Month: April 2013

NDP Convention: 7-03-13 Resolution on a Constitutional Amendment

7-03-13 Resolution on a Constitutional Amendment

WHEREAS the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are so different in their history, economy and politics that it is a detriment to the party to not have representation from all three Provinces on the executive, and

WHEREAS the NDP, wanting to form government, will need to grow and win seats in the west, the party will need to understand the differences of each Province, and Continue reading NDP Convention: 7-03-13 Resolution on a Constitutional Amendment

NDP Convention: 7-02-13 Resolution on the Preamble

NDP convention considered the following:

7-02-13 Resolution on the Preamble

Submitted by The Constitution Committee

Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. New Democrats are Canadians who believe we can be a better one — a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build sustainable prosperity, and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. New Democrats work together to these ends for the sake of our fellow citizens and in the interests of all of humanity. Continue reading NDP Convention: 7-02-13 Resolution on the Preamble

NDP Convention: 4-13-13 Resolution on Temporary Foreign Workers

4-13-13 Resolution on Temporary Foreign Workers

Submitted by Toronto—Danforth

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the following clause be added to Section 4.3 of the policy book:

i. Working with foreign embassies of sending countries to ensure temporary foreign workers coming to Canada are informed of their rights; working with the provinces to institute a licensing system for foreign recruiters (as is done in Manitoba) and a registration system for employers of temporary foreign workers; and providing access to federal hearings for temporary foreign workers who face deportation.

MP Sadia Groguhé spoke to this motion.

One Delegate opposes this motion. Something about “imperialist organizations” like the World Bank and the NDP needing to work for world socialism.

Motion passed.

NDP Convention: 4-05-13 Resolution on International Trade

4-05-13 Resolution on International Trade

Submitted by Submitted by: Kitchener Waterloo, Davenport, South Shore-St. Margaret’s, CEP (the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union), New Westminster-Coquitlam

WHEREAS the people of Canada’s ability to regulate and support local economic development has been undermined numerous times under World Trade Organization tribunals and NAFTA investor-state arbitration regimes

BE IT RESOLVED that the following clauses be added to Section 4.5 of the policy book:

“g. preserving the rights of municipal governments and provincial entities such as Hydro Quebec and Manitoba Hydro to include local content and other local economic development requirements as part of their procurement policy

h. not negotiating investor-state dispute resolutions mechanisms into trade agreements, consistent with the policy of the Labour government and party of Australia.”

MP Don Davies spoke in support of this motion. MP Libby Davies spoke to this motion.

Background: “Conservative MPs, led by Trade Minister Ed Fast, also ramped up the rhetoric on the NDP, accusing New Democrats of lining themselves up with “radical anti-trade activists” and preferring to see a “Canada that cowers” in the face of globalization.”

The convention passed this motion.

 

NDP Convention: 4-03-13 Resolution on Recognizing Jaswant Singh Khalra as a Human Rights Defender

4-03-13 Resolution on Recognizing Jaswant Singh Khalra as a Human Rights Defender

WHEREAS Jaswant Singh Khalra’s investigation of thousands of cases of missing, murdered and disappeared Sikhs in the Punjab earned him recognition from Amnesty International as a defender of human rights;

WHEREAS Jaswant Singh Khalra visited Canada and presented his findings to Canadians and Members of Parliament immediately before his forced disappearance in 1995;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT New Democrats recognize Jaswant Singh Khalra as an important defender of human rights and in his memory, recommit to the pursuit of justice and transparency characterized by our shared values of truth, justice and respect of human rights

Ontario MPP Jagmeet Singh spoke in support of this motion.

Motion passed.

NDP Convention: 4-02-13 Resolution on Foreign Investment Review and Target

4-02-13 Resolution on Foreign Investment Review and Target

Submitted by UFCW Canada, UFCW Canada Local 1518, UFCW Canada Local 1000A

WHEREAS Target purchased the lease agreement for up to 220 Zellers Stores in Canada; and

WHEREAS over 10,000 Zellers employees have been terminated; and

WHEREAS Target will only offer former Zellers employees an interview with no guarantee of a job or recognition of their years of service; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED That an NDP government will lower the threshold for a full review under the Investment Canada Act; and

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED When determining the ‘net benefit’ test for the sale of a company, that the impact on the employees and their working conditions must be considered.

MP Raymond Cote spoke to this motion.

Motion passed.

NDP Convention: Resolution on Access to Post-Secondary Education

3-06-13 Resolution on Access to Post-Secondary Education

Submitted by the Quebec Section

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP fully acknowledge Quebec’s exclusive jurisdiction in education, as per the Sherbrooke Declaration.

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP reaffirm its commitment to accessible, high-quality post-secondary education.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP work in solidarity with all those calling for equitable access to post-secondary education for all Canadians, without overstepping the bounds of federal jurisdiction.

There was a motion to refer this to national council for more consideration. A counted vote was held.

The motion was upheld, therefore this resolution was referred to council for more study.

 

 

NDP Convention: 3-04-13 Resolution on Ending Sexual Harassment in the RCMP

3-04-13 Resolution on Ending Sexual Harassment in the RCMP

Submitted by Alfred-Pellan

WHEREAS employees and formers employees of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have brought to light serious allegations of sexual harassment within the RCMP;

WHEREAS the allegations of sexual harassment in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police undermines

public confidence in the national police force; and

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party of Canada continues to urge the Government of

Canada to take a leadership role in ending the culture of sexual harassment in the RCMP by identifying

and addressing the underlying systemic causes of gender inequality in the RCMP; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party of Canada urge the Government of

Canada to collect specific data on the occurrences of sexual harassment in federally regulated

workplaces and report these findings to Parliament.

Motion passed.