Category: Politics/NDP

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.

NDP Convention: 3-03-13 Resolution on Seniors and Retirees

3-03-13 Resolution on Seniors and Retirees

Submitted by Winnipeg Centre

WHEREAS many seniors in Canada continue to live in poverty; and

WHEREAS every Canadian should have a right to retire in dignity; and

WHEREAS raising age eligibility limits unfairly penalizes the working poor and disabled:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Section 3.7.a of the policy book be amended to read:

a. Maintaining the universality of Old Age Security (OAS) and increasing funding for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) with eligibility set at age 65.

Motion Passed.

NDP Convention: 3-36-13 Resolution on the Renewal of the Health Accords for 2014

3-36-13 Resolution on the Renewal of the Health Accords for 2014

Submitted by Saint-Hubert-Saint-Bruno

WHEREAS the Health Accords aimed at enabling important reforms of the healthcare system included in the Romanow Report that were struck in 2003 and 2004 will end in 2014;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party denounces the Conservative government’s unilateral decision to reduce health transfers to the provinces and territories, increasing their tax burden and stunting opportunities for collaboration and reform of the system;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party continue to support a universal, accessible, high quality public healthcare system;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democrats continue to demand that the federal government enter into talks with the provinces and territories to renew health agreements; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party demand that the next health accords include important reforms necessary for better access to prescription drugs, home care and long term care, health professionals including family doctors, as well as important measures to help Canadians live healthy lives.

MP Djaouida Sellah (Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert) spoke in support of this.

Motion passed.

NDP Convention: 3-02-13 Resolution on a National Strategy for Affordable Housing

The NDP convention considered the following:

3-02-13 Resolution on a National Strategy for Affordable Housing

Submitted by Dartmouth—Cole Harbour

WHEREAS, access to safe, affordable housing is a right for all Canadians; and

WHEREAS, Canada is the only G8 country to have no long-term plan for housing;

BE IT RESOLVED, that the following clause be added to section 3.5 of the policy book.

New Democrats believe in:

– implementing a national strategy to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians in partnership with provinces, municipalities, Aboriginal communities, non-profit and private sector housing providers and civil society organizations, including those that represent groups in need of adequate housing.

MP Andrew Cash (Davenport) spoke in favour.

 

 

Motion passed.

NDP Convention: 3-61-13 Resolution on Social Housing

3-61-13 Resolution on Social Housing

Submitted by the Quebec Section

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP continue to remind Canadians that housing is fundamental right for all, and undertake to protect this right and enshrine it as a justiciable right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP call on the federal government to maintain investment in social housing at current levels, and additionally to maintain and increase funding for the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a registry of the social housing units available in Canada be created, and a mechanism for controlling transactions on social housing units funded by the CMHC be instituted.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that an NDP government would adopt a law requiring that the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) work in conjunction with other involved stakeholders to develop a national housing strategy.

This motion was ruled dealt with in a previous motion.

NDP Convention: 3-01-13 Resolution on Employment Insurance

The NDP convention considered the following

3-01-13 Resolution on Employment Insurance

Submitted by Gaspésie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Charlesbourg – Haute-Saint-Charles

WHEREAS seasonal industries are a vibrant and essential part of Canadian identity and economy;

WHEREAS new categories of EI claimants and related definitions of suitable employment will depress overall wages, harm the economy of both rural and urban Canadian communities;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Conservative government must hire sufficient staff to properly administer Service Canada programs and dramatically reducing wait times;

Motion was passed unanimously.

NDP Convention: 6-07-13 Omnibus 2 – Children’s Rights

6-07-13 Omnibus 2 – Children’s Rights

As Compiled by the Resolutions Committee

Submitted by Outremont, London—Fanshawe, London West

Part 1

WHEREAS the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989 and recognizes the right of all children in the world, without discrimination, to such protection and care as is necessary to their well-being, as well as the opportunity to be heard on any matter that concerns them;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP expressly recognize the International Convention on the Rights of the Child by adding a new Subsection 6.1 entitled Children’s Rights specifying that, with regard to the application of such rights in Canada, the following points are of primary importance:

New Democrats believe in:

a. Upholding the rights of children set out in the UN Convention and in particular the right to life, development, and non-discrimination, and respecting the priority accorded to the child’s best interest, and to children’s right to be heard in all matters affecting them; and ensuring such rights are upheld consistently and uniformly across Canada and, eventually, expressly incorporated into Canadian law;

Part 2

WHEREAS the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989 and recognizes the right of all children in the world, without discrimination, to such protection and care as is necessary to their well-being, as well as the opportunity to be heard on any matter that concerns them;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP expressly recognize the International Convention on the Rights of the Child by adding a new Subsection 6.1 entitled Children’s Rights specifying that, with regard to the application of such rights in Canada, the following points are of primary importance:

New Democrats believe in:

a. Instituting a National Children’s Advocate, appointed by Parliament, to promote and protect the rights of children under federal jurisdiction including aboriginal children, immigrant and refugee children, and children in the youth criminal justice system, to work alongside children and youth advocates of the various provinces and territories;

b. Restoring and further developing a system for gathering and compiling specific information on child welfare so the government can effectively and comprehensively evaluate children’s situations and any shortfalls in in upholding children’s rights;

Part 3

WHEREAS the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989 and recognizes the right of all children in the world, without discrimination, to such protection and care as is necessary to their well-being, as well as the opportunity to be heard on any matter that concerns them;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP expressly recognize the International Convention on the Rights of the Child by adding a new Subsection 6.1 entitled Children’s Rights specifying that, with regard to the application of such rights in Canada, the following points are of primary importance:

New Democrats believe in:

a. Having the government of Canada immediately produce, as part of its work with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and in collaboration with the provinces and territories as well as concerned non-profit organizations representing civil society and children, detailed and transparent reports on the status of children’s rights in Canada, and share the Committee’s findings and recommendations with Parliament and with the Canadian public with a view to better meeting its obligation under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, all to better honour Canada’s obligations under the UN Convention.

Part 4

WHEREAS the Rights of the Child are clearly defined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has been ratified by Canada; and

WHEREAS 1 out of 6 children in Canada live in poverty;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Children’s Rights be specifically identified in the NDP Policy Book by adding 6.2 Children’s Rights to the policy book with the following sections:

New Democrats believe in:

6.2 a. The Rights of the Child as expressed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified by Canada December 13, 1991

6.2 b. Governing to provide an economically and ecologically sustainable and peaceful future for generations to come

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all subsequent sections be renumbered accordingly.