Blog – Libby Davies yeehaw

Oil and Gas Subsidies

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Posted on 2006.06.14

Oil and Gas Subsidies

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): – Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding the inane behaviour of these two parties today, let us go back to something that really concerns Canadians. The Minister of Finance has recently sent a letter to environmental groups defending his decision to continue the Liberal legacy of subsidizing the oil industry.

Can the government explain how in a time when the UN is condemning Canada for the widening gap between rich and poor, when over a million children live in poverty and seniors cannot afford the care they need, it cannot find the money to address these pressing issues, but can find $1.4 billion a year to subsidize the most profitable and polluting industry in this country?

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, if that is all that the government can come up with, it is pretty pathetic because it is still defending its subsidies to the oil industry.

In fact, just yesterday the town of Fort McMurray voted unanimously to place a moratorium on the oil sands development until an infrastructure plan is developed. The people of Fort McMurray, like all Albertans and all Canadians, want their tax dollars spent wisely and want to see greenhouse gases reduced. The government’s corporate welfare for the oil industry does neither.

PDF Files – Page 2

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CANADA POST SUPER MAILBOX Libby 2014.02.14
Mulcair to Harper – Soldier Suicides – PDF – EN 2014.01.10
Petition to the House of Commons – Save Canada Post!_0 2013.12.12
Dewar letter to Baird re LGBT rights in Russia 2013.08.12
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Petition to the House of Commons 2013.06.18
Take Action on C-31 2013.06.18

NDP to Cannon: Air Safety Must Come First

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Posted on 2006.05.19

NDP to Cannon: Air Safety Must Come First

OTTAWA – – Federal NDP MPs are holding press conferences in Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax and Vancouver today to decry the federal Conservative government’s move to reduce passenger safety by cutting the number of flight attendants required on Canadian planes. Lobbyists from the airlines have been pushing for these cutbacks.

“This is a clear reduction in safety standards,” said NDP Transport Critic Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster). “The NDP is opposed to lessening Canadian air safety standards to conform to weaker American ones.”

Other NDP Caucus members Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore), Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) and Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas) also opposed the weakening of air safety standards at regional press conferences held across the country in their ridings.

Transport Canada Bureaucrats are proposing a reduction in flight attendant crew minimums even though they rejected a similar proposal in 2001 because of safety concerns. Many believe the full complement of trained flight attendants on board of the Air France jet that crashed at Toronto’s Pearson Airport last summer were a crucial factor in the survival of all passengers. The safety experts of the Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the role flight attendants played in that incident.

“Imagine for a moment a plane in flames and having 140 passengers on an A320, including people with disabilities and seniors, being evacuated by three flight attendants. Under the new regulation of one flight attendant for every 50 seats, only three flight attendants would be required to handle the A320 cabin, which is 120 feet long and has a total of eight exits – four floor level and four over-wing. In the event of a crash, this is a horrifying scenario,” said Julian.

NDP calls on Prime Minister to Meet His Promise for Redress for Chinese Head Tax Payers and Their Families

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Posted on 2006.05.10

NDP calls on Prime Minister to Meet His Promise for Redress for Chinese Head Tax Payers and Their Families

OTTAWA – NDP MPs Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina, Libby Davies (Vancouver East), Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre), Wayne Marston (Hamilton East Stoney Creek) and Bill Siksay (Burnaby Douglas) called on Prime Minister Stephen Harper today, to keep his promise to the Chinese Canadian community.

Early in his mandate, Prime Minister Harper had publicly promised an official apology and redress to the Chinese community for the Head Tax. However, during the Throne Speech and in subsequent comments by both the Prime Minister and his Parliamentary Secretary Jason Kenney, the Conservatives have ignored the issue of redress.

“Chinese head tax payers and their families have been clear about the significance of redress, as well as an apology, to the reconciliation process,” explained Chow. “The wishes and concerns of the thousands of families affected by the racist head tax and exclusion act must be taken seriously,” she added.

In the last session of Parliament, both the Liberal and Conservative parties rejected NDP amendments to proposed legislation that called for an apology and redress for Chinese Head Tax payers and their families. These positions changed during the 2006 federal election.

“We welcomed the news that the Conservatives finally acknowledged the need for a public apology to head tax payers,” said Davies. “The right thing to do now is for the federal government to negotiate a fair compensation package for the discriminatory tax.”

NDP Immigration Critic Bill Siksay and Multiculturalism Critic, Wayne Marston expressed concern about the tension and division this long process has already caused in the Chinese Canadian community and called for a quick and fair resolution. “This is about restoring trust,” added Dewar. “Head tax payers and their families are counting on this government to be a part of that process.”

The Canadian government collected $23 million from Chinese immigrants to Canada between 1885 and 1923. Former NDP MP, Margaret Mitchell, first brought the issue to the House of Commons in 1984. In 2004, Libby Davies tabled a motion asking for an apology and redress for head tax payers, their families and representatives.

Corporate Tax Cuts Won’t Help Working Families

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Posted on 2006.05.3

Corporate Tax Cuts Won’t Help Working Families

VANCOUVER – Vancouver East MP Libby Davies says today’s Conservative federal budget doesn’t provide the serious investment that’s needed for most Canadians. It doesn’t warrant serious consideration for NDP support in Parliament.

“This budget is a lost opportunity for families, workers, students and low income Canadians,” Davies said. “Instead of investing in new child care spaces, more affordable education, a cleaner environment, a better EI program, the Conservatives want to squander the surplus on more corporate tax cuts. Harper seems to have a long term vision for corporations, but not for children,” she added.

“This budget will make life harder for ordinary people,” Davies said. “As a result of this budget, pollution will go up, child care wait lists will get longer, and student debt will get heavier.”

“People in East Van have waited too long for investment in the environment, affordable housing and training and education,” Davies added. “There is no new investment in this budget to meet these priorities.”

“Now is not the time cut, now is the time to invest,” said Davies. “Jack Layton was clear that we needed to see working families’ priorities addressed in this budget. We aren’t seeing that here and we’re very disappointed.”

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