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QUEEN’S PARK – Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath wants action on a McGuinty government report showing that families in Hamilton-Niagara families wait longer for children’s mental health services than anywhere else in Ontario.   During Question Period today Horwath demanded to know how the Liberal government intends to address the problem.   “When will ...

QUEEN’S PARK – Howard Hampton, NDP MPP for Kenora—Rainy River, today said that if the McGuinty government wants to develop the mining potential of the Ring of Fire region, it must begin with an open and honest consultation and accommodation of the rights and interests of the First Nation communities ...

QUEEN’S PARK – The McGuinty government’s Throne Speech offers no relief to Ontarians worried about their jobs, their health care, and the growing cost of living, says NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. “Ontario families worried about their jobs, their health care, and the growing cost of living got a Throne Speech that ...

International Women’s Day offers us an annual opportunity to celebrate the pioneering individuals who have led the struggles to create a society that promotes diversity, tolerance, safety, social justice and equality between women and men. Even in a country as young as Canada, there is no shortage of courageous women ...

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Leader Andrea Horwath today called on the Liberal government to allow Six Nations emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to perform procedures for which they are fully trained, but which obscure government directives prevent them from administering. During Question Period today, Horwath accused the Ministry of Health of ...

QUEEN’S PARK - Ontarians concerned about the integrity of cancer tests deserve to know why the McGuinty Liberals made no changes to pathology protocols despite a series of nearly identical errors uncovered two years ago, said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.  "We owe it to all Ontarians, especially women, to make sure ...

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Leader Andrea Horwath today asked Premier Dalton McGuinty if he will commit to reopening emergency rooms in Port Colborne and Fort Erie if a coroner’s jury determines that their closure contributed to the death of Reilly Anzovino, an 18-year-old Fort Erie resident. The coroner’s inquest into ...

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Public Transit Critic Cheri DiNovo is blaming the McGuinty Liberals’ neglect of public transit for skyrocketing fares in Ottawa. During today’s Question Period, she accused the McGuinty government of standing idly by as public transit fares become increasingly expensive. “Despite all the government’s talk about its ...

QUEEN’S PARK – Howard Hampton, MPP Kenora-Rainy River stood up in the Ontario Legislature today to ask the Minister of Finance, Dwight Duncan, what his plans are to ensure the laid-off workers of Buchanan Group of companies receive the $30 million in severance and termination pay they are entitled to. ...

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is welcoming today’s announcement by Chief Coroner Dr. Andrew McCallum to call an inquest into the death of Reilly Anzovino. Ms. Anzovino, an 18-year-old Fort Erie resident, tragically died while being transported to Welland Hospital after suffering injuries in a Boxing Day car ...

QUEEN'S PARK – NDP Health Critic France Gélinas is demanding the McGuinty Liberal government immediately address the growing health care crisis in Ottawa.   At the Queensway-Carleton hospital, 9 of 14 planned surgeries last Friday were cancelled, the emergency room is backed up and the occupancy rate is at a staggering 113 ...

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath today issued the following statement on Saturday’s earthquake in Chile:   “My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Chile, a sentiment undoubtedly shared by all Ontarians. A special thought goes out to Canadians of Chilean descent who now call Ontario home and ...

OTTAWA – An international backlash against Conservative meddling at Rights and Democracy is yet another reason to conduct an inquiry into the crisis at the organization, says New Democrat Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar.

“The international community is condemning the Conservative government for trying to infect Rights and Democracy with its ideology,” says Dewar. “This is a devastating blow to Canada’s reputation on the international stage – it’s time for parliament to take action.”

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Women and men around the world recognize International Women's Day as a time to reflect upon and celebrate women’s social, political and economic achievements, both globally and locally. In this country, much progress has been made since Canadians first marked International Women’s Day in 1977.

Sadly, there is still much work to be done. Women across the world continue to suffer extreme poverty, violence and violations of their basic human rights.

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OTTAWA –Stephen Harper has made it clear that he plans to once again put oil companies before Canadian children, says New Democrat Children and Childcare Critic Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina).

“This budget clearly demonstrates where Stephen Harper’s priorities lie. Billions in corporate tax cuts for oil companies while childcare and childhood nutrition are ignored,” says Chow.

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QUEEN’S PARK - As shocking news emerges from the Greek debt crisis, NDP Finance Critic Peter Tabuns is calling on the McGuinty Liberals to sack New York investment bank Goldman Sachs.  McGuinty is using the bank to help sell Ontario assets, including lotteries, liquor stores and electricity.  Even as Greek lottery ...

Budgets are about choices. But the one delivered by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty yesterday chose to give billions in corporate tax giveaways to profitable banks and oil companies while ignoring the priorities of pensioners, the jobless and hardworking Canadians.

Here’s what they are saying:

“In the end all CARP members got from this budget are some nice words and the promise of more consultation.” – Susan Eng, Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), March 4, 2010

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OTTAWA – The Harper government’s priorities for public safety are misguided, wasteful and ineffective says New Democrat Public Safety Critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway).

“The Conservative plan is to spend 43% more on building prisons,” said Davies.  “They are pushing a US-style approach that is expensive and totally ineffective at bringing down the crime rate.”

The Conservative spending plan tabled this week shows a 43% increase in the budget for prison construction, from $230 million in 09/10 to $329 million in 10/11.

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OTTAWA – The Harper government’s priorities for public safety are misguided, wasteful and ineffective says New Democrat Public Safety Critic Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway).

“The Conservative plan is to spend 43% more on building prisons,” said Davies. “They are pushing a US-style approach that is expensive and totally ineffective at bringing down the crime rate.”

The Conservative spending plan tabled this week shows a 43% increase in the budget for prison construction, from $230 million in 09/10 to $329 million in 10/11.

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Budgets are about choices.

And with middle-class Canadians working harder to make ends meet, Stephen Harper had an opportunity to give them some much needed relief.

But instead, he chose to increase payroll taxes that individuals and their employers pay by $19 billion. At the same time, Stephen Harper announced $5 billion in new spending to cut corporate taxes, a third of which will go exclusively to the big banks and big oil companies.

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