NDP will continue to work to protect labour rights

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Posted on 2012.12.13

NDP will continue to work to protect labour rights

Dear friends,

The following statement from MP Alexandre Boulerice, the NDP’s Labour critic, says very well, why Bill C-377 is such a bad bill, both in its construction and intent. There is no other way to look at, other than an attack on labour. Alexandre’s fought very hard in the Committee to stop the Bill. The Conservative majority gave it a green light. Rest assured we will closely monitor this Bill (it has yet to pass through the Senate). We will also be vigilant to work and organise against other similar initiatives.

Libby

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2012

STATEMENT BY NDP LABOUR CRITIC, ALEXANDRE BOULERICE, ON ADOPTION OF BILL C-377

Last night, the Conservative government supported Bill C-377 from a backbencher MP, whose hidden objective is to weaken the labour movement.

According to the NDP, as well as the privacy commissioner of Canada, this bill goes too far. The NDP says it goes against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and will be defeated by the courts because it violates freedom of association and the private lives of those who work for a union.

Bill C-377 will also be very costly for Canadians and require a lot of bureaucracy. The parliamentary budget officer estimates that it will cost much more than the 2.4 million dollars allocated by the Canada Revenue Agency.

The Conservatives claim they are acting in the name of transparency, but fail to mention that unions are already required to make their financial information available to their members. 

This bill will result in an imbalance and benefit companies which will be able to gain access to unions’ financial information and use it to their advantage.

The NDP will always encourage transparency, but opposes the Conservatives’ disguised attempt to attack the rights of unions and interfere in labour relations.

 

Libby Davies Welcomes B.C. Supreme Court Decision on Medical Marijuana

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Posted on 2009.02.5

Libby Davies Welcomes B.C. Supreme Court Decision on Medical Marijuana

Ottawa- Libby Davies (MP Vancouver East) welcomes the BC Supreme Court decision that Canada’s Medical Marijuana Access Regulations are unconstitutional, and called on Ottawa today to scrap the existing regulations and implement a fair and accessible medical marijuana program.

“The medical marijuana program is overly bureaucratic and costly for users, and simply does not serve the needs of cannabis patients,” said Davies.

Hundreds of eligible clients of Canada’s program opt out after a short time because of prohibitive costs, leaving them with no alternative but to use private sellers, which is often illegal.

Libby Davies has long called for a federal audit of the program, which turns a profit for Health Canada. As recently as June, Davies wrote the Minister of Health demanding a public review of the flawed program, pointing out, among other problems, that doctors are reluctant to enroll patients in the program because of the high costs and poor quality of the cannabis the government supplies.

The Federal Court and other provincial courts have also found the current program to be too burdensome for patients needing the drug.

“Users of medical marijuana need to be treated with respect and dignity,” said Davies. “Ottawa must get on with the job of working with all stakeholders to develop and implement a program that meets the needs of its users.”

-30-

Libby Davies Welcomes B.C. Supreme Court Decision on Medical Marijuana

Posted on

Posted on 2009.02.5

Libby Davies Welcomes B.C. Supreme Court Decision on Medical Marijuana

Ottawa- Libby Davies (MP Vancouver East) welcomes the BC Supreme Court decision that Canada’s Medical Marijuana Access Regulations are unconstitutional, and called on Ottawa today to scrap the existing regulations and implement a fair and accessible medical marijuana program.

“The medical marijuana program is overly bureaucratic and costly for users, and simply does not serve the needs of cannabis patients,” said Davies.

Hundreds of eligible clients of Canada’s program opt out after a short time because of prohibitive costs, leaving them with no alternative but to use private sellers, which is often illegal.

Libby Davies has long called for a federal audit of the program, which turns a profit for Health Canada. As recently as June, Davies wrote the Minister of Health demanding a public review of the flawed program, pointing out, among other problems, that doctors are reluctant to enroll patients in the program because of the high costs and poor quality of the cannabis the government supplies.

The Federal Court and other provincial courts have also found the current program to be too burdensome for patients needing the drug.

“Users of medical marijuana need to be treated with respect and dignity,” said Davies. “Ottawa must get on with the job of working with all stakeholders to develop and implement a program that meets the needs of its users.”

-30-

Housing and Poverty Need to be Addressed in the Downtown Eastside

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Housing and Poverty Need to be Addressed in the Downtown Eastside

The long, systemic problem in the Downtown Eastside has been the failure of public policy to address growing poverty. That's manifested itself in many different ways. Overall, it is people's lack of purchasing power. It's people lacking the basic necessities of life for any kind of decent standard of life, whether it's money to buy an affordable room, whether it's to buy food or clothes or to get to work, or have any kind of semblance of what we would consider a normal life.

The original article, Better or Worse was published on February 3, 2009 in The Province. Author(s): Elaine O'Connor

Libby Speaking Out on Budget Broken Promises

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Posted on 2009.02.3

Libby Speaking Out on Budget Broken Promises

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised mayors infrastructure money but did not deliver. He promised child care spaces but did not come through. He promised to make fuel-efficient cars more affordable and then reneged. He promised police officers a raise and then took it away. He said he would protect consumers from ATM fees but buckled from pressure from the banks.

When it comes to standing up for people, why should any Canadian have confidence in the government now?

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have not forgotten that just nine weeks ago the government was blaming the economic downturn on women seeking pay equity, on civil servants who had the right to strike, and on political financing. It was a partisan and mean-spirited approach and it has been the hallmark of that Prime Minister and his government.

After the contempt he has shown for the poor, for the unemployed and for the most vulnerable in our society, why should any Canadian have confidence that he will help the very people he has spent his political career leaving behind?

Courting danger

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Courting danger

KINGSTON – Last September, Justice Susan Himel of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice struck down three provisions in Canada's Criminal Code: living off the avails of prostitution; keeping a common bawdy house; and communicating in a public place for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. "These laws," wrote Justice Himel, "individually and together, force prostitutes to choose between their liberty interest and their right to security of the person as protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms." MP Libby Davies, the NDP representative in Parliament for Vancouver East, agrees it's time for "an intelligent discussion" about the decriminalization of sex work, rather than continuing to sweep it under the rug.

The original article, Courting danger was published on February 18, 2011 in The Kingston Whig-Standard. Author(s): Paul Schliesmann

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