NDP CALLING FOR THE MINISTER OF HEALTH TO TAKE ACTION TO REASSURE USERS OF YAZ AND YASMIN
NDP MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN CANADA
NDP MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN CANADA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2013
OTTAWA –NDP caucus is marking the 10th anniversary of the first legally recognized same-sex marriage in Canada today.
“We need to take this opportunity to thank the community organizations, lawyers and especially the brave couples who fought tirelessly in the courts to ensure that same-sex couples were no longer discriminated against when it came to marriage rights,” NDP Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues Critic Randall Garrison (Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca) said. “We also need to acknowledge the progressive role of the courts at a time when many politicians were hesitant to act.”
In 2003 the Court of Appeal for Ontario confirmed that existing Canadian law restricting marriage to heterosexual couples violated the equality provisions of Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It wasn’t until July 20th 2005, after many delays in Parliament, that Canadians in all provinces came to share these same rights.
New Democrats have a long and proud history of fighting for equal rights for the LGBT community in Canada. Garrison said, “the NDP is truly committed to equality. We are very proud to have had gay and lesbian members of our national Caucus since Svend Robinson first came out in 1988 and we are now equally proud now have 5 ‘out’ MPs in our Caucus to carry on the struggle for full equality for the LGBT community.”
Same Sex Marriage
BACKGROUNDER
BACKGROUNDER
Injection sites dealt a severe blow – Libby Davies
Injection sites dealt a severe blow
Supporters of Canada’s only supervised injection site said Thursday they’re confident Vancouver’s Insite facility will survive a new legislative and political campaign launched by the Harper government against drug “harm reduction” programs. But they also said Ottawa’s latest volley appears destined to succeed in preventing the opening of new centres offering clean needles and nursing supervision to addicts elsewhere in B.C. and Canada…Libby Davies, the New Democratic Party deputy leader and MP for the Vancouver East riding where Insite is located, slammed the Harper government’s political approach to the bill…”The Conservatives shouldn’t play political games with such an important issue of public health. The courts have been clear that the Conservatives need to base decisions on evidence and public health, not on their own rhetoric and ideology.”
The original article, Injection sites dealt a severe blow was published on June 7, 2013 in The Vancouver Sun. Author(s): Peter O’Neil
Freedom to Love, Loving Freedom
Freedom to Love, Loving Freedom
Tired but happy, after the first full day at the LGBT Human Rights Conference at the WORLD OUTGAMES 2009 in Copenhagen. We got up early and took the Metro to a very modern Danish broadcasting centre, where our conference of 750+ delegates from 80+ countries came together as part of the World Outgames. The theme of the Conference, “Freedom to Love, Love of Freedom,” expressed the feeling of many. It was a joy to see Canada’s own Svend Robinson welcome delegates as co-chair of the conference. His leadership on LGBT issues in Canada is legendary, but he’s also worked internationally for human rights.
The opening plenary honoured Axel Axgil. He and his partner were the first same sex couple in the world to gain a legally recognized civil union, in Denmark in 1989. He is now 95 years old.
Great speakers – John Amaechi, former NBA player, and Virginia Apuzzo who spoke about “Stonewall 40 years. ” I come from a time when we had no name,” she said in her deep gravelly voice. “I believed my life was to be a series of denials.” But Stonewall compelled her to speak out and act. “Stonewall took place in a tinder box of change, for women, farmworkers, union rights.” She told us our job was to “fashion the message for the next generation.” We must be vigilant she said, because justice is fragile.
I later attended a workshop on Sports and Human Rights – not something I had anticipated attending – but John Amaechi was so excellent, I wanted to hear more. His own story is remarkable and his dedication to ensuring equality and human rights within sports is inspiring.
Later I participated in a panel on LGBT politics and political parties, with a new, out MP from Nepal and several others. It was good to tell folks about the good and long record of the NDP in championing LGBT rights. Bill Siksay, MP, is also attending, and as LGBT critic for the NDP is doing outstanding work for our caucus and the LGBT community. His bill calling for the protection of transgender rights in Canada is badly needed.
The diversity at the conference is quite something, with delegates from from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Many folks see Canada as very advanced – and we are because of people like Svend, and groups like EGALE, but still we told people, nothing is taken for granted with our hard-won rights – the movement of all people struggling for equality and voice and power must remain vigilant, united and strong.
So it’s the end of a long day! I’ve met many of the athletes from Canada, and it’s fabulous to connect, find out who people are, and feel this great sense of Canadian solidarity.
Now time to sleep – Kim took amazing pictures all day – for rabble.ca and small videoettes. We’ve got lots more to do!
Libby questions the Conservative government’s claims about Mike Duffy’s payout
Libby questions the Conservative government’s claims about Mike Duffy’s payout
House of Commons
HANSARD
June 7, 2013
Ms. Libby Davies:
Mr. Speaker, they do not want to hear what is going on, but let us be very clear.
Only the Conservatives have a secret fund that is controlled out of the Prime Minister’s Office. We will continue to hammer away at getting answers to these questions.
I have another question. If the government is so certain that Mike Duffy was paid by a personal cheque, why can it not produce it?
When will the government provide us with documents to support the claims that it is making?
Mr. Pierre Poilievre (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure, and Communities and for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Wright has said clearly that he paid the expenses of Mr. Duffy with his own personal funds, and he will not be reimbursed either by the government or the Conservative Party of Canada. The reason the Conservative Party has no such cheque is because the Conservative Party wrote no such cheque. The story on CBC yesterday was false. We gave the CBC information to show that it was false. There is no separate fund. There is the Conservative Fund of Canada, which covers all partisan expenses, including those of the Prime Minister, because he just happens to be the Conservative leader.
Libby questions the Conservative government's claims about Mike Duffy's payout
Proposed federal rules erect new hurdles for supervised drug-injection sites – Libby Davies
Proposed federal rules erect new hurdles for supervised drug-injection sites
OTTAWA – The federal government has introduced tough new rules for supervised drug injection sites in a move some see as an effort to stamp out such facilities. The government says it’s a response to a Supreme Court of Canada ruling that ordered the Conservatives to keep a Vancouver clinic open against their will. But NDP health critic Libby Davies said the government is effectively blocking any chance of setting up a new clinic. The proposed legislation would require advocates of new clinics to meet two dozen specific criteria before they can apply. Among other things, they’d have to canvass community opinion and gain the support of provincial and municipal authorities.
The original article, Proposed federal rules erect new hurdles for supervised drug-injection sites was published on June 7, 2013 in macleans.ca. Author(s): Heather Scoffield