Politics
After small Canadian distilleries stepped up for Canadians, Liberals leave them high and dry
Shelter Point Distillery in Oyster River, Wayward Distillery in Courtenay and Ampersand Distilling and Stillhead Distillery in the Cowichan Valley are among those across the country that produced tens of thousands of litres of hand sanitizer during the first wave of the pandemic despite having to close their doors to the public and losing their source of income.
Blaney Questions Ongoing Policy On Ferry Vehicle Passengers
North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney has sent yet another letter to federal Minister of Transportation Marc Garneau about Transport Canada’s order prohibiting passengers from remaining in their vehicles during sailings if parked on a closed deck. The letter comes after it was reported that Transport Canada is reviewing over 1000 reports of passengers disobeying the order.
Only NDP MPs Will Bring In Pharmacare, Housing and Climate Action
At a town hall meeting in Courtenay on Sunday evening, long-time New Democrat MP Nathan Cullen called on voters to unite around the NDP to stop an Andrew Scheer-led Conservative government – and bring universal pharmacare, affordable housing and a strong climate action plan to Vancouver Island.
“We have powerful and effective MPs in Rachel Blaney and Gord Johns,” said Cullen. “They have proven they can stop Conservatives, and they have proven they get things done for coastal communities.”
Person’s Day Lunch
All Courtenay-Alberni and North Island Powell River candidates in the Oct 21federal
election will attend the 4th Annual Persons Day Lunch on October 18. Each first will
respond to a pre-question: “if elected, what would you do to reduce gender inequities in
Canada”?
Climate to take Centre Stage in Courtenay All-Candidates Forum
On Friday, October 4, residents of the Courtenay-Alberni riding have an opportunity to hear where their candidates stand on the issue at an all-candidates forum titled ‘Canada and the Climate Crisis.’ Join the conversation at 6:30 p.m at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay. If you wish to attend indicate you are going on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1234774306725002/ Space is limited to 400 people.
NDP Leader to Visit Campbell River and Comox Valley
COURTENAY – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will bring his energetic campaign to Vancouver Island this week. Singh will join local NDP candidates Rachel Blaney and Gord Johns on Thursday to make a policy announcement in Campbell River, followed by a roundtable with local residents in Courtenay and a stop to meet with people in Parksville later in the day.
This Election, Vote for the Coast
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MP Gord Johns to Host Green New Deal Town Hall Meeting
MP Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni) is inviting the public to a Green New Deal for Canada Town Hall discussion with NDP House Leader Peter Julian at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay on July 25th from 7 pm to 9 pm.
Trojan Horse? What’s Wild Bill Smoking Days?
I dare say that if I were to hand you two articles on climate change and what we should/could/can’t do about it; one by former NDP strategist Bill Tieleman and the other by BC Liberal promoter Tom Fletcher; with the authorship redacted—you’d be very hard put to tell, by the arguments presented, which was cowboy Tom riding high on fumes of Exxon-Mobil climate change denying propaganda and which was Wild Bill quixotically spurring on the exhausted steed of climate action impotence.
Vulnerable Seniors Are Getting Cut Off Of Their Pensions
On Thursday, Rachel Blaney, NDP Seniors Critic, put forward a plan to help seniors, instead of hurting them. Blaney believes low-income seniors shouldn’t lose their homes and incomes for being unable to file their taxes on time.
NDP Motion to Put People Before Rich Corporations Defeated by Conservatives and Liberals
Last Tuesday, the Liberal government and Conservative MPs joined together to defeat a motion that called to undo the government’s $12m gift to Loblaws.
MP Rachel Blaney Reacts to Chinook Fishery Restrictions
On Tuesday, April 16, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced new restrictions for this year’s Chinook salmon fisheries.
Veterans Affairs Commentary
Rachel Blaney, NDP Critic for Veterans Affairs, is again disappointed in Veterans Affairs Canada’s (VAC) treatment of past Canadian Forces members. “I haven’t held this portfolio for very long, and I’m already seeing a very concerning pattern with regards to how our veterans are treated by their government.”
In the Footsteps of a Long Line of Matriarchs
Former justice minister and attorney general Puglaas, Jody Wilson-Raybould, closed her comments before the House of Commons justice committee on Wednesday, February 27th, with a powerful statement that reverberated across social media
Budget 2019 Rachel Blaney Media Statement
Member of Parliament for North Island – Powell River Rachel Blaney is happy to see some things included in the latest federal budget, and disappointed that others were not. Blaney was pleased to see that seniors receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement and working at the same time will have a higher income threshold before having their benefit suspended. However they will have to wait another year and a half for this change to take place.
Rachel Blaney Given New Role As NDP’s Critic For Veterans Affairs
Rachel Blaney, Member of Parliament for North Island – Powell River, has been given a new role as the NDP’s Critic for Veterans Affairs. This will be in addition to her current roles of Critic for Seniors’ Issues and Vice-Chair of the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee.
NDP Tables Private Members’ Bill to Address Suicides and Mental Health in the Canadian Armed Forces
Randall Garrison, NDP Critic for National Defence and MP for Esquimalt – Saanich – Sooke, has tabled a bill in Parliament to address the serious issue of suicides and barriers to mental health within the Canadian Armed Forces. This new Private Members’ Bill would remove the section of the National Defence Act that states self-harm is a disciplinary offence.