Category: Uncategorized
Who is my Provincial Member of the Legislative Assembly?
Libby challenges the Conservatives on their cuts to refugee health
Libby challenges the Conservatives on their cuts to refugee health
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Mr. Speaker, it is children who are paying the price for the minister’s ideological attack on refugees. Hospital admissions of refugee children have doubled since the Conservatives’ disastrous decision to cut health care for refugees. Desperate parents are waiting until their children are seriously ill before they seek help. The minister’s approach is inhumane and it is bad health policy. Would the minister acknowledge the harm he has caused, apologize and restore health care services for refugees?
Hon. Chris Alexander (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC): Mr. Speaker, will the member apologize for her lack of understanding of the refugee system, of the asylum system? She insisted refugees are not receiving health care from the federal government. Every one is receiving it.
She would have us pay for failed refugee claimants, fraudulent refugee claimants, bogus refugees claimants and, it sounds like, for visitors to Canada.
This is a decision the Wynne government has made. This is a decision that some doctors are calling for unilaterally. They will have to account to voters and to taxpayers for those decisions.
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
The Speaker: Order, please. There is an awful lot of heckling going on today. I am going to ask members to refrain from doing that. It is becoming very distracting to the Chair. Members please come to order.
The hon. member for Vancouver East has the floor.
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I can say, there is no lack of understanding on this side of the House. There are only the children who are being hurt by the minister’s crazy policies when it comes to refugees.
The Wellesley Institute warned the government that costs to the health care system would rise as refugees would wait until they were seriously ill before seeking help. Now we see that it was right. Twice as many refugee children have been admitted to hospitals as before the Conservative cuts. That is the reality.
Why does the government think it is okay to make vulnerable children pay the cost of its shameful and discriminatory attacks on refugees?
Hon. Chris Alexander (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the member should be ashamed of her comments. Refugees and the children of refugees are receiving the interim federal health care program. We are proud of that record.
The opposition is calling for failed claimants, fraudulent claimants, bogus claimants to receive health care. That is the direction the Wynne government has gone into. That is the direction some doctors have gone, unilaterally, into. We will not support that approach and many, many voters across this province and the country; many, many taxpayers are asking the same question. Those responsible for those decisions will be held accountable.
Open Letter to Paul Martin on Housing
Open Letter to Paul Martin on Housing
Dear Prime Minister,
I wanted to take this opportunity to offer my congratulations as you take on the challenging role of Prime Minister. Like many, I watched as the new members of your cabinet were sworn in on Friday December 12. I was shocked to discover that there would no longer be a Minister of State (Housing). Later that day, CMHC did confirm that Hon. David Anderson, Minister of the Environment would be the Cabinet member responsible for that specific crown corporation.
This sends a strong message that affordable housing has been further downgraded by your government. We are facing a nation wide affordable housing shortage and we need strong dedicated leadership. As you are well aware, in November of 2001 the federal government signed with the provinces and territories an Affordable Housing Framework Agreement. Now more than two years later many of the provinces have not matched the federal monies as agreed to. Without a member of cabinet focused on housing, I see little chance of any significant progress made on this file.
As Housing Critic and co-chair of the Liberal task force on housing when your party was in opposition you made strong denouncements of the then federal government. In 1990 you made the following statement about the Conservative government’s lack of leadership around affordable housing:
“…the government sits there and does nothing; it refuses to apply urgent measures that are required to reverse this deteriorating situation…The lack of affordable housing contributes to and accelerates the cycle of poverty, which is reprehensible in society as rich as ours.”
I urge your government to make affordable housing a priority. The federal government must be an active player in insuring Canadians have access to decent and affordable housing. As you promise change and democratic reform let’s also see basic principles of equality met by showing strong federal leadership in the area of affordable housing.
I look forward to your response on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Libby Davies MP, Vancouver East
BUDGET FAILS TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR CANADIANS
BUDGET FAILS TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR CANADIANS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 22, 2011
Harper chooses provoking an election over helping BC families and seniors
OTTAWA – With today’s budget, Stephen Harper missed the opportunity to make life more affordable and help Canadian families still recovering from the effects of the recession.
“The budget is a great disappointment for Canadians looking for the Conservatives to stop playing political games and get something done for them,” said New Democrat Deputy Leader Libby Davies (Vancouver East).
In an effort to make Parliament work, NDP Leader Jack Layton met with Prime Minister Harper and put forward a set of affordable measures to help Canadians. Unfortunately, the Conservative’s budget did not address New Democrats’ reasonable proposals.
“It seems incredible with such a housing crisis in metro Vancouver and many communities across Canada, that there would be nothing in the budget for affordable housing,” stated Libby Davies. “The City of Vancouver has consistently called on the federal government to make an ongoing commitment for affordable housing – this budget fails on that score.”
“Instead of spending billions on unnecessary corporate tax cuts, the government should be investing to combat seniors’ poverty and improve retirement security for Canadians,” stated Don Davies (Vancouver-Kingsway). “This budget gives less than half of what seniors need to keep up with the HST increase in their daily living expenses.”
Don Davies added, “This budget is grossly disappointing. Mr. Harper clearly wants an election. New Democrats proposed practical and affordable measures that the Harper Government simply ignored.”
Libby defends Canada Post workers' rights in Parliament
Right To A Just Future For Palestine
Right To A Just Future For Palestine
On Tuesday May 15 at 7 p.m., Libby Davies and Ann Wright discuss the Boat to Gaza movement as 2018 Canadian Boat to Gaza Freedom Flotilla participants are introduced online!
The original article, Right To A Just Future For Palestine was published on May 15, 2018 in rabble.ca. Author(s): Jase Tanner
Libby Speaks Out for Forestry Workers and Their Communities
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?