New Democrats welcome the decision by the BC Supreme Court which ruled that indefinite solitary confinement is unconstitutional in federal prisons across Canada. “Subjecting prisoners to isolation for up to 23 hours a day, sometimes for months or years, is an unconscionable form of punishment and should end immediately, ”said NDP Critic for Public Safety Matthew … Read more
New Democrats welcome the Jan. 17 announcement that the government will establish a new office of the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise. However, we are concerned that the structure of this new office may not meet the standards promised by the Liberals during the last election. “An Ombudsperson for Canadian corporate activity abroad must have real … Read more
NDP leader in the House Guy Caron (Rimouski-Neigette-Témiscouata-Les Basques, Que.) made the following statement: “The Liberal government doesn’t seem to understand that fighting climate change and protecting our environment are critical issues for Canadians. Climate change continues to have more consequences on the day-to-day life of Canadians, yet the Liberals are more concerned with how the … Read more
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh issued the following statement in recognition of the festival of Thai Pongal: “Thai Pongal, one of the most important festive celebrations of the year for the Tamil community, marks the end of the harvesting season and the beginning of the new year. The festival is an occasion to celebrate family and friends … Read more
NDP Health Critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, B.C.) made a statement: “In 2017, it is estimated there were almost 4,000 opioid overdose deaths in Canada,” he said. “However, fewer than one in four Canadians believe that the federal government has ‘responded appropriately’ to this issue. Canada’s New Democrats agree,” said Davies. “The federal government spent $322-million on … Read more
NDP Innovation Critic Brian Masse (Windsor West, Ont.) is calling on the Parliamentary Committee on Industry Science and Technology to study the recent Apple iPhone battery scandal. “Apple had a duty to inform iPhone users that the iOS 10.2.1 update would negatively affect the performance of their device,” he said. “They should have been more transparent … Read more
The NDP is calling on Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett (Toronto-St. Paul’s, Ont.) to come clean over her department’s ongoing vendetta against survivors of St. Anne’s Residential School. Justice Paul Perrell in a January 4 Ontario Superior court ruling stated that the government’s tactic of going after two St. Anne’s Residential School survivors for … Read more
Minister of Public Services and Procurement Carla Qualtrough (Delta, B.C.) indicated that her response to two reports she received a year ago will once again be postponed. “First, they promised to respond in the spring, then they promised to get their response in by summer. When the House returned for the fall sitting, they punted the date … Read more
The United States’ Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal the 2015 Open Internet Order, which put in place net neutrality protections for consumers. The NDP is calling on the Liberal government to commit to maintaining net neutrality and to commit to refusing changes in trade negotiations with the United States. “Although this is a decision taken … Read more
The Liberal government repeatedly promised it would announce its long-awaited new pension plan for injured veterans before the end of 2017 and with the Parliamentary session over, veterans are left to wonder when the new pension plan will be released. Said NDP Veterans Affairs Critic Irene Mathyssen: “The men and women who have served Canada … Read more
