Libby’s statement on the Ontario prostitution ruling

Posted on

Posted on 2012.03.26

Libby’s statement on the Ontario prostitution ruling

Today the Court of Appeal for Ontario struck down the ban on keeping a common bawdy house and also called for revised legislation on living off the avails of prostitution.

The decision today, confirms yet again, that the status quo is not acceptable and that the current laws put sex workers at risk.  The ruling is in line with the 2006 findings of the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Solicitation Laws, showing that current laws are hurting sex workers, and the status quo is not acceptable.  The Ontario ruling recognizes the role that Canada’s harmful and marginalizing prostitution laws played in the Pickton murders and the disappearance and murder of upwards of 300 other women, mostly sex workers, across Canada.  The court has found it is unacceptable for sex workers to have to put themselves in these highly risky situations.  The Court struck down the law surrounding bawdy houses and in addition, stated that the laws concerning living off the avails of prostitution need to be rewritten, to apply only to “circumstances of exploitation”. 

The federal government cannot simply sweep this issue under the carpet, nor should they initiate costly and lengthy legal appeals.  I urge the government to accept the legitimacy of the Court of Appeal’s decision.  We need immediate action to protect the safety and rights of sex workers.  Therefore, Parliament itself should seize this issue and review the laws in question – in consultation with sex workers – and determine what needs to be done to protect the rights and safety of sex workers, as well as the wider public.  

I applaud the ground breaking work of the three complainants, and Professor Alan Young, for bringing forward the original case to the Ontario courts, and for drawing attention to the inherent rights of sex workers.

To read a brief recap of the Ontario Court of Appeal’s Decision, check out Pivot Legal Society excellent summary: http://pivotlegal.org/pivot-points/blog/ontario-sex-work-judgement-in-489-words

To read the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Solicitation Laws report (December 2006): http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2599932&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=1

Libby speaks in support of eradicating TB worldwide

Posted on

Posted on 2012.03.23

Libby speaks in support of eradicating TB worldwide

Check out Libby speaking at Stop TB Canada’s press conference on World TB Day (Libby’s comments can be found at 11:00, but if you want to learn more about the valuable work of Stop TB Canada, stay tuned for the whole video!):

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_large”,”fid”:”148″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]

Libby will continue to work on this issue in the coming months with fellow MPs and Senators who sit on the HIV/AIDS and TB (HAT) Caucus with her.  The group meets regularly to explore ways that MPs and Senators can work together in the fight against the global epidemic of HIV/AIDS and TB. 

Welcome to my new site!

Posted on

Posted on 2012.03.21

Welcome to my new site!

Dear Friends,

Welcome to my newly redesigned website!  After many months of hard work, I am happy to unveil the new site, and encourage you to check it out.

Keep an eye out for:

  • Our new design, which makes the site easier to navigate and search – try out our ‘search’ tool and click on any content title to find tables of archived posts.
  • Find links to my Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Flickr accounts, and follow my Twitter feed and top NDP News on this site.  You can also sign up for RSS Feeds via email (just look to your right!)
  • Our interactive features and a rotating photo slideshow devoted to the beautiful people and places of East Van!

Speaking of which, we are always looking for photos to add to our ever-expanding slideshow.

I would like to also take this opportunity to thank our designer, Continuum Design, for making the new site so fantastic!

I hope you enjoy exploring our new site.  As always, don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments.

Libby

Government fast-tracks approvals for vital drugs

Posted on

Government fast-tracks approvals for vital drugs

The federal government is working to fast-track approvals of alternative supplies of key medications as hospitals across the country cope with an ongoing shortage that is jeopardizing surgeries…Libby Davies, the New Democrat health critic, agrees that the main objective should be to find substitutes for the medicines that are in temporary short supply amid ongoing problems at the factory that manufactures about 90 per cent of Canada's generic injectable drugs. At the same time, Ms. Davies said Thursday, the government must start living up to its commitment to honour an NDP motion that says drug manufacturers will be required to promptly report any planned disruption or discontinuation in production to Health Canada as well as the provinces and territories.

The original article, Government fast-tracks approvals for vital drugs was published on March 16, 2012 in The Globe and Mail. Author(s): Gloria Galloway

Libby asks Conservative government to support drug shortages motion

Posted on

Posted on 2012.03.15

Libby asks Conservative government to support drug shortages motion

 

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_large”,”fid”:”147″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]

House of Commons

HANSARD

March 14, 2012

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):  

Mr. Speaker, earlier in response to a question by the Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister claimed that the plan in the NDP motion on drug shortages is already being done.

If that were the case, why are the provinces, the territories and health professionals all calling for federal action and leadership? The NDP motion explicitly calls for leadership.

I ask the minister very directly, will the government support the NDP motion and will it take the immediate action prescribed in the motion, yes or no?

Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (Minister of Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, CPC):  

Mr. Speaker, we want to ensure that patients and doctors have access to the information about potential drug shortages. However, the truth is there is no mandatory reporting requirements that could predict a fire that would shut down the production of critical drugs. If Health Canada inspectors needed to shut down a plant for a violation, we can keep it open 90 days to meet the mandatory reporting requirements. Mandatory reporting is not a silver bullet for drug shortages. As long as there is one sole-source drug provider for all the provinces and territories, we remain at risk of shortages. We are going to support the provinces and territories in addressing the issue.

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Top