May 2012

What you can do to stand up for the rights of refugees!

Dear Friends,

I know many of you have been dismayed by Bill C-31, recently tabled by the Conservative government, and its attack on the rights and protections afforded to persons seeking refuge in Canada. I took the opportunity last month to express my grave concerns about this Bill: http://www.libbydavies.ca/parliament/speech/2012/4/25/libby-speaks-right... and I encourage you to do the same.

Poll results showing NDP surge no surprise to Libby Davies

NDP Deputy Leader Libby Davies isn’t surprised by Forum Poll results in today's National Post, which suggest the NDP would form a minority government if there were a federal election today. The results of poll also showed that a strong majority of Canadians think the country suffers from a income gap, where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. In an email conversation with the Vancouver Observer, Davies said: “Conservatives are not reflecting the priorities and needs of Canadians. This is particularly notable in the current Budget Implementation Bill (C-38), which contains many, many offensive items.”

The original article, Poll results showing NDP surge no surprise to Libby Davies was published on

May 28, 2012

in Vancouver Observer. Author: Robin Grant

Standing up for animal rights

Libby meets with Fur Bearer Defenders mascot Louie the dog — Libby meets with Fur Bearer Defenders mascot Louie

Slideshow Link:

http://furbearerdefenders.com/

Teaser:

Meeting the Fur Bearer Defenders mascot Louie

Libby urges Minister Finley to come clean about EI changes

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, employees pay into EI in good faith, but under the Conservatives fewer than 40% even qualify, and they want to restrict the rules even more.

The Conservatives claim they have no plans to force Canadians to choose between EI eligibility and relocating to other parts of the country. We know now the idea was not only being discussed, it was also focus-grouped.

Canadians deserve to know the truth. Will the minister table all of the planned changes to EI in this House?

Mulcair calls for an end to discrimination

Official Opposition Leader Thomas Mulcair held a press conference May 17 on Parliament Hill to speak out against discrimination on the 10th anniversary of the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Backed by openly gay NDP MPs Dany Morin, Libby Davies, Philip Toone, Randall Garrison and Craig Scott, Mulcair called upon leaders of all Canadian political parties to set an example by implementing policies that remove barriers that block participation across party lines.

The original article, Opposition leader holds press conference backed by gay MPs was published on

May 17, 2012

in Xtra News. Author: Bradley Turcotte

Tell us what you think about the Conservative budget!

The Conservative Budget Implementation Act 2012 is a “trojan horse” bill sneaking in hundreds of pages of harmful new measures that:

gut environmental protection;
threaten fisheries and other resources;
cut public pensions and job standards; and
undermine public health care.

The NDP is reviewing the budget and looking for you to tell us how it will impact you and your family.

Share your thoughts at:

http://budget2012.ndp.ca/

Libby speaks out in support of a National Suicide Prevention Strategy

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Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I am please to rise in the House today to speak to Bill C-300. It came from committee and is now at third reading in the House. I would again like to congratulate the member for bringing the bill forward.

The NDP members on the health committee have been very supportive of the bill, as we have in the House at second reading. We will support the bill when it comes to a final vote. However, I want to reflect on the nature of the bill and what more we could possibly have done.

There is another bill in the House, Bill C-297, put forward by the member for Halifax. Although both bills deal with suicide prevention, they bring forward different strategies. Bill C-300, is much more of a limiting bill. It plays down the role of the federal government in establishing suicide prevention strategy and, unfortunately, there is nothing in the bill that pertains to First Nations consultation.

Libby questions the Conservative government's changes to food and drug approvals

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Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, the sweeping changes in the Conservative's budget would negatively impact the lives of Canadians.

One of the many disturbing changes would allow the Minister of Health to ignore current regulations and authorize the sale of products that contain harmful substances.

After gutting the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and reducing the number of food inspectors, why is the government blatantly refusing to follow regulations that are essential to keeping Canadians and our food safe?

ON 40-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, NORTH COAST TANKER MORATORIUM AT RISK

BRITISH COLUMBIA – Forty years ago, the Canadian government introduced a moratorium banning oil tankers from the north and central coast of British Columbia. On the anniversary of the moratorium, the BC Caucus of NDP MPs released the following statement:

“As we approach the 40-year anniversary of the north coast tanker ban, the Conservative government is paving the way for unprecedented oil tanker traffic off BC’s coast and gutting the environmental review processes. In light of this, New Democrats are reiterating their call to uphold the ban, and protect BC waters from the risks of a devastating spill.

Libby urges the Conservative government to provide funding for the Mental Health Strategy

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, the Minister was full of self-congratulation yesterday about the mental health strategy put forward by the Mental Health Commission, then later in the day admitted there was no new money for this strategy.

She is dumping responsibility onto already strained provincial health budgets.

Mental health issues take a great toll on our families and on provincial budgets. Now that we finally have a strategy, we should get down to work.

Will the Minister show some leadership to make sure that the mental health strategy is implemented?

Libby speaks out in support of breast cancer screening

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Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise in the House today to speak at report stage, the first hour of debate, to Bill C-314. I would like to congratulate the member for Barrie for bringing forward this bill. I agree that when we bring forward private members' business, whether it is a bill or a motion, it is an opportunity for each of us to show initiative, to bring forward an issue for greater awareness and, hopefully, get support in the House to make an advancement on that issue. There are women who live with dense breast tissue and may not be aware of their higher risk. There is still unfortunately too little known about the issue. So we very much appreciate this bill coming forward.

Libby urges the Conservative government to commit to the Mental Health Strategy for Canada

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Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, for years New Democrats and many others have been calling for a comprehensive strategy and action to improve mental health services for Canadians. Canada's mental health system is poorly coordinated and underfunded.

The Mental Health Commission today called for a long-overdue overhaul of this broken system. The federal government must stop neglecting mental health care and take leadership to ensure that Canadians receive the care they deserve.

What actions will the government take to implement the recommendations of this report, and when will we see these long-overdue changes?

Libby speaks out against the Budget Implementation Act

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Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Western Arctic.

I want to begin my remarks today on Bill C-38 by saying, and it should be said, that this clearly is not only a budget implementation act.

I found it ery interesting to listen to the parliamentary secretary's comments just a few moments ago when she chided the Liberal member for the record of the Liberal government, bringing in a massive omnibus bill as well. I remember that bill, C-43, but it is curious, because I seem to remember that the Conservatives in opposition at that time certainly had lots of concerns about what was hidden in that massive bill. I think it was about 1,000 pages. I remember the debates in this House about how the Liberals were trying to hide things and rush them through.

Here we are today in 2012 with another budget implementation bill, which is anything but. It has become a massive cover for putting through major public policy issues under the guise of a budget implementation bill.

Libby urges the Health Minister to reinstate funding for the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy

Dear Minister,

I am writing to express my concerns over the recent cuts to the Federal Tobacco Control Strategy (FTCS). The FTCS is the largest anti-tobacco program run by Health Canada. By reducing the FTCS budget by $15 million annually, your government is cutting more than a third of the strategy’s annual funding, putting the health and well being of Canadians at risk.

Rainbow day on the Hill arcs over Parliament

A joint program between youth diversity initiative Jer’s Vision and New Democrat MP Dany Morin’s office, the first annual Rainbow Day on the Hill allowed six queer high school students to experience the inner workings of our political system and view the full spectrum of what it’s like to be a queer politician working on behalf of Canadians...In addition to Morin, participating MPs included Libby Davies, Randall Garrison, Craig Scott, Phillip Toone and Scott Brison. With the exception of Brison, all of the openly gay MPs represent the NDP, while Brison wears Liberal red...Nepean High School student Hannah Collins, 17, shadowed Davies and cited Davies’ pragmatic approach to critical issues as the most crucial bit of counsel she received.

The original article, Rainbow day on the Hill arcs over Parliament was published on

May 2, 2012

in Xtra News. Author: Bradley Turcotte

Libby’s statement on the Anniversary of Medicare

Many seniors with us today recall it was 50 year ago in May of 1962, that Medicare was introduced in Saskatchewan. It was a hard fought fight, but the Premier of Saskatchewan was courageous and would not back down in face of those who opposed Medicare.

Those same seniors also know what it was like before Medicare; when families had to choose between providing for their families and putting food on the table, or paying hospital bills.

Fifty years later, we celebrate the strength of Medicare across this nation. As guaranteed by the Canada Health Act, every Canadian has access to the public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, portability, and accessibility of health care in Canada.

Statement by NDP Leader Tom Mulcair on World Press Freedom Day

On this World Press Freedom Day, all New Democrats join me in paying tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 46 journalists lost their lives in 2011 around the world – twice as many as the previous year. This number is far too high.

Many publications are still censored or suspended throughout the world, while journalists are kidnapped or muzzled.

Nomination opens for Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medals

On February 6, 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth marked the 60th anniversary of accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. To celebrate Her Majesty’s 60 years of service, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal has been announced as a way to recognize 60,000 outstanding Canadians of all ages and from all walks of life. These medals provide an opportunity to honour exceptional Canadians for their contributions to their fellow citizens, to our communities and to our country.

There are many outstanding people in East Vancouver who have made significant and meaningful contributions to the community, province, and abroad. I am pleased to be able to take part in recognizing the exceptional individuals who strive to make a difference every day in our community.

Up to 30 medals are available to eligible constituents of Vancouver East. A selection committee will identify and recommend eligible candidates. To be eligible for this honour, a person:

Libby urges the Conservative government to expand compassionate care benefits for parents

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Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives keep making cuts they were never honest about before, like the decision to cut the OAS. Now they are backing away from the commitment that they made to the parents of gravely ill children.

The Conservatives brag about having acted to help parents of crime victims, so why are they failing the parents of children who have fallen victim to illness?

The Conservatives promised to help. When will they fulfill that promise and why was it not in the budget?