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Air Canada outsourcing - a joint letter from the federal NDP BC Caucus

March 3, 2010 Open Letters to Ministers & Public Officials

Libby and her BC colleagues sent the following letter to Transport Minister John Baird
March 3, 2010

The Hon. John Baird, P.C. M.P.
Minister for Transport
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

Dear Minister Baird,

In your January 12, 2010 letter in response to our colleague Bill Siksay and co-signatories regarding the future of Air Canada and its employees, you recognized the strategic importance of Canada’s air transportation system, of which Air Canada constitutes a critical component.

In addition to referring to the federal government’s role in helping ensure the financial viability of Air Canada, you highlighted Air Canada`s role in connecting Canadians from coast to coast to coast and beyond.

A key component of maintaining the integrity of Canada’s transportation system is ensuring that a critical mass of technical and maintenance aviation servicing expertise remains in Canada. This is, of course, in addition to safety and security concerns.

Regrettably, in spite of Air Canada receiving federal funding support, Air Canada’s management has been relentlessly outsourcing the servicing and maintenance of its aircraft in low-cost developing countries. This is an issue that we have raised many times in the House, and at committee as well as in previous correspondence with your department.

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NDP Oppose Canada-Columbia Free Trade Bill

October 19, 2009
The Hill Times
NDP filibustering Canada-Columbia Free Trade BillThe NDP is filibustering the Canada-Columbia Free Trade Agreement legislation and obstructing the work of the House, says Government House Leader Jay Hill, but NDP MPs say it's their right to oppose "bad" legislation. The debate could go on indefinitely unless there is a motion to limit the time for debate on the amendment. The motion would have to be supported by a majority of MPs, however, and Mr. Hill (Prince George-Peace River, B.C.)said he could not get support from any of the opposition parties to do this. ...NDP House Leader Libby Davies (Vancouver East, B.C.) said, however, that her party has always opposed the bill and will continue to do so. The NDP is not making Parliament dysfunctional, she said, they're simply doing their jobs. "The record will show that from day one, the NDP was always clear that we opposed that bill and that's our right to do so. It's not like all of a sudden we said, we're not going to support this bill and this is about making Parliament dysfunctional," she said. "We oppose that bill because we think it's bad legislation and that's legitimate. It's part of our democratic process in Parliament, representing Canadian people."
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Libby speaking out against harassment in the workplace

August 5, 2009
The Vancouver Sun
Commission 'should file complaint'The Canadian Human Rights Commission can launch its own complaints for violations of the Human Rights Act. But the agency rarely does so, unlike a U.S. counterpart that deals with employment discrimination. Vancouver's port is poisoned by sexual harassment, according to a report by veteran labour arbitrator Vince Ready. The human rights commission is hearing a complaint of discrimination by one female worker and an arbitrator is hearing another case.
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Libby questions Prime Minister about Employment Insurance

June 17, 2009 Question Period

HANSARD
House of Commons
Question Period

Libby Davies (MP Vancouver East):
Mr Speaker, the marriage of convenience between Conservatives and Liberals has blossomed into true love.

And what’s their message for Canadians?

If you have H1N1 – take an aspirin. If you’re putting groceries on your credit card – our big fonts will show you just how deep you’re sinking. If you lost your job – here’s a blue ribbon panel to figure out EI... sit tight ‘til the fall! When will these partners in crime get real?

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Support the B.C. Economy

June 5, 2009 Question Period

House of Commons
Question Period
HANSARD

Ms. Libby Davies (MP, Vancouver East)

Mr. Speaker: B.C. has been hit hard by this economic recession.

The Conservatives claim to understand how important it is to stimulate and support the local economy and tourism.

Why then, in this economic downturn, is the federal government derailing a $30 Million opportunity for a 2nd Amtrak run from Seattle to Vancouver by charging unprecedented inspection fees?

So I ask the Minister, will he support the local economy and expanded rail service to Vancouver and immediately withdraw the demand for CBSA inspection fees?

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Libby Speaking on Employment Insurance Eligibility

March 25, 2009 Question Period

HANSARD
House of Commons

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, under this Conservative government more than half the people who pay into EI do not actually get it. For all their working lives, Canadians have been told EI would be there for them if and when they needed it. Because of changes brought in by the Liberals, tens of thousands of Canadians who have been thrown out of work are no longer eligible.

When will the Prime Minister take steps to implement the concrete measures adopted by this House March 10 that will provide EI benefits to those who need it?

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Creating and Keeping Canadian Jobs

Libby Davies's picture
March 13, 2009 Question Period

HANSARD
House of Commons

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, since the election the Conservative government has presided over the loss of 300,000 jobs. There were 129,000 Canadians thrown out of work in January, in February 110,000 full-time jobs disappeared and the unemployment rate is closing in on 8%. What is the finance minister saying? He says he is not surprised. He even expects the losses to continue for the whole year, admitting that Conservative policies are not working.

When will the government change course and actually create the jobs that Canadians need?

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