- Vancouver Island MPs on yesterday's vote on recognizing Quebecers as a nation:

- NDP MP Denise Savoie, a francophone with Quebec and Acadian roots, was snowed in, but would have voted for the Conservative motion. "We're talking about a nation [in this case] as a cultural and sociological entity."

CPW, December  12, 2006  

OTTAWA (CP) _ Christmas lights are out on Pikangikum thanks to a lack of hydro, and federal officials are still mulling a report that warns of a waterborne health disaster on the Ojibwa reserve.

The holiday season is a time of year when we pay special attention to the people, places and things that are important to us. It is also a time of great generosity as we reflect on how much we have and, in gratitude, reach out to share with others. How we choose to extend our generosity is rooted in our core values.

Many people make generous financial contributions to organizations and causes that they believe in at this time of year. Others volunteer or make donations to local food banks. These are the symbols of gratitude that make Canadians so special.

Softwood Debate Continues

For this column, I would like to share with you some of the comments that I made on November 21 in the House of Commons in opposition to Bill C-24, the Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006. The following are excerpts from Hansard, available online at www.parl.gc.ca

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to speak in support of the good work that my colleague, the member for Burnaby—New Westminster, has done on highlighting the challenges with the bill.

I’m so pleased to have this opportunity to provide a brief highlight of federal issues that may be of particular interest. Please contact my community office at 1-866-609-9998 or jean@jeancrowder.ca for more information or to share your thoughts on any of the following:

Pleasure Craft Sewage Regulations

NDP WANTS TO FORCE ACTION ON INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS

COMPENSATION PLAN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE: MP JEAN CROWDER

OTTAWA – NDP MP Jean Crowder wants the federal Liberals to stop delaying compensation for survivors of Indian Residential Schools.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“We cannot wait for another Aboriginal family to mourn”

OTTAWA – Jean Crowder, MP for Nanaimo-Cowichan and NDP critic on the status of women, announced today her support for the recommendations of Amnesty International’s report “Stolen Sisters: Discrimination and Violence Against Indigenous Women in Canada”.

“This report lists the many ways our system has failed Aboriginal women,” said Crowder.

Greetings from your local Member of Parliament. I am pleased to have the opportunity to begin providing regular updates through this column. It is an opportunity for me to share information regarding federal issues that affect our communities. Ottawa, and the discussions that take place there, can at times seem distant from the daily issues that people are facing locally. One way to increase accessibility is through columns such as these.

It’s Everybody’s Business: Environmental Wake Up Calls

What impact are our activities having on the environment? In return, what are the longer-term impacts of doing business without considering the environment? Community leaders will increasingly need to address these questions. We live in a beautiful place with a seeming abundance of water, forests, and clean air. Yet, our natural resources are not as “renewable” as we once thought they were.

It’s official. I’m going to be a grandma! My son and his partner are having their first child and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m already reflecting on my hopes and dreams as I anticipate the arrival of this new love in my life. In my mind I’m gathering a list of all the things I want to experience with him. When I anticipate it, my heart fills with joy.