New Democrats are calling on the government to acknowledge the invaluable contribution made by small, local businesses with more financial support. “For months, distilleries across the country dropped everything and started producing hand sanitizer to help people stay safe and stop the spread of the virus in their communities,” said NDP critic for small business Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni, … Read more
A Parliamentary Budget Officer report confirmed that, even during the pandemic, the Liberals continue to dump billions of dollars into propping up oil companies and a pipeline project that is very unlikely to make a profit or create sustainable jobs. “Today’s PBO report confirms that it would take a fantasy scenario for this project to be … Read more
NDP MP Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, B.C.) started the discussion in the House of Commons about the need to make sure the $400 billion in the Canada Pension Plan is invested ethically in ways that would make Canadians proud. Although the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board claims to operate with Principles for Responsible Investment, there is no mention … Read more
Following the release of the fall economic statement, NPD Critic for Housing Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, B.C.) issued remarks: “Almost all of the new funding for housing announced this week was for the Rental Construction Financing initiative, a seriously-flawed loan program geared primarily towards the for-profit private sector. Based on this program’s definition of affordability, rent over … Read more
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, B.C.) called for the government to make sure Canada has the capacity to manufacture vaccines and critical medicines for Canadians here at home. This pandemic has shown that Canadians shouldn’t be forced to rely on production in other countries in emergencies. As a result of not being prepared, the … Read more
NDP critic for Canadian Heritage Alexandre Boulerice (Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Que.) and deputy critic Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona, Alta.) sent a letter to Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault (Laurier-Sainte-Marie, Que.) expressing their concern over CBC/Radio Canada’s recent development to create branded content. “I was shocked to learn of CBC/Radio Canada’s recent move to create a branded advertising and podcasting service, Tandem,” … Read more
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, B.C.) called on the Liberals to keep their promises to young people who are struggling to make ends meet. “Students have lost their summer employment and many workers are still struggling to make ends meet. They need help now,” he said. Canadians have been waiting on the Liberals to implement their promised federal minimum … Read more
NDP critic for Innovation, Science, Economic Development and Auto Brian Masse (Windsor West, Ont.), welcomed the government finally taking the private members bill C-218, which will repeal paragraph 207(4)(b) of Canada’s Criminal Code, allowing Canadians to place bets on single sport events. “It has taken almost 10 years, three parliaments and two prime ministers to do something that … Read more
NDP veterans critic Rachel Blaney (North Island-Powell River, B.C.), wrote to Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan, PEI) about his department’s troubling treatment of Canadian veterans following reports that former service men and women were given little notice they’d be cut off from receiving income they count on to support themselves and their families. “The … Read more
NDP small business critic Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni, B.C.) issued the following statement: “Small business owners have been waiting for help paying their commercial rent since the very beginning of the pandemic, but it took until November to actually deliver tenant-driven support. It shouldn’t have taken this long for the government to step up for these … Read more
