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NDP CONDEMNS FTA : KILL A LABOUR ACTIVIST AND PAY A FINE
NDP CONDEMNS FTA : KILL A LABOUR ACTIVIST AND PAY A FINE
NDP CONDEMNS FTA : KILL A LABOUR ACTIVIST AND PAY A FINE
OTTAWA – NDP International Trade critic Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster), and NDP Labour Critic, Libby Davies (Vancouver East) were joined today by Hassan Yussuff, secretary treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) to launch a public campaign to call on the Harper government to immediately halt free trade negotiations with Colombia. The campaign comes in light of the revelation of a major flaw in the labour protection clauses of the future Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The flaws in the agreement were revealed when Julian questioned senior Canadian government trade negotiators at hearings of the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade.
According to the negotiators’ testimony, the Colombian government would be required to make a token monetary payment into a “cooperation fund“when a Colombian trade unionist is murdered.
“The weakness of this so-called labour protection measure amounts to the decriminalization of murder,” said Julian. “Fines are the type of penalty given out for speeding or parking violations, not for murder. This deal leaves the door wide open for continuing violence against workers and activists.”
With the support of the trade union movement and civil society organizations, the NDP is launching a petition campaign to block the Canada-Colombia free trade negotiations. Julian says that no further negotiations should take place until there is an effective human rights assessment framework and enforceable labour and environmental standards built into negotiations with Colombia.
“In the current context of ongoing human rights abuses, asking for a trivial monetary penalty to offset the killing of trade unionist would only add to the deplorable human rights situation in Colombia,” said Davies.
“The Canada-Colombia FTA betrays fundamental Canadian values,” said Yussuff. “I am appealing to labour activists and other Canadians concerned about human rights to join us in the fight to stop this agreement”.
Keeping InSite Open
Davies Calls on Harper to Put Evidence Ahead of Ideology on Safe Injection Site
Davies Calls on Harper to Put Evidence Ahead of Ideology on Safe Injection Site
OTTAWA – Vancouver East NDP MP Libby Davies today called on the Conservative government to “put evidence ahead of ideology” and keep Vancouver’s supervised injection site open. Davies’ call came on the heels of a statement in support of Insite released today by SFU Criminologist Neil Boyd, who had been contracted by the federal government to conduct research on the supervised injection site.
“The research is absolutely clear. Insite prevents overdose deaths and the spread of HIV/AIDS. It is cost effective and widely supported in the community. Insite saves lives,” said Davies.
Boyd’s statement follows an open letter and series of reports released last week by leading UBC medical researchers claiming that the Conservative government has been suppressing evidence and denying funding to research related to the facility. The exemption from Canada’s drug laws that allows Insite to operate is set to expire June 30, 2008.
“More than 20 medical and academic studies have been published showing the health and social benefits of Insite. It’s time for this government to make decisions based on evidence instead of ideology. Insite needs to be kept open,” said Davies.
Statement in Memoriam of Charlie Quan
Davies Calls on Harper to Put Evidence Ahead of Ideology on Safe Injection Site
Keeping InSite Open
Keeping InSite Open
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): – Mr. Speaker, the exemption that allows Insite to operate is set to expire June 30.
Again and again, the government has delayed a decision on this important facility, saying more research needs to be done.
The research has been done and it is absolutely clear. More than 20 studies have demonstrated the health, safety and cost benefits of Insite.
This morning, the criminologist hired by the government said that Insite contributes to public order and saves lives. When will the government listen to the evidence and extend Insite’s permit to operate?
Hon. Tony Clement (Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, CPC): Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, the extension ends on June 30 and the government will make a decision before that time.
I would like to say to the House, however, that I was very pleased to be with the justice minister and the public safety minister last week when we announced $111 million to help individuals who are addicted to illicit and unhealthy drugs and for prevention purposes as well to make sure that our kids get the message that these drugs are unsafe.
That is the kind of government we have in Canada now, a government that cares about addicts and cares about those who would otherwise be twisted on to these very dangerous drugs.
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, last week, leading researchers from UBC condemned the government’s interference in research on Insite. The only response from the government was that the decision on Insite would not be based on scientific evidence alone.
If the Conservative government is not making its decisions based on evidence, then what on earth is it basing it on? What exactly is the government so desperately seeking that was not covered in more than 20 studies? What is it so afraid of in dealing with the scientific evidence before it?
Hon. Tony Clement (Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, CPC): Mr. Speaker, it is unusual for the hon. member to make that allegation.
We are the government that actually wants more research, that actually commissioned more research because we want to make sure this decision is the right decision for Canada, for addicts and for the community in Vancouver. That is the decision we have made, more research and more consideration. That is because we are open-minded and we want to make the best decision for Canada and Canadians.
Statement from Libby on Consevative InSite Interference
Statement from Libby on Consevative InSite Interference
OTTAWA – “The Conservative government must stop its unconscionable interference in scientific research on Vancouver’s safe injection site. Medical researchers from the University of British Columbia have revealed that Harper and his team have been suppressing evidence and denying funding to scientists who are looking objectively at the merits of InSite.
“More than 20 medical and academic studies have been published showing the health and social benefits of InSite. We now have both scientific fact and evidence from users in our community that this facility is helping, not hurting the people of our city. The research record shows that InSite saves lives and increases public safety.
“Harper doesn’t understand that you can’t just hide the facts whenever they don’t suit your political agenda. We need a change in direction. It’s time for this government to make decisions based on evidence instead of ideology – InSite needs to be kept open.”