By Christopher Curtis
OTTAWA - Opponents of a bill to toughen bookkeeping practices on aboriginal reserves say the law is overly punitive and doesn't address the root causes of financial struggles in First Nations communities.
This Remembrance Day was different than in past years.
Although millions of Canadians gathered at cenotaphs and veterans’ and military halls to honour the contributions and sacrifices of our veterans, the talk wasn’t just of old battles.
Instead, many veterans and their families were talking about their new battle - the difficulties veterans have accessing services.
Local food security is a growing concern among my constituents. Access to local, safe, humane slaughterhouses is one concern that farmers and food activists continue to raise.
It is clear that consumers and producers on Vancouver Island want small, local-scale slaughter and meat-packing plants and we do have a number in neighbouring communities, including one in Westholme,
Even these provincially-regulated facilities are feeling the chill from the largest food recall in Canadian history and consumer wariness around the safety of our meat supply.
Canadians are facing another massive omnibus Bill that amends many other pieces of legislation.
New Democrats stand firmly against this method of presenting legislation. It prevents fulsome debate on all the laws being amended and is not a democratic way of changing legislation.
For residents of Lake Cowichan, the provisions on changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act may have the largest implications.
In every community along the Island Corridor, I get stopped repeatedly by constituents who want to talk to me about the need for a revitalized rail line.
I agree with them. So do over 65 percent of Canadians.
A recent poll by the Railway Association of Canada found that the majority of Canadians believe rail transportation should be the highest transportation priority in Canada.
Even more people, 87 percent, believe that improving infrastructure for freight travelling by rail should also be a priority.
