News

Mr Speaker:

NPD urges extended sick benefits
PETER ZIMONJIC, PARLIAMENTARY BUREAU\

The federal NDP wants the Conservative government to extend employment insurance benefits to people suffering from chronic or long-term illnesses such as cancer.

People already get 15 weeks of EI sick benefits but NDP MP Fin Donnelly says that needs to be extended to 52 weeks and is introducing a private member's bill to compel the federal government to act.

By Theresa Mcmanus, The Record May

FISHING FOR CHANGE

New Westminster-Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly is proposing legislation that was suggested by a high school student in Victoria.

Donnelly, the NDP's fisheries and oceans critic, wants to protect wild salmon by strengthening the Fisheries Act to require that fish farms operating on B.C.'s coast transition to closed containment systems.

"New Democrats believe environmental protection not only can, but must coexist with economic prosperity," he said. "British Columbia's, and indeed Canada's, wellbeing depends on it."

MP takes aim at legal loopholes

By Theresa McManus, The Record May 14, 2010

New Westminster-Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly is hopeful the federal government will support legislation that will close loopholes in the Criminal Code regarding children's safety.

Donnelly has introduced two private members bills in the House of Commons that he believes would strengthen laws to protect children against child luring and abuse. The bills bring forward bills proposed by the riding's former MP Dawn Black.

Get Out Migration shows people care about saving wild salmon
By Celia Brauer

A crowd of up to 7,000 people gathered on the lawn of the B.C. legislature on May 8. They did not come to hear a rock band, run for the cure, shout out for social justice, or cheer the Olympic flame. Instead, they brought a unique message: they would stand up for wild salmon and show their support for the Get Out Migration—an event created by a group of activists and embraced by thousands from all over Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and beyond, over a period of 17 days.

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

Mr Speaker;

I rise in the house today to introduce two bills that aim to protect our youth in a way that this government has yet to address.

This legislation brings forward work that my predecessor and good friend Dawn Black began.

Today, I move these two bills that deal with child luring, a danger to all communities across Canada.

The first, expands the definition of child luring to include all forms of communication, be it electronic, by cellular phone, or otherwise.

It's about time we all stood up and demanded changes to fish farming

dcreid@catchsalmonbc.com
D.C. Reid, Times Colonist

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

Mr. Speaker, in a report released today, Dr. Andrew Wright states that land-based, closed containment salmon farming is economically and technically feasible and is less environmentally damaging than current open-net farming.

We know the government wants to expand west coast aquaculture. We also know that sea lice from fish farms are having a negative impact on wild salmon.

Farmed-salmon fight reaches Ottawa

Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist
CAPITAL & VAN. ISL., Page: A6

The mantra of the anti-salmon-farm movement was chalked on the steps of Parliament Hill yesterday by a Grade 10 student from Glenlyon Norfolk School.

Thea Block wrote "Salmon Are Sacred" to celebrate NDP fisheries critic Fin Donnelly's introduction of a private member's bill requiring B.C. fish farms to move to closed pens.

NDP tables fish farm bill
By Colleen Kimmett May 5, 2010 02:58 pm
From The Tyee

Federal NDP fisheries critic Fin Donnelly introduced a bill in the House of Commons today that would require B.C.'s fish farm operators to move to closed containment systems.

Closed containment, as opposed to farms where fish are contained in a net in the ocean, provides a barrier between fish and the ocean environment. This method of fish farming been proposed as a way to both control the escape of farmed salmon and the spread of disease to wild salmon.