Member of Parliament 1997-2015, Public speaker, writer, community activist
Why are both central and provincial/local governments necessary? Libby participated in the Canada instalment, of a five part educational video series, produced by Forum of Federations.
Mauril Belanger’s private members’ bill proposes to change the second line of the anthem from “True patriot love in all thy sons command” to “True patriot love in all of us command.”The lyrics as they are currently written exclude women and are therefore out of date, Belanger said. This is the fifth legislative attempt to change the lyrics since 2002, and the second by Belanger. His previous attempt fell short when his bill was defeated on second reading a year ago. In 2010, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper included a plan to change the lyrics of the national anthem in the Speech from the Throne to make it gender neutral. The plan was met with such a swift backlash Harper’s office backed down within two days. NDP Leader Tom Mulcair did not support the idea then, but a year later, NDP deputy leader Libby Davies introduced a private members’ bill that would have changed the lyrics.
Today in Parliament, Libby asked for an emergency debate to discuss the current drug shortages impacting thousands of patients across the country. Her request was granted by the Speaker and the debate will take place on Monday, March 12, 2012.
House of Commons
HANSARD
March 9, 2012
Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 52(1), I am requesting that we hold an emergency debate for the purpose of discussing the widespread drug shortages that I think people are now aware of. This is a matter that demands our urgent consideration.
We have become increasingly aware that hospitals and regional health units across the country are currently experiencing severe drug shortages. The impact of these shortages means that, for example, critically ill patients are having their cancer treatment drugs rationed. People with high blood pressure and heart conditions are being affected. People suffering from chronic pain, the side effects of terminal illness, and post-operative pain, people who are experiencing severe pain cannot get a hold of their opiate medication. Also alarming is that the hospitals are already cancelling surgeries and limiting treatment.
I am sure that members have been hearing from their local communities about this emergent situation and how it is impacting so many people and their families. I do believe that all parties and members would want to share their perspectives on what is going on.
There has been some debate during question period in the House, but I think the need for an emergency debate is very evident. I hope that you will respectfully consider my request, Mr. Speaker. I realize that today is a Friday, so I would be quite amenable if the debate were able to take place on Monday. However, I do feel it is a very emergent situation and ask for your careful consideration.
“Reflecting on the best way ahead for her party, former deputy NDP leader and panellist Libby Davies drew on her recent memoir Outside In to urge the NDP to be bold in the months up to the election on October 21, and to fight hard for its ideas about how a transition to a green economy is needed and can be made possible.” Read the full article in the link below.
Now, as Mulcair’s leadership is up for debate and the party questions its own identity and direction, key New Democrats are pushing the Leap Manifesto principles into the mix. Former MPs Libby Davies and Craig Scott, as well as the head of the influential Toronto-Danforth riding association and documentary filmmaker Avi Lewis, are circulating a plan to entrench the manifesto’s ideas. But they don’t foresee a wholesale adoption of the manifesto all at once. Rather, they ask that the federal NDP embrace values contained in the manifesto, but at the same time launch an internal process that will allow a thorough debate by its members.
OTTAWA — Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is suspending Parliament until March to give his government time to "recalibrate," an aide to the prime minister said on Wednesday. The move postpones the 2010 start of Canada's legislature to March 3 from Jan. 25 — after the winter Olympics in Vancouver — and lets the government prepare "the next stage of Canada's economic action plan," said Dimitri Soudas, Mr. Harper's press secretary. "Clearly this is a move on their part to avoid public scrutiny, to avoid further investigation on Afghan detainees," said Libby Davies, House leader for the opposition New Democratic Party.