|
|
|
|
  |
NDP tell Harper: "Women and children first"
Mathyssen, NDP Status of Women Critic, and Layton were joined by Health Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis Children's Issues Critic Olivia Chow, to urge fellow MPs to find enough common ground to make women and children a priority in the next session of Parliament. According to a media release issued by Mathyssen's office, the invitation comes on the heels of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's pledge to make both maternal and child health a priority at the G8 Summit to be held in Huntsville Ont., June 25-27. "Parliamentarians have talked about ending child poverty in this country for twenty years. We've heard successive governments pay lip service to gender equity, while cutting funding to women's programs. Canadians have been promised a national childcare plan almost as long, without any real action. Quebec has done it, but the rest of Canada is years behind," said Mathyssen. "It's not enough to talk about these issues; action is long overdue. It is time to put partisan differences aside and take action that will make a real difference for Canadian women and children," she said. According to the Global Gender Gap Index, Canada now ranks behind Mongolia, Latvia and Sri Lanka on gender equality. The Conference Board of Canada says that one in seven Canadian children lives in poverty. And just last week, Northern leaders reminded reporters that mortality rates among Inuit babies are three times the national average. "I'll take Mr. Harper's interest in impoverished mothers at face value, but leadership always starts at home. If Canada wants to lead or lecture the world on anything, we'd better start by filling the gaping holes in our own backyard," Layton said during the press conference. "Let's make this the Women-and-Children-First session of Parliament." The four NDPers outlined a series of concrete NDP proposals that, if embraced by the other parties, they said would mean real progress for women and children. Those proposals include: * fixing Employment Insurance rules that deny eligibility to six in ten women; * adopting key recommendations of the 2004 Pay Equity Task Force; * increasing support for women's groups working to prevent violence; * launching an inquiry into 520 missing or murdered Aboriginal women; * launching an initiative to ensure every child has daily access to healthy food; * boosting the Guaranteed Income Supplement to end poverty among seniors (overwhelmingly women). |
| Typicical socialist, instead of coming up with tangable thoughts to create employment, Irene yet again comes up short. London , SW Ontario and Canada deserve better than these self serving, short sighted wanna be leader New Democrats. Way to fail again Irene. |
| By: Dave Williams on 02/11/2010 |
| ...and there's Conservative Board Troll Dave again, spewing his anti-Irene rhetoric. Hey Dave, TRY READING! The NDP MPs were extending an offer work with HARPER on these priorities following HARPER'S announcement at the G8 summit. You know Harper, the guy you were praising in your last post? Maybe you aren't aware of the 65% of senior women living in poverty in this country? I guess in your world 85 year old Great Auntie Jane should bust out her walker and go get a couple part-time jobs. Or the huge numbers of children living in poverty? Maybe you think little Susie should go hungry all day at school because mom or dad lost their job? And obviously in your world mom shouldn't be able to access EI after paying into the program for years. What an empty human being you must be...and isn't interesting how the guy who throws around "socialist" like it is an insult (tell that to the socialist Swedes and their highest standard of living on the planet), thinks that parliament's ONLY focus should be on job creation...because isn't it Conservative mantra that if government just got out of the way the corporate sector (you know, the guys whose blind greed created the recession) will fix everything. Logic is clearly not your strength. Thank goodness we have an MP like Irene who has both compassion and practical ideas to help her fellow citizens. |
| By: S.Lewis on 02/11/2010 |
| S. Lewis, get a grip pal. If one you want to compare Canada to Sweden? A common fact is the the Swedes and there great system over employ by 33% just to ensure that they have enough staff to show up on a dily basis, as actually showing up to work appears to be a voluntary issue. For follow up on that please read the history of SAAB, Emerson, Ericsson, Electrolux, etc. I will take an hour for you to find som compatible reading assuming you can. Ok now that you have made this attempt maybe, the Sweidh system is not so great. Now lets investigate the Swedidh taxation system...hmmm Valuation Tax of 25% persoanl incometax minimum near 502%. Wow that sounds like quite a life after work, if you choose to do that, so after every 100 dollars you would earn, that would leave you close to 19-25 dollars. What would be next Lenin popping out of his tomb to take control. Any Canadian eighth grade ecomonics student would conclude straight away that this system is maybe "tainted", unless they wnat to be a total slave to the government. But S.Lewis, it is clear that you are one of two things, a) a total government dependant, or b) someone who evetually will be. Now back to your suggestion of putting the olod and feable to work? That is a sick assessment of any Canadian govenment, we have had for decades solcial programs for these people you for whatever reason could not fend for themselves. That is what makes Canada great. Those rights were guarenteed by The Robert Borden Government. You are absolutely right that Irene does have compassion, but her ideas are very marxist, as if none of us had a job, who would pay for her ideas. If Irene had a clue on job creation, she would be trying to actually make one suggestion on how to create employment not push it away. Oh and PS Lewis, if you honestly believe that the Harper Government created the recession, you really have no grip on reality. But you comments have already proven that. |
| By: Dave Williams on 02/14/2010 |
| @Dave...thanks for clearly proving again that logic is not your strong point. Let's get a couple things clear. I didn't say the Harper government created the recession, I said corporate greed did, althought the Harper gang certainly aided and abetted with it's corporate tax cuts. I'm did not suggest putting the old and feable back to work, that is simply the result of your line of attack in your first comment. The social programs you claim protect the our seniors have failed. 65% of senior women in this country live in poverty. The CPP rules for pension calculations don't fairly recognize the value of the contributions our mothers and grandmothers, to this country, and GIS benefits to all seniors have not been properly adjusted for inflation, leaving them in poverty. As for Sweden, you cite corporate histories as necessary reading? That makes your right-wing, anti-government bias pretty clear. A nation is far more than it's corporate sector. The Swedes consistently enjoy the highest quality of life on the planet! From earlier learning childcare spaces guaranteed for all, an elementary school system where all students are provided lunchtime meals, to post-secondary education that is open to everyone with the necessary marks to qualify for admission--tuition as we know it doesn't exist--the Swedes treat their kids right. The unemployment rate is low-6%, the homelessness rate is low, and literacy rates are among the best in the world. Healthcare is universally accessible, although there are user fees for some services. An impressive 50% of Swedes participate in physical activity programs, because the government supports the programs and keeps them in reach. This combines to give Swedes one of the healthiest and longest living populations on the Earth. Sweden is at cutting edge science, research and development-especially in telecommunications and medicine. The Swedes invest 4% (both private and public sectors) of the total GDP in R&D, again right up among the highest in the world. They rank 1st in (The Economist) overall democracy and 9th overall in GDP per capita. About 80% of the workforce is unionized, and in medium and large businesses the union is entitled to a representative on the company's board. This actually creates better labour relations because it creates a better ethical corporate environment. You can rant about tax rates all you want. Taxes don't make one a slave, taxes are the price one pays to live in an advanced and civilized society. While there is legitimate reason to question the "bang for the buck" we receive for our taxes, taxes themselves are necessary. That point of view doesn't make me a marxist, or a socialist, or any other ideological label. It makes me pragmatic, it makes me a realist, it makes me practical. The same practicality which has helped me work my way through college to graduate, acquire a home, a car, life comforts, and be a success through three career changes in the public, not-for-profit, and private sectors--and paying my taxes, while still finding time to volunteer in the community along the way--so your attempt at personal insults is laughable. (on the other hand, your spelling is great: guarenteed" "solcial" "ecomonics", "Swedidh", which speaks volumes for your inability to make a reasoned comment) |
| By: S.Lewis on 02/15/2010 |
| One additional note to my rebuttal. Sweden consistently ranks in the top nations in terms of women's participation in politics (40%+ women parliamentarians). Obviously far ahead of Canada in political equity. Sweden has a multiparty, parliamentary, political system (often led by a coalition). Sweden is roughly 10 million people, about a third of Canada's population size. With Sweden's smaller geographic area and relatively comparable population density ranking, as well as the shared challenges of a northern climate, Sweden is a good comparison nation for Canada. |
| By: S.Lewis on 02/15/2010 |
| Mrs Lewis, again your facts are very distorted. There is actually 8% plus unemployment in Sweden. Several high income Swedes must spend atleast four months outside of Swedens borders each year in order to avoid paying these taxes. Companies such as SAAB ( A GM subsidiary for now) must over employ just to have an adequate number of staff to function on a day to day basis. This is the primary reason why GM is dumping the brand. You would call this great labour relations, most companies call this a losing proposition. Just a quick study on simple economics for you as you clearly do not understand the concept. If a company closes, the jobs go away, if the jobs go away, taxes are not paid, if taxes are not paid social programs must be cut, if social programs are cut Mrs Lewis is out on the street crying that we are not doing enough to support her. To make a long story short, if the government does not try to attract businesses to invest in Canada you better have a child who will still take you in as you could blame others for you deficentcies, but ultimatley it will be on you. Every vote for Irene Mathyssen is a vote for business expaning in Woodstock and not London. Now if you actually take the time to read on the Swedish issues, you may start to understand why businesses require profits to remain plausable. But by seeing your rebuttal, it is clear that reading is not your strong suit. |
| By: Dave Williams on 02/16/2010 |
| @Dave, good to see you learned to use spell-check since your last post, but again you miss the point completely. Perhaps you should take the time to expand beyond your limited corporate perspective on everything. I have never said that companies, large or small, are not entitled to make a reasonable profit. There is a very clear difference however between profit and price gouging and corporate greed. That difference starts at the top...with executives in the auto, banking, and oil sectors making 430% more than the average of the workforce. There is a problem when Canada's top 100 CEO earn more by noon on January 2nd than the average Canadian annual income. Those highest income Swedes leaving the country to avoid paying taxes are no better than Paul Martin and the Canada Steamship Lines flying flags of convenience. This is white collar corporate crime! However, businesses with union representation on the board of directors have significantly fewer labour disruptions than those that do not. You can twist individual examples all you want, but in the big picture reality, your argument fails. You attack my economics, but your economics fail to take into account the massive benefits--and cost savings--companies realize from operating in Canada. Public healthcare, access to reliable infrastructure, lower corporate tax rates than any US state on the Great Lakes, being just the start. BUT REGARDLESS of my views of social and corporate justice, YOU CONTINUE TO FAIL TO THE HYPOCRISY OF THE CONSERVATIVE MANTRA OF "FREE MARKETS FIX EVERYTHING" TO YOUR ATTACK AGAINST THE MP THAT WAS ELECTED BY A 10,000 VOTE MARGIN FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH TO INTERFER WITH THE "FREE MARKET". AND...despite your blind praise for the Harper government, you conveniently ignore the terrible record of job loss on Harper's watch. In Elgin-Middlesex-London, with a Conservative MP Joe Preston, 5000 jobs have been lost. The only jobs the Conservatives have created are temporary or part-time jobs, most of which are barely above minimum wage. London-Fanshawe is far better served by both the MP and MPP we currently have to any backbench rubber stamper the Conservatives could offer. Finally, there is no Mrs. Lewis. I'm sure this will come as a surprise to you, but there actually are men like me who believe in equality and the full participation of women in our society. |
| By: S.Lewis on 02/18/2010 |
| @Dave and @S.Lewis, actually, according to the American CIA's world fact book, which admittedly is a questionable source, Sweden's unemployment rate was: 2007-5.6%, 2008-6.1%, 2009-6.2%. Now according to the most recent International Monetary Fund report I could locate--based on actual statistics rather than "forecasts", Sweden's unemployment rate averaged 8.0% in 2009. Canada's according to the same IMF report was 9.8%. This report did not include December numbers. What I'm trying to point out is until all the numbers are in, crunched, and published, there is a lot of "factual" information out there which simply is not accurate. Even statistics can be twisted to interpretation. I do however have to agree with S.Lewis, the NDPers were saying that they were willing to take Harper up on his public statement and work to find common ground to help women and children. That's the kind of non-partisan attitude we need. Canadians elected a minority because NO political party has all the right answers. We could do with a lot more doses of that willingness to find common ground in parliament. Too bad the government can't stockpile that like a vaccine and inject every MP when he or she is elected to office. @Dave, you could apparently use a shot too, your first post was nothing but a partisan attack at one of London's better MPs in the past 30+ years. I also agree with Mathyssen that our seniors deserve better and boosting the Guaranteed Income Supplement at least be a step in the right direction. |
| By: Wes D. on 02/18/2010 |
| Wes and S.Lewis, here is a fact from Swedish news wire. Economy - Published Thursday, 18 February 2010 12:35 | Author: AFP / The Swedish Wire Sweden unemployment jumps Unemployment rate in Sweden rose to 9.4 percent of the work force in January from 8.6 in December, Statistics Sweden said Thursday. RELATED NEWS: • Swedish repo rate hike expected this summer The figure is near the unemployment peak of 9.5 percent the Swedish government forecast for 2010. From January 2009 to January 2010, the unemployment rate in the Scandinavian country rose 2.1 percentage points, affecting "all age groups between 20 and 54 years," the statistics agency said. At the end of January, the Swedish government reviewed its economic forecast and said unemployment in the country would peak at 9.5 percent, against 10.7 it had previously foreseen. Last Updated (Thursday, 18 February 2010 12:40) If we had this kind of unemployment in Canada, we would be considered in a depressed state. I ask anyone here to argue again that with Canada leading the G20 in recovering from the toughest time since the Great Depression to honestly have a negative againt the best that the world has to offer. It may not be a perfect government, but the numbers do not lie. We are the world leaders at this point in time. |
| By: Dave Williams on 03/22/2010 |
Submit Comment:
More Headlines
|
|
|