From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Thu Mar 16 15:08:04 2006 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire) Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2006 15:08:04 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] BC Liberal government protecting corporate polluters Message-ID: BC Liberal government protecting corporate polluters Time to restore environmental accountability VICTORIA -- For years, the BC Liberal government has been protecting corporate polluters by suppressing information and cutting back on environmental compliance and enforcement, NDP Environment Critic Shane Simpson said today. "Since 2001, the government has chipped away at environmental stewardship and now it turns out government has been hiding information on BC's biggest polluters," said Simpson. Earlier this week, representatives with the Sierra Legal Defence Fund reported that an FOI request for information on polluters would cost $173,000. Up until the BC Liberals came to power, that information was provided to the public free of charge. To read the rest of the story, click here. To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Fri Mar 24 17:32:10 2006 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire) Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2006 17:32:10 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] NDP News This Week Message-ID: NDP News This Week March 24, 2006 B.C. Liberals must make Child Care Action Plan public VICTORIA -- The B.C. Liberal government must make its Childcare Action Plan public and end uncertainty about the future of childcare for B.C. families, NDP childcare critic Diane Thorne said today. Last year, the province signed a five-year funding agreement with the federal government for childcare, worth over $600 million. As part of that deal, the province committed to consult the public and develop a Childcare Action Plan for British Columbia. The NDP is calling on the Campbell government to table that plan and publish the results of those consultations. "Last fall the government engaged parents, childcare providers and communities in a public consultation on childcare," said Thorne. "British Columbians volunteered their time and their energy for this process, and they are waiting for this government to follow through on its promise to deliver a plan. They are looking to this government to provide leadership, and the government has not delivered." To read the rest of the story, click here. -------------------- March 24, 2006 Laura Nichols begins work as NDP's new Provincial Secretary BURNABY -- Laura Nichols, former Provincial Secretary of the Alberta NDP, has begun serving the BC NDP as the Party's director. Nichols is succeeding Gerry Scott, who served as Provincial Secretary since 2003. Nichols will be returning to her roots in BC. Born and raised in Squamish, she has a long history with the NDP and British Columbia. Nichols has worked as Chief of Staff to federal NDP leader Alexa McDonough, and as the Leader's Tour Coordinator for the last two federal elections for Jack Layton as well as the Carole James BC NDP 2005 provincial election tour. Nichols also provided outreach coordination and public consultation planning served for the office of Premier Mike Harcourt. To read the rest of the story, click here. -------------------- March 23, 2006 James criticizes "accountability gap" at BC Ferries VICTORIA ??? Concerns around the safety of BC Ferries northern fleet remain in the wake of the tragic sinking of the Queen of the North, and point to the need for more accountability at BC Ferries, NDP Leader Carole James said. "There is a very real accountability gap with B.C. Ferries," said James. "It's no longer subject to freedom-of-information requests. And It's no longer subject to reviews by the Auditor General, despite the fact that taxpayers have put over half a billion dollars into that corporation since 2003." James challenged Gordon Campbell's government to restore accountability by opening the operations of BC Ferries to Freedom of Information requests and oversight by the Auditor-General. "There is a major disaster on our coast. There are questions surrounding the government's discussion on the corporation regarding the state of the northern fleet -- questions that deserve answers." To read the rest of the story, click here. -------------------- March 23, 2006 NDP Calls for inquiry into impact of deregulation on worker safety VICTORIA -- An independent inquiry is needed to investigate the impact of the government's deep cuts to regulations on worker safety in B.C., NDP MLA Chuck Puchmayr said today. An independent inquiry is needed to investigate the impact of the government's deep cuts to regulations on worker safety in B.C., NDP MLA said today. Puchmayr's call for an investigation comes on the heels of a series of accidents involving logging trucks, as reported by the forest sector this week. The Opposition has been raising the issue of forest worker safety for months, and is renewing its call for an independent investigation of the issue. "An independent inquiry will bring all the necessary stakeholders together -- including Worksafe BC, workers from the field, employers, and industry representatives -- to deal with this serious issue," said Puchmayr. "Each of these groups must be at the table in order to have full and complete consideration of the impact of these regulatory cuts on the safety of B.C. workers." To read the rest of the story, click here. -------------------- March 21, 2006 Who's in charge at MCFD? VICTORIA -- During debate on the Ministry of Children and Family Development's budget last night, Minister Stan Hagen once again appeared to be out of the loop on important developments within his portfolio, Children and Family Development Critic Adrian Dix said today. "British Columbians need to know that Stan Hagen is actually on top of his important file and in charge of the ministry," said Dix. "Unfortunately, Mr. Hagen's shaky answers and obvious deflections show that he is floundering in his role and that others have taken charge. The Minister is shrinking away from his duties and allowing the Premier's Office to run the show." To read the rest of the story, click here. -------------------- March 21, 2006 NDP welcomes new employment standards after years of B.C. Liberal cuts VICTORIA -- After years of deep cuts to employment standards for B.C. workers, the New Democrat Opposition is welcoming legislation that provides employees compassionate care leave. Bill 8 proposes amendments to the Employment Standards Act that would allow employees to take up to eight weeks paid leave to care for an immediate family member. In order to be eligible for this leave, the worker must obtain a physician's certificate, verifying that the family member is likely to die within 26 weeks. Chuck Puchmayr, Opposition critic for Labour, has tabled an amendment to the Bill that will provide additional leave to workers who are caring for sick children. To read the rest of the story, click here. -30- To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca Fri Mar 31 20:55:06 2006 From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire) Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 20:55:06 -0800 Subject: [LabComm] NDP News This Week Message-ID: NDP News This Week March 30, 2006 Opposition submits child protection FOI to Ted Hughes for independent review VICTORIA -- On Wednesday, Opposition Children and Family Development Critic Adrian Dix released information obtained through Freedom of Information about the reckless and rushed implementation of kith and kin agreements. That information is now being turned over to the Honourable Ted Hughes so he can include the important government documents in his independent review of the child protection system. "The documents we received through FOI prove that the kith and kin policy was fast-tracked because of financial and political pressure," said Dix. "The documents show a disturbing pattern of mistakes and incompetence. The government needs to ensure that it learns from the information. That's why I am submitting the entire FOI package to Mr. Hughes. He needs to know what really happened so he can fulfill his mandate to recommend improvements to the way government provides services to children." In Question Period on Wednesday, the Opposition asked the Minister of Children and Family Development if all the information in the FOI package had been submitted to Mr. Hughes for review. Unfortunately, the Minister refused to answer the question. "Once again we get no response from the minister on critical questions, on important issues -- on important issues to the people of British Columbia and, in particular, to children and families at risk," said NDP Leader Carole James "The information received proves that this government is more interested in budget reductions and their own political issues than it was in protecting children in care. After months of denial from the minister and from the Premier, we heard the Solicitor General come clean and admit that budget cuts and mismanagement of government contributed to the chaos we've seen in Children and Families." To read the rest of the story, click here. -------------------- March 29, 2006 FOI documents reveal rushed implementation of kith and kin policy VICTORIA -- Documents released to the Opposition reveal that the Ministry of Children and Family Development rushed the implementation of kith and kin agreements under financial and political pressure to reduce the number of children in care, NDP Children and Family Development Adrian Dix said today. "We now know from the government's own information that the kith and kin policy was deliberately fast tracked, rushed and mishandled," said Dix. "The original implementation date was set for September 3, 2002, but the decision was made at the highest levels to move ahead in July -- despite concerns about agency and social worker readiness. "It appears that critical decisions were made under financial and political pressure to reduce the number of children in care," said Dix. "As a result, deeply-flawed draft guidelines were distributed to social workers as placements began." To read the rest of the story, click here. -------------------- March 28, 2006 Opposition looks to ban tobacco sales in pharmacies VICTORIA -- Today NDP Opposition Health Critic David Cubberley tabled a Private Member's Bill that would see the government prohibit the sale of tobacco in pharmacies. "BC must renew it efforts and again become a leader in tackling tobacco addiction among youth, and that starts with making cigarettes harder to get," said Cubberley. "This is one tangible step we can take that has been proven to work in other provinces," said Cubberley, who pointed out that the Ontario government instated a similar ban more than fifteen years ago. "Selling cigarettes in pharmacies runs counter to our common sense and efforts to make cigarettes more difficult for youth to obtain." Cubberley said that pharmacists have also been asking for tobacco to be taken off their shelves. "They see themselves and their pharmacies as dispensing remedies, not addictive substances." To read the rest of the story, click here. -------------------- March 27, 2006 Government rewards player in the Doug Walls scandal with a hefty pay package VICTORIA -- Under questioning in the Legislature last week, the Minister of Children and Family Development was forced to admit that friend and insider Brian Berglund was given a $216,000 position inside government. Mr. Berglund was a key figure in the Doug Walls scandal involving CareNet that forced the minister of the day to resign. "Mr. Berglund was a central figure in the Doug Walls scandal that brought down a minister," said Dix. "His name is mentioned 63 times in the PricewaterhouseCoopers independent report that examined the scandal. And now, he has been appointed Community Living BC's chief information officer with a pay package worth $216,000. Mr. Berglund and his firm were also awarded untendered contracts worth thousands last year." To read the rest of the story, click here. To unsubscribe or change your settings go to: http://www.e-2ve6y.signup2.bc.ndp.ca/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: