by hosting a roundtable on international development, with an eye to repairing Canada’s global reputation damaged by the Harper Conservatives.

“Under the Harper government, the world has taken a different view of Canada – and it’s not a positive one,” said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.

“We once had a proud reputation as the most generous, compassionate and giving nation for coming to the aid of the world’s vulnerable. We need to return to that position of prominence, not out of pride, but because helping our global neighbours in need is the right thing to do.”

Read full article: ' Liberals are working to better Canada’s international development assistance'

Liberal MPs are calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to assure Canadians that he won’t change Canada’s long-standing tradition of recognizing women’s reproductive rights and access to contraception as part of his maternal health initiative, and will work in full partnership with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).

Conservative MP Brad Trost has petitioned the House of Commons to cut Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) funding to the IPFF.

Read full article: 'Liberals ask Harper to keep ideology out of maternal health initiative'

Black History Month is an important opportunity to celebrate the enormous contributions that Black Canadians have made to Canadian society. "This month, all Canadians can take some time to learn about the history of Black people in our country and how their presence and achievements have influenced our culture," said Green Leader Elizabeth May.

February has been officially designated Black History Month in Canada since 1995, growing out of a long history of unofficial celebrations of the contributions of Black Canadians.

Read full article: 'Greens Celebrate Black History Month'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today filled five vacancies in the Senate. The appointments are another step toward implementing the Government’s tackling-crime agenda and respecting the will of the democratically-elected House of Commons.

Appointed are Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu (QC), Bob Runciman (ON), Vim Kochhar (ON), Elizabeth (Beth) Marshall (NL) and Rose-May Poirier (NB). These appointments give the Government a plurality of seats in the Upper House.

Read full article: 'PM names five outstanding Canadians to Senate'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today underlined the importance of Newfoundland and Labrador’s construction industry in building Canada’s future prosperity as Canada prepares to implement the second phase of its Economic Action Plan.

“In executing the first phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the importance of the men and women of the construction industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, and throughout the country, cannot be overstated. As we prepare to launch the second phase, that role will become no less essential,” said Prime Minister Harper in a speech to the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association.

Read full article: 'PM pays tribute to those building Canada’s future'

« On pouvait malheureusement s’attendre à ce que le gouvernement fédéral ne respecte pas l’avis des experts en matière de lutte aux changements climatiques, mais jamais on n’aurait pu penser que le gouvernement ne respecterait même pas ses propres objectifs, déjà largement insuffisants par rapport à ceux établis par le protocole de Kyoto », a commenté aujourd’hui le porte-parole du Bloc Québécois en matière d’environnement et député de Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Bernard Bigras.

Le député du Bloc Québécois se dit ainsi consterné par l’annonce par le ministre fédéral de l’Environnement, Jim Prentice, des intentions de son gouvernement d’adopter une cible de réduction de 17 % d’ici 10 ans de ses émissions de gaz à effet de serre, avec 2005 comme année de référence. Cet objectif d’une réduction des émissions de l’ordre de 20 %, avec l’année de référence de 2006, constitue un recul en rapport avec l’objectif que les conservateurs ont véhiculé jusqu’ici.

Read full article: 'Ottawa abaisse encore une fois ses objectifs de réduction des GES'