News

Canada-Colombia Free Trade: 'Doing business with murderers.'

Juliet O'Neill, Canada.com
Canwest News Service bureau blog (http://bit.ly/bwIxrd)
http://communities.canada.com/SHAREIT/blogs/politics/archive/2010/03/10/...

While U.S. legislators are said to be stalling passage of a free trade agreement with Colombia, because of violence and human rights abuse, the Canadian government is full steam ahead – again.

NEW DEMOCRATS TABLES NANOTECHNOLOGY BILL FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Precaution and Protection for Canadians and the Environment

OTTAWA –Peter Julian, MP for Burnaby-New Westminster, today tabled Bill C-494 in the House of Commons that will include nanotechnology in the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and require the Health and Environment Ministers to act.

THE OTTAWA SUN
NEWS, Page: A11
DUP: THE NORTH BAY NUGGET, THE WINNIPEG SUN, THE KINGSTON WHIG-STANDARD, THE BELLEVILLE INTELLIGENCER, THE BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR, THE CHATHAM DAILY NEWS, THE SAULT STAR, THE TORONTO SUN, THE LONDON FREE PRESS , THE CALGARY SUN , THE EDMONTON SUN

MP refuses to join flight for cost concern
BRYN WEESE, PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU

An NDP MP is boycotting a private government flight to B.C. Wednesday for the Paralympic Games because he says the cost is excessive and commercial flights are available.

40th Parliament, 3rd Session
Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to follow my colleague for Sault Ste. Marie. He is one of the foremost advocates for our middle class and poor Canadians in this House of Commons. He is a very eloquent speaker. It is an honour to follow him, particularly in light of what this budget means.

40th Parliament, 3rd Session

Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I have in my hand a petition that is signed by families in Vancouver and Surrey, British Columbia. They are raising concerns about the HST that the federal Conservative government is bringing in. They are saying very clearly that with an additional cost of $500 per individual in British Columbia, for a family of four, an additional cost of $2,000, that this tax shift on ordinary families in British Columbia is simply irresponsible and that this is the worst possible timing for the HST.

VICTIMS OF RECESSION LOSE OUT, BANKS WIN BIG IN NEW BUDGET

OTTAWA – People who lost their jobs and other victims of this recession are the losers in this budget while banks whose profits just doubled hit the jackpot, said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton.

GOVERNMENT WALKS AWAY FROM CANADIAN ATHLETES MID-GAMES

VANCOUVER– On the day that Canada is poised to win its first gold in Women’s Bobsled and Clara Hughes skates to defend her Olympic title, the Harper Conservatives announced they are walking away from the Own the Podium program, cutting $11 million dollars in funding to our Olympic athletes.

http://www.rabble.ca/news/2010/02/harper-folds-again-time-buy-american

RABBLE NEWS
Harper folds again, this time on 'Buy American'
By Peter Julian | February 23, 2010

In 2007, the Harper government gleefully boasted about how quickly it managed to negotiate the U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement. What it failed to mention was the deal's disastrous impact on Canada's forestry sector, one that has cost taxpayers $1 billion and counting, and thousands of Canadian jobs.

THE TORONTO SUN (FINAL)
DUPLICATE: EDMONTON SUN
NEWS, Page: 4

TTC workers ready to hit back
Facebook group urges tough new penalties for those who assault transit drivers
IAN ROBERTSON, TORONTO SUN

TTC workers are being urged to lobby the federal government to increase penalties for thugs who assault bus drivers, ensuring prison sentences match those imposed for attacks on cops or prison guards.

The request Sunday to sign a petition backing Bill C-314 was posted by TTC staffer Jack Gajic, on his Facebook site, Toronto Transit Operators Against Public Harassment.

New Democrats oppose handling of ‘Buy American’ negotiations
Risk of job losses is too great - Harper must bring agreement to the House of Commons

OTTAWA – New Democrat Leader Jack Layton is calling on Prime Minister Stephen Harper to remember his commitment to transparency and bring the recently-negotiated Buy American agreement to the House of Commons for ratification.