NDP Wins Emergency Debate on HIV/AIDS in Vancouver East: MPs Will Debate Conservatives’ Failing Drug Strategy for Aboriginal Communities
NDP Wins Emergency Debate on HIV/AIDS in Vancouver East: MPs Will Debate Conservatives’ Failing Drug Strategy for Aboriginal Communities
OTTAWA – NDP’s Deputy Leader Libby Davies (Vancouver East) says the Conservatives’ current drug strategy is failing the Aboriginal communities of Vancouver.
Recent reports have highlighted that aboriginal injection drug users in Vancouver were twice as likely as non-Aboriginal users to be infected with HIV.
“The NDP is demanding greater action and a debate on finding solutions to this growing crisis,” said Davies. “The Conservatives are not paying attention to the research and reports. Yet, the conclusions are clear – their American-style drug strategy is not working. It must be changed to save the lives and health of Aboriginals.”
The NDP put forth a motion to have an emergency debate in the House of Commons today and has been accepted.
“Stephen Harper’s government continues to fail Aboriginal Canadians,” said Davies. “Support for community-based Aboriginal health and treatment programs is needed. Why is this government ignoring this crisis and abandoning the community during their time of need? This is unacceptable.”
Letter to Minister of Justice Regarding Extradition of Marc Emery
NDP Releases Open Letter to Justice Minister
NDP Releases Open Letter to Justice Minister
FEBRUARY 06, 2008 – OTTAWA – NDP MP Libby Davies (Vancouver East) released an open letter to Justice Minister Rob Nicholson calling for him to intervene in the ongoing extradition hearings of Marc Emery.
Davies says it is clear that the US arrest and application for extradition of Mr. Emery, along with Gregory Williams and Michelle Rainey, are political in nature and are designed to pressure Canada into cooperating with the failed US “war on drugs”.
“The Conservative government, in particular Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, must step in immediately and make it clear to the United States government that Canada will not allow this extradition,” said Davies.
NDP Releases Open Letter to Justice Minister
Conservative Drug Strategy Failing Aboriginals
Conservative Drug Strategy Failing Aboriginals
OTTAWA – New Democrats are demanding urgent action from the federal government on the crisis of HIV infection among Vancouver’s aboriginal drug users. The release of a new study reporting that aboriginal injection drug users in Vancouver were twice as likely as non-aboriginal users to be infected with HIV is cause for great concern. The research is clear: the Conservatives’ American-style drug strategy doesn’t work. This study shows that the government’s failed drug strategy may actually be threatening the lives and health of aboriginal Canadians. This study is yet more evidence of how Stephen Harper’s government is failing aboriginal Canadians. The government should address this health crisis by increasing support for community-based aboriginal health and treatment programs.
PMV Spring 2014 Invitation
PMV Spring 2014 Invitation
Literary Review of Canada: LRC Weekend
Literary Review of Canada: LRC Weekend
“Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside has a reputation as a locus of drugs, crime, and desperation. But once in a while, there’s a chance to change that story, and today’s one of those days. A block from a former tent city turned safe-injection site turned empty lot and community garden, people gather to celebrate the launch of Outside In: A Political Memoir, by former Vancouver East NDP MP Libby Davies.” Read the full story in the link below.
The original article, Woman About Town : A different kind of book launch from a different kind of politician was published on in Literary Review of Canada. Author(s): Sharon Engbrecht
Support Native Youth Centre
Support Native Youth Centre
Hon. David Emerson
Senior Minister for BC
Hon. Chuck Strahl
Indian Affairs and Northern Development
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Dear Ministers,
RE: Native Youth Centre Project, Vancouver, BC
Once again I am writing, as I have been for the last 3 years, to urge federal government support for a native youth centre in Vancouver. I bring to your particular attention a January 16th article in the Vancouver Sun about newly released 2006 census results, which highlight the rapid increase in the aboriginal youth population in urban centres, and the lack of resources which they must endure. I believe that a native youth centre will play a fundamental role in addressing this serious issue.
I know that we agree that urban aboriginal youth are considered to be at great risk. Indeed, the article highlights what we already know: they face multiple challenges, but do not have the resources to overcome them. Aboriginal youth face poverty and its attendant harsh, and sometimes tragic, consequences of poor health, unemployment and homelessness. This creates an environment of few opportunities when non-aboriginal youth typically enjoy security and a sense of hope. Exacerbating this picture is a dearth of opportunities and resources to meet these challenges.
As I have stated in the past, I believe that a native youth centre would be a vital resource to help reverse this trend, and allow youth to enjoy a secure environment to develop stability, confidence and leadership, which would ultimately lead to opportunities for training and employment skills. Moreover, the centre would provide a culturally appropriate setting for youth to enjoy social, spiritual, artistic, recreational and educational activities.
A central, “one-stop” facility would provide efficiency – and synchronicity – of resources, programs and services, these being currently dispersed and often delivered disjointedly.
Lastly, the Urban Native Youth Association, which is sponsoring the project, has been successful in securing support from the municipal and provincial governments, the Assembly of First Nations, the community and private sector. And I now respectfully urge the federal government to finally come on board and make this project its highest priority. It would be a stellar demonstration of your government’s commitment to safety, security, opportunity and hope for not only urban aboriginal youth, but also the community at large.
Sincerely,
Libby Davies
M.P. Vancouver East
Deputy Leader & House Leader, NDP
Blog – Page 2
Blog
Listen to my interview with CBC On the Coast
You can listen to my interview with CBC’s Gloria Macarenko from On the Coast here. [ read more…]
Watch my interview with Vancouver Breakfast Television
Originally appeared May 23, 2019 [ read more…]
Interview on Global News Morning BC
Aired May 22, 2019 on GlobalTV. Watch below. [ read more…]
Listen to my interview with Simi Sara
This Victoria Day, I sat down with Simi Sara to discuss Outside In. You can listen the interview above. [ read more…]
Libby Davies recounts four decades of political activism in her book Outside In: A Political Memoir
Orginally published in The Globe and Mail, May 21, 2019. By Andrea Woo.
Libby Davies built a career on going to bat for those who live on the margins: sex workers, people who use drugs, the poor, and members of the LGBTQ community. [ read more…]
EXCERPT: The federal NDP must stand tall in its commitment to a boldly progressive agenda
Originally published in rabble.ca, May 16, 2019
In 2015, Libby Davies retired as deputy leader of the NDP and member of Parliament for Vancouver East, after four decades of work as a politician, community organizer and activist for progressive causes. Her recently published book, Outside In: A Political Memoir, recounts her career and the causes she has worked for, from the legalization of same-sex marriage to housing justice and access to safe injection sites on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. [ read more…]
Getting women into Canada’s Parliament
Originally published in Policy Options, May 14, 2019
Former NDP MP and deputy leader Libby Davies, who recently published a memoir, and political scientist Jeanette Ashe discuss gender and elected office.
Jeanette Ashe: You’re one of few women ever elected to Canada’s House of Commons, and you were also the first openly lesbian MP — where today LGBTQ MPs make up approximately 2 percent of the House. [ read more…]
My plunge into politics — and sexism
Originally published in the Toronto Star, May 11, 2019
In the research for my book Outside In: A Political Memoir, I came across a 1982 election interview on BCTV with Jack Webster — the journalist known as “king of the Vancouver airwaves” at the time — where my right to run for city council was challenged based solely on my gender. [ read more…]
Outside In book tour is happening!
Very excited that the book tour for Outside In is about to begin – see the first leg of events listed below. It seems like it has been a very long journey of reflecting, writing, and going through the process of editing and publishing. [ read more…]
“And now he’s trying to get his wife elected”
Thus said George Puil just before the 1982 civic election on Jack Webster’s BC TV program. Sexism in politics is a lot in the news these days, and while progress has been made we are still living with sexism and discrimination. [ read more…]