Jenny Kwan

Faster fossil phase-down

The other end of this axis: Slower phase-down, production first

government changed focus from 2020 target and lost opportunities for real reductions

For example, instead of developing a detailed action plan to reach the 2020 target for reducing emissions, the government changed its focus to the 2030 target. In addition, the government did not pursue a number of greenhouse gas regulations, thereby losing opportunities to achieve real reductions in emissions. I could go on, but these are just some of the highlights that the commissioner pointed out around the lack of action from the government.

Restrict new oil and gas

The other end of this axis: Expand production and export

opposed to the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project that triples capacity and increases tanker traffic

The petitioners are calling for the government to oppose the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project. They note that the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project would triple the capacity of the Trans Mountain pipeline system to 890,000 barrels per day and that it would bring massive environmental and economic risk to British Columbia; that some 40,000 barrels of oil have already leaked from existing Kinder Morgan pipelines; and that it would create only 50 permanent jobs, many of which would be filled by temporary foreign workers.

Ottawa leads

The other end of this axis: Provinces lead

federal government is not providing any resources to the provincial governments to manage the situation

Back to the resources and the provinces, the federal government is not providing any resources to the provincial governments to manage the situation. NGOs are not getting a dime from the federal government to deal with the situation on the ground.

Higher taxes and public spending

The other end of this axis: Lower taxes and tighter spending

Liberals need to increase the corporate income tax rate in order to recoup the monies that could be invested into the community

I think I said the Liberals could reduce taxes. I obviously meant the opposite, that the Liberals need to increase the corporate income tax rate in order to recoup the monies that could be invested into the community. I want to be clear about that.

Expand public coverage

The other end of this axis: More private delivery

champion public health care while Liberal governments need to be dragged forward to make any progress

As my colleague mentioned today, New Democrats champion public health care while Liberal governments need to be dragged forward to make any progress. That is nothing new. It was a former leader of the New Democratic Party who championed and pushed for public health care, first in Saskatchewan and then nationally, making access to health care a basic right for Canadians for generations to come.

Public supply and demand controls

The other end of this axis: Market supply and deregulation

persistence of homelessness and unaffordable housing stands in glaring contradiction to recognition of adequate housing as a basic fundamental human right

The persistence of homelessness and unaffordable housing in Canada stands in glaring contradiction to our acknowledgement and recognition of adequate housing as a basic fundamental human right. It is especially unacceptable when Canada is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

Higher permanent intake

The other end of this axis: Lower intake

refugees should not be punished for circumstances beyond their control and need a fair timely pathway for family reunification

Jenny Kwan, the NDP’s immigration critic, said refugees trying to come to Canada should not be punished for circumstances beyond their control. She said the government has offered “no credible explanation” for the policy’s termination. “They quietly shut it down, and now it is going to have, I have no doubt, significant implications for refugee families in that reunification,” Kwan said.

Stronger unions and standards

The other end of this axis: More flexibility for employers

when members of a workforce sign a card that should be sufficient when it reaches the threshold to unionize a workplace

When members of a workforce sign a card, and they sign it with the information of what the consequences are and what they hope to achieve in their workforce, that should be sufficient when it reaches the threshold to unionize a workplace. What are unions for? They are there to protect workers, to ensure they have better working conditions.

Diversify away from one partner

The other end of this axis: Deeper continental integration

close loophole in arms export regime that allows Canadian-made weapons to reach countries through the United States

Sean Casey supported my private member’s bill, Bill C-233, which sought to close a loophole in Canada’s arms export regime that allows Canadian-made weapons to reach countries through the United States despite Canada’s own export controls. The bill was defeated in the House, with 22 MPs voting in favour and 295 against.