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My concerns about the Northern Gateway Pipeline
My concerns about the Northern Gateway Pipeline
Dear Friends,
I know many of you are concerned about the impacts of the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.
My NDP colleagues and I strongly oppose this project because it is neither in the best interests of Canadians, nor does it meet the criteria of what constitutes sustainable development. There are significant environmental concerns, including damage related to the construction of the pipeline, as well as from potential oil spills along the pipeline and from oil tankers navigating the hazardous waters on the northwest coast of British Columbia. Spills of this nature would jeopardize the fishing and tourism industries in BC putting tens of thousands of livelihoods and the stability of those communities at risk. The wild salmon economy alone generates $1.7 billion each year in BC. The Conservative government is playing fast and loose with BCs economy and ecosystems.
The pipeline would contribute to the rapid and unchecked expansion of Canada’s oil sands that the current government has permitted without any regard for economic sustainability, or the effects of this unchecked development on greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting climate change.
Development of the oil sands should take place within the context of a coherent and credible national energy strategy that will be good for the Canadian economy and good for our environment, one that has a transition to green energy and renewable technologies at its core. It is unacceptable that this Conservative government chases one raw bitumen pipeline project after another that serves only corporate profit interests to the detriment of our national interests.
I believe that the environmental assessment process must include the voices of all Canadians who have a stake in outcome, from first nations to local residents, from small business to industry. To declare opponents to a project “radicals” or try to slander them as representing foreign interests is anti-democratic. It is hypocritical that Mr. Harper considers foreign oil interests his friends while branding people who care about our environment as enemies.
It is particularly concerning the level of disrespect this government has show towards the First Nations whose traditional territory this pipeline would cross. Instead of defending the rights of the First Nations, which have been affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada, the government has chosen instead to damage the development of healthy and fair relationships with the first peoples of Canada.
I’ll continue to speak out and oppose the government’s moves to abrogate its duty for decisions made to uphold the public interest, not private interests.
Libby
If you would like to read more about my concerns about the Northern Gateway pipeline, check out my speeches in Parliament on the issue:
Libby Davies talks about her winter sitting
Libby Davies talks about her winter sitting
Q: What do you have to look forward to over the winter sitting? A: Healthcare is my file right now, so that’s taking up a lot of my time, and it’s a very big file, and we have great NDP members on the committee, so we’re dividing it up and each specialising on certain things, so I’m very happy about that. We’re working as a team. We are going to be generating a bigger campaign around the future of medicare. Besides that, issues that come out of my riding that in some ways are very much related to healthcare, such as affordable housing and homelessness, the rights of sex workers, the impacts on drug users from the “war on drugs” – these are issues that are ongoing, whether it’s Insite, or what’s happening to sex workers in the court challenges that are happening right now. These are things that I’m paying attention to because they don’t get a lot of attention in parliament, and I feel like l have to be a strong advocate for those issues, and I want to be a strong advocate. Those things are also very much a part of the work that I do.
The original article, Libby Davies talks about her winter sitting was published on February 8, 2012 in Xtra! News. Author(s):
Libby urges the government to limit trans fats
Libby urges the government to limit trans fats
House of Commons
HANSARD
February 7, 2012
You can view Libby asking this question here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJV3osWdhPY&feature=youtu.be
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
When it comes to putting the health of Canadians first, Conservatives are failing on every front.
Trans fats are the leading cause of heart disease and high cholesterol. This is something that particularly affects children. The House agreed to the NDP motion to regulate and limit this dangerous substance.
Why is the health minister now ignoring expert advice and siding yet again with industry, instead of acting to protect the health of Canadians?
Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (Minister of Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, our government continues to make prevention and health promotion a priority. That includes reducing trans fat in foods. Results from the trans fat monitoring program show that we are making real progress, as close to three-quarters of pre-packaged foods under review met the reduction targets. I have also instructed my department to continue its engagement with stakeholders to identify the challenges and how best to overcome them without adding a regulatory burden.
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, the truth is that the government is always full of the excuses given to it by industry. The government had a chance to help families but it failed to act.
Health experts are clear, the provinces are onboard and families are trying to make healthier choices for their kids. In fact, there was a plan in place but the large food companies complained and, guess what, the minister killed it.
In 2009 the minister wrote, “further action is needed”. Can the minister tell us if she was wrong then or if she is wrong now?
Libby urges the government to limit trans fats
Day 4 – Homelessness: It’s so Solvable
Day 4 – Homelessness: It’s so Solvable
Day 4 – going well – and I am delighted to see the commentary/support/tweets/facebook/discussion back and forth in support of the 2010 Hunger Strike Relay to end homelessness. Keep it all coming!!
I’ve had many comments about the “wooden spoon” (our relay version of the Olympic torch) and the picture of me holding it and making a comment that I’m tempted to use it to get Harper and Gordon Campbell’s attention! I’ve been carrying the big wooden spoon every day and its weirdly empowering – Councillor Ellen Woodsworth who dropped by to say hello at Carnegie – gave me a friendly warning about it!!
Earlier in the day I attended an announcement by the Veterans Affairs Minister about a program in partnership with Wounded Warriors to assist homeless veterans in the Downtown Eastside. There are many veterans in this community who are suffering, and it is critical they get attention and help. Many of these veterans are Aboriginal people who for decades got no recognition and help for the service and sacrifice they gave to their country. I’m mindful of the fact that it’s a small initiative – but still, I want to do everything I can to make veterans aware that the federal department has a store front service at 310 Alexander Street, to assist with medical, housing, and pension needs. I will be circulating info in the community to let people know about the storefront.
Ok – here’s a good story. I met a cool guy who is in really good social housing – The Lux on East Hastings Street. He’s in a wheelchair as a result of being in hospital with that flesh eating disease. He eventually recovered after many medical setbacks, – but of course, couldn’t find housing that was affordable and suitable for his special needs. When he finally got into the Lux, one of the lucky few – his quality of life improved dramatically and he’s doing well. There are similar stories from other people too, as a result of finding proper housing. I mean, it’s just so much common sense that decent housing means quality of life for each and every one of us. And that’s why it is so frighteningly appalling, that housing ISN’T a priority for the feds. Sometimes I can’t accept it – why DO we have this crisis in Canada? Why ARE people destitute and living hand to mouth? It’s so SOLVEABLE after all. The decision to off load housing in the early 90s was such a bad decision – and underscores that public policy decisions have a dramatic impact on peoples’ lives and can increase or decrease poverty in Canada, depending which way the decision goes.
Let’s stop the race to the bottom and make the government act in the public interest, and not in the personal interest of already powerful elites.
The job now is to move forward and fulfill this basic human right to housing. I would be singing from the roof tops if the federal gov’t would take, steal, borrow, adopt, or whatever, with Bill C304 and make it happen. Failing that we gotta keep pushing up that hill (also called Parliament Hill) and make it happen.
Libby
Libby supports regulations for safer cosmetic contact lenses – Libby Davies
Libby supports regulations for safer cosmetic contact lenses
House of Commons
HANSARD
January 31, 2012
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to speak to Bill C-313.
I would like to thank the member for Sarnia—Lambton for bringing forward the bill. Some of my colleagues already spoke to the bill in the first hour of debate and signified our support for this legislation and that certainly continues. I do not know that there is more information to add in the second hour of debate, but it is important that we have a second hour of debate.
I want to begin my remarks by speaking more generally about what the bill raises in an important sense.
The health care system in Canada is huge. We have many health care concerns, such as natural health products and the mainstream health system itself. There is no doubt that we live in an age where more and more cosmetic-type therapies, aids and assistance, whether they are in drugs or other forms, are available on the market. One only has to look at television or any form of mass media to see the incredible amount of advertising and promotion of all kinds of products. One the one hand we can say that is a good thing in that consumers have lots of choice in this country. On the other hand, as Members of Parliament we hear stories from our constituents of things that have happened to people or complaints that have been made.
With that huge array of products and therapies on the market there also has to be a sense of responsibility. It speaks to the importance of why we are here, why we have government, and that is to look out for the public interest. Sometimes the marketplace does not do all it is hoped it would do. It does not necessarily assume the responsibility of safety and awareness. Although there are many instances where voluntary associations of businesses or sectors promote awareness and education, they sometimes do not go as far as they need to go.
This bill provides illumination and an example–I was going to say a lens; excuse the pun–of the enormous number of products that are available and that there is not necessarily the kind of consumer awareness, education and regulation that is needed to make sure that people are safe.
For that reason, it is an opportune time for the bill to come forward. It draws attention to the problems with cosmetic contact lenses and the fact that they are not regulated and that they have caused problems for people. Consumers may not be aware of the possible infections, irritations or allergies and other problems that these products can cause.
Bill C-313 would amend the Food and Drugs Act to classify cosmetic contact lenses as class II medical devices, which would bring them in line with what we normally see as regular contact corrective lenses. This first step would require all cosmetic lenses sold in Canada to be licensed through Health Canada. Distributors of the products would require a medical device establishment licence. People fret about bureaucracy, rules and regulations, but we have to strike that balance.
In years gone by, going back to October 2000, Health Canada actually issued warnings about coloured contact lenses. In 2003, Health Canada commissioned a third party risk assessment report, “Human Health Risk Assessment of Cosmetic Contact Lens”. There are some serious concerns. The report concluded that the available evidence suggests that the level of risk associated with the use of cosmetic contact lenses is comparable to that associated with corrective lenses and may be potentially higher. The risk assessment report recommended that cosmetic contact lenses be regulated by Health Canada, such as requiring prescriptions for their use and restricting their sale to regulated health professionals.
It is very important that this be followed up. One query which was raised by some of my NDP colleagues in the earlier part of the debate was that while we are happy that the member brought forward the bill as a private member’s bill, one would have hoped, as a result of this work that goes back to 2000 and 2003, the government would have brought it forward itself. That did not happen, but it is good that it is now before us as a private member’s bill.
We are in full support of the bill. We believe it is very important that the vision of Canadians be protected, that there be consumer awareness, that there be proper regulation and that there be a level of professionalism within the industry so that consumers have some measure of protection. That is the very least we should be doing.
I think the bill will pass at second reading. I look forward to it going to the health committee. I hope that we can look at the bill in more detail and that we will be able to hear some witnesses. Major organizations are supporting the bill and I am sure they will have some good recommendations for us to look at.
Again, I want to thank the member for bringing the bill forward.
I hope that we can deal with this issue. We will have taken just a little tiny step to ensure there is better safety for Canadians in terms of their vision and that we will have created a better awareness about this problem.
When people are out there in the marketplace and getting drawn in by the sometimes very persuasive advertising and marketing that goes on, there could be a counterbalance to that in terms of regulation, to ensure there are proper standards and licensing, but also in terms of making consumers and potential buyers aware of what it is they are purchasing, what are some of the risks and what needs to be done in terms of handling and using this particular product.