Support Native Youth Centre

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Posted on 2008.01.8

Support Native Youth Centre

Hon. David Emerson
Senior Minister for BC

Hon. Chuck Strahl
Indian Affairs and Northern Development
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6

Dear Ministers,

RE: Native Youth Centre Project, Vancouver, BC

Once again I am writing, as I have been for the last 3 years, to urge federal government support for a native youth centre in Vancouver. I bring to your particular attention a January 16th article in the Vancouver Sun about newly released 2006 census results, which highlight the rapid increase in the aboriginal youth population in urban centres, and the lack of resources which they must endure. I believe that a native youth centre will play a fundamental role in addressing this serious issue.

I know that we agree that urban aboriginal youth are considered to be at great risk. Indeed, the article highlights what we already know: they face multiple challenges, but do not have the resources to overcome them. Aboriginal youth face poverty and its attendant harsh, and sometimes tragic, consequences of poor health, unemployment and homelessness. This creates an environment of few opportunities when non-aboriginal youth typically enjoy security and a sense of hope. Exacerbating this picture is a dearth of opportunities and resources to meet these challenges.

As I have stated in the past, I believe that a native youth centre would be a vital resource to help reverse this trend, and allow youth to enjoy a secure environment to develop stability, confidence and leadership, which would ultimately lead to opportunities for training and employment skills. Moreover, the centre would provide a culturally appropriate setting for youth to enjoy social, spiritual, artistic, recreational and educational activities.

A central, “one-stop” facility would provide efficiency – and synchronicity – of resources, programs and services, these being currently dispersed and often delivered disjointedly.

Lastly, the Urban Native Youth Association, which is sponsoring the project, has been successful in securing support from the municipal and provincial governments, the Assembly of First Nations, the community and private sector. And I now respectfully urge the federal government to finally come on board and make this project its highest priority. It would be a stellar demonstration of your government’s commitment to safety, security, opportunity and hope for not only urban aboriginal youth, but also the community at large.

Sincerely,
Libby Davies
M.P. Vancouver East
Deputy Leader & House Leader, NDP

Blog – Page 2

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Blog

Posted on 2019.05.16

EXCERPT: The federal NDP must stand tall in its commitment to a boldly progressive agenda

Originally published in rabble.ca, May 16, 2019

In 2015, Libby Davies retired as deputy leader of the NDP and member of Parliament for Vancouver East, after four decades of work as a politician, community organizer and activist for progressive causes. Her recently published book, Outside In: A Political Memoir, recounts her career and the causes she has worked for, from the legalization of same-sex marriage to housing justice and access to safe injection sites on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. [ read more…]

Posted on 2019.05.14

Getting women into Canada’s Parliament

Originally published in Policy Options, May 14, 2019

Former NDP MP and deputy leader Libby Davies, who recently published a memoir, and political scientist Jeanette Ashe discuss gender and elected office.

Jeanette Ashe: You’re one of few women ever elected to Canada’s House of Commons, and you were also the first openly lesbian MP — where today LGBTQ MPs make up approximately 2 percent of the House. [ read more…]

Posted on 2019.05.11

My plunge into politics — and sexism

Originally published in the Toronto Star, May 11, 2019

In the research for my book Outside In: A Political Memoir, I came across a 1982 election interview on BCTV with Jack Webster — the journalist known as “king of the Vancouver airwaves” at the time — where my right to run for city council was challenged based solely on my gender. [ read more…]

Posted on 2019.05.9

Outside In book tour is happening!

Very excited that the book tour for Outside In is about to begin – see the first leg of events listed below. It seems like it has been a very long journey of reflecting, writing, and going through the process of editing and publishing. [ read more…]

Mitchel Raphael on politicians and drugs, plus the metalhead MP

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Mitchel Raphael on politicians and drugs, plus the metalhead MP

OTTAWA – NDP MP Libby Davies spearheaded, and MPs from all parties co-hosted, what was billed as an Expert Panel on Drug Policy Reform. All panellists agreed the war on drugs has been a huge disaster and a waste of money. Portuguese Ambassador Pedro Moitinho de Almeida spoke of his country’s success with decriminalizing drugs.

The original article, Macleans Magazine was published on December 9, 2010 in Macleans Magazine. Author(s): Mitchel Raphael

Libby Davies Recognized for Achievement in Drug Policy at International Conference

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Posted on 2007.12.7

Libby Davies Recognized for Achievement in Drug Policy at International Conference

NEW ORLEANS – NDP MP Libby Davies (Vancouver East) is in New Orleans this weekend, where she will receive the Justice Gerald Le Dain Award for Achievement in the Field of Law.

Davies is being recognized for her “outstanding drug policy reform work” at the 2007 International Drug Policy Reform Conference, hosted by the U.S. based Drug Policy Alliance and the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation.

The award is named after retired Supreme Court Justice Gerald Le Dain, Chair of the 1970 Canadian Commission on the Non-Medical Use of Drugs. The Commission recommended that the government’s drug strategy focus on frank education, not suppression, and argued that marijuana possession should be decriminalized.

Libby Davies, the NDP Spokesperson for Drug Policy, sat on the 2002 Special Parliamentary Sub-Committee on the Non-Medical Use of Drugs and has been a long time advocate of harm reduction, regulating drug use, and addressing drug use as a public health issue.

Davies is leading a Campaign for Common Sense Drug Policy, and continues to fight along-side activists across Canada to protect Vancouver’s safe injection site, InSite.

NDP Slams Conservatives for Breaking AIDS Funding Promise

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Posted on 2007.12.1

NDP Slams Conservatives for Breaking AIDS Funding Promise

OTTAWA – The Conservative government’s decision to cut community AIDS funding is simple negligence, say NDP Health Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North) and NDP MP Libby Davies (Vancouver East).

“The Conservatives are recklessly diverting money from important community AIDS prevention programs to let themselves off the hook for commitments they made to the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation,” said Wasylycia-Leis.

Media reports today confirmed that Ontario AIDS groups will see a 30 per cent funding cut, with more cuts to come for community groups across Canada. Money earmarked for these groups is being moved to satisfy a February 2007 commitment to the Gates Foundation that agreed to put $139 million in new funding toward a Canadian HIV vaccine program.

“Community AIDS groups across the country are struggling to deliver programs to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. Now this government is breaking its promise for new funding for an important AIDS vaccine and threatening the future of local AIDS groups,” said Davies.

“This government continues to ignore evidence-based results when it comes to public health issues,” said Davies. “It has removed harm reduction from its drug strategy, and is pouring more and more resources into enforcement while virtually abandoning treatment and prevention programs.”

“What Canadian AIDS groups need now is additional, stable funding. The minister of Health must know that these cuts will directly result in the loss of lives,” said Wasylycia-Leis.

The NDP is calling for the minister of Health to honour his commitment for new funding for a Canadian HIV vaccine program and ensure that there will be no cuts to existing HIV/AIDS programs.

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