Category: Politics/NDP

NDP convention: 2-06-13 Resolution to Reverse changes to Fish Habitat Protection, etc.

The NDP convention considered the following motion:

2-06-13 Resolution to Reverse changes to Fish Habitat Protection, to Navigable Waters Protection, and to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act

Submitted by Gaspésie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour

WHEREAS, instead of strengthening habitat protection and environmental oversight, the Conservative government has: gutted the Fisheries Act and the Navigable Waters Protection Act; weakened the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act; cut funding for science and research; and continues to ignore the threats of climate change to Canada’s oceans; and

BE IT RESOLVED that New Democrats call on the Conservative Government to reverse changes to fish habitat protection, to Navigable Waters Protection, and to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the federal government immediately implement the 75 recommendations identified in the Cohen Commission Report, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that cuts to funding for fisheries science and ecosystem management be restored

MP Robert Chisholm spoke in favour of this motion.

MP Philip Toone (Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine) spoke in favour.

Motion passed.

NDP Convention: 2-05-13 Resolution on Improving Pipeline Safety and Environmental Protection

The NDP convention in Montreal considered the following:

2-05-13 Resolution on Improving Pipeline Safety and Environmental Protection

Submitted by Burnaby—New Westminster

WHEREAS the Conservatives have used numerous omnibus budget bills to weaken environmental protections in order to fast track major energy projects;

WHEREAS the construction of large scale oil pipelines for export of raw bitumen amounts to the export of tens of thousands of value added processing jobs from Canada; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT New Democrats condemn the reckless gutting of environmental assessments through Conservative changes to the Fisheries Act, National Energy Board Act, Navigable Waters Protection Act, and Canadian Environmental Assessment Act;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT New Democrats reaffirm their commitment to thorough, evidence based reviews of proposed energy pipeline projects and that full public consultation must be open and accessible to all concerned;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT any construction or maintenance of energy pipelines should be based on the highest safety standards; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the NEB should be directed to consider the impacts of proposed pipelines on the sustainability of the environment and of value-added processing of resources.

Delegate from Hamilton-Mountain spoke in favour of this.

Barry Weisleder of the socialist caucus spoke against this.

Another delegate from Quebec’s eastern townships. Complained about a 70-year-old pipeline that carries oil from Maine to Montreal. Notes that he drives a car that runs on gas and that’s not going to change tomorrow. Have to protect on pipeline safety.

Motion passes.

NDP Convention: 2-02-13 Resolution on Updating the Federal Water Policy

The NDP Convention in Montreal debated the following resolution:

2-02-13 Resolution on Updating the Federal Water Policy

Submitted by the Quebec Section

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP support updating the Federal Water Policy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Policy must be updated in a manner respectful of provincial and municipal jurisdiction and First Nations over water management.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the policy’s core principles should include the notions already part of the NDP policy—that free universal access to clean water is a human right, and integrated water management must ensure that reserves of clean water are adequate to maintain aquatic ecosystems.

MP Jamie Nicholls spoke in support of this

NDP Convention: 2-01-13 Resolution on Coastal and Marine Area Protection

The NDP Convention in Montreal debated the following resolution Saturday morning:

2-01-13 Resolution on Coastal and Marine Area Protection

Submitted by Dartmouth—Cole Harbour

WHEREAS, Canada has the longest coastline in the world and Canadians expect and deserve healthy oceans and marine areas for present and future generations.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the following clause be added to section 2.1 of the policy book.

New Democrats believe in:

– Canada’s commitment to protect at least 10% of coastal and marine areas by 2020 as committed to under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

MP Robert Chisholm (Dartmouth) speaking in support of this motion.

Motion passes.

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair adds his voice to those calling on Chief Spence to eat something

Transcript provided by CTV of Leader of the Official Opposition Thomas Mulcair on CTV’s Question Period this afternoon. Kevin Newman is the interviewer:

NEWMAN: On December 18th, you called on the government to hold a meeting with First Nations. That’s now happened. You also called for the prime minister to meet with Chief Spence. He offered, she declined. Is it time for her to end her protest?

MULCAIR: I’m always very concerned when someone appears to be willing to end their own life, even though they’re fighting for a cause that they find that important. I would sincerely call upon Chief Spence to realize that there has been a step in the right direction, to try to see now if we can keep putting pressure on the government to follow through. It has been a year where nothing was done after a very formal meeting. But finally the government seems to be moving so I think that the best thing to do would be to step back from that now. Continue reading NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair adds his voice to those calling on Chief Spence to eat something

Audio: Thomas Mulcair says progressives should rally to the NDP banner

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair
NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, flanked by his House leader Nathan Cullen and his Whip Nycole Turmel, takes questions from reporters after the final NDP caucus meeting of 2012. (David Akin)

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair spoke to reporters for about 25 minutes after the final NDP caucus meeting of 2012. Here’s the audio of the English-language questions and responses. He touches on co-operationg with the left, Syria, F35s, and C-377. Continue reading Audio: Thomas Mulcair says progressives should rally to the NDP banner

NDP Nexen decision a boneheaded political move

Today, the federal NDP held a Parliament Hill press conference during which MPs Peter Julian and Hélène LeBlanc announced, for the first time, that New Democrats believe the federal government ought to reject a $15-billion bid by the Chinese state-owned firm CNOOC for the Calgary-based oil-and-gas producer Nexen. 

In doing this, they certainly have public opinion on their side. Two Abacus Data polls commissioned by Sun News Network show the idea of the Chinese taking over Nexen is deeply unpopular in every region of the country and among supporters of all parties. (Poll 1 | Poll 2)

This was a boneheaded move politically from a party that, in my judgement, has made some otherwise very smart moves to counter any number of stereotypes its political opponents are trying to foster that an NDP government would kill jobs, investment and prosperity.

Continue reading NDP Nexen decision a boneheaded political move

A cynical take on some recent NDP communications tactics

I’ve long maintained that, from a political operations and communications standpoint, the federal Conservatives and New Democrats are, in many ways, mirrors of each other. The parties stand, of course, for very different things but, to give one example, they both approach political marketing and messaging with similar discipline, objectives, and operational smarts matched only by their Conservative counterparts.

Latest case in point: Continue reading A cynical take on some recent NDP communications tactics