BC Teacher's Strike
Budget Extends Agenda that Fails Working Families: Corporate tax giveaways outstrip new funding 6 to 1
Budget Extends Agenda that Fails Working Families: Corporate tax giveaways outstrip new funding 6 to 1
Budget Extends Agenda that Fails Working Families: Corporate tax giveaways outstrip new funding 6 to 1
OTTAWA – New Democrats in Ottawa have rejected the 2008 budget, saying they will not endorse the Harper agenda.
“A budget is where you set priorities,” said NDP leader Jack Layton. “And this Prime Minister has again placed corporate tax giveaways ahead of investing in hard-working families in Vancouver.”
“Hundreds of affordable rental housing units have been lost in Vancouver over the last year and homelessness is up 78% from 2005, but the Conservatives couldn’t find a single dollar for new social housing. Instead, they chose to fund yet more tax cuts for big corporations” said Vancouver East MP Libby Davies.
“There is no money in this budget for the high-quality, affordable childcare that Canadian families need. The Harper government’s so-called ‘childcare benefit’ from 2 years ago has made almost no difference for ordinary families, and this budget again refuses to address the problem” said Davies. “This is the continuation of an agenda that’s failing middle-class and lower income families and accelerating the growing gap in Vancouver and across British Columbia.”
The NDP noted that while the Harper agenda gives profitable corporations multi-year commitments for tax cuts, while aboriginal communities, transit initiatives and research have to get by with temporary commitments and one-offs.
Davies said the Conservative budget was disappointing and potentially dangerous to the BC economy.
“The banks and oil and gas sectors saw record operating profits in 2007 and do not need more tax breaks and giveaways. The Conservative agenda has the wrong plan for hard-working Canadians. Harper’s policies are picking winners and losers – big business wins while families lose,” said Davies. “We will not and cannot accept this agenda for our country.”
On Canadian Sovereignty
NDP rss
January 2007
Davies Welcomes Ruling on Medical Marijuana
Davies Welcomes Ruling on Medical Marijuana
OTTAWA – NDP MP Libby Davies applauded yesterday’s Federal Court ruling striking down a regulation restricting medical marijuana growers from supplying more than one user.
“Until now, Health Canada has severely limited access to Canadians who have a legitimate need for medical marijuana,” said Davies. “Any challenges to this ruling would be negligent. The government must move forward with the necessary changes immediately.”
Currently, patients can grow their own marijuana, get it from a designated grower, or from the Government of Canada. A grower cannot supply more than one user. Judge Strayer’s ruling calls those restrictions arbitrary and unconstitutional.
The expense, quality, and accessibility of the Canada’s medical marijuana program have long been questioned and Davies has repeatedly called on the Auditor General to review the program. Her latest appeal came after it was revealed that Health Canada has a mark-up price of 1,500 percent on its marijuana. Many government users are in arrears and have been forced to discontinue use.
“The Government’s restrictive and overly bureaucratic policies have forced thousands of seriously ill Canadians to turn to illegal sources for their marijuana,” said Davies. “In light of Judge Strayer’s ruling, these restrictions must be lifted now.”
Davies supports the recommendations for, at minimum, higher ratios for suppliers to buyers. She is calling for the expansion of, and fairer access to, Canada’s Medical Marijuana program for all Canadians who need it.
On Overcharging by Cable Companies
On Overcharging by Cable Companies
On Overcharging by Cable Companies
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): – Mr. Speaker, when it comes to sticking up for consumers, the Conservatives cannot be trusted. We saw it on ATM fees, on cellphone charges and on credit card rates.
Now we learn that at CRTC hearings, for two years the government failed to take action to protect consumers from cable company overcharge. We are talking about more than $1.2 billion owed to Canadians.
Would the government tell us why ordinary Canadians are overpaying for cable services and why the government has done diddly-squat to stop it?
[…] the Canadian television fund was not meant to be a hidden tax to consumers. We all remember last year’s fiasco when Shaw and Vidéotron refused to live up to their obligations. In fact, they were forced to reverse themselves, despite the lack of leadership from the heritage minister.
Cable companies must live up to their obligations and they cannot do so by ripping off Canadians.
Why is the government letting cable companies pass the buck to consumers? Why is the government refusing to take action to protect Canadians from these cable company fee grabs? Why is the government not taking action?