by: Jolson Lim
Ottawa will consider lowering the maximum interest rate to stop the "predatory lending" of outfits that make high-interest loans, which anti-poverty advocates say have exploited Canadians during the pandemic.
In Monday's budget, the federal government announced plans to launch consultations on lowering the "criminal rate of interest," the maximum annualized interest rate for credit allowed under the federal Criminal Code.
Here is a letter from Mr. Peter Julian, Member of Parliament for New Westminster - Burnaby, regarding the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI)'s consultation on climate-related risks to the financial sector.
OTTAWA — Today, NDP MP Peter Julian (New Westminster-Burnaby) tabled Private Member’s Bill C-274, which would limit the interest rates private companies can charge on loans to vulnerable Canadians.
“People are using high-interest loans to buy food, pay rent, or meet their basic needs. But these loans are not well regulated by the government and instead of helping people the loans often catch Canadians in a vicious debt spiral with skyrocketing interest rates of up to 500 per cent (plus hidden fees) which only profit the lenders,” said Julian. “We are a year into the pandemic, people are struggling financially and it’s clear that the federal government and the banking sector have failed low and moderate-income people. They’re standing by while the poorest and most vulnerable struggle to get through the pandemic while the rich are getting richer.”
Burnaby, B.C. Today, MP Peter Julian (New Westminster- Burnaby) joined by Burnaby City Councillor, Sav Dhaliwal, and Burnaby Fire Chief, Chris Bowcock, is calling for the federal government to pay for the safety measures required to keep Burnaby residents safe.
Peter Julian says millions of Canadians support national program
By: Theresa McManus
New Westminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian is vowing to continue fighting for a national pharmacare program.
The NDP member of Parliament sponsored Bill C-213, the Canada Pharmacare Act, which is calling for universal, public drug coverage. When it went to a vote on Feb. 24, it was defeated 295 to 32.
Liberals and Conservatives voted against the NDP’s bill to make universal pharmacare for all a reality in Canada, leaving behind millions of Canadians.
OTTAWA — With 1 in 5 Canadians unable to afford the medication their doctors prescribe and COVID exposing the gaps in our healthcare, a national universal public pharmacare program is needed now more than ever. Moments ago, Liberals and Conservatives voted against the NDP’s Bill C-213, An Act to Enact the Canada Pharmacare Act which lays out the path to establishing a universal, single-payer, comprehensive and public pharmacare plan.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17th, 2021
FINAL HOUR OF DEBATE ON BILL C-213
FOR UNIVERSAL PUBLIC PHARMACARE FOR ALL
OTTAWA –Today, the final hour of debate is being held in Parliament on Bill C-213. MP Peter Julian (New Westminster-Burnaby) is urging all MPs to support the passage of Bill C-213 when it comes up for a vote in the House of Commons on Feb. 24th, 2021. This legislation could be enacted this spring, a key step to allowing millions of Canadians who are struggling to pay for medication to receive the support they desperately need.
NEW WESTMINSTER — Today, MP Peter Julian (New Westminster-Burnaby) tabled a Private Member’s Bill C-266, An Act regarding the right to know when products contain toxic substances. It was seconded by NDP Spokesperson on the Environment and Climate Change, MP Laurel Collins (Victoria).
The federal government must do more to protect Canadians from exposure to toxic chemicals. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, CEPA, is 20 years out of date and badly needs updating. The NDP is committed to strengthening CEPA to better protect Canadians from toxic substances.
Bill C-266 follows the lead of many other jurisdictions that have already enacted similar legislation, notably the European Union and the State of California in the United States. Bill C-266, would require all products, especially foods, household cleaners, and cosmetics, sold or imported into Canada containing toxic substances to have clearly marked labels specifying their toxic contents to the consumer.
NDP motion calling for this designation passed the House of Commons unanimously over a week ago
(New Westminster) – Yesterday, the federal government finally designated the Proud Boys as a terrorist group and placed them on the terrorist list. This was called for when the House of Commons unanimously passed an NDP motion demanding the government take this action on January 25, 2021.