News

OTTAWA - As the prime minister gets set to apologize Wednesday for decades of abuse in native residential schools, thousands of former students say they're still owed compensation.

More than 10,000 people have asked for official reviews after they received less cash than claimed or were rejected under a court-monitored program that has paid out $1.3 billion.

They include the president of the National Residential School Survivors' Society, who spent almost 13 years in three Ontario institutions.

A Cap-and-Trade Plan for Canada

Political parties have different ideas about how to curb greenhouse gas emissions. New Democrats believe that everyone must be a part of the solution, but that it should be big polluters, not the most vulnerable Canadians, that should pay.

Conserving and Promoting our Heritage

Every year I look forward to the Cowichan Lake Heritage Days celebration. This year was no exception as I had the pleasure of attending the opening of the Rhododendron Memorial Garden and the unveiling of the restored Wilmer Gold photography wagon that is now part of the Kaatza Station Museum collection.

I appreciate the passion and commitment shown by so many people who work to preserve local history and to those who made Heritage Days a success.

National Home Care Strategy Required

We’re still waiting for federal leadership regarding national home care. As it stands, the federal government remains satisfied with the hands off approach of making transfer payments to the provinces with no requirement to invest in improved home care services.

Back in 2000, first ministers agreed that home care was a national priority. The Romanow commission said it was the next essential service. The first ministers of 2004 said it was an important program.

Welcome to MAINSTAGE 2008 and congratulations to the organizers, writers, directors, casts and crews of this year’s event. Designated as a Cultural Capital of Canada in 2008, it is fitting that Nanaimo is the proud host of MAINSTAGE this year.

High school grad issue

I am pleased to provide a brief update on some of the federal issues that are important to you. Please contact my office at 746-4896/1-866-609-9998 or jean@jeancrowder.ca with your questions, comments and ideas. I appreciate hearing from you, and the “Jean Team” is glad to help.

Celebrating Personal Achievement

Need for Gender Based Analysis

Challenges persist for women in Canada, and challenges facing Aboriginal women come with their own cultural nuances. So if we want to ensure that federal changes are relevant to the women who must live with them, engaging them directly is a vital step.

Kirby Edwards, one of Canada's 90,000 residential school survivors, is waiting for June 11 when Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to issue an apology on behalf of the nation for the residential school program.

He was strapped for speaking Hul'qumi'num, bound for writing incorrectly, and locked in confinement for dressing too slowly.
Now all Kirby Edwards feels is numb.

"The healing process is still going on," said the 46-year-old. "There's a little bit of numbness there."

Jean Crowder MP: Checking In

Getting Gouged at the Pumps?

As gas prices spike again, it’s hard to believe we were paying $0.56/litre just a decade ago. Add the recent finding through Access to Information that 1 in 20 pumps is not properly calibrated, and it’s no wonder I’m hearing from people who are tired of getting gouged at the pumps.

A year ago, New Democrats proposed the creation of an Oil and Gas Ombudsman to investigate consumers’ complaints relating to unfair practices of major oil and gas suppliers. Today, the government still refuses.

New Democrats Express Non-Confidence over Unbalanced Economics

Since the 2001 census, the median income for families in Duncan has increased by less than two hundred dollars. Statistics Canada released this grim news earlier this month.

North Cowichan fared a bit better with an increase by just over $2000 in five years. However, with the job losses that we’ve been seeing in forestry, these meagre increases are unlikely to continue.