Kitchener Centre New Democrats (NDP)

OTTAWA – The clock has run out on an unfair trade barrier that puts Canada’s beef industry at risk – and New Democrats are demanding strong action from the government in response. 

Today’s decision by the United States Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) proves that the federal government has not been successful in standing up for Canadian beef producers. The United States had the opportunity to treat Canadian producers fairly, but they have not done so. 

“New Democrats believe that fair, robust trade rules are critical to the success of our industries,” said NDP Trade critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway). “The government must step up and protect these important sectors.” 

NDP Agriculture critic, Malcolm Allen (Welland), noted that the beef industry is a key industry in Canada that is being harmed by this US policy. 

“This unfair policy is costing hard-working beef producers $150 million per year,” said Allen. “The WTO ruling has established that this policy is not about food safety or consumer choice. This is not about domestic food security, but is a protectionist measure designed to block north-south trade.”

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OTTAWA – The clock has run out on an unfair trade barrier that puts Canada’s beef industry at risk – and New Democrats are demanding strong action from the government in response. 

Today’s decision by the United States Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) proves that the federal government has not been successful in standing up for Canadian beef producers. The United States had the opportunity to treat Canadian producers fairly, but they have not done so. 

“New Democrats believe that fair, robust trade rules are critical to the success of our industries,” said NDP Trade critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway). “The government must step up and protect these important sectors.” 

NDP Agriculture critic, Malcolm Allen (Welland), noted that the beef industry is a key industry in Canada that is being harmed by this US policy. 

“This unfair policy is costing hard-working beef producers $150 million per year,” said Allen. “The WTO ruling has established that this policy is not about food safety or consumer choice. This is not about domestic food security, but is a protectionist measure designed to block north-south trade.”

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OTTAWA – The clock has run out on an unfair trade barrier that puts Canada’s beef industry at risk – and New Democrats are demanding strong action from the government in response. 

Today’s decision by the United States Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) proves that the federal government has not been successful in standing up for Canadian beef producers. The United States had the opportunity to treat Canadian producers fairly, but they have not done so. 

“New Democrats believe that fair, robust trade rules are critical to the success of our industries,” said NDP Trade critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway). “The government must step up and protect these important sectors.” 

NDP Agriculture critic, Malcolm Allen (Welland), noted that the beef industry is a key industry in Canada that is being harmed by this US policy. 

“This unfair policy is costing hard-working beef producers $150 million per year,” said Allen. “The WTO ruling has established that this policy is not about food safety or consumer choice. This is not about domestic food security, but is a protectionist measure designed to block north-south trade.”

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OTTAWA – New Democrat Digital Issues critic Charmaine Borg (Terrebonne-Blainville) welcomes today’s call from the privacy commissioner to reform Canada’s privacy law – on the day her bill C-475 is up for debate at Second Reading. 

“There is a growing consensus about what needs to be done to protect the personal information of Canadians – which my bill’s reforms reflect,” said MP Charmaine Borg. “The privacy measures proposed in Bill C-475 have long been called for by key experts and citizens groups. It’s time to act to meet the challenges of the digital age not just for today, but for tomorrow as well.” 

Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart released a position paper this morning on the modernization of Canada’s private sector privacy law. In it, she calls for stronger enforcement powers including statutory damages to be administered by the federal court and providing the commissioner with order-making powers. She also calls for breach notification requirements to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and affected individuals. 

Bill C-475, an Act to amend the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, would create mandatory data breach reporting in the event that a data breach causes a risk of harm to an individual. The bill would also increase the enforcement powers of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to ensure that organizations comply with PIPEDA when handling the personal information of Canadians. 

“With data breaches on the rise and some major websites disclosing personal information without the individuals’ consent, Canadians are already onside with privacy reform,” said MP Borg. “Recent studies show that 97% of Canadians want to know when their personal data is breached and 80% support stronger enforcement of our privacy law. It’s clear now more than ever that it is time to bring Canada’s privacy law into the digital age. Bill C-475 will do this.”

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OTTAWA – Today New Democrats slammed the Conservatives for publicly denying the existence of an iPod Tax imposed on imported electronic goods, while privately scheming to impose these taxes retroactively. 

“It’s now clear that despite repeated denials, the Conservatives have been meticulously planning to impose a tax on iPods and other electronic goods and apply it retroactively,” said Opposition critic on National Revenue Murray Rankin (Victoria). “What’s worse is the uncertainty that this brings to the business community, which needs well-defined and fair rules to do business efficiently. Can businesses really trust a government that urges them to import goods duty-free and then turns around a few years later asking for a cheque?” 

According to the 9948 Fair Treatment Coalition, an organization comprised of many leading Canadian companies, e-mails obtained under the Access to Information Act outline a Conservative government plan to issue duty-free authorisation then use a little-known clause to reassess imports and apply the iPod tax retroactively. 

An NDP Opposition Day Motion in April condemned tax hikes on consumer goods. New Democrats also tabled a motion requesting that the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology study the increased taxation of consumer goods. 

“The Conservatives’ lack of accountability is shameful,” said Rankin. “It’s time for them to come clean with Canadians and stop denying the iPod Tax exists.”

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Today marks the day in 1914 when the Komagata Maru, a ship carrying 376 Indian passengers arrived in Vancouver seeking refuge. Due to discriminatory laws, passengers were prevented from disembarking and the ship remained in Burrard Inlet for two months… Learn More

The Conservative patronage machine has moved into full flight once again. This time they devised a way to appoint more of their friends and insiders – invent more cushy appointments seats!

 Here is but a taste of some of the most egregious appointments Conservatives have made so far to the Social Security Tribunal:

1. Dwayne Provo: failed Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Candidate in 2006 and 2009
2. Pierre Lafontaine:  failed Conservative candidate in Jeanne-Le Ber in 2011
3. Jean-Philippe Payment: failed Conservative Candidate in Terrebonne-Blainville in 2011
4. Claude Durand: failed Conservative candidate in Trois-Rivieres in 2008
5. Alcide Boudreault: failed Conservative candidate in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord in 2004 and 2006
6. Mark Borer: member of the Don Valley West Conservative Party Riding Association
7. Oudit Rai: member of the Durham Conservative Riding Association
8. Dominique M Bellemare: failed Conservative candidate in Beauharnois-Salaberry in 1997, 2008 and 2004
9. Joseph Wamback, Federal Progressive Conservative candidate in York North in 2000

 And maybe most notably given the context of his history, Leroy Legere the former Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Minister of Labour during the Westray mining disaster. 

 Conservatives once again proving that if there’s an appointment to be made they’re more than happy to put their friends and insiders first.

 Canadians deserve better.

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The NDP is decrying the Conservatives’ attempt to give political officials direct control over employment decisions at the Bank of Canada, the CPP Investment Board, and the CBC with their latest omnibus bill, Bill C-60.

 “This is a barefaced attempt by the Conservatives to control the Bank of Canada, the CBC and other Crown corporations by threatening wage and benefit cuts or termination for employees who don’t toe the government line,” said NDP Finance critic Peggy Nash (Parkdale–High Park). “The Conservatives are putting the Bank of Canada’s independence at risk.”

 NDP MPs are tabling motions to examine Bill C-60’s impact on journalistic independence at the CBC, research and monetary policy at the Bank of Canada, and trading activities at the CPP Investment Board. While Crown corporations are intended to operate without direct political control, Bill C-60 would permit the Treasury Board to interfere in bargaining with unionized employees or impose employment conditions on non-unionized employees.

 “It is utterly inappropriate for the Conservatives to attempt to control the CBC. The implications for journalists’ freedom to publish stories critical of the government are obvious,” said NDP Heritage critic Pierre Nantel (Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher). “If the Conservatives are truly interested in improving accountability, perhaps they should start with the Senate or the PMO.”

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May 18 marked the fourth anniversary of the end of the 25-year Sri Lankan civil war, a tragedy that in its final days led to the horrific deaths of thousands of civilians trapped by the military on a small stretch of land. Along with other Canadians of Tamil heritage and Tamils around the world, New Democrats marked this day by attending commemorative vigils in memory of those who lost their lives. I was honoured to attend rallies on behalf of NDP and deliver greetings from our leader Tom Mulcair.

While the international community looked away from this conflict, thousands of lives and families were torn apart. The impact of this conflict will reverberate deeply for many years to come as the Tamil community around the world seeks respect, dignity and justice for all of the victims of this horrific war.

In those tragic days, New Democrats stood with the Tamil community in calling for the urgent protection of civilian lives; today, we continue to hold the Sri Lankan government to account for human rights abuses and call on it to immediately allow an independent investigation of war crimes allegations.

The world failed to speak up in 2009. We must not allow the government of Sri Lanka impunity in 2013.

As we remember May 18, New Democrats renew our call for the Canadian government to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka this November.  The Sri Lankan government’s continued human rights abuses and refusal to conduct an independent investigation of war crimes allegations are unacceptable, and New Democrats believe that Canada must take a principled stance in favour of accountability.

New Democrats also launched a petition calling on the Government of Canada to boycott November’s Commonwealth meetings: http://petition.ndp.ca/srilanka

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