“Despite growing opposition to its electoral reform bill, the Conservative government has pursued its efforts to adopt it with great haste and secrecy. As expected, they voted against my motion urging the House to reject this bill that endangers the very foundations of our democracy by prohibiting vouching, voter education programming by Elections Canada, and the use of voter cards as second pieces of identification. The Conservatives refused to agree to the removal of these parts from the bill that have nothing to do with real electoral fraud-- which this bill was originally supposed to be about.
IN THE NEWS ~ Budget bill expected as parliamentarians return from break
OTTAWA - The federal budget bill, the Conservative government's rejected Supreme Court selection and continued parliamentary brawling over proposed elections reforms will be in the spotlight when the House of Commons resumes sitting Monday.
It will also be the first time in eight years that someone other than Jim Flaherty will rise as the federal finance minister; that job now belongs to Joe Oliver, the former natural resources minister.
IN OUR COMMUNITY ~ Video from Peter's town hall on changes to Canada Post
IN THE NEWS ~ NDP to push Libs and Conservatives on AG audits of MP expenses
The New Democratic Party is going to use every Parliamentary tool at its disposal, including Opposition day motions, to push the Conservatives and Liberals to let the auditor general oversee and audit MP expenses, even from previous years.
"Stay tuned, that's our message," NDP caucus chair Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster, B.C.) told The Hill Times last week.
IN THE NEWS ~ N.B. could become an economic powerhouse, committee hears
Colleen Mitchell, president of Atlantica Centre for Energy, told a bipartisan panel delving into the cross-Canada benefits of further developing the oil and gas industry that the royalties Saskatchewan receives from the oil and gas sector roughly equate to New Brunswick's equalization payments.
"Once developed, natural gas royalties in New Brunswick could transform the balance sheet of the province," Mitchell told the Standing Committee on Natural Resources. "(New Brunswick has) reserves at 70 trillion cubic feet, which is 10 per cent of Canadian proven resources. The province has recently renewed activity.
IN THE NEWS ~ NDP Natural Resources critic explores needs of Newfoundlanders
James McLeod, THE TELEGRAM (ST. JOHN'S) LOCAL, Page: A4
New Democrat Natural Resources critic Peter Julian was in St. John's, flanked by local MPs Ryan Cleary and Peter Julian, to talk about sustainable development, and all the things he thinks that Prime Minister Stephen Harper is doing wrong.
Julian will also be conducting disability tax clinics today in St. John's and Mount Pearl, but on Friday he was bouncing around from the Nalcor offices to the CNLOPB and the provincial minister of natural resources, hearing about resource issues.
NEWS ~ NDP seeking justice for Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women
“It is appalling that after hearing witness after witness testify that much more needs to be done on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, the Conservatives could produce a sanitized report saying that everything is fine,� said NDP Aboriginal Affairs critic Jean Crowder (Nanaimo Cowichan). “This is an intergenerational tragedy that demands immediate action.�
Statement from the NDP on the approval of the reversal of Line 9
“All Canadians benefit when our resources are developed and transported in a safe and sustainable way. With the proper environmental review and high safety standards, New Democrats believe that processing Canadian oil in Canada makes sense.
However, we remain extremely concerned about the changes forced in by the Conservatives that gutted the review and approval process dealing with the Line 9 proposal. This weakened process has created uncertainty for industry, as evidenced by the numerous court challenges facing the Northern Gateway approval.
NEWS ~ Mulcair announces pan-Canadian consultations on Unfair Elections Act
“Conservatives do not want to hear from Canadians and have been blocking every attempt by the NDP to hold cross country public consultations. Canadians deserve better,� said Mr. Mulcair.
Hundreds of thousands of Canadians will be prevented from exercising their right to vote if Bill C-23 is adopted. The Chief Electoral Officer’s powers will be severely curtailed and he will even be forbidden from educating and engaging Canadians about the importance of voting.
IN THE NEWS ~ Fuller disclosure of MP expenses to begin April 1
MPs must become more transparent...
THE CANADIAN PRESS Newswire - OTTAWA; THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD NATIONAL GENERAL NEWS, Page: A2; THE THUNDER BAY CHRONICLE-JOURNAL GENERAL NEWS;
All parties in the House of Commons have joined forces to support fuller disclosure of MPs' expenses.
The House has unanimously passed a Liberal motion instructing Commons administrative staff to begin publicly posting, by April 1, all travel and hospitality expenses incurred by MPs.
IN THE HOUSE ~ Debate ~ NDP Motion on MPs' expenses and independent oversight
I will give a bit of history because I think that is important. The history starts back in the halcyon days of June 18, 2013. On June 18, the NDP presented a motion. We said that, given the importance of having that full disclosure and that transparency, we would move to have the procedure and House affairs committee do away with the secretive Board of Internal Economy, which right now regulates the expenses of MPs.
NEWS ~ Veterans’ families need Ottawa’s help to deal with post-traumatic stress
“There shouldn’t be any hesitation when it comes to helping the families of our heroes. Veterans’ families aren’t asking for much – they simply want to be treated with dignity,� said Veterans Affairs critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville—Eastern Shore).
In light of the sad wave of veteran suicides, the NDP is urging the Conservative government to recognize the important role of families and to give them the resources they need. The Veterans Ombudsman made several recommendations such as educational and counseling services for families and increased access to programs at the Military Family Resources Centre for medically released Canadian Forces members.