Sep 29, 2008

MICHAEL CHARROIS




I am a proud film industry professional and this is a huge local issue.

The Cultural Industry is a huge economic engine in North Vancouver. One only has to drive over the Second Narrows Bridge, take the exit past North Shore Studios and down the Lower Road past the movie sets and circus trucks, towards the spot where the National Maritime Centre should be, to see just how important the arts and cultures are here in North Vancouver.

There are 6,000 film industry professionals living and working in North Vancouver, at least a thousand other professional artists of various disciplines and tens of thousands (indeed, all of us) who consume and enjoy Canadian cultural products every day.

Professional artists from coast to coast are lining up with the New Democrats to stand up to Harper and his desire to censor free thought.

The censorship provisions of Bill C-10 imperil the film industry and go against our peer-review, arms length funding philosophy. Nobody from the Prime Minister’s office, or me, should be telling artists what work they must create.

The New Democrats will upgrade our cultural institutions, providing long-term stable funding for the CBC, Tele Film and the Canada Council. Please find attached information about what the New Democrats will do for the Arts and Culture.

I am standing up for artists, the people who take that vow of perpetual poverty that comes with the blessed curse of having to express ourselves through our art; because we can’t stop creating even if they want us to.


Contact Michael michaelcharrois@ndp.ca



Did you know that you can vote right now?!
No need to wait for the Advance Polls.

Elections Canada will give you a blank 'special ballot'.
Write Michael Charrois as the person you are voting for. Drop in to the Elections Canada for North Vancouver Old Lynn Valley Library, 2nd Floor 1280 East 27 Street Location Map M to F - 9 to 9 Sat - 9 to 6 Sun - Noon to 4 You'll need government-issued identification (like a driver's license) which shows your name and current address

We can arrange a ride if you are unable to get to the poles, early or on election day. Email Michael and let us know you need a ride!







Authorized by Official Agent, North Vancouver New Democrats

Q & A with Michael


The New Democrat's stance on foreign ownership and concentration of media:

We are very concerned that the control of media by a few people provides limited points of view. In Vancouver Canwest/Global dominates both print and the airwaves and although there is a pretext of competition they all push the same corporate agenda. It is difficult to hear alternative points of view when the landscape is dominated by one media giant. If elected, New Democrats will work to maintain current laws that prevent foreign interests from buying control of our media and communications companies. We will strengthen the CBC, Telefilm and the Canada Council. As a professional actor, I know the New Democrats not only offer the most for our cultural industries, but they will actually impliment the policies when elected; we don't campaign from the left and rule from the right.


Regarding Health Care and Help for Autistic Children

As the inventors of Canada's public health care system, you can count on the New Democrats to protect and enhance health care. As a teacher and performer for children I have had the opportunity to work with kids with disabilities like spinal bifida and mild autism, as well as some of those fabulously oddball Gifted children.

I think all kids should take drama classes (just my personal opinion) because it teaches self-confidence, literacy and, when you walk a mile in another character's shoes, compassion for other people.

Almost all of my students will not go on to pursue a career in the arts- in fact I council them not to enter this perilous cultural business- but it is gratifying to see my students gain confidence, develop their motor skills through movement exercises and learn tolerance and respect for others as they have fun building communication skills in drama classes.

I've been waiting for a reply from higher up the food chain, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, "Yes, I will support legislation which will amend the Canada Health Act to include autism treatment? What kind of a cold-hearted person would not want to help children with autism?"


Regarding animal welfare

I love my 3 year old dog, Eddy. He’s an SPCA rescue dog. The Penticton SPCA tells me he was tied on a short rope to a fence for the first few months of his life. The neighbours complained and when the SPCA showed up to investigate, the owners told them to take him away. He spent 3 months in Penticton then got transferred to Vancouver where we met him a few months later.

He had a really hard start but a nice soft landing. He has turned into a really nice, mellow border collie mix. He gets a nice, hour-long off-leash walk every day through the North Vancouver hiking trails.

The most important thing that my dog has taught me is that when people are sad, I don’t need to run around and try to fix their problem, all I have to do is sit with them, give them a hug (and maybe a big sloppy lick to side of the face) and they will feel better. Who would have thought that an animal (some would say a lower life form- not me) could teach me some of the most important lessons in life. I love my Eddy-boy. See you on the dog walk.



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Q: Should voters vote for a party or a candidate?


MC: Voters should vote with their heart. There is no wasted vote, because $1.75 in federal funding goes to the Party to promote their agenda.

Q: Is Canada too soft on crime?

MC: Gun violence will not be tolerated. New Democrats take the crime out of criminals. “Lock ‘em up- throw away the key!”; a very expensive form of punishment that merely sends young offenders to Crime University. Jailing a 14 year old child for life? No child is beyond redemption.

Q: What is key to protecting the Canadian economy?

MC: We must protect Canada’s economy by reinvesting in middle-class working folks instead of giving 50 billion dollars more to wealthy corporate elites. The new Child Benefit we will give all families a raise by combining programs and boosting the monthly benefit cheque to $400.00. We invest in family economics not boardroom economics.

Q: How worried are you about climate change?

MC: British Colombians are already doing our part with a carbon tax. 700 companies produce 50% of our emissions; they pollute with impunity. Our cap and trade system will create hard caps on emissions. Companies that exceed the cap, buy permits from the government which are reinvested in solutions like transit.

Q: Afghanistan's occupation: Was it worthwhile?

MC: No, the war in Afghanistan is a 22 billion dollar waste of life and resources. We need to return to our role as Peacekeepers under the United Nations banner, providers of humanitarian aid and protectors of our Arctic sovereignty. New Democrats will invest in healing machines not killing machines.

Q: Is Canada tied too closely to the U.S.?

MC: Yes, we need to strengthen our ties to other world markets especially India and China. Eight years of Bush-style rule has brought America economic catastrophe; do we really want to follow them over the cliff?

It’s time for PM with a world view not just a Bush-view.


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Response to the grade six class at Cleveland Elementary

Canada’s 40th Federal Election


1. What will your party do for Canada?

The New Democratic Party is the party of more- more peace, more prosperity, more health care, better social programs and jobs, good clean green-collar knowledge-based jobs.

We are going to stop making war in Afghanistan and get our foreign aid up to the .7% of GDP (less than 1% of the money that is made in one year in Canada) that we said we would give to the poor people of the world. We made a promise to the world and we have to keep that promise, don’t we? We are going to give families a raise by combining three programs into one Child Benefit of up to $400.00 per month. The New Democrats invented our treasured public health care system and we will protect it and make it stronger so that it will be there when you need it.

We will make sure you don’t have to sell your house because you got sick- don’t laugh, it happens all the time in the United States. We have a plan to end poverty by 2020- if we end poverty we end homelessness. Sometimes it seems like the world isn’t very fair.

New Democrats are the Party of social justice because we care about other people and we try to make Canada a better place by encouraging more democracy, equality, freedom and happiness.

2. What will you do for North Vancouver?

New Democrats want to make North Vancouver a world leader in green collar jobs; high-tech, labour intensive, non-polluting, knowledge-based, good paying jobs for the 21st century.

We want to protect our treasured health care system so it’s there when you need it. And just like when we go camping, we want to leave the world a cleaner place than when we found it, so you can keep on enjoying the natural beauty that surrounds us here in North Vancouver.

3. Why should we vote for you?

You should vote for me because I am representative of the people living in North Vancouver; I’m just like you. I’m smart, educated; compassionate, we care about other people; and secular, we celebrate our unique differences and the similarities that bind us all together as Canadians.

I can see things from more than one side. I have been in business selling my products and services for over 20 years and I also, when I work for big film companies like Warner Brothers and General Electric, I have a union that helps me negotiate my contract. I see the world as both a businessman and a worker.

You should vote for me because I care about people’s happiness and I want to make their lives better.

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ABOUT DARFUR

Jack Layton and Canada’s New Democrats are united in their support for all efforts to end the violence against civilians in the Darfur region. We continue to support the work of STAND and the Sudanese Diaspora to keep the Sudan crisis on the Canadian government’s agenda. New Democrat MPs, including Alexa McDonough, Paul Dewar, Tony Martin and Bill Siksay, have consistently spoken out about the need for the Canadian government to do much more for the people of Darfur.

Paul Dewar (MP for Ottawa-Centre) is the NDP foreign affairs critic and has been our lead on Darfur. As you may know, he has been instrumental in moving the issue forward in the House of Commons by initiating a study at the Foreign Affairs committee. Paul is also vice-chair of the parliamentary group against genocide and has been active on Darfur in that capacity as well.

There is a growing concern among everyday Canadians that their public and private investments may be directly or indirectly contributing to the crisis in Darfur. NDP Foreign Affairs critic, Paul Dewar noted, "Knowing what we know about Darfur, business as usual is unconscionable." Despite opposition from Conservatives, the Foreign Affairs committee last year adopted an NDP motion to undertake a study of Canadian funds invested in Sudan and explore legislative initiatives to regulate such investments in light of the worsening crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan.

In May of this year, we have called on the Harper Conservative’s take leadership. Jack stated that "this is exactly the kind of peacekeeping role that Canadians have always supported. Canadians would want us to be in Darfur. That sentiment is found right across the country."

Our Party wants Canada to take a lead role in any UN mission to stop the bloodshed in Sudan's Darfur province. Canada could and should commit immediately to the following measures:

-support the United Nations Mission to Sudan (UNMIS)

-offer Canadian troops to complement the advance party requested by the UN

-push for a stronger UN resolution on Sudan

-offer logistical support to the United Nations-African Union hybrid force carrying out its mandate to protect the population in Darfur.

New Democrats will continue to speak out on both Canadian and international inaction on Darfur and will lend our support to all efforts to bring peace to this tragically, neglected region.


Sep 28, 2008

New Democrat Platform

Source: Globe & Mail - October 2, 2008

THE NEW DEMOCRATS


ECONOMY

- Reverse corporate tax cuts brought in by Liberal and Conservative governments, which would raise the rate to 22.12 per cent from 19.5 and add billions of dollars a year to government coffers
- Reestablish national minimum wage at $10 an hour and index it to inflation
- $750-million a year job fund to train workers for "green-collar" jobs, which includes installing and maintaining energy efficient and renewable energy technology
- Appoint job protection commissioner to probe major layoffs and shutdowns
- Lower the small business tax rate to 10 per cent from 11 per cent
- Outlaw use of replacement workers in strikes or lockouts

ENVIRONMENT

- Slash greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050
- Raise $2.5-billion a year in carbon auctions and reinvest the money in public transit and other green initiatives
- Halt new tar sands development until carbon emissions are capped and protected areas set aside
- Meet 35 per cent of Canada's energy needs by 2020 with renewable energy, including biomass, wind power and renewable fuels
- $600-million for industry innovation fund to help businesses reduce energy use
- New clean water act that includes ban on fresh water exports, minimum of secondary water treatment in municipalities, and a $10-million safe water fund to address issues of emerging pollutants

FAMILIES

- A new monthly cheque of up to $400 that would replace three existing child benefits, including the Conservatives' $100-a-month cheque. A family with two children and an income of $75,000 would take in an extra $2,140 a year
- Eliminate poverty in Canada by 2020 by setting firm targets, establishing a poverty elimination office within HRDC, and economic measures such as national minimum wage and new child benefit
- National child care program calling for 150,000 new child care spaces in the first year, growing to 220,000 spaces annually in the fourth year
- $1-billion national home-care program for seniors

HEALTH CARE

- $1-billion a year on a new catastrophic drug plan
- $200-million a year to increase training spaces and expand Canada's medical schools by 50 per cent
- Establish mental health crisis response centres
- Dedicate one per cent of Health Canada budget to physical fitness and amateur sports promotion

EDUCATION

- $1,000-a-year grant to all undergraduate or equivalent students who qualify for student loans
- Broaden eligibility for EI benefits to Canadians engaged in full-time training and retraining programs

CITIES & COMMUNITIES

- $4-billion for transit over four years
- Invest one cent of GST in infrastructure by 2011
- Dedicate one per cent of federal spending to affordable housing within 10 years

CONSUMER PROTECTION

- Ban ATM fees for institutions regulated under the Bank Act
- Limit interest rates and fees by "fringe banks," including on pay day loans, tax refund advances and cheque cashing
- Cap interest rates on credit card to 5 percentage points over prime
- Mandatory labelling of farmed fish, genetically engineered food

CRIME

- Enable cities and provinces to ban handguns
- 2,500 new police officer positions
- Federally funded permanent youth gang diversion strategy
- Set national standards for use of Tasers
- Repeal use of security certificates


Notice the Conservatives have yet to announce their platform? Wonder what they're hiding?







Sep 19, 2008

VIDEOS

Eliminate Poverty and Homelessness


Polluters Should Pay





Green Party Likes Far Right Think Tank



Vancouver Rally for Change - Jack Layton


VANCOUVER - At a rally of 700 cheering supporters, New Democrat Leader Jack Layton blasted Stephen Harper as bad for working families and bad for British Columbia. "If you want to stop Harper, only New Democrats can do it. The choice is Jack Layton or Stephen Harper."


Culture in Danger - Extended version

- Some Strong Language




Episode 1:
An NDP meets a PC (who’s really just a “C") and learns what they mean by “progress.”



Episode 2:
Conservative doublespeak vs. NDP support for small business and families. Featuring David Sparrow.


Episode 3: NDP/ PC - “Arts” - Those Conservatives just don’t want to listen to you .... By David Sparrow, New Democrats for Don Valley West




Harper Sounds Like Bush





Harper Shuts Out Press





"POWER TRIP" - Stephen Harper

MEDIA

The Province newspaper
calls North Vancouver too close to call.

Your vote becomes critical.

VOTE and the choice is yours.
DON'T VOTE
and the choice is theirs.


CKNW Radio Interview

Christy Clark Show

Listen to Michae
l and other candidates answer questions and give their views on issues affecting North Vancouver








Charrois: Artists under Tory attack

Bethany Lindsay, NORTH SHORE NEWS

Published: Friday, September 19, 2008

North Vancouver's federal NDP candidate wants to be a voice in Parliament for artists, whom he believes are under attack from the Conservative government.

"I don't know why Stephen Harper wants to pick a fight with artists. It doesn't make sense," said Michael Charrois, an actor and drama teacher by trade.

"If he wants to pick a fight, we're articulate, we're bright, we're organized, and we're standing up to be heard."

One of the biggest dangers to artists, Charrois said, is the proposed Bill C-10, which would give the heritage minister the power to deny tax credits to Canadian productions if they are deemed unsuitable.

"It imperils our industry," Charrois said. "It goes against our entire arms-length funding philosophy."

Funding for the arts doesn't just affect his fellow artists, he continued. Charrois estimates that there are 6,000 North Shore residents who work in the film industry. "It's a huge, huge economic engine here."

Although Charrois is new to North Shore politics, this isn't his first campaign. In 2001, he campaigned for the NDP in Alberta's provincial election. He lost the race to his Progressive Conservative opponent, but said the experience of campaigning during an Edmonton winter has prepared him for this fall's election.

"I'm battle-hardened."

Since moving across the provincial border a few years back, Charrois has been living in North Vancouver. "I love it here," he said. "I love the trails; I walk my dog everyday along the trails."

Charrois's choice to join the New Democrats was prompted by his membership in actors' unions and professional associations, and his frustration with how artists are treated by governments.

"We're the party of more: more hope, more prosperity, more peace, more healthcare."

The federal campaign, he said, has been framed around the idea of who would make the best leader of Canada. "I think Jack Layton is that person, because he's not mean, he's compassionate, he cares about people; he cares about ordinary people, not boardroom people."

Since he started campaigning about two weeks ago, Charrois said he's learned a little bit about which issues matter most to North Vancouverites. He said the healthcare system is weighing heavily on people's minds.

"Healthcare of course is really important to (the NDP). And nobody can touch us on that because we invented it." Charrois said that his party wants to stop privatization of health services, and improve access to drugs and long-term care.

"The other issues that are important are household economy, things like jobs, trying to protect jobs, and stimulating new jobs," Charrois said. "There's a growing gap between what the top earners earn, and what the bottom earners earn, and that's not fair."

Historically, the NDP haven't polled well in North Vancouver, but that doesn't bother Charrois.

"Just like Jack Layton said, don't let them tell you it can't be done. . . . I'm committed, and I'm not going away, either, because we're going to roll this juggernaut into the municipal elections . . . and then we're going to carry it right over into the provincial elections."




Jenna Theny, Michael's Campaign Manager, featured in North Shore Outlook


North Shore Outlook

Young guns

There’s an energy in the room that’s rare for a political gathering.

In the narrow campaign office belonging to Green Party candidate Blair Wilson, signs with wet paint are drying on the floor, brown poster paper is taped to the walls, all scribbled with tactics and slogans. There’s a small copy of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms framed and hung by the door.

A group of teenagers are huddled around a computer. They’re learning how to enter supporters’ credit card numbers for party donations.

Since Sept. 14, Taylor Verrall has spent plenty of time in this hubbub — a couple hours nearly everyday — to help Wilson’s re-election bid.

Come election night, Taylor and several other campaign volunteers on the North Shore will be cheering for their candidates. But they won’t visit the polls themselves. It’s not a question of apathy. They’re just too young to vote, and many of their energetic colleagues are just old enough to vote for the first or second time.

On the North Shore, all four major political parties have youth under 25 participating in the campaign. They come from different backgrounds, hold different beliefs, and play different roles with their parties. There are volunteer phone canvassers, door knockers, sign painters and wavers, and amazingly, even a 20-year-old campaign manager.

But they all have one thing in common — the desire to make a difference and have their voice heard.

Jenna Theny didn’t plan on filling such big political shoes when she decided to take a year off and travel the world. But when the writ was dropped, Jenna dropped her globe-trotting plans and decided to stay and campaign for a cause and party she believed in.

“Even though there are amazing things that lie elsewhere in the world, it’s still important to fight for what I believe for here,” said the campaign manager for the North Vancouver NDP. “I want to go away and see the rest of the world but also see when I get home that it’s not just the wealthy that are benefiting ... I want to see that everyone is getting a fair share of our country.”

Rachel Silver, an “almost 17-years-old” student from Carson Graham, is another high schooler putting a pause to her regular life as a teenager during the election campaign.

She’s been helping out on Andrew Saxton’s Conservative team and says the hype and excitement are two draws for her.

“I like having some say in politics even when I can’t vote,” Silver said, adding that many of her friends see the election as turf in the adult realm where young people can’t make an impact.

“But at my age you can make a difference because you can volunteer with a campaign you agree with,” Rachel said.

Ask Taylor if he’s had any impact on the Green Party’s campaign, and he’ll give an emphatic ‘yes.’

“I can’t vote.” Taylor says. “But I’d probably say in this election ... by me not being able to vote and by me being here, I actually say I have more of an impact than if I’d been able to vote and didn’t get involved.”

Despite his young age, Taylor is an outspoken and articulate high schooler. He isn’t afraid to share his ideas.

More importantly, those around him are listening.

“I like it because I really get a chance to speak up and I really get a chance to tell people that kids aren’t just these people who are just, you know, they look at the parties and they pick the colour they like the most.”

“They’re not just complete total idiots when it comes to politics,” he adds candidly. “They actually care — they actually have an opinion and they matter.”

Breaking through to young people, however, is still tough for politicians, the youth say.

“I think everyone is political, I think what you believe translates into your politics,” says Mia Taghizadeh, a 23-year-old UBC student and member of the Young Liberals of Canada. “The next step of actually getting involved in a partisan way is tough for a lot of people.”

Mia discovered her stake in politics when she was growing up in North Vancouver. While her parents advised her to keep out of politics and focus on her studies, she went in the opposite direction and was driven to participate.

“There was a lot of turmoil in the Persian community when I was growing up ... and being from Iran and also seeing what was going on on the North Shore at the time, I realized that if you don’t define yourself and your community, then other people will.”

Jenna Theny muses that young people might not be as disinterested as they might appear.

“I feel like young people have issues they care strongly about. At Capilano University you have student groups dedicated to the anti-war movement, student groups dedicated to lowering tuition fees, you have student groups dedicated to causes...”

But the four young people all feel that more people their age can and need to get involved.

“Voting shows your concern for your community and your country,” Mia said. “(But) I think that besides just saying ‘go and vote,’ I think there’s so much more than that. It’s be involved, be engaged, know what you’re doing and then go and vote.”

-dpi@northshoreoutlook.com








VOLUNTEER

michaelcharrois@ndp.ca

How would YOU like to help? Driver on Election Day,
posting Charrois signs in North Vancouver, donating an auction item
for our October 5th Pancakes & Politics Event? Let us know!



DONATE




TAX CREDITS EXPLAINED:

All Canadians with taxable income receive generous tax credits when they donate to Canada’s NDP. For example, a donation of $50 costs you just $12.50, and a donation of $500 costs you just $150. All donations received before December 31 are eligible for tax credits in the new year.

You get back 75% for the first $400 you donate.
You get back 50% for the next $350 you donate.
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Contact Michael michaelcharrois@ndp.ca


Harper can't be trusted

Harper's broken promises:

Instead of investing in programs and initiatives that could make your life more affordable, he squandered $50-billion on tax giveaways for big oil, the banks, cell-phone giants and other large and profitable corporations.

One of his first acts as Prime Minister was to cancel agreements with provinces to fund new affordable child care spaces—launching a family allowance instead that barely puts a dent in the cost of diapers.

Instead of addressing runaway drug costs, he expanded brand-name drug companies’ monopoly rights by three more years—making it even harder for you and your family to access cheaper generic drugs.

After admitting that consumers are hurt by unfair ATM fees, high credit card rates, and unfair wireless charges, his government did nothing more than politely voice "concern" to his corporate friends.

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Stephen Harper and the war in Iraq



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The laissez fair approach has been a complete failure - and here is how Stephen Harper fits that dangerous ideological mould:

* Harper’s overarching economic policy is to tie Canada permanently to the US market - to an economy that is headed for permanent chaos: a financial crisis that will last for another 18 months, huge government deficits, consumer demand dropping like a stone, 10 % of mortgage holders in default, and a negative savings rate.

* China and India are the growth centres of the world because they ensure a close collaboration between capital (business), universities and the government, carefully engaging in long-term planning of industrial development. Harper literally has NO industrial development strategy or policy. Our economy is completely on its own, pulled this way and that by a faltering globalization.

* Harper keeps talking about us being competitive but he is squandering any competitive advantage we might have by completely failing to fund the rebuilding of our crumbling infrastructure. In the years to come this infrastructure deficit will become a crisis but his $60 billion tax cuts means the government will have no money to respond.

* Harper is so hostile to activist government that he has deliberately put Canada on the road to deficit by eliminating the healthiest surpluses the country has ever had. Just as we are headed for recession, and when the economy will need an economic stimulus, Harper has implemented huge tax cuts which will make such economic stimulus impossible.

* When the world is calling for renewed regulation, Harper is headed in the opposite direction. His deregulation economic agenda will affect every other aspect of Canadian life: self-regulation in food safety; self-regulation in airline safety; “harmonising” regulation with the deregulated US on pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables; abandoning separate Canadian testing of new drugs and more.

Should Canada follow the USA?

Everything costs more

The cost of living in Canada has increased by more than 7% since Harper came to power, despite the 2% GST cut - a move that will cost the federal government $12 billion a year in lost revenue.

The price of gasoline is up 54%, heating fuel is up 42% and the cost of food up by over 8%. These increased costs alone have added over $2,000 a year to the expenses of an average household.

Harper’s billion dollar subsidies to his conservative cronies in the ethanol industry have fuelled food price increases, hurting lower and middle-income families the most.

The average Canadian is falling behind…

Harper pretends to be the everyman, but his policies impoverish ordinary hardworking Canadians while enriching corporations.

Average wages have only increased by 6.7% since he was elected, less than the increase in the cost of living. This means that most workers have had no increase in real wages for the entire 2 ½ years that Harper has been in power.

One in ten Canadians continue to live in poverty. Harper has refused to support a national plan to reduce poverty, or to increase the federal minimum wage.

Progress in reducing the wage gap between men and women has stalled: women working fulltime are paid on average 20% less than men.

Harper has done nothing to protect pensioners and investors from fraudulent financial scams, such as income trusts and asset-backed commercial paper.

While the rich are getting richer

In Harper’s first two years, CEO salaries increased by more than 50%. Canada’s top CEOs now make more for just 10 hours of work than most of us make in a year.

During the same time, corporate profits have increased by 28%, allowing corporations to amass an extra $150 billion in surpluses that they haven’t even invested back into the Canadian economy.

It’s getting harder to find work

Harper has helped create an increasingly unbalanced economy based on the exploitation and exportation of oil, gas and other raw materials.

For each day he has been in office, an average of 200 manufacturing jobs have been lost. Harper’s response to 500 laid-off Ford workers in Oakville this week? “We can’t guarantee your jobs.”

In July, Canada suffered its largest job loss since the recession of 1991, with a drop of 55,000 jobs.

This week, the NDP announced a plan to invest $100 million in skills training. Harper has no plan to help laid-off workers find a decent job again.

We’re in debt

The ratio of household debt to income has increased by 15% while Harper has been in power.

The federal government had a surplus of $13.2 billion when Harper came to office. But the Conservatives have recklessly squandered it by pushing through expensive tax cuts. The surplus is now expected to shrink to $1.3 billion or lower in 2009/10. This would be the worst fiscal balance for the federal government in over a decade.

The economy is stalling and our productivity is declining

When Harper arrived in office, the economy was growing at a healthy rate of 4.2% a year. Economists expect that Canada’s economy will grow by only 1.1% this year. This will be the slowest rate of national economic growth in 15 years—since the 1992 recession.

Harper is the first Canadian Prime Minister in modern history under which economic productivity has actually declined. This demonstrates just how ineffective his neoconservative tax cuts and privatization policies have been.

Although he claims to be frugal, Stephen Harper is actually a big spender—on the things he likes. Spending on defense has increased by more than 16% in just two years. He is spending billions of the public’s money on private contracts, costly public-private partnerships, and partisan advertising. We need a government willing to put money back in the pockets of the average Canadian. We can’t afford any more of Stephen Harper’s economic “management”.

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Jack Layton's New Democrats:

Putting you and your family first.




Sep 18, 2008

Jack Layton


“Jack Layton largely dominated the table on the opposition side, if we have to name a winner, it was him.”
– Chantal Hebert, L’actualite

Thu 2 Oct 2008

Only leader who can stand up to Harper

OTTAWA -- Jack Layton is the only leader who can defeat Stephen Harper – he proved that tonight.

On issue after issue Layton took Stephen Harper on and spoke for New Democrats, Liberals, Greens and Progressive Conservatives who want a better government in Ottawa.

On the economy: In response to Harper's claim that Canadians are not worried about their jobs, Layton charged, "The economy is not fine… either you don't care or you're incompetent," (at 9:09 pm).

On Harper's corporate tax giveaway: Layton laid out the clear choice between Harper's $50 billion corporate tax giveaway and Layton's plan to invest in the priorities for Canadian families: "Why do you give tax cuts to companies like John Deere that will pick up jobs and take them somewhere else? Take responsibility here, and don't try to paper over what is happening in people's lives." (at 9:14 pm)

On balanced budgets: Layton pointed to the strong track record of New Democrat governments in balancing government budgets, allowing for the exception of the deficit-plagued government headed by Bob Rae. However, as Layton noted to Mr. Dion, "He's with you now." (at 9:33 pm)

On health care: Layton spoke up for the five million Canadians coping without a family doctor. As Harper tried to deflect blame Layton told him, "I find what you're saying, Mr. Harper, incredulous. You're criticizing the Liberals for cutting back in health care. You're right on that. But guess who was urging them to cut back more? Guess who was urging them to privatize the health care system? You led a citizens group that had that as one of its main objectives and now you want a majority government?" (at 9:51 pm)

On leadership: Layton confronted Opposition Leader Stephane Dion for propping up Stephen Harper for two years: "You supported Mr. Harper 43 times. His policies, your responsibility… You can't do your job as Leader of the Opposition. I don't know what you're doing running for Prime Minister." (at 10:23 pm)

On environment: Layton lent his voice to the growing movement towards a cap-and-trade system to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and laid out the clear differences between the New Democrat plan and the ineffective and unfair carbon tax of Stephane Dion.

Layton scored the quip of the night. Confronting Harper on his missing platform, Layton asked: "Where's your platform? Under your sweater? You haven't presented one in this election." (at 9:31 pm)


"In British Columbia, the NDP is best placed to defeat Conservatives and replace lackluster Liberals while trying to block a Tory majority". BILL TIELEMAN, 24 HRS

“Harper and Layton have managed to make this look like a two-way race between them”
– Adam McDowell, National Post online

"Up here, Jack Layton was the winner. He dominated the proceedings. He didn’t cower before Stephen Harper’s intellect or political skills, either, and not many Canadian politicians can say that."
- Warren Kinsella, warrenkinsella.com

“Layton hits home run with the bar crowd here at the Hard Rock Cafe in Toronto.” – John Turley Ewart, National Post online

“Layton is really taking it to Harper and Dion is unbelievably tepid.”
– John Ivison, National Post online

“Good for Jack Layton for bringing up the problems of Aboriginal Canadians. I thought it was the best I've been him in a long time.” – Andrew Steele, globeandmail.com


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Jack Layton
A Prime Minister who will put you and your family first

Through three decades of public service, and as Leader of Canada's New Democrats since 2003, Jack Layton is delivering the kind of change that can make life better for you and your family.

Months after taking his place in Parliament, Jack Layton successfully rewrote the 2005 federal budget. In place of $4.6-billion in corporate tax giveaways, Layton secured investments in better priorities—affordable housing, training, public transit, energy efficiency, development assistance and wage protection.

At last: this was policy from the kitchen table, not the boardroom table, and ordinary Canadians responded.

Election 2006 returned Layton to Ottawa with an even stronger team that has been the real opposition to Stephen Harper. While the numerically stronger Liberals rubber-stamped the Conservative agenda by skipping votes, Layton’s New Democrats held Harper to account. On the jobs and affordability crisis. On health care wait times. On global warming. On the issues that really matter to you.

In June, over Harper’s objections, Jack Layton made history again. By passing Layton’s Climate Change Accountability Act, the House of Commons became the world's first legislature to adopt science-based targets to cut climate-changing emissions—by 80% before 2050.

For Jack Layton, leadership is all about teamwork. Systematically since 2003, he has been building the strongest possible team—diverse, committed, national—to represent ordinary Canadians. By 2007, pundits knew something special was happening: after a by-election landslide in Outremont, Layton welcomed Quebec’s first New Democrat MP in a generation.

This election, Jack Layton is ready to take the next step. Alongside an extraordinary team of New Democrat candidates, Jack Layton is applying for a new job: Prime Minister of Canada.

A Prime Minister who’ll put you and your family first.

Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done!

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Read an article about Jack Layton's early life and career

Watch videos of Jack Layton - Talking about the Issues

New Democrats Canada website

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Sep 17, 2008

New Democrats On The Issues

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Affordable housing for Canadians

A path to peace in Afghanistan

Food security, and fairness for farmers

Justice for First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples

Fairness and affordability for you and your family

Supporting Canadian arts and culture

Investing in our children’s early years

Protecting the average consumer

Democratic reform: Making your vote count

Tackling global warming

Cleaner air, land and water

Forestry: renewing a struggling sector

Improving public health care

Fighting for human rights and equality

Fair immigration for a stronger Canada

Promoting global peace and justice

Education & training your family can afford

Keeping commitments to the world’s poor

Manufacturing: Confronting the crisis

Confronting poverty in Canada

Making our communities safer

Dignity for Canada’s seniors

Protecting Canadian sovereignty

Equality for Canadian women

Protecting your rights as a worker

Making big polluters pay their fair share: How the New Democrats’ Cap-and-Trade Plan Works


Tackling global warming



When it comes to global warming, most people are far ahead of their politicians and business leaders. To ensure a healthy Canada for future generations, families like yours are ready to move from a polluting economy to a sustainable one now.


Science tells us that unchecked greenhouse gas emissions invite catastrophe—vanishing polar ice caps, rising sea levels, altered agriculture, massive deforestation, species extinctions, virulent diseases, extreme weather events, economic hardship. Faced with this conclusive evidence, successive Prime Ministers promised you and your family that they would act—but kept pandering to big polluters instead.

After years of Liberal failure, Stephen Harper abandoned Canada’s obligations under the Kyoto climate change treaty. Then he worked with George Bush to block consensus on post-Kyoto commitments. And his own “clean air” legislation would have given his friends in big oil another unlimited license to pollute.

It’s time for a Prime Minister who will take on big polluters, meet real targets and invest in sustainable solutions. It’s time for a Prime Minister with a record of environmental achievement who will tackle climate change and seize the opportunities of the new energy economy.
Jack Layton will be that Prime Minister.

Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done!




Contact Michael michaelcharrois@ndp.ca