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.

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: 6-04-13 Resolution on Official Languages

6-04-13 Resolution on Official Languages

Submitted by Acadie-Bathurst

WHEREAS French and English are Canada’s two official languages;

WHEREAS the Government of Canada is required to foster the progression towards the equal status of French and English in Canada;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party reaffirms its commitment to: a) protect and promote both official languages and the linguistic rights of Canadians; b) the development and enhancement of official language minority communities;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party calls on the Harper government to keep open the Quebec Maritime Rescue Centre, the only bilingual centre of its kind in Canada, to ensure the safety of francophones at sea; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party supports Bill C-208 from the MP for Acadie-Bathurst Yvon Godin and Bill C-419 from the MP for Louis-Saint-Laurent Alexandrine Latendresse regarding language skills for Supreme Court judges and Officers of Parliament, respectively.

MP Yvon Godin spoke to this motion.

The 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.