Press Releases
Community Links Bulletin - July to September 2014
Happy Canada Day 2014
Standing up for refugees
Standing up for refugees
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Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, today on World Refugee Day, with a global refugee population surging past 50 million people for the first time since World War II, it is time for the Conservatives to recognize the failure of their policies. Instead of a fair and accessible process, the Conservatives have passed laws to shut out refugees, cut access to health care, and spun themselves in circles on the Syrian refugee crisis. Canada must do better.
Would the minister commit today to focusing on protection for refugees instead of playing political games?
Mr. Costas Menegakis (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC): Mr. Speaker, since our government’s comprehensive reforms to Canada’s asylum system took effect, the number of new asylum claims from safe countries has decreased to historic lows, ensuring that genuine refugees, truly vulnerable people from some of the world’s most vulnerable, volatile areas, receive faster and fairer protection. Claims from democratic countries are down by 87%, saving taxpayers more than $600 million so far in welfare, education and health care costs.
Canada has a long and proud tradition of providing protection to those who need it most and we will continue to do so.
Standing up for refugees
Port Metro Vancouver to meet with residents of East Vancouver
Questioning the Minister about Safety Code 6
New Democrats release gay agenda for Pride season
New Democrats release gay agenda for Pride season
New Democrats release gay agenda for Pride season
Members of the NDP LGBTQ Caucus presented a package of initiatives today to help bring about full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Canadians.
“There is still much unfinished business when it comes to achieving full equality for the LGBTQ community in Canada,” said LGBTQ critic for the Official Opposition Randall Garrison (Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca). “That’s why New Democrats are putting forward a package of measures aimed at bringing about full equality for the LGBTQ community now.”
“If we are to build a more inclusive Canada it is necessary to acknowledge the harmful history of homophobia and transphobia in Canada,” said Deputy Leader Libby Davies (Vancouver East). “We can begin by recognizing the harm that was done when Canada unfairly fired public servants or discharged members of the Canadian Forces solely on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.”
“Many subtle and not so subtle discriminatory policies and practices remain in place in Canada,” said MP Craig Scott (Toronto Danforth). “It is past time to end discriminatory practices like the ban on blood and organ donations by gay men and past time to remove the unequal age of consent for anal sex from Canadian law.”
The package of measures the NDP has introduced in the House includes:
· Bill C-279, which would guarantee equal rights for transgender and gender variant Canadians
· Motion M-516, which calls for an end to discriminatory policies on blood and organ donation from gay men
· Bill C-600, which would suspend criminal records for gay offences which are no longer illegal
· Bill C-448, which would equalize the age of consent for all by repealing the unconstitutional section 159 from the Criminal Code
· Motion M-517, which would revise service records for those discharged from the Canadian Forces on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity
· Motion M-521, which would secure an apology for civil servants fired on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity