Libby remembers Nelson Mandela in Parliament

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Posted on 2013.12.6

Libby remembers Nelson Mandela in Parliament

House of Commons

HANSARD

December 5, 2013

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate my colleague raising her very thoughtful arguments, particularly as they pertain to indigenous people and their concerns about this bill.

It gives me the opportunity to stand in the House and reflect for a moment on the passing of Nelson Mandela, which we just heard about a few minutes ago. Even here today, as we are debating this bill, when we think of Nelson Mandela, we think of hhis enormous legacy for human rights and human dignity.

As parliamentarians, it is something that we uphold and honour. Even with this bill today, which is about indigenous rights, equality and dignity for people, it is something that we reflect on. I hope that we carry it forward as a legacy.

Libby asks the Minister to take responsibility in the recent E.coli outbreak

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Posted on 2012.10.5

Libby asks the Minister to take responsibility in the recent E.coli outbreak

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House of Commons

HANSARD

October 5, 2012

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, on September 13 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency yanked XL’s exporter licence at the request of U.S. officials. The minister of agriculture and his department determined that this meat was not safe enough to be sold to American consumers, yet he did not pull XL’s Canadian licence for another 14 days.

Therefore, for 14 days the minister of agriculture allowed the same tainted meat that was not safe enough for Americans to be sold to Canadian families. Why?

Hon. Gerry Ritz (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the question from the member opposite. It gives me another chance to say that food safety is a priority for this government.

The CFIA began acting on September 4 and has continued to act based on science and information as it becomes available.

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, the minister’s response is again very short on the facts, so let us review those.

The minister said he was aware from day one of all of the activities, which means he knew about the broken safety equipment. That means he knew on September 6 that XL Foods was withholding critical data from government officials. It means he knew on September 13 that meat from XL was not safe enough for American consumers.

Why then did he withhold vital public health information from Canadians?

Hon. Gerry Ritz (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, as I said, the CFIA, based on science and timely access to information, began operating on September 4 in the best interests of Canadian consumers. It continues to do that. The member opposite chooses to ignore that there is a timeline that has been well-published on the CFIA website that answers a lot of those questions.

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a watershed day for taking responsibility. First, the CFIA took responsibility for its part in this recall. Then XL took responsibility for the faulty operations at the plant. The only person with the infallibility complex who refuses to take responsibility is the minister of agriculture himself.

When will he apologize for his failure to keep Canadians informed and tender his resignation?

7th Annual Sisters in Spirit Vigil

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Posted on 2012.10.4

7th Annual Sisters in Spirit Vigil

Today is the 7th annual “Sisters in Spirit” Vigil taking place in Ottawa. This event hosted by the Native Women’s Association of Canada is important for several reasons:

It brings together the families and friends of missing and murdered women to speak out and share their stories, and it focuses attention on the federal government and their lack of action on the tragedy of how so many Aboriginal women have fallen to violence.

I will be attending the Vigil tonight in Ottawa, and remembering the women of the Downtown Eastside, and women across Canada, that we have lost. I’ve always believed our whole societal system has failed these women. Whether its the indifference and neglect of successive governments; lack of action from law enforcement agencies, to the judicial system overall; or the deteriorating social and economic conditions that many women face on a daily basis, it all adds up to a national disgrace that must be addressed.

In Parliament today, my colleague Niki Ashton MP, and our Women’s critic, raised these issues with the government. Their response was not comforting, to say the least.

I have long advocated for action to address these deeply systemic issues of poverty, violence, discrimination and absence of justice for missing and murdered women. Sex workers, particularly have been faced with harsh realities that are ignored by government. Their safety and rights are important too.

There are many strong organizations who work on these issues every day – including the NWAC –  so today, we stand in support of their work, and the work of courageous family members who have refused to give up. 

Libby

The Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness applauds Libby’s Private Members Bill to stop Genetic Discrimination

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Posted on 2012.10.3

The Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness applauds Libby’s Private Members Bill to stop Genetic Discrimination

Dear Friends,

I was pleased to introduce Bill C-445 in Parliament recently, which would add genetic characteristics to the Canadian Charter of Human Rights as a reason which Canadians cannot be discriminated against.  I want to thank the Coalition for Genetic Fairness whose hard work and advocacy ensured this bill was introduced in Parliament.  Below you can find their press release on the introduction of the bill, as well as more information about how you can get involved in their organization.

Sincerely,

Libby

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(KITCHENER) October 1, 2012 – The Coalition for Genetic Fairness/La Coalition canadienne pour l’équité génétique (CCGF/CCEG) came out in support of a Private Members Bill put forth in Ottawa today by NDP MP Libby Davies (Vancouver East). Bill C-445, An Act to Amend the Canadian Human Rights Act (Genetic Characteristics), if moved forward, would add genetic characteristics to the Human Rights Act and help end genetic discrimination in Canada. Genetic discrimination occurs when people are treated unfairly because of differences within their genetic make-up (DNA) based on a perceived future disability– discrimination can include the denial of insurance coverage, or job opportunities.

Canada is currently the only G8 country that does not have laws in place to protect the use of its citizens’ DNA. The United States and the countries of the European Union have all moved to stop this practice.

“This is a welcome step forward to ending the quiet practice of genetic discrimination in Canada. Discrimination based on gender, race, religion or culture is not acceptable. The same should be true for discrimination based on the genes we are born with. Citizens should not have to fear job lose or being denied insurance coverage because of their genetic makeup,” said Bev Heim-Myers Chair, Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness and CEO of the Huntington Society of Canada.

The Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness applauds Ms. Davies efforts as concern remains as to how the protection of an individual’s genetic information will be achieved. For Canadians to fully benefit from advancements such as ‘personalized medicine’ (targeted treatment strategies based on genetic test results) the Federal government must first implement new laws to protect the use of genetic information by adding genetic characteristics to our Human Rights Act or another vehicle to enable this protection.
Genetic discrimination affects all Canadians. Know your rights, talk to your local Member of Parliament! To learn more visit Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness’s www.ccgf-cceg.ca

The Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness/La Coalition canadienne pour l’équité génétique (CCGF/CCEG) is a coalition of organizations dedicated to preventing genetic discrimination for all Canadians. The Coalition is deeply concerned about discrimination against individuals based on their genetic make-up. We are united to educate Canadians about genetic discrimination and to influence governments, both federal and provincial, and other relevant organizations to create change. CCGF/CCEG currently represents 18 hereditary genetic diseases in Canada.

For more information, please contact:

The Canadian Coalition for Genetic Fairness Bev Heim-Myers,

Chair CCGF and CEO and Executive Director of the Huntington Society of Canada

519-749-7063

info@ccgf-cceg.ca

The NDP urges the Conservative government to stop loan penalties on co-ops – Libby Davies

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Posted on 2012.10.1

The NDP urges the Conservative government to stop loan penalties on co-ops

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 1, 2012

WORLD HABITAT DAY: CONSERVATIVES MUST STOP PENALIZING COOPERATIVES

OTTAWA — The Conservative government must stop the Canada Mortgage and Housing Cooperation (CMHC) from imposing harsh penalties on cooperatives that are renegotiating their loan, said New Democrat Housing critic Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (Hochelaga), today on World Habitat Day.

“The Conservative government is showing it’s consistency for taking from the poor,” said Boutin-Sweet. “It reduces funding for social housing, and it keeps cooperatives under the authority of the CMHC by subjecting them to excessive penalties.”

The CMHC imposes harsh penalties on housing cooperatives that want to refinance their mortgage in the long term in order to do renovations. Penalties are equivalent to the total interest payable from now until the end of the mortgage term. In the case of Village Canadian, a Winnipeg cooperative whose mortgage rate was fixed at %13.25, the amount left to pay would be $5.5 million, a small fortune!

“Minister Diane Finley must quickly eliminate or reduce these penalties that keep families in a stranglehold,” said Boutin-Sweet. “It would be a simple way to meet the objectives of World Habitat Day.”

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