Blog – Libby Davies yeehaw

Libby asks the Conservative government to support struggling Canadians

Posted on

Posted on 2013.02.4

Libby asks the Conservative government to support struggling Canadians

House of Commons

HANSARD

February 1, 2013

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, while Conservative talking points claim otherwise, the reality is that our economy continues to struggle.

Growth is stagnating. Debt is mounting. Youth unemployment is still at record highs, and six of the biggest banks had their credit ratings cut.

Yesterday, we saw new mass layoffs of hundreds of workers from Best Buy, Future Shop and Sears.

With signs of economic trouble all around, why are the Conservatives not changing direction to deal with these new challenges?

Hon. John Baird (Minister of Foreign Affairs, CPC):  

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that there are many Canadians looking for work, but there are a lot less than there were just a few short months ago. We have seen 900,000 net new jobs created. That is a very good start, but it is why our party and our government are committed to doing even more to create jobs, hope and opportunity.

We saw in the November economic growth rates a substantial increase in economic growth. We remain committed and focused on even more, so that every Canadian will have the dignity of a job and the pride of being independent.

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):  

Mr. Speaker, the minister does not tell us that employment is still not back up to pre-recession levels.

As our slowing economy means more and more Canadians are being laid off and thrown out of work, Conservatives are rigging the system with quotas and bonuses so fewer and fewer people qualify for EI. They have directed staff to treat every EI applicant as if he or she were breaking the rules.

Why are the Conservatives treating unemployed Canadians like fraudsters?

Hon. John Baird (Minister of Foreign Affairs, CPC):  

Mr. Speaker, it will not come as any surprise to members that I totally reject the premise of that question.

We have made a number of reforms to employment insurance to ensure we provide people with the skills and supports they need to move into the labour force. That is something that is tremendously important. HRSDC was able to stop $530 million in ineligible payments last year. However, the employment insurance program still lost millions of dollars due to fraud. We have an important responsibility to the workers who paid the premiums to ensure that their taxpayer dollars are used with great respect and responsibility.

NDP Launches Set of Bold Initiatives to Eliminate Racial Profiling

Posted on

Posted on 2004.02.12

NDP Launches Set of Bold Initiatives to Eliminate Racial Profiling

OTTAWA – NDP MPs Joe Comartin, Libby Davies and Pat Martin today launched a series of bold initiatives put forward by the NDP Diversity Advocacy Team.

“We have seen an increasing level of what can best be described as the ‘criminalization of diversity’ and we feel strongly that action must be taken,” said Davies.

The initiative involves an act to eliminate racial profiling, tabled today in Parliament by Davies. If passed this legislation would ban racial profiling from a spectrum of federal departments and jurisdictions.

“The practice of racial profiling poses a serious threat to strongly held Canadian values of equal rights, democracy and justice. We need a legally binding mechanism to ensure the accountability of our enforcement agencies and officials”, said Joe Comartin who seconded the Bill.

Raage Mohammed and Mohad Aawed of the Somali Cultural Centre in Ottawa, attended the launch to support the need to ban racial profiling. Members of the Somali community recently experienced a police raid that many allege was racially motivated.

The Diversity Advocacy Team has also been advocating for the swift passage of the “Once in A Lifetime” Bill, which would allow a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor, on one occasion, a family member who would otherwise not qualify under family class provisions. “There are serious shortcomings with the Canadian immigration system and we need a much stronger emphasis on family reunification. I believe this Bill, which has received widespread support except from the federal Liberal government, will begin to address this issue”, said Davies.

The NDP Diversity Advocacy Team has launched a website to bring Canadians together who are interested in justice and diversity issues. “Our website, which can be found at www.canadians4justice.ca, offers a variety of ways for people to link into the work of our team and join various campaign to promote diversity issues”, said Pat Martin. The site also invites visitors to share their “horror stories” trying to navigate the immigration system. “We are planning on bringing these accounts to the attention of the new Minister of Immigration to demand the system be reformed”, added Martin.

The NDP Diversity Advocacy Team consists of members of the federal NDP Caucus as well as a range of community and organizational partners dedicated to fighting racism and discrimination in Canada.

NDP ‘Leap Manifesto’ backers intensify push ahead of convention

Posted on

NDP ‘Leap Manifesto’ backers intensify push ahead of convention

Now, as Mulcair's leadership is up for debate and the party questions its own identity and direction, key New Democrats are pushing the Leap Manifesto principles into the mix. Former MPs Libby Davies and Craig Scott, as well as the head of the influential Toronto-Danforth riding association and documentary filmmaker Avi Lewis, are circulating a plan to entrench the manifesto's ideas. But they don't foresee a wholesale adoption of the manifesto all at once. Rather, they're proposing a two-step process: first, have New Democrats at this week's convention approve a resolution declaring that the manifesto is "a high-level statement of principles that is in line with the aspirations, history and values of the party." If that passes, they're proposing another resolution calling for meaningful debate of the manifesto by riding associations, leading up to a full, detailed discussion on how to implement it at the next convention in 2018.

The original article, NDP 'Leap Manifesto' backers intensify push ahead of convention was published on April 4, 2016 in The Globe and Mail. Author(s): KRISTY KIRKUP, The Canadian Press

17th Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival

Posted on

17th Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival

Every year, the Downtown Eastside community looks forward to the Heart of the City Festival. This year, more than ever, Downtown Eastside residents and artists seek opportunities for cultural exchange and to get together. The Festival is here to ensure that our community and artists are supported during these challenging times. Due to circumstances of the pandemic, we have reimagined this year’s festival to be smaller in scale with programming mostly online and outdoors. Tribute to Carnegie’s 40th Anniversary, featuring special guest Libby Davies Join us in paying tribute to the most extraordinary community centre in Canada! The opening of the Carnegie in 1980 was a transformative event in the history of the Downtown Eastside. Libby Davies, along with Bruce Eriksen and DERA (Downtown Eastside Residents’ Association), was front and centre in the community-led initiative to establish the Carnegie Community Centre. Libby will read selections from her book Outside In, A Political Memoir, and in conversation with Am Johal, recount stories of why and how the Centre was established. As Libby says: “Opening day of Carnegie was quite the drama.” Tell us more!

The original article, 17th Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival was published on September 19, 2020 in The Indo-Canadian Voice. Author(s): The Indo-Canadian Voice

Statement on Rodney Watson and war resisters

Posted on

Posted on 2011.09.29

Statement on Rodney Watson and war resisters

House of Commons
HANSARD
September 29. 2011

You can view Libby’s statement at: http://www.youtube.com/user/LibbyDaviesMP?feature=mhee#p/u/3/Lwnl-9D7Kao

Mr. Speaker,

Decorated Iraq war veteran Rodney Watson has lived in limbo for 2 years, in sanctuary at an East Vancouver church, with his wife Natasha and young son Jordan, both Canadian citizens.

I have gotten to know Rodney and know him to be strong in his conviction for peace and justice, and brave in his commitment to go up against an illegal war. It’s been a tough two years and the strong support from the War Resisters Support Campaign has been enormously important.

If Rodney were to return to the U.S., he would likely be charged, which could make his return to Canada inadmissible, tearing him apart from his family.

There are as many as 40 other war resisters like Rodney who are currently fighting to stay in Canada. This Parliament has passed two motions in support of war resisters, and yet this government is still trying to deport them.

I encourage Canadians to write to the Immigration Minister and their MP about Rodney and all war resisters, supporting the call for their Permanent Residence in Canada.

Letter to Minister About Safe Injection Site Permit Renewal

Posted on

Posted on 2006.07.22

Letter to Minister About Safe Injection Site Permit Renewal

The Hon. Tony Clement, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health

House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Dear Minister,

I am following up on a letter that I sent to Prime Minister Harper, and copy circulated to you, on June 1st of this year regarding Vancouver’s Safe Injection Site, known as InSite. In that letter, I included a recent study by “Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy”, which showed that Vancouver’s InSite was not associated with a marked increase in drug-related criminal activity. In fact, it showed a significant decline in break-ins and thefts since its opening. However, since InSite is up for federal review in September, I felt it urgent that you receive as much evidence as possible that shows the success of InSite, in the belief that InSite must continue.

Enclosed, I have included a research summary by Vancouver Coastal Health, which shows the tremendous success of InSite in reducing harm to those who use illicit drugs. Most notably, the research shows that InSite is leading to an increase in users who choose to enter detoxification programs and addiction treatment, and that 453 overdoses have resulted in no fatalities thanks to the availability of qualified medical staff. I hope you find the included facts helpful to recognize that InSite is performing well and needs ongoing support.

Because of the importance of InSite in reducing harm to so many of my constituents in the downtown eastside of Vancouver, I am requesting a meeting with you in order to further discuss this matter. I hope you will seriously consider my request. I feel very strongly that the evidence is clear, and would welcome the opportunity to let you know how strongly InSite is supported in Vancouver.

I thank you for your time, and anxiously await your reply.

Yours Sincerely,
Libby Davies MP
Vancouver East

Posted on 2006.07.4

Letter to Minister About Safe Injection Site Permit Renewal

The Hon. Tony Clement, P.C., M.P., Minister of Health

House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Dear Minister,

I am following up on a letter that I sent to Prime Minister Harper, and copy circulated to you, on June 1st of this year regarding Vancouver’s Safe Injection Site, known as InSite. In that letter, I included a recent study by “Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy”, which showed that Vancouver’s InSite was not associated with a marked increase in drug-related criminal activity. In fact, it showed a significant decline in break-ins and thefts since its opening. However, since InSite is up for federal review in September, I felt it urgent that you receive as much evidence as possible that shows the success of InSite, in the belief that InSite must continue.

Enclosed, I have included a research summary by Vancouver Coastal Health, which shows the tremendous success of InSite in reducing harm to those who use illicit drugs. Most notably, the research shows that InSite is leading to an increase in users who choose to enter detoxification programs and addiction treatment, and that 453 overdoses have resulted in no fatalities thanks to the availability of qualified medical staff. I hope you find the included facts helpful to recognize that InSite is performing well and needs ongoing support.

Because of the importance of InSite in reducing harm to so many of my constituents in the downtown eastside of Vancouver, I am requesting a meeting with you in order to further discuss this matter. I hope you will seriously consider my request. I feel very strongly that the evidence is clear, and would welcome the opportunity to let you know how strongly InSite is supported in Vancouver.

I thank you for your time, and anxiously await your reply.

Yours Sincerely,
Libby Davies MP
Vancouver East

Libby’s urges Minister Duncan to reinstate funding for Aboriginal youth programs

Posted on

Posted on 2012.07.9

Libby’s urges Minister Duncan to reinstate funding for Aboriginal youth programs

July 6, 2012

Hon. John Duncan

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

House of Commons

Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0A6

Dear Minister,

RE: Funding Cuts to the Cultural Connections to Aboriginal Youth (CCAY) Program

We are writing to respectfully request that your office re-instate the funding to the CCAY program as soon as possible. Moreover, we would urge that funding be granted on a multi-year basis.

We have been contacted by both constituents and agencies who explained to us the devastating effects of these cuts. In the area of Metro Vancouver, 14 vital programs that have been successful in providing intervention and prevention programs for Aboriginal youth have been forced to shut down due to the cancelled funds.

These programs played a critical role in serving the youth and the community at large. They have been overwhelmingly successful in diverting youth from potential risks, and fostering leadership.

We know that we agree that many urban Aboriginal youth are at risk. They face multiple challenges, and need the resources to overcome them. Poverty, discrimination, lack of education, unemployment and homelessness are real issues facing many youth. This creates an environment of few opportunities.

It is critical to ensure that there is a secure environment to develop stability, confidence and leadership, which would ultimately lead to accomplishments, employability and attachment to the community. The CCAY program was invaluable in this respect and provided a culturally appropriate setting for youth to enjoy social, spiritual, artistic, recreational and educational activities that have been successful in diverting youth from social welfare and criminal justice programs. In short, it helped youth to overcome multiple barriers, develop life skills and give them the all important, life-changing chance to realize their potential.

Urban Aboriginal youth is one of the fastest growing demographic groups in British Columbia, and they are a vital part of our region’s and our country’s future economic growth. We are strong believers that a program like CCAY addresses the urgent needs facing them.

The CCAY is an important economic and social investment, and we urge your immediate support for the CCAY’s long term existence. We believe that the renewal of this excellent program would demonstrate your department’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of young Aboriginal people in our urban communities.

Yours Sincerely,

Libby Davies, MP (Vancouver East) & Jean Crowder, MP (Nanaimo Cowichan), NDP Spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Top