Press Releases

OTTAWA – NDP Fisheries and Oceans critic, Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam) and Deputy critic Phil Toone (Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine) are demanding that the government take action after the Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel released their report today, “Sustaining Canadian Marine Biodiversity.”

NEW WESTMINSTER – Today, while premiers gathered in Victoria to discuss federal cuts to the health transfer, local New Democrat MPs Fin Donnelly (New Westminster – Coquitlam & Port Moody) and Peter Julian (Burnaby – New Westminster) issued a challenge to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq to tour Royal Columbian Hospital.

OTTAWA – After a week of town hall meetings across New Westminster–Coquitlam & Port Moody, New Democrat MP Fin Donnelly is heading back to Parliament with a mandate to fight the Conservative government’s service cuts and protect pensions.

“Service providers across my riding are just starting to feel the effect of federal cuts to their funding,” said Donnelly. “These cuts run deep – for some organizations, it is the difference between keeping their doors open and closing altogether”.

MPs Fin Donnelly and Phil Toone are especially concerned for rural communities

OTTAWA – New Democrat Fisheries and Oceans critic, Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam), and Fisheries and Oceans deputy critic Phil Toone (Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine), criticized the Conservatives today over radical new cuts to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

OTTAWA – Legislation to prohibit the import of shark fins, often illegally caught using inhumane methods, was introduced today by Official Opposition Fisheries and Oceans Critic Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam).

“With millions of sharks being killed each year just for their fins, this international marine conservation crisis requires immediate action,” said Donnelly. “The often illegal targeting of sharks for their fins is causing a rapid decline in shark populations and hurting marine ecosystems around the world.”

OTTAWA – Today, NDP MP Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam & Port Moody) tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling on the government to take action on gender violence.

Donnelly also made a statement in the House of Commons in support of the Tri-City Transitions’ second annual Purple Ribbon Campaign, which is a part of the international campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.” Donnelly also organized a photo with federal BC NDP Caucus Members of Parliament wearing purple ribbons to demonstrate their support for the campaign.

New Democrat Fisheries and Oceans Critic MP Fin Donnelly was joined today by award-winning director of Sharkwater, Rob Stewart, Shark Truth founder Claudia Li and UBC Marine Biologist, Dr. Harvey-Clark at ‘C’ Restaurant to launch a petition campaign calling on the federal government to ban the import of shark fin to Canada.

“Shark populations are plummeting around the world,” said Donnelly, “An import ban would draw needed attention to this crisis and help protect them."

Today in the House of Commons, Fin Donnelly, MP (New Westminster–Coquitlam & Port Moody) announced that Ms. Mackay’s kindergarten/grade one class from Baker Drive Elementary School in Coquitlam won this year’s Litterless Lunch Challenge. They went an astounding 100% litter-free for an entire week.

Each year, Donnelly challenges classes from schools across his riding to go litter-free during Waste Reduction Week (October 17-21).

NDP MP Fin Donnelly Reintroduces Private Member’s Bill

New Democrat MP Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam & Port Moody) is continuing his fight to strengthen medical Employment Insurance benefits for Canadians suffering from catastrophic illnesses such as cancer. Donnelly re-introduced his Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons today which would extend medical EI benefits from 15 to 52 weeks.

“Canadians who are struck with catastrophic illnesses should be able to focus on recovery, and not have to worry about how they will survive financially,” said Donnelly.

Two Years in Review

From rookie MP to Canada’s Official Opposition Fisheries and Oceans Critic, local New Democrat MP Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam & Port Moody) celebrates his second anniversary today.

Following his election on November 9th, 2009, Donnelly introduced the Wild Salmon Protection Act that would move open-net fish farms to safe closed containment and brought forward a Private Members Bill that would ban dangerous oil super tanker traffic off BCs north coast.