Issues

This is a petition that I intend to bring forward in the House of Commons that expresses concern over Bill C-51 and its potential of limiting access to natural health food products. I have been contacted by several constituents on this issue, and I am asking for your help to show the government that this bill has been rejected by Canadians as it now stands.

Bill C-51 lumps natural health products in with drugs under a category being called therapeutic products which appears to reverse a long-standing position of having a separate regulatory framework. This, combined with a huge backlog in the licensing of natural health products – a consequence of flawed implementation by consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments – has raised the alarm bells.

For this reason and others concerns pertaining to advertising, adverse reactions, and life-cycle licensing, I am opposed to Bill C-51 as it is presently crafted.

Please click below to download and print a copy to get signatures from friends, family and colleagues. The address to return them to me to submit to the House of Commons is on the petition at the bottom. No postage is necessary.

Thank you!
Wayne

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Budget 2008: Harper should think green to create growth
WAYNE MARSTON

Stephen Harper hasn't decided when his Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is going to hand down his budget, but already, there is rampant speculation and even a few promises about what will and won't be in it.

As your Member of Parliament, I try to stay away from speculation as much as possible and stick to what I know. I know we need investment in our community and to find ways to keep our jobs and to create more lasting jobs.

Statistics Canada's most recent manufacturing employment figures show 33,000 manufacturing jobs were lost last December alone. Tallied up, 2007 was worse than 2006 with a 6.2 per cent decline adding up to almost 350,000 manufacturing jobs lost since November 2002.

If Mr. Harper or Mr. Flaherty think a plan for this sector should look like Mr. Harper's recent forestry sector plan, which amounts to no more than showing up with a cheque after a mill or plant has been closed and the jobs have disappeared, they have misunderstood the potential of the manufacturing industry as much as they have the forestry sector.

But what can be done? If you looked around lately, a lot of people are talking about "greening" our economy and we in the NDP are talking about green-collar jobs. Green-collar jobs result from creating demand in existing sectors, while using many of the same skilled people in work that also contributes to the goal of reducing our ecological footprint.

Take for example our steel industry. If we were to look at Germany, where supports to the wind sector have increased demand for steel, because a lot of steel is needed to make wind turbines, we have an innovative way to think green and create jobs. Germany's wind sector employs 40,000 people, second only to its auto sector.

If Mr. Harper's budget were to support the wind energy sector so that it became more viable and widespread, in Steeltown we could talk about making the same product, perhaps with some modifications, for a new sector. And that would mean creating green collar jobs in our community.

Manufacturing jobs are disappearing in our community and others across the country. This affects everything from school enrolment to retail spending and has huge significance to local economies like ours, as well as our national economy. It is time for the federal budget to be about the manufacturing sector and the jobs depended on by so many in our community.

Published in the Stoney Creek News

PUBLICATION: The Hamilton Spectator
BYLINE: Daniel Nolan

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1,500 pack hall to back VON, St. Jo caregivers

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Union leaders, politicians, patients and just plain citizens packed a rally to support 200 home-care providers who will soon lose their jobs after being denied a contract renewal.

The event last night for the Victorian Order of Nurses and St. Joseph's Home care also attracted comedian Mary Walsh. She acted as co-host with CHAM 820 morning man Jason Farr, and American labour professor Tom Juravich. He entertained with songs he had written for the rally such as "Mean Things Happening in this Town" and the "New Home Care Song." It also featured numerous video testimonials from families who praised the two services and expressed fears for the future.

Organizers estimated about 1,500 people attended the rally at the Michelangelo Banquet Centre and they hope the attendance sends a message to the Ontario Liberal government to review the bidding process by the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC), which eliminated the VON and St. Joseph's last month from the request for proposal process that will determine who gets contracts for home care in the city. The two organizations currently handle 80 per cent of home care in Hamilton, but their contracts end March 31.

"They should take a step back and review this," said co-organizer Dave Murphy, vice-president of CUPE Local 4800 at Hamilton Health Sciences. "They should take a look at the whole process and start again. Don't shroud this process in secrecy."

The CCAC is expected to announce next month who won the new contracts. It won't say why the two services were eliminated, but they were dropped at the stage where written proposals were examined.

CCAC senior director Janet Doering said she welcomed the public appealing to the province for a review, but noted the request for proposals process had been reviewed by former health minister Elinor Caplan a few years ago and Caplan consulted with unions and patients.

"We already understood clearly that some people don't support the RFP process," she said.

"To be fair to the province, they did not create this whole RFP process in isolation ... This was not something cooked up in a back room," Doering said.

The rally featured more than half a dozen speakers, including federal NDP Leader Jack Layton, local NDP MPPs Paul Miller (who has asked the auditor general to audit the RFP process) and Andrea Horwath, and Joe Mancinelli, president of the Labourers International Union of North America (LIUNA). It was attended by local New Democrat MPs David Christopherson and Wayne Marston, city councillors Tom Jackson, Scott Duvall and Terry Whitehead, and Henry Watson, head of the local firefighters association.

Layton and Horwath denounced the involvement of for-profit corporations in the delivery of home care. Layton told the crowd how his 85-year-old mother-in-law received home care from a for-profit company and the care was not adequate.He didn't blamed the nurse, but her company, because it gave her too many patients to look after. He had to call a "complaint centre" to talk about his in-law's care.

"We should throw out the whole idea of competition for health care," Layton said.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARSTON CALLS FOR STRATEGY FOR NEWLY UNEMPLOYED MANUFACTURING WORKERS
Statscan reports over 16,000 newly unemployed manufacturing workers in November

Ottawa – Wayne Marston, MP (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) has been hammering the Conservative government in the House of Commons this week to develop a jobs strategy for manufacturing workers.

“Statistics Canada reported today that in November alone, over 16,000 jobs were lost in the manufacturing sector. During Question Period and in a speech last night in the House, I questioned the Conservative government why it is that in almost 2 years of power there is still no Canadian manufacturing jobs strategy.” said Marston.

Wayne Marston and the NDP are promoting a Jobs Strategy for the Manufacturing sector that would include a comprehensive strategy on keeping and promoting new jobs in the sector, improve EI eligibility for workers and families in transition and to protect workers pensions in cases of bankruptcy and closures.

In a speech to the House of Commons on Bill C -411 on December 6th, Wayne Marston called on the need for market based definitions to protect Canadian jobs from foreign dumping such as has been seen in the steel market.

“Conservatives scripted answers are cold comfort to the families of the 16,000 workers who lost their jobs in November and the almost 100,000 in the last year. We all know the damage to our local economy and individual households of these job losses. We also have known for years that job loss and plant closures have serious health consequences for workers and their families.” commented Marston.

“This Government needs a plan for the manufacturing sector and for newly unemployed workers and the time to act is now.”

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r. Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, the provincial government in Ontario established a council to advise MPPs on manufacturing issues. It is undoubtedly a weak response. What the sector needs is a plan, not more advisement.

However, it is at least a step forward. Since taking power two years ago, the Conservative government has not moved with the times of increasing dollar values and continued cuts in the manufacturing sector.

When is the government going to take seriously the plight of workers and the communities that depend on those jobs and establish a plan for these manufacturing industry workers and their communities?

Mr. Colin Carrie (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, I do not know where this NDP member has been, but last year the industry committee did an unprecedented report which came up with 22 recommendations that his critic actually supported. The interesting thing with the NDP is that in our budget we addressed 21 out of 22 of these recommendations and the member voted against it.

We lowered corporate income tax rates. He voted against it. We increased the capital cost allowance writeoff. He voted against it. We cut the paper burden on businesses. He voted against it.

There was $800 million per year for education, $1.3 billion for research--

Wayne Marston (Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, those scripted answers from the minister will be of little consolation to the families and workers who have lost their jobs.

Statistics Canada today says that 16,000 people lost their jobs in November. Study after study has shown the negative impacts of job loss and plant closures on workers and their families.

If the Conservatives will not help save the manufacturing sector with a comprehensive jobs strategy, will they commit to immediate and serious investments to help unemployed workers and their families?
Mr. Colin Carrie (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, all the NDP has are strategies. I hear they even strategize on whether or not to shave off their leader's moustache.

The manufacturing sector does not need strategies. It needs action. That is exactly what we have given it. We have lowered taxes by $1.3 billion. We have increased the capital cost allowance. We have responded positively to 21 out of 22 recommendations in the INDU report. We are taking action, which is something the NDP will never do.