News

40th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 12
Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Statement – International Day for Persons with Disabilities

Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North, NDP): Mr. Speaker, today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a celebration of the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and a recommitment to inclusion through its theme, “Dignity and Justice for All”.

Celebrations are taking place across Canada hosted by Independent Living Canada, along with People First, all of this following on the heels of the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Association for Community Living. But our celebrations are marred by the Conservative Party's foot dragging on ratification of the UN convention and the Conservatives' failure to address disproportionate poverty and unemployment among Canadians with disabilities.

40th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 10
Monday, December 1, 2008

Economic & Fiscal Statement

Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to participate in this discussion on the country's economic situation and to do so on a day of historical importance, a day when Canadians have seen unprecedented collaboration among parliamentarians and a new degree of co-operation that bodes well for the future. In fact, it gives people great confidence and hope.

It is just minutes after a formal declaration was made by the three opposition parties in this House. The Liberals, the New Democrats and the Bloc have come together to indicate their will to form a government and to support a government and create a Parliament that in fact addresses the real needs of Canadians, not a government that ignores Canadians at their time of greatest need, at a moment in the history of this country when government and Parliament have an obligation like never before to be there for the people of this country.

40th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 8
Thursday, November 27, 2008

Throne Speech Debate

Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North, NDP): Madam Speaker, I, too, want to add my congratulations to your appointment as Acting Speaker in the House and appreciate the work you are doing.

I want to ask the parliamentary secretary about an aspect of his speech that was glaringly absent and shockingly missing, as it was with respect to the Speech from the Throne. It has to do with people with disabilities for whom he has responsibility.

In his position as parliamentary secretary, he will know that people with disabilities are twice as likely to live in poverty. Fifty-five per cent of Canadians with disabilities are unemployed. That rate rises to 75% among women. Two million Canadians do not have the aids and supports they need to work and to participate equally in their communities.

40th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 7
Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Petition - Health Protection & C-51

Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by a good number of Canadians. This petition follows on the heels of other petitions tabled in the House pertaining to the direction of the government with respect to health protection.

The petitioners call upon the government to think twice before reintroducing the legislation formerly numbered Bill C-51 which dealt with health protection in areas of food and drugs.

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - Sept. 11, 2008) - New Democrat MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North) demanded answers today from Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper about cuts to the Canadian Horticultural Council.

"I received a letter from the Canadian Horticultural Council which expresses great concern a massive funding cut - an outrageous 40%. This money is for the development and implementation of on-farm food safety programs for Canada's horticultural industry" said Wasylycia-Leis, Jack Layton's Parliamentary Caucus chair.

The Canadian Horticultural Council has received notifications from officials that the government believe they may be able to find alternative funding, but Wasylycia-Leis says that isn't nearly good enough.

NDP digs in for fight over controversial bill.

New Democrats recognize the
tremendous value that natural
health products contribute to health
and well-being and are committed to
fully integrating alternative medicine
and NHPs into Canada’s health care
system.

WINNIPEG – NDP Leader Jack Layton and NDP Health Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North) called on the Harper government to take urgent action against worsening air quality in response to an alarming report released today by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

“The human toll reflected in the numbers of this report is staggering,” said Mr. Layton. “The fact that more than 20,000 Canadians are at risk of premature death because of air pollution is a tragic commentary on the inaction we have seen from the Conservatives and the previous government. Choosing a plan that stands up to polluters will help our economy and our health.”

NDP Supplementary Report to the Standing Committee on Health's Study of the Post-Market Surveillance of Pharmaceuticals

NDP Supplementary Report to the Standing Committee on Health's Report on the 10 Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care

39th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 113
CONTENTS
Monday, June 16, 2008

Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North, NDP)
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-566, An Act to amend the Tobacco Act (cigarillos, cigars and pipe tobacco).

She said: Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to present this bill to the House of Commons and recommend its serious consideration.

The bill would amend the Tobacco Act by closing the loophole that allows big tobacco to take advantage of young people by marketing products that are attractive, such as flavoured cigarillos that are sold individually on a cost effective basis and come without sufficient warning labels. We need changes to the Tobacco Act to close this loophole and ensure Canadians are protected to the maximum from this addictive product.