Canada's NDP Continues to Move Forward!
Over the past 5 years of Jack Layton's leadership, Canada's NDP has continued to move forward by addressing the issues that people really care about and bringing practical NDP policies to the public.
In Kingston & the Islands, the past two federal elections have seen strong gains for New Democrats. In 2004, we doubled our vote and in 2006, we increased our vote by another 3000 votes.
In 2007, the Kingston & the Islands NDP nominated Renee Stephen as our federal candidate and we look forward to the energy and intelligence that she will bring to the next federal campaign on behalf of the citizens of Kingston & the Islands.
Learn more about Canada's NDP >
Federal NDP Leader - Jack Layton >
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Federal NDP News - Current Events
NDP APPLAUDS SPACE SALE REJECTION
Ottawa
Thur 10 Feb 2008
Calls on government to stand firm and invest in industry
Today, NDP Leader Jack Layton called Industry Minister Jim Prentice’s decision to reject the sale of MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to US arms manufacturer Alliant Techsystems (ATK) the right move and claimed a cautious victory.
“As we said in our letter to the minister, from arctic sovereignty, to employment, to domestic innovation and production, to ethics, to national security, and to the very success and independence of our world-class space industry, the proposed sale of MDA falls well short of the ‘net benefit test’ in the Investment Canada Act. We believe the government is making the right decision in agreeing with our position to block the sale,” said Layton.
However, the NDP will still keep a close eye on the file. “In addition to standing firm during the 30 day appeal period, the minister needs to get serious about a space policy for Canada and start investing in the next generation of space technology,” said NDP Industry Critic Peggy Nash (Parkdale - High Park). “If the government does not step up its support for the industry, it will seriously weaken the positive step it has taken today.”
Nash also cautioned about privatizing cutting edge technology. “Canada almost lost cutting edge space technology designed to protect our sovereignty and environment because the previous government privatized it. We need to be more prudent to protect Canada’s future and the aeronautic jobs of working families.”
“This is a victory,” said NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre), who has lead opposition to the sale at the Foreign Affairs Committee. “But the case is not over - we will maintain the pressure on the government over the next 30 days to ensure Canada does not give up its sovereignty or threaten its national security by allowing the sale of MDA to ATK.”
*Article courtesty of www.ndp.ca*
BUDGET EXTENDS AGENDA THAT FAILS WORKING FAMILIES
Tues 26 Feb 2008
Corporate tax giveaways outstrip new funding 6 to 1
OTTAWA – New Democrats rejected Stephen Harper’s 2008 Conservative budget as a continuation of an agenda that’s failing working families and the middle-class in Canada.
“A budget is where you set priorities,” said NDP Leader Jack Layton. “And this prime minister has again placed corporate tax giveaways ahead of investing in hard-working families.”
With uncertain economic times ahead, the Harper agenda has ensured corporations will be paying less than their fair share for government services, while hard-working Canadians will pick up the additional costs. Under the Harper agenda, revenues from personal income taxes will grow by 12%, while income from corporate profits will decline by 14% due to the massive corporate tax cuts.
“For every one dollar the 2008 Harper budget allocates in new spending, it spends six dollars in corporate tax giveaways,” said Layton. “Yet this budget fails to train a single doctor, make a single prescription drug more affordable or build a single unit of affordable housing.”
“At a time when our health care system is in crisis, this government has now officially abandoned its promise to reduce wait times by allocating no money to the initiative whatsoever,” said Layton.
The NDP noted that the Harper agenda gives profitable corporations multi-year commitments for tax cuts, while aboriginal communities, transit initiatives and research have to get by with temporary commitments and one-offs.
NDP Finance Critic Thomas Mulcair (Outremont) said the Harper budget continues an agenda that picks winners and losers. “The winners today are the banks, the big polluters and the well-off. Meanwhile, hard-working Canadians lose out,” said Mulcair.
“After years of unprecedented federal surpluses, this should have been an era of significant investment where the gap between the rich and the rest was closed,” said Mulcair. “The three Harper budgets, supported by the Bloc and now the Liberals, have turned out to be a tragic lost opportunity.”
*Article courtesty of www.ndp.ca*
JACK LAYTON: 5 YEARS OF STRONG LEADERSHIP FOR CANADIANS
Fri 25 Jan 2008
On January 25, 2003 Jack Layton became the sixth leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada - with a pledget to make politics matter again for ordinary Canadians.
In five short years since then, Jack has delivered a record of real accomplishments for ordinary Canadians and of growth for our party.
Accomplishments for Canadians:
- Ensured that the Conservatives’ failed "Clean Air Act" was sent to an all-party committee for a complete re-write, helping to put Canada on track to tackle climate change.
- Rewrote the 2005 federal budget to put $4.5 billion onto the priorities of ordinary Canadians, including climate change, transit, housing and education.
- Secured all party support to pass the NDP’s Seniors Charter in the House of Commons.
- Secured passage of the NDP’s Veterans First Motion in the House of Commons, despite opposition from the governing Conservatives.
- Negotiated with the other party leaders to pass in one day legislation to modernize veterans’ benefits. Made the NDP’s “Worker’s First Bill” into law so that employees’ wages would be protected in the event of employer bankruptcy.
- Showed leadership as the first party leader to ask the tough questions about Canada’s combat role in Afghanistan.
- Authoured a bestselling book and its second edition, Speaking out Louder outlining how Canadians can build a prosperous economy that protects the environment and closes the growing prosperity gap.
Accomplishments for the New Democratic Party:
- Garnered 1.5 million more votes over the past two elections.
- Doubled the NDP caucus from 14 to 30 MPs.
- Made history by electing former Quebec environment minister Thomas Mulcair as the second NDP MP from Quebec in a September 2007 by-election.
- Campaigned to elect an NDP caucus in which 41% of the MPs are women – the highest percentage of any party in Canadian history.
- Led the largest election campaign in NDP history – and pledged to match the Conservatives dollar for dollar in the next election.
- Received an overwhelming endorsement of 92% delegates at the 2006 Convention.
- Convened the second largest convention in the party’s history in Quebec City in September 2006.
- Named the first female house leader, finance and defense critics in the party’s history.
“At year's end, Layton is seen as more prime ministerial than his Liberal counterpart. The last time that happened, Ed Broadbent and John Turner were respectively NDP and Liberal leaders.”
– Chantal Hebert, Toronto Star, 12 December 2007
*Article courtesty of www.ndp.ca*
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The Renee Stephen Campaign is working hard to prepare for a spring federal election and we need YOUR HELP!
If you are able to contribute time or money, please contact Jamie Masse, the volunteer coordinator for Renee's campaign.
Local Events
Hunger March
Join the Kingston Coalition Against Poverty (KCAP) to meet and eat at the park, before taking to the street at 5:00pm to have your voice heard.
Thurs. May 1, 2008
4:00pm - McBurney Park
FRILL Community Garden May Day Festival
Join the FRILL Community Garden for their May Day Festival and Plot Lottery. Enter the plot lottery, learn about snakes from conservationist Matt Ellerbeck and share a finger food potluck!
Sunday, May 4
1-4pm - 38 Charles Street
Our Headlines
- NDP Applauds Space Sale Rejection
- Hampton Stands Up for Jailed Aboriginal Leaders
- McGuinty Concedes Failure in War on Poverty
- Budget Extends Agenda that Fails Working Families
- Lack Layton: Five Years of Leadership
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The Fine Print
“At year's end, Layton is seen as more prime ministerial than his Liberal counterpart. The last time that happened, Ed Broadbent and John Turner were respectively NDP and Liberal leaders.”
Chantal Hebert
Toronto Star
12 December 2007