Legislation

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-534, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (in-home care of relative).

She said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to introduce legislation that was first brought to my attention by good friend, Judy Wasylycia-Leis, the former MP for Winnipeg North, who, along with her adviser, Chuck Brabazon, did all the heavy lifting to make the bill's tabling possible today.

OTTAWA – New Democrat MP Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain) today introduced a bill to bolster the family income of persons living with disabilities by extending the “caregiver tax credit‟ to the spouses of persons with disabilities.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-527, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan (pension and benefits).

Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled to be introducing a bill that will finally put a legal end to the potential for people who have been convicted of spousal homicide to derive a CPP survivor benefit from their heinous crimes.

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)
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)
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-477, An Act respecting the harmonization of holidays.

She said: Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure today to introduce a bill respecting the harmonization of holidays. This enactment would entitle employees under federal jurisdiction to all the general holidays observed in the province in which they work.

I know that I only have 30 seconds to explain the intent of the bill, so let me try to put it as succinctly as possible by way of an example.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to table a petition in the House of Commons on behalf of a large number of people who are concerned about gasoline prices and the fact that the government is doing nothing to help ordinary working families who are getting hosed at the pumps.

The job of an MP is to represent you in the House of Commons - to say the things that you would say if you were in Parliament yourself. That is the essence of representation.

Mountain MP Chris Charlton has taken that responsibility seriously. You can count on her to stand up for you and your family.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the current EI system penalizes new mothers. The anti-stacking provision prevents mothers who have secured maternity and parental benefits from accessing regular EI benefits if they lose their jobs.I brought forward a bill that would finally bring fairness to working mothers by eliminating this unfair provision. I challenge the minister to adopt my bill, which would fix these inequities, before Mother's Day. Mothers deserve more than chocolates and flowers this Mother's Day. They deserve fairness and action.

New Democrat MP calls on government to fix EI maternity leave inequities before Mother’s Day

OTTAWA – With layoff announcements coming almost daily, new mothers often return to work, only to lose their jobs soon after. Shamefully, many are finding out that they no longer qualify for Employment Insurance they have paid for.

New Democrat Labour Critic, Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain), will introduce a bill this week that fixes provisions in the EI Act that unfairly penalize mothers accessing maternity and parental leave.