News

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, it is my pleasure to rise today to congratulate Nanaimo's Tillicum Le'lum Aboriginal Friendship Centre on its new indigenous response to sexual abuse program. Building on existing programs, this one of a kind initiative will support sexual health and self-esteem workshops, intervention for men at risk of offending and activities to celebrate aboriginal youth. The use of traditional teachings to foster healthy families is a hallmark of the centre.

By: Darrell Bellaart, Daily News

Powerful emotions overcame David Munro as he carried the Olympic flame through Hope on Sunday.

Munro is a Canadian Armed Forces veteran who lived in Nanaimo for several years. He wept as he ran through the Fraser Valley town.

The 73-year-old man was overcome by thoughts of soldiers lost while he served as a United Nations peacekeeper in international hotspots such as the Suez Canal, the Sinai Desert and the Gaza Strip.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time, if there is any left, with the member for Western Arctic.

It has been interesting to listen to the debate in this House, because what we have heard is a radical attempt by the Conservatives to distance themselves from this tax. Part of the challenge with this is that if there is no role for the federal government, why are we debating Bill C-62 in this House?

In addition, we have an agreement here entitled “Memorandum of Agreement Concerning a Canada-British Columbia Comprehensive Integrated Tax Co-ordination Agreement”. Throughout its text, this agreement defines the parties as the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia, so we have two parties involved in this agreement, and we need to have this debate in this House because Canada is party to this agreement. To say there is no federal role is simply false.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Timmins—James Bay.

There are a couple of issues I want to raise in the course of this debate. First of all, we are debating right now a motion on time allocation. Earlier today we saw a shameful vote in this House on closure, which has actually shut off our ability to have a fulsome discussion on this particular piece of legislation, Bill C-62. Once the procedural motion is voted on this evening, we will be forced into a very limited debate on Bill C-62.

Even though this only applies in Ontario and British Columbia at this time, there are British Columbians and Ontarians who live and travel across this country, and what we are consistently hearing from them is that they do not like this HST. In fact, one of my constituents called it the “hated sales tax”.

Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the member for Elmwood—Transcona talked at length about the home renovation tax credit.

In my own riding of Nanaimo—Cowichan there are many challenges facing people who cannot afford to buy their own homes. Many often live in substandard rental accommodation. There is no way for those in rental accommodations to get the benefit of the home renovation tax credit that could make their accommodations more energy efficient. I wonder if the member could talk about that gap in this program.

You’ve done it many times. At a community meeting, or a fall fair, you’ve stopped at a booth and signed your name to a petition.

They are one of the most common methods people use to let politicians know what issues are important to members of their community.

When I receive a petition from my constituents, it first needs to be certified by the Clerk of Petitions to ensure it is correct in form and content.

By: Lexi Bainas

A special concert March 28 at the New Life Community Baptist Church in Duncan -- the fourth annual in the My Brother's Keeper series --will raise funds for a residential resource centre for young Valley parents and their children. Funds collected this year will go to Serenity Child and Parent Society, a program to assist parents and their children who are at risk of being homeless and/or separated.

Social Planning Cowichan, Success by Six, Nanaimo-Cowichan MP Jean Crowder, Cowichan-Ladysmith MLA Doug Routley and Cairnsmore Neighborhood Action Plan are all backing the group's aims for a centre.

By Jean Crowder

Nanaimo-Cowichan MP Jean Crowder is the NDP's aboriginal affairs critic

The main reason for the housing crisis is a chronic underfunding of home construction on reserves. Since treaties were signed, the federal government has been responsible for providing homes for status Indians on reserves.

As building technologies have changed, the lifespan of those houses has been reduced, with some houses lasting less than 10 years.

House of Commons Debates
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VOLUME 144 2nd SESSION 40th PARLIAMENT

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OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD)
Friday, January 30, 2009

GOVERNMENT ORDERS: The Budget

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Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in the House to speak to the budget.