News

OTTAWA – Pacific Coast shipbuilders need work now and Canada’s navy needs new ships, but both will have to wait up to two years according to an announcement made by four Conservative ministers in Ottawa.

The press conference held earlier today at a military trade-show was largely a rehash of past promises and included few details about the lengthy tendering process or funding sources.

NDP MP Denise Savoie was pleased that Conservatives finally recognize shipbuilding is the viable industry that New Democrats have always maintained it can be, but she remains sceptical.

We were shocked and deeply saddened by the unacceptable loss of life and injuries sustained as a result of the raid by Israeli forces against a flotilla of ships bringing aid to Gaza.

I join international leaders in calling for an urgent and independent investigation into this terrible incident that jeopardizes the pursuit of peace in the region.

I call on Prime Minister Harper to immediately lend Canada's voice to the rapidly growing call for this inquiry.

Mr. Speaker, last year this House voted unanimously to declare June as National Aboriginal History Month.

A declaration without action to back it up would be an empty promise, so I followed up on the original NDP motion by contacting relevant federal departments and asking how they would observe Aboriginal History Month.

Indian and Northern Affairs is promoting the month on their website and at National Aboriginal Day events and promises to further develop new initiatives for June 2011.