News

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, I am presenting a petition requesting funding be restored to KAIROS.

KAIROS is a faith-based organization that promotes sustainable development, human rights and peace through education, advocacy and co-operative programs. It delivers benefits to hundreds of thousands of people in marginalized communities who are facing humanitarian crises as well as political oppression and who urgently need this service.

Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger introduces a bill to amend the Department of Justice Act

OTTAWA, March 30, 2010 – The Honourable Mauril Bélanger, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier, introduced yesterday in the House of Commons Bill C-503, An Act to amend the Department of Justice Act and make consequential amendments to another Act (aboriginal or treaty rights). This bill proposes to amend the Departments of Justice Act and the Statutory Instruments Act to require that bills and regulations be examined to determine whether they abrogate from the protection provided for existing aboriginal or treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada by the recognition and affirmation of those rights in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

The Department of Justice Act provides for a formal process of review for the constitutionality of proposed federal legislation. There is no similar review process for Aboriginal and treaty rights.

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 am pleased to rise in the House today to speak in opposition to Bill C-2.

I want to acknowledge the tireless work that our trade critic, the member for Burnaby—New Westminster, has undertaken in trying to raise some of the important issues about what is wrong with this agreement.

It has been over a year that the member and my colleagues, both from the New Democratic Party and the Bloc Québécois, have managed to hold up this piece of legislation. I hope that our arguments in the House will convince other members to vote against it.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, in her speech, the member for Vancouver East touched on the human rights violations and specifically talked about trade unionists but I would like her to address another issue.

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.

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.

International Women’s Day 2010

March 7, 2010 – On the eve of International Women’s Day, March 8, CARE Canada is releasing the results of a national survey which shows 88 per cent of Canadians believe women play an important role in reducing global poverty.

“There is an overwhelming belief in Canada that women are key in the fight against poverty,” said Kevin McCort, President and CEO of CARE Canada. “I think this is a clear demonstration that Canadians understand and support the role that the empowerment of women play. Now it’s up to all of us to turn this belief into action.”