NDP commends Ontario joining the Western Climate Initiative cap and trade system
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:43:00 -0400

NDP MP Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre) issued the following statement today:

“The New Democratic Party of Canada commends today’s announcement by the Government of Ontario to follow the NDP’s lead on a Canada-wide cap and trade system by joining the Western Climate Initiative. Ontario joins Manitoba, Quebec and British Columbia along with several US states in an emerging regional cap and trade plan. Today’s announcement strengthens the growing Canadian and global consensus that a cap and trade system is the most effective method of pricing and constraining carbon.

NDP to Harper: Join consensus on capping pollution
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:13:00 -0400

Premiers left to squabble because the prime minister fails to lead: Cullen

OTTAWA – Canada risks decades more of inaction and rising pollution if Stephen Harper fails to engage in the debate amongst the premiers on climate change, says NDP Environment Critic Nathan Cullen. Cullen says premiers are now clearly divided among the majority who favour a cap and trade system called for by Jack Layton, and those who are in favour of passing the pollution problem on to the next generation.

“A total lack of federal leadership has lead to an inter-provincial hodge-podge of programs and premiers butting heads,” said Cullen. “In the end, Canada will never meet its climate change obligations and the big polluters will continue to go unchecked.”

NDP to Harper: Stop war resister’s deportation
Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:53:00 -0400

BURNABY – NDP MP Bill Siksay (Burnaby-Douglas) is calling on the Conservative government to stop the deportation of American Iraq war resister Robin Long, scheduled for today.

“Stockwell Day, Diane Finley and Stephen Harper should respect the will of Parliament and the Canadian people and stop this deportation immediately,” said Siksay. “The House of Commons has passed a motion supporting a special programme that would allow conscientious objectors who refuse to serve in the war in Iraq to remain in Canada. The government must respect this action by the House and stop deportation action against Robin Long and other Iraq war resisters.”

Layton pledges $206 million for Vancouver transit
Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:54:00 -0400

“Time to increase investments in transit, not costs.” – NDP Leader

VANCOUVER – Federal NDP leader Jack Layton pledged an investment of $206 million dollars over four years for Vancouver’s public transit system today.

Speaking at the Vancouver Seabus terminal, the NDP Leader outlined details of Vancouver’s share of the NDP’s plan to invest in transit through a dedication of one cent per litre of the existing federal excise tax to public transportation as well as revenues from charging the big polluters through a cap-and-trade carbon pricing system.

“We welcome the debate on carbon pricing and climate change” said Layton. “There is no greater crisis facing our planet and our country. The need for urgent investments in green solutions is desperately needed.”

NDP invites Minister Prentice to sign the “Stop text message cash-grab” petition
Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:51:00 -0400

OTTAWA – The New Democratic Party has invited Canada’s Industry Minister to sign its online petition opposing the “text message cash-grab” recently announced by Bell Mobility and Telus Mobility for all incoming text messages.

Today Minister Prentice signaled his opposition to the cash-grab by describing the move in a media report as “ill-thought out.” The NDP invites the minister to back up his position by taking a few moments to sign the NDP’s online petition found at the party’s website.

Since its launch late Tuesday afternoon, over 5,000 individuals have signed the anti cash-grab petition – a growth of one signature every 30 seconds.

NDP demands fairness for cell phone consumers
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:44:00 -0400

Layton launches online petition against “text message cash-grab”

TORONTO – Canadian consumers will be paying more for cell phones, services, food and other household essentials over the next year, says NDP Leader Jack Layton.

Layton says two major consumer reports released yesterday combined with aggressive anti-consumer action by two of Canada’s largest cellular service providers in recent days have set the stage for a consumer revolt in Canada.

Layton slams Harper for G8 inaction on climate change
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:42:00 -0400

“Ignoring Canada’s targets for pollution reduction shows contempt” Layton

TORONTO – NDP Leader Jack Layton slammed Stephen Harper today for his role in ensuring no progress was made on global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases at the G8 summit in Japan and the contempt shown by ignoring the climate change targets adopted by the House of Commons just weeks ago.

“Today’s announcement is meaningless” said Layton. “Not only is it identical last year’s commitment made by the G8 leaders when they met in Germany, it has no common base year and no action plan to achieve these reductions.”

Layton calls on Harper to join G8 efforts to cap pollution
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:04:00 -0400

“Cap-and-trade in Europe, Japan and USA leaves Canada isolated” says Layton

OTTAWA – NDP leader Jack Layton is calling the upcoming G8 meeting in Japan the last opportunity Stephen Harper will have to signal a serious commitment to place a real cap on greenhouse gas emissions before Canada stands alone with Russia as the only industrialized nations without a cap-and-trade system.

“With Japan now on board and both presumptive nominees for the US Presidency advocating a cap-and-trade model, Canada will soon stand alone with Russia as the only industrialized countries with no hard caps on pollution” said Layton.“ This is completely unacceptable.”

Layton celebrating 400th anniversary of Quebec City
Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:56:00 -0400

QUEBEC – NDP Leader Jack Layton will be in Quebec City on Sunday to join in the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the city’s founding.

Layton will be among the guests of honour for the Great Family Gathering, a giant picnic on the Plains of Abraham. In the afternoon, Layton will head to Espace 400e to take in some of the performances by local actors, dancers and lecturers. Layton will also take the opportunity to tour the Promenade Champlain, which was official opened on June 26, 2008.

“This year, the people of Quebec City are joined by other Quebecers, Canadians from every corner of the country, First Nations especially the nation-host Huron-Wendat and people from around the world to celebrating the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City.

NDP calls on Conservatives to stop destruction of lakes by mining companies
Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:15:00 -0400

OTTAWA –NDP Fisheries and Oceans critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore) and NDP MP Catherine Bell (Vancouver Island North) called on the Conservative government to stop allowing mining companies to discharge their toxic mine tailings into healthy lakes. Sixteen healthy lakes are at risk of being re-classified as mine tailings ponds.

“Canadians are shocked when they learn that the Conservative government allows healthy, fish-bearing lakes to be used as toxic dumping grounds for mining waste,” said Stoffer. “This mining waste kills the lakes and the life within them. I call on Fisheries and Oceans Minister Hearn to halt this practice now.”

Dion helps Harper pass damaging immigration bill
Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:36:00 -0400

OTTAWA – The Official Opposition in Ottawa has allowed the Harper Conservatives to put the interests of big corporations ahead of ordinary families by adopting immigration changes inserted into the budget bill (C-50) that have been widely criticized by faith and immigrant communities as well as the Canadian Bar Association and the Canadian Labour Congress.

“Instead of fixing the problems in our immigration system, the Harper Conservatives’ answer is to shred the applications,” said NDP Citizenship and Immigration Critic Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina), who called the changes “deceptive, damaging and dangerous”.

NDP council adopts motion to help manufacturing sector
Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:55:00 -0400

OTTAWA – At the NDP’s federal council meeting this weekend, the Party’s highest governing body signalled its deep concern about the manufacturing and forestry job loss crisis in Canada with the adoption of an emergency motion calling on the federal government to stem the tide of lost jobs in Canada on the week of the GM announcement of the closing of its plant in Oshawa.

“Prime Minister Harper needs to show leadership and implement a strategy for the new energy economy,” said NDP leader Jack Layton. “The NDP tabled a practical and achievable green auto plan in 2003 and can be part of a jobs strategy for a sustainable future. When will this government implement a strategy that will bring this industry back on its feet?”

NDP MP Peggy Nash secures gas price hearings
Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:42:00 -0400

OTTAWA – NDP Industry Critic, Peggy Nash (Parkdale-High Park) secured the passage of a motion at Parliament’s Industry Committee that will see the creation of a subcommittee to undertake the study of the recent spike in oil and gas prices.

The motion passed calls for the ‘gas price’ subcommittee to meet for three hearings in late August or early September.

“I think this is a critical first step in getting a handle on rising gas prices,” said Nash. “The most common question that Canadians ask across the country is ‘why are gas prices skyrocketing’. I think it’s about time Parliament got them some answers, and hopefully some solutions.”

NDP seeks investigation in the cost of the war
Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:27:00 -0400

OTTAWA – NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre) is denouncing the government for avoiding answers on the real cost of the war in Afghanistan and is asking the Parliamentary Budget Officer to investigate and report the financial cost of the war in Afghanistan to Parliament.

“Canadians have a right to know the true costs of the war in Afghanistan,” said Dewar. “At every turn, the Harper government has sought to thwart the release of information it thinks will paint an unflattering picture of an already unpopular war. We need the Parliamentary Budget Officer to look into this”.

REALITY CHECK: Liberals aren’t walking the walk on gender equality
Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:27:00 -0400

Today, Stéphane Dion announced his support for a Commissioner for gender equality, but his own party would not fare well under the scrutiny of the new Commissioner.

The Liberal record

• Stéphane Dion named only 12 women to his 51-member shadow cabinet.
• Stéphane Dion has refused to implement the recommendations of his own party’s Women’s Caucus.
• Only 26% of Liberal candidates in the last election were women - and that was two years after then Liberal Leader Paul Martin said he looked forward to the day that the number of women in Parliament reflected their share of the population.