Stop funding cuts to legal aid

Posted on

Posted on 2009.02.10

Stop funding cuts to legal aid

Hon. Wally Oppal
Attorney General
PO Box 9044
STN PROV GOVT
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2

Hon. Rob Nicholson
Attorney General for Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

Dear Attorneys General,

RE: Funding Cuts to Legal Aid

I am writing to convey my utmost concerns about the BC government’s decision to cut funding to an already gravely underfunded and overburdened legal aid system. I respectfully urge the Province to reverse the decision. Already, the legal aid situation in BC is in crisis, and the current cuts compound it.

As the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East since 1997, I deal every day with society’s most vulnerable. Many lack the money, knowledge, language skills, education, and the confidence to tackle an already complicated legal system. They lack the resources to not only access the system, but also to navigate it should they be even granted access.

In my riding, the cuts will have a disproportionate impairment on social assistance recipients, immigrants, aboriginals, women, drug addicts, and the mentally ill. Without legal representation, both the provincial and federal government are condemning these people to severe psychological stress and anxiety at best, and outright miscarriages of justice at worst. Either way, there is deep suffering, and their twin curses of helplessness and hopelessness are exacerbated. Why bear the torch to an already scorched earth?
At the federal level, I fully support the Canadian Bar Association’s five-point platform on legal aid reform:
• Legal aid should be recognized as an essential public service, like health care.
• Public funding should be confirmed as necessary to ensure access to justice for low-income people.
• Public funding for legal aid must be increased.
• National standards for criminal and civil legal aid coverage and eligibility criteria are required.
• The federal government should revitalize its commitment to legal aid.

I know that you are not ignorant of the devastating impacts of cuts to legal aid. And I know that you are fully aware that the legal system is already too expensive for “ordinary” people. There must be justice for all, not a few. Therefore, I hope you both will agree that the cuts make no sense, and must be reversed and funding improved substantially. I would be happy to discuss this matter in more detail, if need be. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Libby Davies, MP (Vancouver East)

Libby Davies Puts Housing Crisis on National Agenda

Posted on

Posted on 2009.02.10

Libby Davies Puts Housing Crisis on National Agenda

Ottawa- “Canada needs a National Housing Strategy,” says NDP MP Libby Davies (Vancouver East), who tabled a Bill today in the House of Commons to establish such a strategy. Seconded by NDP Housing Critic, MP Megan Leslie (Halifax), the Bill brings all levels of government together to work to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for all Canadians.

“Rising unemployment and the cost of housing, and the lack of safe, affordable housing affect the health and wellbeing of tens of thousands of Canadians,” said Davies. “The federal government must step up to take an immediate and coordinated approach to address this growing crisis.”

The Bill calls on the federal government to work with provincial, municipal and aboriginal counterparts to establish a national housing strategy to ensure the cost of housing does not interfere with the ability to meet other basic needs like food and access to education.

“Investment in social infrastructure makes economic sense and puts Canada on track to meet its national and international commitments to end homelessness,” said Leslie.

Until the mid 1990s, Canada led programs developing cooperative and not-for-profit housing but has done little in the past decade. The federal government has recently been criticized by the United Nations and housing advocates across the country for its lack of action on affordable housing and homelessness.

And the NDP isn’t impressed by recent allocations for housing in the Conservative budget.

“There have been dozens of budget announcements for housing in the past, but a fraction of that money gets spent because of untenable requirements, including matching provincial funds,” added Davies. “We need strong legislation to guarantee that money is turned into housing.”

“Forcing cash strapped municipalities to come up with more funds for housing is a burden they simply can’t afford,” said Leslie.

The Bill also calls for:
• Not for profit housing
• Housing for the homeless
• Access to housing for those with different needs including seniors and the disabled
• Sustainable and environmentally sound design standards for new housing

-30-

E.I. changes called for – Libby Davies

Posted on

 

E.I. changes called for

OTTAWA — In the wake of the worst month ever for job losses in Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government is under increasing pressure to revamp the country’s employment insurance system amid concerns that the $40-billion economic stimulus package announced less than 10 days ago will not be enough to help resuscitate Canada’s rapidly deteriorating economy.

The original article, EI changes called for after record month for job losses was published on February 7, 2009 in The Province. Author(s): David Akin

PM: Job losses won’t blow government off course

Posted on

PM: Job losses won’t blow government off course

MIRAMICHI, N.B. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper vowed Friday to stay his government’s economic course despite “bad news” such as the layoff last month of 129,000 Canadians. Speaking in a Miramichi hockey rink, Harper said his government won’t change its approach to solving the current economic crisis.

The original article, PM: Job losses won't blow government off course was published on February 6, 2009 in The Winnipeg Sun. Author(s):

A Busy Week

Posted on

Posted on 2009.02.6

A Busy Week

The week goes so fast in Ottawa; I can barely remember all that happened. It’s a blur of activity, seriously. As House Leader for the NDP I have particular responsibilities and I seem to dash from place to place, trying to stay on top of what’s happening on the Hill. This week, the focus has still been on the Conservative budget and we’ve put our efforts to exposing the underwhelming impact it has. With 1.3 million Canadians who have lost their jobs, clearly the Conservative budget is out of touch – whether its lack of EI eligibility, or strict rules that inhibit the flow of dollars for badly needed infrastructure projects. One interesting question is how the budget really lets down women. No childcare, less access to EI, elimination of pay equity complaints thru the courts, and no social housing for families. I asked a Question in the House on Friday and went after these issues. Keeping the pressure up is key.

Jobless need more help, critics charge

Posted on

Jobless need more help, critics charge

OTTAWA–Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government faces mounting demands to improve support for the jobless in the wake of the shocking increase in layoffs in Ontario and across the country. Opposition parties accused Harper of mismanaging the economy and leaving the growing pool of unemployed to suffer without adequate help.

The original article, Jobless need more help, critics charge was published on February 6, 2009 in The Toronto Star. Author(s): Les Whittington , Robert Benzie

NDP will continue to work to protect labour rights

Posted on

Posted on 2012.12.13

NDP will continue to work to protect labour rights

Dear friends,

The following statement from MP Alexandre Boulerice, the NDP’s Labour critic, says very well, why Bill C-377 is such a bad bill, both in its construction and intent. There is no other way to look at, other than an attack on labour. Alexandre’s fought very hard in the Committee to stop the Bill. The Conservative majority gave it a green light. Rest assured we will closely monitor this Bill (it has yet to pass through the Senate). We will also be vigilant to work and organise against other similar initiatives.

Libby

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2012

STATEMENT BY NDP LABOUR CRITIC, ALEXANDRE BOULERICE, ON ADOPTION OF BILL C-377

Last night, the Conservative government supported Bill C-377 from a backbencher MP, whose hidden objective is to weaken the labour movement.

According to the NDP, as well as the privacy commissioner of Canada, this bill goes too far. The NDP says it goes against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and will be defeated by the courts because it violates freedom of association and the private lives of those who work for a union.

Bill C-377 will also be very costly for Canadians and require a lot of bureaucracy. The parliamentary budget officer estimates that it will cost much more than the 2.4 million dollars allocated by the Canada Revenue Agency.

The Conservatives claim they are acting in the name of transparency, but fail to mention that unions are already required to make their financial information available to their members. 

This bill will result in an imbalance and benefit companies which will be able to gain access to unions’ financial information and use it to their advantage.

The NDP will always encourage transparency, but opposes the Conservatives’ disguised attempt to attack the rights of unions and interfere in labour relations.

 

Libby Davies Welcomes B.C. Supreme Court Decision on Medical Marijuana

Posted on

Posted on 2009.02.5

Libby Davies Welcomes B.C. Supreme Court Decision on Medical Marijuana

Ottawa- Libby Davies (MP Vancouver East) welcomes the BC Supreme Court decision that Canada’s Medical Marijuana Access Regulations are unconstitutional, and called on Ottawa today to scrap the existing regulations and implement a fair and accessible medical marijuana program.

“The medical marijuana program is overly bureaucratic and costly for users, and simply does not serve the needs of cannabis patients,” said Davies.

Hundreds of eligible clients of Canada’s program opt out after a short time because of prohibitive costs, leaving them with no alternative but to use private sellers, which is often illegal.

Libby Davies has long called for a federal audit of the program, which turns a profit for Health Canada. As recently as June, Davies wrote the Minister of Health demanding a public review of the flawed program, pointing out, among other problems, that doctors are reluctant to enroll patients in the program because of the high costs and poor quality of the cannabis the government supplies.

The Federal Court and other provincial courts have also found the current program to be too burdensome for patients needing the drug.

“Users of medical marijuana need to be treated with respect and dignity,” said Davies. “Ottawa must get on with the job of working with all stakeholders to develop and implement a program that meets the needs of its users.”

-30-

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Top