There's a reason why New Democratic Party polling numbers have been climbing higher and higher in recent weeks and months; its because the NDP is getting things done in Parliament instead of playing partisan games with our country. Just this week, two NDP private members' bills have move through Parliament. Bill C-304, a housing act sponsored by Libby Davies (Vancouver East) passed through committee. Once again, the bill proceeded through the House without support from the governing Conservative Party. Ensuring affordable housing for Canadians wasn't the only goal the NDP got closer to accomplishing this week; bill C-311, the party's bill that would cap greenhouse gases and reduce emissions by 25% below 1990 levels by 2020 and an astonishing 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, goals that are backed by leading scientists around the world. Bill C-311 also made it through committee this week, with absolutely no amendments attached to it, leaving the bill ready for Third Reading, where it should pass and become Canadian law.
Congratulations to Jack Layton and the Federal NDP team for fighting for Canadians and Canadian values!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Provincial Split Personalities
Recently in the BC Provincial NDP, there has been a spirited backroom debate about where the party should be headed, between moderates who currently hold most of the power and believe we need to chart a more centrist course, and the progressive activists who believe the party has departed too far from its roots to properly engage the masses. Much ink from far more well known bloggers and journalists has already been spilled on the topic, so I shall be brief in my own dissertation.
I would count myself among the progressives. The fact is that if we in the NDP pursue Liberal-lite policies, the electorate is simply going to vote for a real Liberal instead of one of us pretending to be one of them. We need to stick back to our roots and support those who have always been part of the bedrock of our party. Furthermore, our attempt to shift rightward hasn't been entirely matched by our policies; we're now stuck in a situation in which we say one thing, but our policy priorities don't reflect it, and it makes the party look confused. We cannot be the party of balanced budgets AND the party of all the social security programs we champion AND be the party that lowers taxes, the three are simply incompatible with each other, short of manufacturing money and causing inflation catastrophes. The party should focus instead on being the party of zero unemployment. We can solve so many of the provinces problems if we simply sit back and end unemployment, both our province's fiscal fortunes and our citizens' well-being can be improved in this manner.
Specifically, through public works projects, perhaps capital works designed to construct low income housing in major urban and rural areas, unemployed and underemployed persons can be given paying jobs that not only would take them off the employment insurance rolls, but would also cause them to be taxpaying citizens again, doubly helping the financial statements of the BC Government. Furthermore, by focusing this kind of stimulus on infrastructure and programs devoted to the worse off in society, we give these people a chance to climb out of poverty.
Such a program would, after an initial infusion of government dollars, begin to pay for itself through the taxes paid by the newly employed and the savings that would be created from employment insurance, and other government programs that would no longer be needed to support these persons. This kind of program that thinks big and has long term benefits has been sorely lacking from the NDP policy platform, and is completely consistant with the tenets of the party to support the average British Columbian. The fact that such a program would cost less over time due to the benefits of having people work is simply a side effect that our party's centrists can latch onto as a basis for funding such a building program.
I would count myself among the progressives. The fact is that if we in the NDP pursue Liberal-lite policies, the electorate is simply going to vote for a real Liberal instead of one of us pretending to be one of them. We need to stick back to our roots and support those who have always been part of the bedrock of our party. Furthermore, our attempt to shift rightward hasn't been entirely matched by our policies; we're now stuck in a situation in which we say one thing, but our policy priorities don't reflect it, and it makes the party look confused. We cannot be the party of balanced budgets AND the party of all the social security programs we champion AND be the party that lowers taxes, the three are simply incompatible with each other, short of manufacturing money and causing inflation catastrophes. The party should focus instead on being the party of zero unemployment. We can solve so many of the provinces problems if we simply sit back and end unemployment, both our province's fiscal fortunes and our citizens' well-being can be improved in this manner.
Specifically, through public works projects, perhaps capital works designed to construct low income housing in major urban and rural areas, unemployed and underemployed persons can be given paying jobs that not only would take them off the employment insurance rolls, but would also cause them to be taxpaying citizens again, doubly helping the financial statements of the BC Government. Furthermore, by focusing this kind of stimulus on infrastructure and programs devoted to the worse off in society, we give these people a chance to climb out of poverty.
Such a program would, after an initial infusion of government dollars, begin to pay for itself through the taxes paid by the newly employed and the savings that would be created from employment insurance, and other government programs that would no longer be needed to support these persons. This kind of program that thinks big and has long term benefits has been sorely lacking from the NDP policy platform, and is completely consistant with the tenets of the party to support the average British Columbian. The fact that such a program would cost less over time due to the benefits of having people work is simply a side effect that our party's centrists can latch onto as a basis for funding such a building program.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Revolving door health care facilities
Fraser Valley residents must be shaking their heads. Not even a year after the new adolescent psychiatric facility opened its doors to new patients, the BC government was closing its doors, citing a lack of qualified staff and faulty equipment as the reason for the closure. This is disappointing, since it was only months ago before the provincial election that this same government was touting the facility as a means of reducing the demand for the Surrey location that provides similar care functions. The government spent a long time explaining how this facility was absolutely necessary to ensure timely treatment of adolescents and children who require psychiatric care. I would love for this government to tell me that in the intervening half year, children and teenagers with debilitating mental diseases had miraculously been remedied of things that have no cure, but that is not a feasible conclusion. What is a feasible conclusion is that this was more showboating and out of touch legislating from the BC Liberals, who clearly don’t understand the issues.
The Honourable Kevin Falcon, our Minister of Health, claims that there simply wasn’t enough money or staff to fund the building, even though the Ministry itself obtained a twenty percent increase in funding since the last budget year. Perhaps the Minister can explain to the public why a specialized care unit in such high demand did not get the funding and personnel required to fulfill its mandate; it seems only logical to me, a simple voter, that if the Abbotsford location meant so much to the health of the people there and it meant so much to the BC Liberals, that they would do what it took to keep the location open. Obviously, they have not, and they will not, because for the BC Liberals, this isn’t about who’s going to go without needed care, its about saving money without regards to the consequences of their actions.
When the health of our fellow citizens, especially youths, is in danger, I would expect that our government would do its job and make sure that things are done to provide the absolute best care possible. Minister Falcon and the rest of the BC Liberal caucus, stop playing politics with the health of Fraser Valley youths and reopen this facility.
The Honourable Kevin Falcon, our Minister of Health, claims that there simply wasn’t enough money or staff to fund the building, even though the Ministry itself obtained a twenty percent increase in funding since the last budget year. Perhaps the Minister can explain to the public why a specialized care unit in such high demand did not get the funding and personnel required to fulfill its mandate; it seems only logical to me, a simple voter, that if the Abbotsford location meant so much to the health of the people there and it meant so much to the BC Liberals, that they would do what it took to keep the location open. Obviously, they have not, and they will not, because for the BC Liberals, this isn’t about who’s going to go without needed care, its about saving money without regards to the consequences of their actions.
When the health of our fellow citizens, especially youths, is in danger, I would expect that our government would do its job and make sure that things are done to provide the absolute best care possible. Minister Falcon and the rest of the BC Liberal caucus, stop playing politics with the health of Fraser Valley youths and reopen this facility.
Passing grades for failing our children
Forty-nine percent, not usually a number to extol as a record achievement. Someone should inform BC Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development Moira Stilwell that a forty-nine percent graduation rate of our aboriginal students is not acceptable, particularly since this is being lauded as a record high completion rate. In our school system, forty-nine percent would receive an "F" grade. Why does Minister Stilwell believe that the forty-nine percent success rate would be anything other than a failure of her government to significantly improve the education system and its ability to help aboriginal students succeed.
Of course, a caveat must be added that the report considers completion to be the graduation of a student from high school within six years, which is still longer than should be necessary to graduate.
The reality here is that in the two years prior to this 'record high' of aboriginal scholastic achievement, the rates of completion were at forty-seven and forty-eight percent; this is hardly the big improvement that the BC Government would have you believe it is.
How can this government come to the people and express pride that for fifty-one percent of aboriginal students, high school will take more than six years to complete? What kind of reality do we live in, where such dismal numbers are considered good news?
All that we have here is another gross example of how far removed from society this Government is, and how unprepared the BC Liberals are to actually do something in the interests of the people they claim to represent in the Legislature.
The education system is supposed to be a right, to give youths the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in an increasingly knowledge based economy. Instead, its becoming a prison sentence, forcing aboriginal students to spend years longer to learn the same material of their peers, and it should not be accepted as pleasing information to anyone, least of all the Government, who has an opportunity to end this travesty.
Of course, a caveat must be added that the report considers completion to be the graduation of a student from high school within six years, which is still longer than should be necessary to graduate.
The reality here is that in the two years prior to this 'record high' of aboriginal scholastic achievement, the rates of completion were at forty-seven and forty-eight percent; this is hardly the big improvement that the BC Government would have you believe it is.
How can this government come to the people and express pride that for fifty-one percent of aboriginal students, high school will take more than six years to complete? What kind of reality do we live in, where such dismal numbers are considered good news?
All that we have here is another gross example of how far removed from society this Government is, and how unprepared the BC Liberals are to actually do something in the interests of the people they claim to represent in the Legislature.
The education system is supposed to be a right, to give youths the knowledge and tools needed to succeed in an increasingly knowledge based economy. Instead, its becoming a prison sentence, forcing aboriginal students to spend years longer to learn the same material of their peers, and it should not be accepted as pleasing information to anyone, least of all the Government, who has an opportunity to end this travesty.
A lament for no affordable housing
As the laws currently stand, there is no national plan for affordable housing in Canada.
Every other first-world country in the world has a strategy of some manner to reduce homelessness and poverty, except for Canada.
Bill C-304, an act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians, would provide Canadians with the housing they need to start building up from poverty and the social safety nets they have had to rely on.
This private member’s bill has passed second reading and is now in committee. We have a bill here that would ensure that every last man, woman and child has a chance to live with a roof over their head and four walls to keep them warm.
Now that it is in committee, every single MP will be needed to pull their weight to pass the bill, since out of the 145 Conservative Members of Parliament, only one voted in favour of ensuring that Canadians could have homes to live in as a right.
I urge everyone to read the bill—it’s easily googled or searched for on the official government web site.
And please, urge your Member of Parliament, no matter what party they are from, to pass this bill and give a chance for our least fortunate to have at least some small measure of dignity, the dignity of a home.
Every other first-world country in the world has a strategy of some manner to reduce homelessness and poverty, except for Canada.
Bill C-304, an act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians, would provide Canadians with the housing they need to start building up from poverty and the social safety nets they have had to rely on.
This private member’s bill has passed second reading and is now in committee. We have a bill here that would ensure that every last man, woman and child has a chance to live with a roof over their head and four walls to keep them warm.
Now that it is in committee, every single MP will be needed to pull their weight to pass the bill, since out of the 145 Conservative Members of Parliament, only one voted in favour of ensuring that Canadians could have homes to live in as a right.
I urge everyone to read the bill—it’s easily googled or searched for on the official government web site.
And please, urge your Member of Parliament, no matter what party they are from, to pass this bill and give a chance for our least fortunate to have at least some small measure of dignity, the dignity of a home.
Bill C-311 and the Copenhagen Summit
The global stage is coming, will Canada be prepared? December is the month in which the nations of the world gather to discuss and debate the changes needed to combat climate change. Right now, Canada has no plan. Nothing. Not a single idea in the country on what to do, because of successive Conservative and Liberal governments who don’t care or who pay lip service to this increasingly global issue. There is one bill trying to pass its way through the halls of Parliament though, and its the private member’s bill C-311, sponsored by Jack Layton and the NDP. Bill C-311, otherwise known as the Climate Accountability Act, has already been through the Parliamentary system, save for Royal assent that was withheld before the last election, forcing it back to first reading. Now that there’s a need for the bill and for Canada to show leadership on the world stage, the Liberals and Conservatives are doing everything in their power to stall the bill and prevent Canada from having a chance to act in a responsible, coherant manner in Copenhagen. This is unacceptable. The two supposedly national parties are using the earth and environment as a political tool to try and boost their poll numbers, while Canadians from across the political spectrum are calling for action. Call your MP and your party leaders, its time for Canadians to come together and show that when it comes to protecting the world we live in, political games aren’t acceptable, and to expedite the passage of C-311.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Polls show NDP gains everywhere
Its a good time to be a member of the New Democratic Party. Good news for the party has been coming from unexpected quarters, and literally everywhere in Canada. Right here in British Columbia, there are new polls showing the BC NDP in a dominant position against the incumbent BC Liberals. Its a shame that these numbers weren't in time for the election last May, but hopefully they'll hold for the next provincial election in 2013. Once again, this is just more proof that Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals are out of touch with BC citizens and that its time for new leadership in the province. In terms of federal politics, the NDP is trailing the Conservatives, but this was taken from a poll before the last by-elections, and NDP fortunes have improved since then.
Further out in Ontario, the New Democrats there have risen to twenty percent in the polls for the provincial election to be held in 2011, once again representing an improvement on their numbers from the last election.
Prince Edward Island has never been a particularly welcoming place for the NDP, but even there polls are starting to show upward movement, the party now polls at nine percent, a fifty percent increase from their last polling information.
Nova Scotia brings us the greatest news, with provincial polling showing a staggering fifty-three percent of voters supporting the new provincial government led by Darrell Dexter.
Federally in Quebec, the New Democrats are absolutely surging, polling at seventeen percent in the province and in a statistical tie with both the Conservatives and the Liberals in the province. More importantly, the numbers suggest that Quebec voters are warming to Jack Layton and the party, as voters rated Mr. Layton the most honest and most trusted of the Federalist leaders. Nearly thirty percent of Quebec voters also believe that Mr. Layton would be the best Prime Minister, so it looks as though gains in Quebec are on the horizon for the next federal election, at least in Quebec.
All of this says that being right on the major issues of the day is starting to pay off for the NDP; voters are starting to realize that New Democrats at every level of government are not only competant, but that they have the right answers to guide Canada into the future.
Further out in Ontario, the New Democrats there have risen to twenty percent in the polls for the provincial election to be held in 2011, once again representing an improvement on their numbers from the last election.
Prince Edward Island has never been a particularly welcoming place for the NDP, but even there polls are starting to show upward movement, the party now polls at nine percent, a fifty percent increase from their last polling information.
Nova Scotia brings us the greatest news, with provincial polling showing a staggering fifty-three percent of voters supporting the new provincial government led by Darrell Dexter.
Federally in Quebec, the New Democrats are absolutely surging, polling at seventeen percent in the province and in a statistical tie with both the Conservatives and the Liberals in the province. More importantly, the numbers suggest that Quebec voters are warming to Jack Layton and the party, as voters rated Mr. Layton the most honest and most trusted of the Federalist leaders. Nearly thirty percent of Quebec voters also believe that Mr. Layton would be the best Prime Minister, so it looks as though gains in Quebec are on the horizon for the next federal election, at least in Quebec.
All of this says that being right on the major issues of the day is starting to pay off for the NDP; voters are starting to realize that New Democrats at every level of government are not only competant, but that they have the right answers to guide Canada into the future.
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