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Libby Speaks Out for Forestry Workers and Their Communities – Libby Davies

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Posted on 2008.05.16

Libby Speaks Out for Forestry Workers and Their Communities

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): – Mr. Speaker, Canada has a forest industry in crisis and a Conservative government that does not respond.

The mill closure in Mackenzie, B.C. is just the latest example. The government is allowing countless companies and communities to flounder and fail without planning for future market cycles. Without being targeted these jobs will disappear, never to return.

Why is the Conservative government handing billions of dollars to oil companies while letting these forest families struggle and allowing an impact that is devastating in local communities?

Hon. Gary Lunn (Minister of Natural Resources, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the member is absolutely wrong. It is our government that has ended the tax subsidy for the oil sands projects in future. We are phasing that out.

In fact we are providing billions of dollars to help those affected workers. Our Prime Minister announced a billion dollars for the community development trust which was handed over to the provinces to deliver help to these communities directly.

We are working with the industry on innovation, new market opportunities and opportunities for technology and the industry is very pleased with our efforts.

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I challenge the minister to go to Mackenzie, B.C. and just see what the impact is on families and on that community and all of the jobs that are being lost as a result.

It is the same with the pine beetle. Climate change has allowed the mountain pine beetle to ravage the forests of B.C. The result of the red tide of destruction across B.C.’s interior is being felt in many communities and homes. This season will yet again see major fire risk because of the deadwood and climate conditions.

I would like to know what steps is the Conservative government taking to address the safety and security of communities at risk, or will it just be another story of too little too late?

Libby speaking out for a ‘Made in Canada’ Olympic pavillion – Libby Davies

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Libby speaking out for a ‘Made in Canada’ Olympic pavillion

Canada's showcase home pavilion at the 2010 Winter Olympics is a fine example of German engineering. The Canada Pavilion tent was not made in Canada, but rather manufactured in Germany by the Losberger Group and hastily assembled for the Games. NDP MP Libby Davies said it is disappointing that "something as symbolic" as the country's Olympic pavilion couldn't be Canadianmade. "What strikes me is people everywhere are so proud wearing Canadian jackets. It feels embarrassing that the Canadian government couldn't take the time to buy Canadian," said the Vancouver East MP.

The original article, Germans built our tent was published on February 23, 2010 in The Province. Author(s): Kent Spencer

Libby celebrates National Aboriginal Day – Libby Davies

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Posted on 2011.06.21

Libby celebrates National Aboriginal Day

Dear Friends,

I am proud to stand with East Vancouver and join First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people in celebrating National Aboriginal Day. On this special day, I urge all of us to find a way to celebrate and honour the aboriginal community.

I wish to take this opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to address the inequality faced by First Nations communities. Aboriginal people face daily challenges that other communities do not, and have been ignored by governments for too long. I am committed to making change happen in order to build a better future.

At the federal level, we must provide the funding and support to First Nations for better health care, education and healthy living, coupled with greater recognition of the rights necessary to making critical decisions within the community. We must work harder to value the aboriginal history of Canada and all that First Nations peoples have contributed to our culture. As a part of this, I would encourage you to check out “First Nations 101”, a book about First Nations people, written by Lynda Gray (Tsimshian). More information about the book’s launch can be found at www.firstnations101.com.

Federal New Democrats are proud to forge a partnership, to foster economic opportunity, to fight discrimination, and to work together for healing and hope for the future.

All the best on National Aboriginal Day.

Sincerely,

Libby

Letter to Public Safety Minister re: threats from Westboro Baptist Church – Libby Davies

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Posted on 2008.11.17

Letter to Public Safety Minister re: threats from Westboro Baptist Church

November 14, 2008

Hon. Peter Van Loan
Minister of Public Safety
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Minister Van Loan,

Congratulations on your recent appointment as Minister of Public Safety.

It has come to our attention that a US-based hate group calling itself Westboro Baptist Church is once again threatening to send members across our border to harass people at an event-this time in East Vancouver on November 28, 2008.

As the government has done in the past, we strongly urge you to alert Canada Border Services Agency of the group’s plans, and instruct CBSA personnel to ensure Canadian law is upheld. We urge you to follow this well established precedent.

As we are sure you know, Westboro Baptist Church, under its so-called “Minister” Fred Phelps, is a viciously homophobic hate group known for disseminating hate speech, inciting violence and for contemptible acts such as disrupting funerals and harassing mourners.

Public statements from Westboro Baptist indicate the group is planning to send associates to Canada with the expressed purpose of inciting hatred and harassing people on the basis of their sexual orientation. This would constitute a premeditated violation of section 319 of the Canadian Criminal Code, which states that it is an offense to wilfully promote hatred against any identifiable group or communicate statements in any public place that incite hatred against any identifiable group, especially where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace.

Many of our constituents and other concerned Canadians have contacted our offices and local media outlets to demand that CBSA do everything in its power to prevent associates of this hate group from entering our country to violate Canadian laws.

We look forward to your reply and to immediate action on this threat to the safety and security of Canadian citizens.

Sincerely,
Libby Davies
MP Vancouver East
Deputy Leader of the NDP

Bill Siksay
MP Burnaby-Douglas
NDP Critic for Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual and Transgender Issues

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