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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to introduce a Bill that aims to strengthen the Fisheries Act by requiring fish farm operations on BC's West Coast to move to closed containment.

The Bill directs the Fisheries Minister to develop, table and implement a transition plan, outlining how fish farm operations would make that move.

Mr. Speaker, The plan must ensure that those currently working in the industry will be protected during this transition.

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

In 2006, the Conservative government promised funding for 2,500 new police officers.

Municipalities like New Westminster, Coquitlam and Port Moody were counting on this money for their police forces.

Coquitlam, for example, has one of the lowest police to population ratios in the country, at 1 member for every 939 people.

MAY 4, 2010

OTTAWA - Today in the House of Commons, NDP MP Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam) called on the government to deliver the 2,500 additional police officers promised by the Conservative government over four years ago.

Last month Donnelly met with representatives from the Canadian Police Association who want to see stable, long-term funding for these positions.
“It’s time this government delivered on their 2006 commitment” said Donnelly. “Police departments cannot hire, train or retain new officers without stable funding in place”.

Vancouver, BC — The Canadian Press Published on Thursday, Apr. 22, 2010 3:27PM EDT Last updated on Thursday, Apr. 22, 2010 3:30PM EDT
Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton has sent a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, urging him to suspend implementation of the harmonized sales tax until a proposed B.C. referendum is held.
Opponents of the blended federal and provincial sales tax have until early July to get enough names on a petition to force a referendum on the tax that is due to take effect July 1.

Add your voice to petition

from The Royal City Record

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Dear Editor:

Something is happening in British Columbia this week. People from all over the province are lining up to sign the initiative petition against the harmonized sales tax (HST) set to be implemented on July 1 by the federal Conservatives and the B.C. Liberals. I will be standing with them.

Over the next three months, I will be knocking on doors across our community collecting signatures. The HST has found opposition from all sides of the political spectrum.

From the World Journal; translated from the Mandarin

Calligrapher Wang Xizhi once said “you should examine yourself daily. If you find faults, you should correct them. When you find none, you should try even harder”.

In Canadian politics, the issues are not always cut and dry. Rarely is one party always right or always wrong.

It is through dialogue and debate that we often strike a balance and ensure that all views are included, or at least listened to.

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

Mr. Speaker, last year Fraser River sockeye, which passed through a gauntlet of salmon farms in Georgia Strait, suffered a massive loss. However, that same year the Harrison salmon run, which did not pass by those fish farms, reported good returns. Coincidence? Possibly.

However, at a time when countries are reporting major problems with sea lice outbreaks, fish farms and declining fish stocks, the government says there is no problem here.

Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, sea lice is a serious problem for west coast salmon. Around the world, fish farms have been identified as a major source of sea lice infestations.

The government has launched an inquiry but by the time the recommendations come out it may be too late to protect our wild salmon.

Will the minister admit that there is a problem, do the right thing and start addressing the sea lice problem immediately, or will she allow the Pacific west coast salmon to go the way of the Atlantic cod?

Northwest MPs give Enbridge a firm ‘NO’

The cross-province pipeline is too environmentally damaging, MP Nathan Cullen and Fin Donnelly said. Instead, greener alternatives should be sought.

Houston-Today
Published: March 31, 2010 5:00 AM

NDP MPS have drawn a line in the sand by introducing a private member’s bill in Ottawa that if passed and if implemented would ban oil tankers from the north coast, effectively stopping any move by Enbridge to ship Alberta oil sands oil through its planned $4.5 billion Northern Gateway Pipeline.

Lawsuit in pipeline, Enbridge foes say
Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist

Massive opposition by First Nations to Enbridge's proposed pipeline from Alberta to Kitimat means a lawsuit is likely if the project proceeds, lawyers from West Coast Environmental Law warned yesterday.

An unprecedented alliance of more than 150 First Nations, environmental groups, unions and businesses significantly increases legal risks and uncertainty facing the Enbridge project, said Jessica Clogg, executive director of the group.