Category: Politics/NDP

NDP Convention: 6-06-13 Resolution on Pay to Pay

The NDP convention considered the following:

6-06-13 Resolution on Pay to Pay

Submitted by Davenport

WHEREAS many telephone, internet, television and banking companies have introduced a new fee for customers who continue to receive a printed statement of their monthly bill; and

WHEREAS these charges effectively force consumers to pay an additional fee just so they can pay their bills; and

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party of Canada calls on the federal government to prohibit federally regulated businesses and industries, appropriate to their jurisdiction, from charging consumers for receiving monthly bills or statements in the mail.

MP Andrew Cash spoke to this issue.

MP Francois Lapointe spoke to this issue.

Motion passed

NDP Convention: 6-05-13 Resolution on Northern Food Security

The NDP Convention in Montreal considered the following:

6-05-13 Resolution on Northern Food Security

Submitted by the Aboriginal Peoples Commission

WHEREAS northern communities are facing increasingly higher food prices

WHEREAS Canada is the only developed country to have received a visit from the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party is calling for immediate action to ensure the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur are implemented as quickly as possible, including the adoption of a Canada-wide food strategy

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party will continue consultations with northern communities to ensure this strategy responds to their specific needs so that northern communities finally have access to quality and nutritious foods at a reasonable price

NDP MP Dennis Bevington (Western Arctic) spoke in favour of this motion.

Motion passed.

NDP Convention: 6-03-13 Resolution on the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women

6-03-13 Resolution on the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women

Submitted by London—Fanshawe, London West

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the following clause be added section 6.1 in the policy book:

6.1.k. Re-establishing the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women to advise the

Government of Canada on, and promote women’s equality rights

Motion passed.

NDP Convention: 6-31-13 Resolution on Upholding Sex Workers’ Rights to Life, Liberty, Security, and Equality

6-31-13 Resolution on Upholding Sex Workers’ Rights to Life, Liberty, Security, and Equality

Submitted by Vancouver East

WHEREAS Canadian values include respect for human and labour rights of all persons, including the right to life, liberty, security, equality and freedom of expression and association as set out in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;

WHEREAS Canadian courts, the Parliamentary Subcommittee on Solicitation Laws and the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry concluded that criminalization of sex workers increases the violence perpetrated against them and decreases their access to police and other legal and social protections.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT we, the NDP, support the repeal of sections 210, 211, 212(1),

212(3), and 213 of the Criminal Code of Canada in order to improve the health, safety, equality and social citizenship of sex workers.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT we, the NDP, do not support the enactment of legislation that prohibits the purchase or sale of sexual services or sex workers’ ability to work with others.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT while the prostitution laws remain in force, we, the NDP, call on all Canadian police departments to immediately halt enforcement of ss. 211, 212(1), 212(3), and 213 and, instead, ensure sex workers have equal access to police protection and the justice system when they are the victims of crime.

NDP MP Libby Davies moved a motion to defer this motion for more study by federal council.

Davies motion to defer was passed.

 

NDP Convention: 6-02-13 Resolution on Healthcare for Refugees

6-02-13 Resolution on Healthcare for Refugees

Submitted by Newton-North Delta

WHEREAS Conservative cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program excluded many refugees and asylum claimants from temporary health benefits;

WHEREAS the Conservative cuts are demonstrably impacting on refugees with legitimate health concerns, including vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, cancer patients and the elderly;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party of Canada condemns the Conservative cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program and the impact that it has had on the health of those seeking refugee protection in Canada.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party of Canada will work to restore temporary health benefits to all refugees making asylum claims in Canada.

Motion passed.

NDP Convention: 6-01-13 Resolution on a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women

6-01-13 Resolution on a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women

Submitted by Churchill, the Aboriginal Peoples Commission

WHEREAS over six hundred Aboriginal women have gone missing or been murdered in Canada;

WHEREAS the Government of Canada has cancelled funding to Sisters in Spirit research into missing and murdered Aboriginal women; and

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party of Canada urge the Government of Canada to immediately launch, in consultation with Aboriginal women and their representatives, a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party of Canada reaffirm its commitment to ending violence against First Nations, Inuit and Métis women by committing to action, including addressing root causes and systemic inequalities.

NDP MP Niki Ashton (Churchill) spoke in support of this motion.

Motion passed.

NDP Convention: Speech by Leader Thomas Mulcair

After winning the obligatory confidence vote by 92.3 per cent, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair delivered the following speech:

Saturday, April 13, 2013

New Democratic Party Convention – keynote address

Montreal, Quebec

Title: This is Our Moment: Building the Canada of Our Dreams

 

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Continue reading NDP Convention: Speech by Leader Thomas Mulcair

NDP convention: 5-03-13 Resolution on Innovation, Science and Technology Policy: National Science Strategy

5-03-13 Resolution on Innovation, Science and Technology Policy: National Science Strategy

Submitted by Burnaby Douglas

WHEREAS science requires sustained, consistent and predictable investment, and failing to do so undermines long-term innovative potential;

WHEREAS science includes all major scientific fields of inquiry, including engineering, the social sciences and humanities;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the NDP consult widely with scientists, researchers, businesses, postsecondary institutions, provincial, territorial, and First Nations leaders to reverse the damage done by Conservative policies and cuts, and move Canada to the forefront of the global knowledge economy by developing a Made in Canada National Science Strategy;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP move to match the percentage of GDP invested by the public and private sectors in research and development (GERD) as found in other global leading countries such as the United States

MP Kennedy Stewart spoke in favour of this motion.

Motion passed.

 

NDP Convention: 5-01-13 Resolution on Aboriginal Education

The NDP convention considered the following motion:

5-01-13 Resolution on Aboriginal Education

Submitted by the Longueuil—Pierre Boucher

WHEREAS despite the unanimous adoption of the NDP motion “Shannen’s Dream” by all political parties in the House of Commons, the situation of schools on reserves is still alarming; and

WHEREAS Aboriginals also have the highest school dropout rates in Canada;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party will continue to work towards the realization of “Shannen’s Dream” with First Nations leaders to guarantee First Nations children access to the same standard of education as other Canadian children.

Among those speaking in support of this motion were NDP MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay) and Nycole Turmel (Hull-Aylmer).

Motion passed.

NDP convention: 5-05-13 Resolution on Idle No More

NDP convention now considering:

5-05-13 Resolution on Idle No More

Submitted by the Aboriginal Peoples Commission

WHEREAS years of inaction and broken promises from successive liberal and conservative government has led to severe social injustice and shocking poverty in too many communities

WHEREAS as a consequence we are witnessing an historic and growing grassroots movement joining Indigenous peoples and other Canadians in a long overdue conversation

BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party continues to work towards building a new relationship on a nation-to nation basis with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples

BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the NDP engages with grassroots Aboriginal activists who are calling on the government of Canada to repeal legislation like omnibus bill C-38 and C-45 that diminishes environmental protections of land and water and affect Aboriginal and Indigenous rights and title

Elder Raymond Robinson spoke to this motion.

NDP MP Romeo Saganash spoke to this motion.

After several speakers, the motion passes.