Layoffs will affect Air Canada workers in Montreal, Winnipeg and Vancouver

Following today’s lay-off announcement of more than 1,000 Air Canada machinists, New Democrats are proposing measures which would help these workers and their families in these tough economic times.

“With our economy still on shaky foundations, we need to make sure that we are proactive to help lessen the damage caused by these layoffs,” said New Democrat Deputy Leader Thomas Mulcair (Outremont). “This isn’t just about 1,000 workers, but a choice by our government to put jobs first in our economic recovery.”

Read full article: 'New Democrats propose help for laid-off aviation workers'

New Democrat Employment Insurance Critic Yvon Godin (Acadie—Bathurst) is calling on the Minister of Human Resources to help the more than 500,000 unemployed who have still not found work and who have exhausted their employment insurance benefits.

“Without an effective job creation strategy, the unemployed will need government assistance. The government cannot simply offload the problem onto the provinces,” said Yvon Godin. “People who are unemployed and without employment insurance benefits still have to pay their bills and pay rent. Since social assistance benefits are just above the poverty line, there is cause for concern about these families.”

Read full article: 'New Democrats call for extension of EI benefits'

New Democrat Sports Critic Glenn Thibeault (Sudbury) and Deputy Leader Thomas Mulcair (Outremont) called today for a Royal Commission on violence in sports.

New Democrats made this demand on behalf of the millions of people concerned about the increase in disgraceful and violent behaviour in sport, and the inability of professional and amateur leagues to solve the problem.

“It is high time this issue is taken seriously. League authorities need to explain why a savage attack, which would result in charges of aggravated assault anywhere else, warrants nothing but a few game suspensions,” said Thibeault.

Read full article: 'New Democrats call for Royal Commission on violence in sports'

New Democrat consumer protection critic Glenn Thibeault is disappointed that consumers will have to pay for the shortcomings of their government once again.

As Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s 60-day consultation period on his government's voluntary credit card and debit card code of conduct drew to a close yesterday, several business groups lobbied for businesses to be allowed to charge consumers an extra fee to cover rising transaction fees.

Read full article: 'Consumers pay price for government inaction'

Today’s government announcement regarding expedited immigration and adoption processes and additional support for Haitian-Canadian families is a commendable step in the right direction, though more changes are needed, according to New Democrat Immigration Critic Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina).

“The government has announced a number of commendable changes to immigration and adoption policies for Haitian-Canadian families, but we need them to go further,” says Chow. “The government has not changed the policy in order to allow the sponsoring of siblings. This is a very significant part of the changes we asked for. Canadians consider their brothers and sisters as part of their family. We need to help them bring them home.”

Read full article: 'Immigration changes a good start, more needed to Help Haitian-Canadian families'

New Democrat MP Jean Crowder will be in the Kenora area this Saturday as part of the New Democrat Taskforce on Economic Recovery.

“Stephen Harper is failing Northwest Ontario” said Crowder. “I am in Kenora to listen to the concerns and ideas of the hard working folks in this region who are being left behind by the Conservatives in this economic crisis.”

Read full article: 'Economic Recovery Taskforce'

New Democrat Heritage Critic, Charlie Angus, slammed the Heritage Minister today for threatening the future of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Minister Moore has openly called for the sale of assets and layoffs at the public broadcaster, rather than granting the CBC’s request for a temporary loan against future years’ funding. Securing the bridge financing would protect the CBC’s public assets, and help protect the integrity of local and regional service.

Read full article: 'The Future of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation'

New Democrat leader Jack Layton blasted outgoing Prime Minister Stephen Harper for his attacks on arts and culture in Quebec. Speaking before members of the Quebec City arts community, Layton announced the New Democrats policy on the cultural industries.

Layton accused Prime Minister Harper of making a $50 billion corporate tax cut the only real priority of his government, while cutting funds to crucial cultural programs.

There were more important things to do, Layton said. “One of the key things we need to do first is to protect and promote the arts.”

Read full article: 'Attacks Harper funding cuts, praises Quebec cultural industries'

Today, New Democrats’ Leader Jack Layton announced that as Prime Minister, he would begin building a comprehensive national child care plan that will provide good quality, affordable child care spaces across the country.

“I believe that high quality public child care will be as important to building Canada in the 21st century, as Medicare was in the last century,” said Layton.

The New Democrat leader blasted Prime Minister Harper, pointing out that “not a single child care space has been created by the Harper Conservatives.”

Read full article: '“As Prime Minister, I’ll deliver for you and your kids”'

Canada’s manufacturing industry is in free-fall and Stephen Harper doesn’t care. New Democrat Leader Jack Layton does.

Today, Layton sets out a prudent, responsible, step-by-step plan to strengthen and renew Canadian manufacturing, through smart investment, stimulating innovation and fairer trade policies.

“It’s time we had a Prime Minister who’ll fight for working families. The manufacturing sector has been hit hard,” said Layton outside General Motors in Oshawa. “Jobs are disappearing overseas. Harper is doing nothing, and proposes to do nothing some more. Working families are the last priority of Stephen Harper.”

Read full article: 'The NDP plan to stop manufacturing sector sell-out'

As he launched the campaign today Stephen Harper got some facts wrong.

Harper: “Today a million and a half Canadian families receive the $1,200 per child tax benefit.”

Wrong: No family ends up with the full $1,200. Welfare families net $951, while working poor and modest-income families are in the $600-$800 area. Two-earner couples in the middle-income range for that type of family – $50,000 to $90,000 – get about $900. In the upper-income $100,000-plus range, one-earner couples get $970, two-earner couples between $850 and $680, and the very small group of single-parent families from $680 to $640.) The Caledon Report (PDF)

Read full article: 'Stephen Harper Campaign Launch'

NDP Justice Critic Joe Comartin (Windsor Tecumseh) wrote to Minister Nicholson yesterday regarding Conservative MP Christian Paradis and his membership on the Supreme Court of Canada Appointments Advisory Committee.

Comartin writes, “In the last several days, Mr. Paradis name has surfaced as a significant actor in the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) election financing case against Elections Canada. From the testimony of the Conservative Party of Canada’s former financial officer, Ms. Ann O’Grady under oath, it appears that Mr. Paradis breached the Canada Elections Act as interpreted by Elections Canada officials.”

Comartin is urging the Minister to request that Mr. Paradis withdraw his name from the Supreme Court of Canada Appointments Advisory Committee. Failing his voluntary removal, the Minister should remove him from the Committee and replace him with another MP who does not have a similar direct conflict of interest.

Read full article: 'NDP calls for an impartial Supreme Court committee'

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.”

Read full article: 'Premiers left to squabble because the prime minister fails to lead on pollution caps'

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.”

Read full article: 'Stop War Resister Robin Long's Deportation'

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.”

Read full article: 'Jack Layton pledges $206 million for Vancouver Transit System'