Jean's Posts

Communities across the country were shocked in early January when the Department of National Defence announced it wants to start charging provinces and municipalities for emergency services.

The troops not on rotation overseas or preparing for one are always training on how to set up camps, move supplies through unknown territory or different landscapes and prepare for medical emergencies in the field. All that training makes them effective and efficient at disaster response.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2013

STATEMENT FROM NDP ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS CRITIC JEAN CROWDER

In recent days we have seen the frustrations from years of failed promises. Prime Minister Stephen Harper heard about these frustrations first-hand from the delegation of Chiefs who met with him this afternoon.

Two stories about child poverty, one close to home and one overseas, caught my eye this month.

Campaign 2000’s recent report on child poverty demonstrates that 23 years after Parliament unanimously pledged to eradicate child poverty, even more children—not fewer—are living with hunger and deprivation in this country.

That means one in seven Canadian children live in poverty.  Campaign 2000 estimates that poverty costs this country $72-billion every year.

The looming doctor shortage in Lake Cowichan is just one example of the disparities in health care that Canadians are starting to see.

Although our universal health care ensures that all Canadians are eligible to receive care based on their need, the reality is that health care coverage is not the same across Canada.

In some cases, British Columbia does better. We cover more cancer drugs than Ontario for example.

But the residents of Lake Cowichan are set to join some of the 5 million Canadians who don’t have a family doctor.

One issue that continues to raise concerns in our community is cell phone towers.

While the convenience and efficiency of cell phones is a great help to many citizens, many still are anxious about the placement of cell phone towers.

At the same time, rental of roof tops to cell phone companies for their towers is an important revenue stream for many non-profit organizations.

Industry Canada is the regulatory body responsible for towers and so far, they have allowed cell phone companies to basically self-regulate around the placement of towers.