Latest News & Updates

IN THE NEWS - Ottawa to end pandemic aid program

Canada Recovery Benefit to be phased out, sources say, as feds decide fate of other measures

by: Raisa Patel Toronto Star With Files From Heather Scoffield

The Canada Recovery Benefit is on the way out, the Star learned late Wednesday.

Two sources told the Star that the benefit, which replaced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) last year, will be gone sooner rather than later. But some support will still be available for those who are not able to go to work temporarily because of strict lockdowns.

The fate of the federal government's soon-to-expire pandemic support measures could be revealed as early as Thursday. Supports for struggling businesses will remain in some form but be streamlined and made far more stringent in terms of applicants demonstrating losses.

IN THE NEWS - Hybrid Parliament safest to stop MPs becoming vectors spreading COVID-19

The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Conservatives say they disagree with a committee of MPs deciding that only fully vaccinated MPs, staff and visitors can enter the House of Commons.

Their objection represents the first challenge to Tuesday's ruling by the all-party board of internal economy _ the governing body of the Commons _ that only people who are double vaccinated will be allowed to enter the precinct.

The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois agree that members of Parliament should be fully vaccinated to take their seat, making it a rule for their candidates who ran in the recent federal election.

IN THE NEWS - Delaying Parliament's return until Nov. 22 will affect COVID-19 benefits: NDP

Recovery, sickness and caregiver benefits can only be extended until Nov. 20 without new legislation

The Canadian Press · Posted: Oct 18, 2021 4:18 PM ET | Last Updated: October 18

Peter Julian, the NDP's leader of the House of Commons, says delaying the return of Parliament until Nov. 22 means some pandemic supports will expire before they can be renewed. (CBC)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - NDP calls on Liberals to urgently reconvene Parliament to help Canadians

OTTAWA – Following the announcement that Parliament would reconvene on November 22nd, NDP House Leader, Peter Julian, wrote to Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government urging them to get Members of Parliament back to work earlier to help Canadians struggling in this fourth wave of COVID-19. Instead of urgently calling back Parliament after an election that resulted with virtually the same make up as last one, Justin Trudeau chose to make people and small businesses struggling with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis wait longer for the help they need.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - More evidence that the Liberals have done nothing to make the ultra-rich pay their fair share: NDP

NDP MP Peter Julian made the following statement:

“Since the pandemic began, Canadians have struggled financially while the ultra-rich have been making record profits. The most recently leaked documents, the Pandora Papers, are yet another reminder that ultra-rich Canadians are using tax loopholes to avoid paying their fair share and the government isn’t doing anything about it. 

IN THE NEWS - All fans on deck for heat wave

Residents asked to check neighbours, help seniors cope as mercury soars again

by: Kevin Griffin, The Province

The province has moved into "high gear" in anticipation of another heat wave in Metro Vancouver and other areas of southern B.C., Health Minister Adrian Dix said Wednesday, implementing several measures that include covering the cost of staff and water at neighbourhood cooling centres.

Officials are also calling on the public to check in with neighbours, family members and friends who are living alone to make sure they are keeping cool and hydrated.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - MP JULIAN DELIVERS HOMEGROWN SQUASH TO BURNABY HOMELESS OUTREACH RESOURCE CENTRE

BURNABY – Today, NDP MP Peter Julian (New Westminster-Burnaby) delivered the first part of the 2021 harvest - 25 pounds of homegrown organic squash and zucchini to The Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby. 

IN THE HOUSE - Letter to Minister of Finance about the Canada Recovery Benefit

43rd Parliament, 2nd Session

Here is my letter to the Minister of Finance regarding the Trudeau government’s lack of commitment to restoring the full Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) in their announcement last Friday regarding COVID-19 benefits and business support.

Jagmeet Singh and the NDP Caucus continue to press the Liberal government to immediately restore the CRB level to $2000 and extend the benefits to those in need as long as we are in a pandemic.

IN THE NEWS - Did Trudeau do all he could to pass conversion therapy bill?

by: Jacques Gallant Political Reporter, The Toronto Star

 

If a federal election is called for the fall, killing the government's conversion therapy bill in the process, one of the big questions will be whether the government did all that it could to get the bill passed.

For some, that also sparks a perhaps more cynical question: Did the government even want the bill passed?

The Liberal government has blamed the Conservatives for frustrating Bill C-6's progress in the House of Commons, where it finally passed in June, and in the Senate, where it passed second reading before the upper chamber rose for the summer.

There's no question that the Conservatives dragged out the proceedings in the House, while the government's representative in the Senate says there's simply no agreement among Senate leadership to deal with the bill this summer should the chamber be recalled.

But that doesn't tell the whole story of the misfortunes of a bill that would provide much-needed protections for LGBTQ Canadians - and which would finally fulfil a major Liberal campaign promise.

So, what happened?

The New Democrats say they offered to help fast-track the bill in the Commons, and repeatedly asked why the bill wasn't being brought for debate sooner.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Liberals cut support for millions of struggling Canadians

LOWER MAINLAND – Over the weekend, while millions of Canadians are still without work, the Liberals chose to cut the amount of CRB people receive by $800. The NDP knows that Canadians still need help to make ends meet. That’s why Jenny Kwan, MP for Vancouver East, and Peter Julian, MP for New Westminster-Burnaby, are urging the government to reverse these senseless cuts.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - NDP motion secures public inquiry into tax scams

OTTAWA – Yesterday, the finance committee passed an NDP motion which demands that the government begin a public inquiry into the offshore tax schemes that defrauded some Canadians of their retirement savings. For years, people who lost tens of thousands of dollars were told that there was very little the police or government could do to recover their money. New Democrats have been fighting for accountability for these victims and reforms to ensure this doesn’t happen again. 

IN THE HOUSE –Debate – Wealth Tax

44th Parliament, 1st session

 

Mr. Speaker, the member has made our point for us, and that is that other countries have put in place wealth taxes because they see that massive gulf between the very wealthy in their countries and most of their population.

That is why when we go to other social democratic countries, we see much stronger protections around health care and ensuring that there is a transition to clean energy economy. We see, in other countries, our international allies are far ahead of Canada in terms of making the investments that count, investments in health care, investments in education, ensuring as well that people have a right to housing, and that we transition to the clean energy economy.

Canada could learn a lot from our international partners. My point is very valid, that the Liberal government is refusing the good examples that would make a difference in the quality of life for Canadians