The former NDP MP for Vancouver East (1997-2015) Libby Davies discusses her new book Outside In: A Political Memoir (Between the Lines, 2019), with Joseph Planta. Listen at the link below.

Ottawa • The speed of this downturn is becoming unnerving. Canada lost 129,000 jobs in January, down 0.8 per cent compared to December. Most of the losses were in the manufacturing heartland of central Canada, according to a Statistics Canada survey published yesterday.

[editorial note: Macleans oddly forgot to note that I was NDP House Leader for 8 years – the first long term appointment of a woman in this role. They also chose not to include the note that accompanied my response to their query “I’m not very keen on the questions – they are very simplistic and play into the divide of politics. And the questions as posed reinforce a kind of black and white view of the political world that most Canadians don’t relate too. I always think it’s more about issues – and how we see critical issues and our stance on a particular matter. Anyway – having given you my scepticism about what this story might be about – though I do get that it’s easy for political parties to play to their base – here are my answers to your two questions : ] Libby Davies Former Health Critic, [NDP House Leader} and Deputy leader of the NDP. Member of the Order of Canada. What is wrong with the left today? The left has a tendency to unnecessarily divide and split itself rather than striving for a more disciplined stance that is based on shared values. What really bothers you about the right? A lack of interest in factual information and evidence based decision making.

Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq delivered that unequivocal defence of Ottawa’s hands-off policy toward medicare in a speech Monday to the Canadian Medical Association general council meeting in Yellowknife. “Decision-making about health care is best left to the provincial, territorial and local levels,” she said. “As federal minister of health, I will not dictate to the provinces and territories how they will deliver services or set their priorities…”Libby Davies, health critic for the New Democratic Party, said the argument that Ottawa is merely respecting the provinces’ constitutional jurisdiction on health care is a cop-out. “Flexibility is a code word for lack of action, lack of leadership,” she said. “The federal government’s role is not just to provide money, but to ensure there is equity and fairness.”

In the interview, Mayor Stewart is asked… Who do you rely on most for advice? My staff, they’re extremely essential. I have a number of mentors. Paddy Smith, a prof at SFU, who can be sometimes cryptic but very, very knowledgeable. Stuart Thomas, who is a principal at Terra Housing. I worked with him for a very long time. Of course, Libby Davies. I’m in constant contact with Libby. She has a fantastic depth of knowledge. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few people…