Hélène Laverdière

Don't let Conservatives rewrite history

If you haven't yet visited the impressive Canada Hall history exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, I invite you to visit it soon. It may not be there for much longer.

After nearly destroying Library and Archives, the government is now about to "reform" the Canadian Museum of Civilization. Conservatives propose to eliminate research and collections from the Museum's mission, and "rebrand" this national museum based on their own idea of « Canadian identity ».

Bill C-49, An Act to amend the Museums Act in order to establish the Canadian Museum of History and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, will be back on the House calendar in the next few days. Despite millions spent on 1812 ads and their self-proclaimed appreciation of history, Conservatives are actually attacking our history, at museums, archives, and national historic sites.

That is whay, last week we launched the petition "Don't let Conservatives rewrite history", at: http://petition.ndp.ca/history  I encourage you to sign this petition.

CBC MUST REMAIN COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT: NDP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 3rd, 2013

CBC MUST REMAIN COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT: NDP

In honour of World Press Freedom Day, the Conservatives should seize this opportunity to repeal their plan to interfere in collective bargaining.

OTTAWA — The Conservative government should take advantage of World Press Freedom Day to withdraw its plan to interfere in the CBC collective bargaining process, said New Democrat Heritage critic, Pierre Nantel.

"The new budget bill, tabled this week, states that the Conservatives may interfere in the bargaining process of the CBC, a Crown corporation that has been independent for 80 years. They will now be able to dictate the wage conditions of journalists whose job it is to monitor the government," said Nantel.

He also decries the Conservatives' relentless campaigns against the CBC. Bill C-461, currently before parliament, is a direct attack on the independence of the CBC and journalistic sources.

In Reporters Without Borders' latest Press Freedom Index, Canada has sadly fallen from 10th to 20th place. "We are now behind Costa Rica, Namibia, Andorra and Liechtenstein. The RWB has blamed the Conservative government's actions and their incessant attacks on the journalistic principle of anonymous sources for this slip in the rankings," explained Mr. Nantel.

New Democrats will continue to defend the independence of the CBC and Canada's international reputation for freedom of the press.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

David Patry, Press Secretary, Quebec
Caucus Services

514-238-8240 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION BILL MUST BE DIVIDED: NDP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 6, 2013

BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION BILL MUST BE DIVIDED: NDP

OTTAWA – New Democrat critic for International Cooperation, the Americas and Consular Affairs, Hélène Laverdière (Laurier–Sainte-Marie), tabled a motion in the House of Commons today to split the Budget Implementation Act (C-60) by removing clauses pertaining to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and
Development Act and referring them to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.

The motion reads as follows :

"That notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, clauses 174 to 199 related to the proposed Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, be removed from Bill C-60, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 21, 2013 and other measures, and do compose Bill C-62; that Bill C-62 be deemed read a first time and be printed; that the order for second reading of the said bill provide for the referral to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development; that Bill C-60 retain the status on the Order Paper that it had prior to the adoption of this Order; that Bill C-60 be reprinted as amended; and that the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel be authorized to make any technical changes or corrections as may be necessary to give effect to this motion."

– 30 –

For more information, please contact:

Lyne Robichaud, Press Secretary, (613) 292-2970 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ICAO : THE CHOICES MADE BY THE CONSERVATIVES ARE WEAKENING CANADA’S STANDING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, May 3rd, 2013

ICAO : THE CHOICES MADE BY THE CONSERVATIVES ARE WEAKENING CANADA'S STANDING

MONTREAL – The Conservatives will only have themselves to blame if the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) decides to move its head offices from Montreal to Doha, according to the NDP.

"The Conservatives can't just alienate the international community and then expect there to be no consequences," said the NDP critic for International Development, Hélène Laverdière (Laurier–Sainte-Marie). "The controversial decisions the Conservatives have been making these last few years have furthered Canada's isolation from the international stage."

Their cavalier stances are starting to pile up: the withdrawal from the Kyoto Accord, the withdrawal from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, a more aggressive redefinition of the Canadian Armed Forces, the budget cuts to the Canadian International Development Agency, the uncompromising stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict...

"It's not a coincidence that a country believes it can rally 60% of UN member states to displace the ICAO headquarters. Thanks to the Conservative government's total disregard for the nternational community, the threat of losing the ICAO is very real," explained Ms. Laverdière.

Now, a coalition has been formed between the City of Montreal, the Quebec government and the government of Canada to try and save the day.

"Let's hope that they will be able to keep the ICAO in Montreal, because the city, Quebec and Canada cannot stand to lose this prestigious institution that brings 100 million dollars annually to our economy," concluded Ms. Laverdière.

-30-

For more information,
please contact:

David Patry, Press Secretary, Quebec
Caucus Services

514-238-8240
or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

STATEMENT BY HERITAGE CRITIC, PIERRE NANTEL ON WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 3, 2013

Statement by Heritage critic, Pierre Nantel on World Press Freedom Day

Today we are marking World Press Freedom Day.

On this day, we remember journalists who lost their lives in the course of their work. In 2012, a record number of 121 journalists were killed in the exercise of their profession, a figure that has doubled since 2011 and 2010. Many other journalists were victims of persecution and arrest. In too many countries, journalists are suspended, receive fines or lose their jobs simply for doing their duty to inform the public.

Canada has sadly fallen from 10th to 20th place in Reporters without Borders' world press freedom index – behind Costa Rica, Namibia, Andorra and Liechtenstein. They point to the Conservative government's actions, and threats to the secrecy of journalistic sources as key reasons for the drop.

New Democrats recognize the crucial importance of freedom of the press and the independence of the media. We strongly condemn all attacks against journalists and commit to protecting freedom of expression and the free exchange of ideas on all media platforms.

In Canada and around the world, we urge all governments to defend the freedom of the press.

Stephen Harper then and now, boondoggle edition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 1, 2013

NDP REALITY CHECK: Stephen Harper then and now, boondoggle edition

After losing track of $3.1 billion in anti-terrorism spending, Stephen Harper said that it was just an issue of a "lack of clarity". He didn't even acknowledge the problem that was raised by the Auditor Genera: A $3.1 billion void between what was spent and what was reported on the government's Anti-Terrorism Initiative.

What would the Stephen Harper of old have said?

         "one would think there would be some element of shame from the Liberal Party garding today's report but there is none whatsoever" Stephen Harper, House of Commons, November 1, 2005

        "All of this sounds very familiar. The government denied the billion dollar boondoggle at HRDC, it is attempting to sweep the sponsorship scandals under the rug." Stephen Harper, House of Commons, December 4, 2002

Canadians deserve Better.