NDP deputy leader Libby Davies won’t run in 2015
NDP deputy leader Libby Davies won’t run in 2015
Libby Davies, the NDP MP for Vancouver East for since 1997, won’t be running for the party in the 2015 federal election. Currently the party’s deputy leader and health critic, Davies made the announcement from her constituency office in Vancouver, saying that after 18 years as the riding’s MP it was simply time to call it a day. “It has been the most extraordinary experience to represent the people of Vancouver East. I have loved my work both in the community and in Ottawa and I thank the good folks of East Vancouver who elected me six times as their representative,” she said in her official statement. “Over the years, I have taken on tough issues like the need for drug policy reform and I remember being told, ‘You’ll never get re-elected if you take on issues like this.’ But the people of East Vancouver have stood by me. I deeply appreciate how they have placed their support and confidence in me throughout my many years in office.” Davies concluded her statement by calling Thomas Muclair a “a strong and committed leader” and adding that she was confident he would help the party form the country’s first social democratic government.
The original article, NDP deputy leader Libby Davies won’t run in 2015 was published on December 12, 2014 in iPolitics. Author(s): BJ Siekierski
‘Time to call it a day’: Downtown Eastside activist and long-time NDP MP Libby Davies won’t seek re-election – Libby Davies
‘Time to call it a day’: Downtown Eastside activist and long-time NDP MP Libby Davies won’t seek re-election
Libby Davies, the Downtown Eastside activist who found herself catapulted into Ottawa as a federal Member of Parliament, is calling it quits after 40 years of public service The outspoken MP announced today at her campaign office that she will not seek re-election in the upcoming federal election, saying she doesn’t have the energy to run again and “it’s time to pass the torch.” “I just feel like it’s time to call it a day,” she said. “There can be a new voice for East Vancouver.” The decision is bittersweet for Davies, 61, who said she loves her job and is grateful to the people in her riding of Vancouver East for helping her tackle tough issues in the Downtown Eastside such as housing, safe injection sites and the plight of missing women, despite being told she wouldn’t get re-elected if she took on those issues.
The original article, ‘Time to call it a day’: Downtown Eastside activist and long-time NDP MP Libby Davies won’t seek re-election was published on December 13, 2014 in The Vancouver Sun. Author(s): KELLY SINOSKI
Deputy NDP leader Libby Davies will not seek re-election
Deputy NDP leader Libby Davies will not seek re-election
Veteran Member of Parliament and deputy leader of the NDP, Libby Davies, will not be running for re-election. Ms. Davies, 61, was first elected as the MP for Vancouver East in 1997 and was re-elected five times. She made the announcement Friday at her constituency office. "I'm a bit tired," Ms. Davies said during a news conference in her constituency office, when asked why she was retiring from federal politics. Adding in stints in municipal politics, Ms. Davies noted she has been in public life for almost 40 years. She ran twice for Vancouver city council in the 1970s and was elected to parks board in 1980 and elected to city council in 1980. "I really feel it's time to call it a day. It's really a personal decision just about timing and contemplating if I want to go in another election and realizing once we have the election and, hopefully if I had been re-elected, it would be possibly another four years." The former Vancouver city councillor is known as a strong voice for the left wing of the NDP. In addition to serving as one of three deputy leaders to party leader Thomas Mulcair, Ms. Davies is also the party's health critic.
The original article, Deputy NDP leader Libby Davies will not seek re-election was published on December 12, 2014 in The Globe and Mail. Author(s): Ian Bailey , Bill Curry
Greenhouse gas reductions: US regulates oil and gas sector (despite Prime Minister’s claims yesterday), but not Canada
Greenhouse gas reductions: US regulates oil and gas sector (despite Prime Minister’s claims yesterday), but not Canada
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister said that no other country is regulating oil and gas, but a briefing note from Environment Canada explains that, in fact, the United States is already regulating oil and gas. It said:
For oil and gas, recent air pollution regulations are expected to result in significant greenhouse gas reductions.
Did the Minister of the Environment ever read that briefing note?
Mr. Colin Carrie (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, CPC): Mr. Speaker, when we talk about greenhouse gas emissions going down, it is our party, and the numbers speak for themselves. Between 2005 and 2012, greenhouse gases in Canada went down 5.1% while our economy grew 10.6%. This is a big difference between our party and the irresponsible policies of the NDP and the Liberals.
We want to work together and collaboratively with the United States to make sure that we have a sector-by-sector approach that works on a continental basis. We are going to do that without a job-killing carbon tax.
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister thinks that there should be a continental-wide regulatory system for oil and gas. Given that he used that as an excuse for Conservative inaction, can the Minister of the Environment tell us about any proposals that she has given to the Americans for such a regulatory system? Where are these proposals, or are they just made up as well?
Mr. Colin Carrie (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, CPC): Mr. Speaker, we are very proud of our record. Internationally, we are a founding member of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. We have made significant investments to help support green energy and infrastructure internationally. We have one of the cleanest systems in the world. We have already regulated the transportation and electricity sectors, and we are planning to reduce HFCs, one of the fastest-growing greenhouse gases in the entire world.
Thanks to our actions, carbon emissions will go down close to 130 megatonnes from what they would have been under the Liberals, and we have done it all without a carbon tax.
E.I. Reform Needed
Question Period: Twenty-five years after École Polytechnique, gender-based violence still persists
Question Period: Twenty-five years after École Polytechnique, gender-based violence still persists
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, on December 6, 25 years ago, 14 women were killed at École Polytechnique. These women were killed because they were women. I know that all of our thoughts are with the families of those women, but we must also commit ourselves to action. Twenty five years later violence is still targeted at women because of gender. Will the government commit to working together with the NDP and our action plan to end violence against women?
Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the massacre at École Polytechnique in Montreal was a Canadian tragedy. This week we remember the crimes that took place 25 years ago. While I would never think we could make sense of why those crimes took place that day, we must continue to ensure this never happens again in Canada. Our government will continue to stay focused on supporting the victims of these crimes, as well as punishing the criminals who commit these heinous crimes.
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the tragic murder of Zahra Abdille and her children shows how our system fails women fleeing violence. Women like Ms. Abdille need support, like legal aid and housing.
A Canadian Bar Association report said:
…victims of domestic violence are among the most vulnerable in society and require access to legal and other services … to protect themselves and their children.
What measures is the government taking to improve access to legal aid and housing for women fleeing violence?
Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women, CPC): Mr. Speaker, our government has been committed to preventing violent crimes and violence against women and girls.
Let me list some of the things we have done, and I would encourage the members opposite to participate in supporting these initiatives: the victims’ bills of rights act; the creation of a DNA based missing persons index; passing new laws to protect victims who have been harassed by those who have committed crimes against them; eliminating pardons for serious crimes; and better protecting youth from adult sexual predators.
This is a few of many initiatives this government has taken. I am very proud of that record of supporting victims and putting criminals behind bars.