News

Feds to rein in spending

From the Tri-City News

By Sarah Payne - The Tri-City News
Published: March 04, 2010 4:00 PM
Updated: March 04, 2010 4:06 PM

The federal government is taking an austere approach to the 2010 budget, coughing up only a fraction of the new spending that has characterized recent years under the Economic Action Plan.

Matthew Furlong
The Telegram
January 14, 2010

Canadians are having two main problems with Stephen Harper’s second prorogation of Parliament.

The first is with members of Parliament wasting government money by not doing the work expected of them. The second is with Harper’s contempt for the parliamentary hurdles necessarily faced by a minority government, and his abnormal use of a normally uncontroversial procedure.

OTTAWA –Newly elected MP Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam) showed up to work today on Parliament Hill along with his fellow New Democrat colleagues.

“The people of New Westminster, Coquitlam and Port Moody elected me to bring their concerns in Ottawa” said Donnelly. “That’s what I am doing here today. Over the past four weeks I have received hundreds of letters, e-mails and phone calls from constituents who oppose this unilateral shutting down of Parliament”.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2009

NDP TO CONTINUE FIGHT ON HST

OTTAWA – Local Members of Parliament Peter Julian, MP (Burnaby-New Westminster), Bill Siksay (Burnaby Douglas), Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam-Port Moody) and their NDP colleagues are pledging to continue the fight on the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) after the Conservative/Liberal closure motion shut down debate on the HST Bill going through Parliament.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 8, 2009

CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE TOP OF DONNELLY`S AGENDA

OTTAWA– Today in the House of Commons, newly elected New Democrat Member of Parliament Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam) used his first statement to address the climate change crisis.

"This is a historic week in world history. Leaders from across the globe are converging on Copenhagen to discuss the state of our climate`, said Donnelly. "The decisions we make today will be remembered. The impacts felt by generations to come".

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, this is a historic week in world history. Leaders from across the globe are converging on Copenhagen to discuss the state of our climate.

The decisions we make today will be remembered, the impacts felt by generations to come.

This government must step up and commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 25% below 1990 levels in the next decade and 80% by 2050. These targets are not only achievable but absolutely critical to the health and future of our environment, our communities and our economy.

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Elmwood—Transcona.

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):

Madam Speaker, I rise today to present a petition that calls for an independent judicial inquiry into the salmon crisis. Nine million salmon disappeared this summer in the Fraser River. It is the lowest return in 50 years.

Hundreds of people have spoken out and have signed this petition, calling for the judicial inquiry. They want action now to save our B.C. salmon.

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, why is the Conservative government trying to shut down debate on the HST?

During the provincial election the Liberal government said it would not harmonize the provincial sales tax with the GST, and then months later did just that. Now the Conservative government wants to ram through its HST legislation.

The people of British Columbia are tired of being shut out of the debate on the HST.

If the HST is such a good idea, why is the government trying to limit debate on it? What is it trying to hide?

Salmon Fishery

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, let us hope the government's promises on west coast salmon do not ring as hollow.

Answering the call by New Democrats for an inquiry was a first good step, but we cannot just sit back and do nothing for the next 20 months. Problems with fish farms, sea lice and overfishing must be addressed. The government can and must take action to mitigate damage being done to the salmon fishery.