New Democratic MP Pat Martin (Winnipeg Centre, MB) has moved that the almost $60 million in Senate program spending included in the budget's Main Estimates be rejected. Martin said the Senate has become simply an expensive extension of the House of Commons and a partisan repository for political partisan operatives. The full release is available … Read more
During their national convention, New Democrats passed a number of resolutions aimed at jump starting Canada’s economy in the wake of a job-killing recession. NDP Leader Jack Layton (Toronto-Danforth, ON) said Canada’s job-supporting industries need to be fostered. One resolution calls for targeted tax incentives to encourage job creation and job-supporting investment. Another calls for … Read more
The New Democratic Party of Canada said that new details of the government's strategic and operating review reveal Infrastructure Canada is cutting $45 million of green infrastructure funding. NDP Critic for Infrastructure and Communities Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina, ON) said the Green Infrastructure Fund was intended to provide $1 billion in funding for much-needed projects that … Read more
New Democrats are calling for the Conservatives to stop ignoring Health Canada’s advice on the risks of chrysotile asbestos and to finally list it as a controlled substance. NDP Natural Resources Critic Romeo Saganash (Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou, QC) said it's time the Conservative Party acknowledged that chrysotile asbestos is dangerous and stopped sabotaging international efforts to list … Read more
NDP Critic for Official Languages Yvon Godin (Acadie-Bathrust, NB) reintroduced his Private Members' Bill requiring Supreme Court Judges to understand both official languages. Bill C-208, An Act to amend the Supreme Court Act (understanding the official languages) was introduced and read a first time during routine proceedings in the House of Commons. The full release … Read more
The New Democratic Party of Canada said that the appointed Senator and Conservative Fund Board Chair Irving Gerstein will review his party's fundraising strategy while he is facing fraud charges for violating the Elections Canada Act. New Democratic Ethics Critic Charlie Angus said that Senator Gerstein should be stepping down from his Senate duties while … Read more
The New Democratic Party of Canada said that the Canada Post Corporation has refused to give NDP MP Yvon Godin (Acadie-Bathurst, NS) access to its distribution centre in Laval and to the Leo Blanchette centre in Montreal, QC. The NDP said Canada Post took this action despite having agreed to a visit by the NDP … Read more
The New Democratic Party of Canada announced that it is calling on the federal government to acknowledge the wishes of British Columbia voters and legislate an oil tanker ban off BC's north coast. The NDP said that a poll conducted in April 2011 showed that 80 per cent of British Columbians are opposed to oil … Read more
NDP MP Denise Savoie (Victora, BC) accepted the role of Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons for the 41st Parliament. The Deputy Speaker, also known as the Chair of Committees of the Whole, is one of three Chair occupants who preside over debate in the House of Commons when the Speaker is unavailable. Outside … Read more
NDP Leader Jack Layton (Toronto-Danforth, ON) said the New Democrats campaigned to fix Ottawa in the last federal election and that includes repairing the relationship between Ottawa and the country’s municipalities. Layton adressed municipal leaders at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Annual Convention and said that communities need federal help now to upgrade transit, roads, … Read more
