Issues

By Frances Russell, Winnipeg Free Press

Liberal, New Democrat and Bloc Qubcois MPs revived the fall's centre-left parliamentary coalition on March 10 to pass an NDP motion correcting the worst inequities of Canada's inadequate and unfair "employment" insurance system.

The vote was 152 in favour. All 141 Conservative MPs voted against.

Carol Goar, The Toronto Star

The vote was 152 in favour, 141 against.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper does not have to respect the will of Parliament. It was a non-binding motion. But New Democrat Chris Charlton clearly struck a nerve this week when she called on the government to bolster Canada's stingy and inequitable Employment Insurance system.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to present a petition that is being circulated by members of the CAW, calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the employment insurance system.

The petitioners rightly point out that EI is a powerful economic stabilizer and, particularly during this deep recession, it is essential that this fundamental poverty prevention program be made more broadly accessible with better benefits.

Chris Charlton hopes it will lead to a revamping to the Employment Insurance program

The Mountain New Democrat MP’s motion, which is different from a bill, calling for changes to the program, including the elimination of the two-week waiting period, was passed by the House of Commons Tuesday with all the opposition parties voting in favour and the Harper government Tories voting against the motion.

“I’m thrilled,” said Ms. Charlton, who had criticized the Harper government for not including EI changes in the January budget.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, whether it is Xstrata, Vale Inco or U.S. Steel, the government has legal agreements with foreign companies that bought Canadian assets with clear job protection provisions, but when these firms reneged, the government simply rolled over.

Thousands of Canadians are being thrown out of work because the government refuses to enforce its own legal agreements.

Why should working families trust the government with more foreign takeovers after it has proven it cannot handle the ones already allowed?

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP)

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-337, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (replacement workers).

She said: Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure today to introduce a bill to ban replacement workers, or scabs, during strikes and lockouts.

New Democrats have always struggled for the rights of working people and this bill represents a critical piece of that struggle. It is essential for ensuring that the right to free collective bargaining cannot be undermined.

From the Calgary Herald

The Harper government is proposing to relax its oversight of foreign takeovers, even as it cranks up the political pressure on foreign companies that acquire Canadian firms to ensure such deals benefit Canada.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise in the House today to support motion M-294, which has been introduced by the hon. member for Vaudreuil-Soulanges. There is absolutely no doubt that Canada's federal Labour Code needs to be amended to include a ban on replacement workers or scabs during strikes and lockouts. In fact, it is way past due.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, the government is continuing to sell out the workers of our industrial heartland. When U.S. Steel acquired Stelco, it made a deal with Industry Canada, which conveniently was not publicly released. We saw it with Xstrata, with Vale Inco and now with U.S. Steel.

When it comes to foreign takeovers, the government does not have the guts to enforce agreements and protect Canadian workers unless there is public pressure. We need accountability on this file.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):