News

By: Jean Crowder, Special to The Citizen

After two years of meeting with Canadians, including stops in Nanaimo and Duncan, the NDP has released the results of its "Food for Thought" tour.

My colleague, Alex Atamanenko, visited 28 communities across Canada and spoke with farmers, civil society groups, retailers and others regarding the vulnerabilities that exist in our current system of food production.

By: Sarah Simpson, The Citizen

Jean Crowder doesn't want the workforce to get "dinged" for making environmentally conscious decisions.

The Nanaimo-Cowichan MP supports Bill C-466, a proposed change to the Income Tax Act, aimed at facilitating green commuter choices for Canadians by making employer-provided benefits for transit, carpooling and bicycle commuting tax-free at the federal level.

She said currently if an employer offers incentives or benefits to their staff, the employee has to claim it on their federal income tax forms.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to speak to Bill C-9, the jobs and economic growth act. As the member for Outremont, our finance critic, has indicated, the New Democrats will be voting against this particular piece of legislation.

When pieces of legislation come before the House, we have responsibilities as members of Parliament to give them full consideration. Although we do support pieces of this legislation, there are other pieces of it that we are fundamentally opposed to. The Conservative government has decided to jam into this piece of legislation things that should properly be considered by other parliamentary standing committees and should have stand-alone legislation.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, what does the government have against consulting with aboriginal people? Yesterday, a meeting of select foreign ministers from the Arctic Council ended in disaster with Hillary Clinton basically walking out. Why? Because this government failed to invite all stakeholders, including the six permanent indigenous organizations on the council.

Climate change, resource extraction and other looming issues will have a direct impact on the Arctic's indigenous population. Is there a reason that indigenous people were excluded from taking their seats at the conference?

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I do have a question on Bill C-8.

The member for Elmwood—Transcona talked about fair trade. Many our ridings are suffering from things like the softwood lumber issue. In my riding of Nanaimo—Cowichan jobs have been shipped south as raw logs are shipped south because we simply do not do enough to protect our local jobs.

In particular, my question is on the environment side of the agreement. I know the member touched upon it briefly, but my understanding of the agreement is there are some problems because the environment agreement is essentially toothless.

Two of the most important issues facing our country and our riding today are jobs and the environment. Fortunately, we see a future where environmental protection and sustainability are major employers in our community.

Below is a selection of statements I've made regarding the environment and the future Green Economy:

Jean comments on the 2010 Federal Budget - March 8, 2010

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak to the budget. I will be splitting my time with the member for New Westminster—Coquitlam.

I want to spend my brief 10 minutes talking about two different aspects of the budget. I want to talk about how it affects people who live in my riding of Nanaimo—Cowichan, but in my role as the aboriginal affairs critic for the NDP, I also want to talk about how it affects first nations, Métis and Inuit throughout the country.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Thunder Bay—Superior North for splitting his time with me. I also want to acknowledge the passionate work he has done in terms of ensuring that Canada takes a leadership role in protecting the environment.

As the member noted, we will supporting the Bloc opposition day motion and, in part, it is because it reflects work that the NDP has already proposed. The NDP has long been out there speaking to the need to take on action around climate change and to protect the environment. We recognize the significance of the crisis that is facing us.

Jean is co-hosting a town hall meeting on salmon farming and it's potential role in the Fraser River Sockeye collapse on Saturday November 14th in Nanaimo. Join us in discussing science on sea lice impacts on wild juvenile salmon, specifically the most recent science regarding Fraser River Sockeye. We will also explore the federal role in protecting wild salmon from the impacts of open net-cage salmon farming, economic opportunities in developing sustainable aquaculture, and what we can do.

When: Saturday November 14th, 1:30 pm