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Libby’s Statement on Violence Against Sex Workers

December 6, 2011 Statements in the House of Parliament

House of Commons
HANSARD
December 6, 2011

You can also view this statement at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnN1rOffvSI

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, Vancouver-based community activist Jennifer Allan has been travelling across Canada to raise awareness about discrimination and violence against sex workers. This is an issue that touches me closely in my riding in Vancouver East, especially on this National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

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Cell Phone Towers Forum - Join us this weekend!

February 18, 2011
Updates from Libby

I, along with Shane Simpson (MLA, Vancouver-Hastings), am hosting a community meeting about the placement of cell phone towers in residential neighbourhoods, on:

Date: Sunday, February 20th

Time: 1:00pm

Place: Kiwassa Neighbourhood House, 2425 Oxford (at Nanaimo).

Special guest speakers included. For more information contact 604 775 5800.

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Courting danger

February 18, 2011
The Kingston Whig-Standard
Courting dangerKINGSTON - Last September, Justice Susan Himel of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice struck down three provisions in Canada's Criminal Code: living off the avails of prostitution; keeping a common bawdy house; and communicating in a public place for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. "These laws," wrote Justice Himel, "individually and together, force prostitutes to choose between their liberty interest and their right to security of the person as protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms." MP Libby Davies, the NDP representative in Parliament for Vancouver East, agrees it's time for "an intelligent discussion" about the decriminalization of sex work, rather than continuing to sweep it under the rug.
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Libby speaks up about Canadians' privacy rights

February 3, 2011 Speeches in Parliament

House of Commons
HANSARD
February 3, 2011

Madam Speaker, I’m pleased to have the opportunity to speak to Bill C-42, the Aeronautics Act.

I first want to thank my colleague from Western Arctic who is the NDP transport critic. I know the member from Western Arctic and his team, the folks in his office, his researchers, have put together just a wealth of information that when one reads through it leaves one with a very troubling sense as to what the bill is all about.

The bill was before the House before the holiday break. There was a sense of urgency, a deadline and it had to be rushed through. This is such a familiar story in this place that it almost makes the notion of Parliament and the parliamentarians’ work seem redundant. Everything has urgency and must be rushed through.

We are here to dig into legislation, to find out what it’s about, to look at its merits, to give it a sober first thought and second thought, to have it go through committee and then through all the other processes. That is very important, especially in this day and age when everything is so focused on security, technology and the movement of information from government to government. There are huge issues involved here in terms of people’s privacy.

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Concerns about cellphone towers not being heard

February 9, 2011
The Nanaimo Daily News
Concerns about cellphone towers not being heardNANAIMO, BC - The debate over cellular phone antennas and the possibility of associated health impacts continues to heat up around North America...Local governments should be more involved in site selection for these towers, according to Vancouver East MP Libby Davies. She is working on a private members bill that outlines why the federal government should take more of an active role in determining where the towers are installed. It explicitly demands that municipalities be far more involved in the process.
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Libby speaks out at Missing Women Commission of Inquiry

January 25, 2011
Site News

Presentation by Libby Davies (Member of Parliament for Vancouver East) to Commissioner Wally Oppal and others gathered at the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, Community Engagement Forum, held Jan. 19, 2011

Mr. Oppal, respected elders, family members and members of the community,

I thought hard about how to begin today, having been involved with this tragedy of the missing women since the 1980s, when I was a Vancouver City Councillor.

For years I, like many, called for a public inquiry into the missing and murdered women. And here it is -- the public inquiry is happening. It's imperfect; not exactly as called for; and too limited in its scope of years, which is very worrisome as to why. But nevertheless it is a public inquiry -- and that's really important.

But already I'm thinking, and I hate that I'm thinking this: What faith do I have that this inquiry will result in any real change? Will it be another weighty report, well intentioned but destined for the back shelf and forgotten?

I'd like to say to you today, Commissioner Oppal, that I believe your biggest challenge is to produce a report that cannot be ignored, nor forgotten, nor dismissed. It must be a report that addresses the deeply disturbing and egregious wrongs done by our society to the most defenceless people in our community. Your report must have built-in mechanisms that ensure its active follow up. All of us as witnesses, experts, victims, families, friends and advocates must compel you to issue a report that is bullet proof, hard hitting and will cause shock waves as to what went wrong and why.

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Libby speaks up on the dangers of residential cell phone towers

December 8, 2010 Statements in the House of Parliament

House of Commons
HANSARD
December 8, 2010

Ms. Libby Davies (Vancouver East, NDP):

Mr. Speaker,

Constituents in my riding are deeply concerned about cell phone towers popping up in our neighbourhoods, especially in Hastings-Sunrise and Grandview-Woodlands.

Residents are very worried that cell phone towers in residential areas make people sick. The Vancouver School Board was so concerned about the impact on childrens’ health it passed a regulation that they not be built within 350 metres of a school. Yet towers are being placed within a few metres of residential buildings where children live.

The Standing Committee on Health issued a report recommending the government research the long-term health effects of exposure to radiation from these towers, particularly its effects on children. I urge the government follow its recommendations.

I call on the government to also immediately, put rules in place, that require telecom companies to consult and seek the approval of the community and local municipalities, before they place these towers. We cannot let telecoms invade our communities and jeopardize our peoples’ health.

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