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From bloomberg.com

Canada Opposition May Delay CN Rail Back-to-Work Bill (Update1)
By Greg Quinn

Nov. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Canada’s opposition Bloc Quebecois and New Democratic parties said they will reject a government motion to speed debate on a bill forcing Canadian National Railway Co.’s locomotive engineers back to work.

From the Hamilton Mountain News

Nov 20, 2009
By Gord Bowes, News Staff

The Mountain’s Liberal MPP is under fire after the McGuinty government introduced its HST legislation Monday.
The provincial Liberals want to have their 13 per cent harmonized sales tax — combining the 8 per cent provincial tax and five per cent GST — in place for July 1.

Tim Hudak, the Niagara-West Glanbrook MPP and leader of the provincial Tories, said Mountain MPP Sophia Aggelonitis is helping the Liberal government rush through legislation to formally implement what he calls a $3 billion tax grab.

Op-ed by Chris Charlton originally appeared in the Hamilton Mountain News

By CHRIS CHARLTON

Nov 13, 2009

Large Medium Small Print This Article Tell a friend Whenever my schedule permits, I knock on doors on the Mountain to ask which issues residents would like me to raise on their behalf in the House of Commons. For the last year, no issue has come up as often as the security of workplace pensions and the fear of not having enough money to survive retirement.

From the Mountain News

By Mark Newman, News Staff

Nov 13, 2009

Chris Charlton says it’s about fairness and ending the confusion.
The Mountain MP’s bill to harmonize statutory federal and provincial holidays received first reading in the House of Commons Nov. 5. Charlton said the bill would turn provincial holidays into federal holidays as well in each of the affected provinces.

In Ontario, Family Day in February and the Aug. 1 civic holiday would also become federal holidays. So would the Quebec National Day (Saint Jean Baptiste Day).

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, today the Ontario Liberals, with billions in financial support from the Conservative government, are introducing legislation to implement an 8% tax hike.

Exempting coffee and doughnuts does not make it easier to swallow this bitter pill. So, on a day when Liberals join hands with the Conservative government to gouge Ontarians, let us not add insult to injury by continuing to lie to them.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP)
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-478, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan (arrears of benefits).

She said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce legislation today, seconded by my colleague, the member for Welland, that would allow for full retroactive payments plus interest when someone applies for benefits under the Canada Pension Plan.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, provincial governments are considering establishing parallel programs for the Canada pension plan because of its current inadequacies. The CPP is the least expensive and safest retirement savings plan available to Canadians. Unfortunately, it limits the contributions that individuals can make and offers a maximum $11,000 a year in retirement benefits. It is simply not meeting the needs of hard-working Canadians who are concerned about surviving their retirement.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present another petition signed by residents of my home town of Hamilton who are opposed to the Canada-Colombia free trade agreement.

The petitioners point out that Colombia has one of the worst human rights records in the western hemisphere, with dozens of labour activists and human rights advocates killed each year. They are outraged by the “kill a worker pay a fine” provisions, which make a mockery of human rights.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to table two sets of petitions today.

The first three are signed by hundreds of women from the Golden Horseshoe in Ontario and from all over Quebec urging Parliament to immediately pass my Bill C-378 to allow hard-working families to access their maternity, parental, sickness and compassionate care benefits without worrying that if they lose their jobs in the meantime they will also lose their EI.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to table a petition today that is signed by hundreds of people from my riding of Hamilton Mountain in support of a universal declaration on animal welfare.