Wayne in the News

June 2, 2008

Ottawa – NDP MP Wayne Marston held a press conference today where he reinforced the urgency for the establishment of a National DNA Data Bank and a Missing Persons Index.

Mr. Marston became involved with the issue when his constituent Donna Dixon, mother of missing boy Billy Mason, approached him for help. With Billy missing for two years, Dixon was shocked to learn that after giving permission to the police to collect Billy’s DNA, there was no database to check the samples against.

“I was shocked when clues in the form of clothing I had found near an area I was told he had been seen before he disappeared could not help me find my son Billy Mason,” Dixon said in a statement released in November, “I do firmly believe they are my son Billy’s and there is no way to find out if they are his.”

With just 2 visits to local malls, Marston and Ms. Dixon were able to have over 800 cards signed by constituents. The 800 post cards carry a message calling on the Prime Minister to ensure the establishment of these important tools for justice.

For months Mr. Marston has fought for the establishment of an index and database. In November, Marston presented a petition containing 6,600 signatures to the Prime Minister that demanded the establishment of a DNA Bank and Missing Persons Index at the federal level.

This week, Mr. Marston had the cards delivered to Prime Minster Harper’s Office and he hopes the government will now move forward on this important issue.

“Law enforcement officials currently depend on a patchwork of processes to attempt to match the DNA of missing persons with found and recovered items and remains,” said Marston. “It is time to give police the tools they need to help families like Donna Dixon’s find out what happened to their loved ones. It’s time to act.”

OTTAWA – MP Wayne Marston, (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) and the NDP’s Critic on Human Rights presented a motion on March 11, 2008 before the Subcommittee on Human Rights drawing attention to the detention and prosecution of Omar Khadr with hopes that Canadian government would recognize him as a child combatant and petition the American government for his repatriation.

Mr. Khadr’s lawyer, U.S. Navy Lt. Commander William Kuebler, appeared before the House of Commons Subcommittee on April 29, 2008 where he appealed for Canada to save Mr. Khadr’s from a potential life sentence. "It's not a question of giving this young man a second chance. He has never had a first one. The only blessing he's had is being born in Canada and this country now represents his only hope," said Lt. Cmdr. Kuebler.

Kuebler also talked extensively about the rules set forth by the UN Optional Protocol on the Convention of the Rights of the Child. This Protocol clearly defines child combatants as victims, under the age of 18 years, who have been sent to fight. Canada was the first country to ratify the Protocol and has an obligation to abide by it. Unfortunately, it would appear as though the Conservative government does not believe it must uphold these international obligations.

“The fact that Omar Khadr's country has not given him the help that all Canadian citizens deserve is absolutely unacceptable” said Marston. “This boy was a child soldier, when he was shot in the back twice, almost executed, and then held as a prisoner at the age of 15. He has had to cope with what the American government calls, "enhanced interrogation techniques" at Guantanamo Bay, has been held with adult detainees for the past six years, and now faces life in prison,” said Wayne Marston.

At the time he was taken into custody, Omar Khadr was by all definitions a child soldier, and as such, Marston and the NDP believe the Canadian government has a responsibility to ensure that he receives a fair trial in his home country. Mr. Khadr has not received fair process or justice during his almost six year incarceration in Guantanamo Bay. This is especially obvious when all other combatants from other nations, being held in either Afghanistan detention centres or at Guantanamo Bay’s centre have been released to their home countries.

Marston wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Bernier demanding the government defend this Canadian citizen, repatriate Omar Khadr, declare him to be a child combatant, and ultimately to bring him home.

I regularly send out Labour Reports to all the Labour Affiliates within the riding. This is an update on the goings on at Parliament, the events that I attend in the riding and the issues that I raise in Parliament that affect Labour.

Listed here are the most recent reports I sent out.

Wayne Marston, MP (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) was joined by the family of Billy Mason, a local man who went missing over 2 years ago, to launch a postcard campaign asking Prime Minister Harper to establish a National DNA Bank and Missing Persons Index.

“The Government has said it supports the creation of these tools in principle. It commissioned a report that told them it “would be possible and desirable” to establish these tools.” said Marston. “It is time for the Government to act on this recommendation and put the necessary processes in place to consider privacy concerns and other issues. It is time to act and set timelines for the establishment of the national DNA bank and missing persons index.”

In a recent response to a Question on the Order Paper posed by Mr. Marston, the Minister of Public Safety, Stockwell Day indicated that this should be studied by the Standing Committee on Public Safety before the Government moves ahead and that no timelines can be set because committee’s set their own agendas.

“My son has been missing for over two years. We have DNA samples that could be compared to found articles of clothing but without a national DNA bank and missing person’s index, how can we know for sure that no stone has been left un-turned.” commented Donna Dixon, mother of Billy Mason, “We need this Conservative Government to show leadership and bring this forward instead of hoping somebody else will do the work.”

Mr. Marston added “We’re launching this postcard campaign to involve others in the community in this fight. Last fall we gathered over 6600 signatures to a petition – we’re hoping to get as many postcards signed to deliver to the Prime Minister. Harper and his government cannot continue to ignore the need for this important tool. “

“Law enforcement officials currently depend on a patchwork of processes to attempt to match DNA of missing persons with found and recovered items and remains. It is time to give them the tools they need to help families like Donna and Billy’s grandmother Mary find out what happened to him. It is time to act.”

Please sign our online petition or print the post card below and mail it back to Wayne, so he may present them to Mr. Harper in the House of Commons.

NDP Human Rights Critic reflects on International Women’s Day

The NDP’s Human Rights Critic, Wayne Marston, MP (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek) called on Harper’s Conservatives to close the economic, social, political and cultural gaps between men and women as people around the world mark International Women’s Day.

“Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Josée Verner, the Minister for the Status of Women, would like us to believe that women are now living in a situation of equality with men,” said Wayne Marston, MP for Hamilton East –Stoney Creek and the NDP Critic for Human Rights. “Unfortunately the facts just don’t back them up. The Conservatives are trying to silence Canadian women. We are moving backwards rather than forwards. Instead of promoting women’s equality in Canada, the Conservative government is abandoning its obligation to 52% of the population.”

Today women earn only 71 per cent of what their male counterparts earn; a majority of minimum wage workers and part-time workers in Canada are women. Women remain the primary caregivers of children and increasingly also of elderly and dependent relatives who have nowhere else to turn because of cutbacks to homecare programs. Women are still six times more likely to be victims of domestic violence; and despite making up over 50 per cent of the population, women occupy only 21 per cent of the seats in the House of Commons.

“It should come as no surprise that the Conservatives are uninterested in women’s equality. They certainly haven’t done any work within their party to fight for equality. In the last election only 10 per cent of their candidates across the country were women. As a result, only 14 members of the government’s caucus are women, out of a total of 124. This year the focus for International Women’s Day, Strong Women, Strong World, makes clear that when women are empowered we secure a brighter future for everyone. Sadly, the Canadian government is doing nothing to accomplish this.” said Marston.

Previous Liberal governments’ record on women’s equality is just as lackluster. Despite successive majority governments and over 63 billion dollars in surpluses, Liberals failed to deliver on their promises and among other moves, drastically reduced eligibility for women’s eligibility for Employment Insurance.

“The NDP caucus has the highest percentage of women at 41%. Our caucus as a whole is dedicated to improving this record and working together to get results for Canadian women.”

MARSTON CALLS ON TORIES TO CAP CREDIT CARD RATES
NDP challenges Conservatives to rein in big banks and apply a 5 percent above prime cap

Ottawa – In the House of Commons today, Wayne Marston, MP (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) called on Harper’s Conservatives to cap credit card rates to a floating 5% above prime rate. Mr. Marston made the following statement:

“The NDP wants this government to show leadership and fairness by taking action for working and middle-class families.

Hard working Canadians deserve protection as consumers. The Government should be capping credit card interest rates to no more than 5 percent above prime.

Here are 5 good reasons why credit card rates and the banks should be reined in:

1 Today’s rates are outrageous. 19 percent or higher interest unfairly hurts working families.

2 Consumer debt is six times higher than the 1980’s at 300 billion and total household debt, driven by high-interest debt, is over 1 trillion dollars.

3 Families who used to be able to save 15 to 20 percent of their income, now can only save an average of 2 percent – that won’t be enough to retire on.

4 The high cost for medications, training and childcare are driving up the costs of essential items, forcing more hard-working families into debt

5 Big banks are making record profits, heading for another 20 billion dollar year as they gouge consumers

The Conservative Government has given massive corporate tax cuts that have benefited the big banks. The NDP wants to see the big banks reined in with capped credit card interest rates so that hard-working families can meet the needs of their families today and in the future.

In early February, the mailing below was sent to all households in Hamilton East Stoney Creek. I wanted to be in touch about a Stats Can calculation error that is costing families, particularly those living on fixed incomes.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Marston makes statement in House of Commons

Ottawa – As the Federal NDP’s Human Rights and Multiculturalism critic, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek MP Wayne Marston delivered a statement in the House of Commons earlier today in honour of Black History Month.

“This year during Black History Month, we mark the 175th anniversary of the Act that abolished the slave trade in the British Empire. Canadians played a critical role within the British Empire passing laws beginning in 1793 that began the abolition of slavery in Upper Canada, helping to establish the Underground Railroad.

This month is a time to reflect on the contributions that black Canadians have made at the forefront of Canada’s successes as a nation at home and abroad and in so many fields.

In the past weeks, we have seen a unique and long overdue celebration of a man from my native province of New Brunswick, Willie O'Ree - the first black man to play in the NHL.

Willie dropped the puck at the all-stars game this past weekend, the Boston Bruins honoured him in a January celebration to mark 50 years since his first NHL game and he was recently honoured in his hometown with the naming of Fredericton’s newest arena, Willie O’Ree Place.

I will be celebrating Black History Month in Hamilton at the John C Holland awards, in honour of the Hamilton man by the same name who was the first African Canadian to win an award for his humanitarian work in 1953.

I invite all members of the House to take the time this month to remember and celebrate the achievements of black Canadians in their communities across Canada.”

Late last night, I received the news that provincial Health Minister George Smitherman was ending the process that would have eliminated the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) and St. Joseph's Home Care from providing home care in our communities. These two organizations currently provide 80% of home-care nursing in Hamilton.

Below you will find a letter sent to the Minister last December asking him to keep these caregivers in their current roles.

A victory for our community and all the health and labour activists who focused our community at last weeks rally where I was pleased to speak.

December 19, 2007

Hon. George Smitherman
Ontario Minister of Heath and Long-Term Care
Hepburn Block, 10th Floor
80 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, ON M7A 2C4

Dear Minister Smitherman,

As the Member of Parliament for Hamilton East – Stoney Creek I am extremely concerned by the recent denial of the Victorian Order of Nurses’ and St. Joseph’s Homecare’s proposals to provide home care and nursing services by the Community Care Access Centre Agency in Hamilton.

The VON and St. Joseph’s Homecare have jointly provided a high level of care and together traditionally handles 80% of home nursing care in Hamilton which translates to 202,000 visits last year alone. These two not-for-profit agencies have served this community for no less than a century and I fear that the CCAC’s decision to deny contracts to these two agencies is simply another move towards a for-profit approach in the provision of home and nursing care.

As we both know, the cost for health care is growing constantly, however it is not the right of our government to provide a profit-driven, business-model of care. For-profit care does not provide our communities will a high quality of health care, it only allow for corners to be cut and quality of care to be lost.

This denial not only affects those who receive home care, but also those who provide it. The nurses that work for these agencies are fully qualified and dedicated professionals who are often required to go above and beyond the typical role of nurse. But they do their jobs with such dedication and care. This community needs these care-givers to remain in their current roles.

It is our responsibility as parliamentarians to take care of everyone, especially the most vulnerable members of our society, whether they are sick, elderly, disabled or poor, and I would ask that you investigate this proposal denial to ensure that these agencies are provided an adequate answer for the dismissal.

Sincerely,

(original signed by Mr. Marston)

Wayne Marston, MP
Hamilton East – Stoney Creek

MARSTON TO HPA: Protect Harris Inlet Now
MP joins calls for a moratorium on infilling

Ottawa – Wayne Marston, MP (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) has asked the Hamilton Port Authority to put a moratorium on the infilling of the Harris Inlet and put the issue before the public.

“On Friday, I wrote the new interim CEO to express the concerns of many in the community that the seclusion that has allowed Harris Inlet to flourish is threatened by the HPA’s centralized and intensified development plan.” Mr Marston added “This isn’t about stalling development, this is about examining new information to ensure that we have done our environmental due diligence.”

Last week with the Leader of Canada’s NDP Jack Layton, Wayne Marston, MP held a roundtable with environmental leaders, advocates and activists. The issue of Harris Inlet was raised by many. Concerns from the community include the apparent flourishing of the area under seclusion in the area that will be devastated by infilling, whether proper permits were issued and that infilling has begun without proper transparency.

“Development, economic growth and protecting and conserving the environment can go hand in hand. At our meetings yesterday and today, the NDP Federal Caucus is discussing environmental leadership at the Federal level. Protecting Harris Inlet can be an integrated component of the continued development of the port areas.”

“As interim CEO Tony Valeri, has a responsibility to do what is right: stop the infilling and consult with the public and other stakeholders given the new information about this unique biosphere in Hamilton’s industrial heartland.”