In addition to working hard to bring some transparency and accountability to the Harper Government over their massive 400-plus page budget bill that is being rammed quickly through parliament I also spent time working on several issues related to First Nations communities in Canada this past week.
OTTAWA – Thunder Bay – Rainy River Member of Parliament John Rafferty rose in Question Period to blast the Harper Conservatives for de-funding the Biwaase’aa after school program in Thunder Bay while wasting billions of tax dollars on other 'misguided' projects and events.
“By all measurements it is a program that should be replicated, not cut,” Rafferty said before putting the question to the government. “They [Conservatives] can waste billions on limos, gazebos, jails, and jets so why are they cutting valuable programs like Biwaase’aa?”
This week in Ottawa an important debate was taking place. It was focused on whether the Harper Government should be presenting its massive 400-plus page budget bill in one piece of legislation or break into several pieces so that it can be more closely examined. For our part, New Democrats believe it should be divided in order to be analyzed properly.
Big Grassy First Nation one of 142 Toxic Sites Awaiting Clean-up
OTTAWA – Thunder Bay – Rainy River Member of Parliament John Rafferty rose in question to press the Harper Government for answers on why they have largely ignored the clean-up of more than 142 toxic sites across the country, including one on Big Grassy First Nation, since coming to power in 2006.
This week in Ottawa the Harper Government rejected a New Democrat motion to protect Old Age Security and news leaked out that the Canadian economy shrank again in February.