News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 28, 2010

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION: NEW DEMOCRATS SUPPORT TRANSPORT CANADA SAFETY REVIEW

OTTAWA – New Democrat MP Yvon Godin (Acadie–Bathurst) welcomed Transport Canada’s decision to review the safety standards for 15-passenger vans.

“On January 12, 2008, seven students from Bathurst High School and their adult chaperone were killed in a 15-passenger van,” said Mr. Godin. “These vans have serious problems that make them unsafe for transporting passengers.”

On June 7, 2010, my colleague Fin Donnelly, Member for New Westminster–Coquitlam, British Columbia, introduced a bill in the House of Commons to improve the employment insurance system. Bill C-526, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (special benefits), which I supported, would amend the Employment Insurance Act by extending the maximum period for which special benefits for illness, injury or quarantine may be paid from 15 weeks to 52 weeks.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 7, 2010

NEW DEMOCRATS CALL FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO EI SICKNESS BENEFITS
NDP MPs joined by cancer survivors Natalie Thomas and Marie-Hélène Dubé to address shortcomings in medical EI benefits

OTTAWA –Today, NDP MP Fin Donnelly (New Westminster – Coquitlam & Port Moody) will introduce a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons that would extend medical Employment Insurance benefits for those suffering from chronic or long-term illnesses.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 27, 2010
YVON GODIN MOVES TO BAN DEADLY VEHICLES
Dangerous 15-passenger vans must be removed from the road

OTTAWA – New Democrat MP Yvon Godin (Acadie–Bathurst) introduces a bill in the House today to ban deadly 15-passenger vans, like the one that killed 7 students and 1 teacher from Bathurst High School in an accident on January 12, 2008.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 26, 2010

OTTAWA – NDP MP Yvon Godin (Acadie–Bathurst) introduced a bill in the House today to ban deadly 15-passenger vans like the one that killed 7 students and 1 teacher from Bathurst High School in an accident on January 12, 2008.

“The Boys in Red tragedy could have been prevented if 15-passenger vans were not on our roads,” said Godin. “My bill aims to ban the use of these deadly vehicles. I hope that the Minister of Transport will act quickly on this matter.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 25, 2010

NEW DEMOCRATS ACCUSE CONSERVATIVES OF SLIDING BACKWARDS ON BILINGUALISM

OTTAWA – New Democrat Official Languages Critic Yvon Godin (Acadie–Bathurst) is calling on the government to respect recommendations made today by the Commissioner of Official Languages in the first part of his annual report. The Commissioner said changes to how official bilingualism is monitored and managed by the federal government are creating challenges.

Mr. Yvon Godin (Acadie—Bathurst, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, when the hon. member for Calgary Southwest was the leader of the opposition, he condemned the Liberal's partisan appointments. He said, “Patronage must stop and when we form the government it will stop”.

This morning, the Chronicle Herald illustrated that, once in power, the Conservatives are no different than the Liberals.

They forced Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation to hire former employees of Conservative ministers.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 7, 2010

BILL C-13: YVON GODIN ASKS THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO INCLUDE POLICE FORCES
Bill C-13 currently applies only to members of the Canadian Forces

OTTAWA – NDP MP Yvon Godin (Acadie-Bathurst) is asking the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development to amend Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act. This bill would extend the benefit period and the period during which parental benefits may be paid for Canadian Forces members whose period of parental leave is deferred or who are directed to return to duty from parental leave.

Mr. Yvon Godin (Acadie—Bathurst, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, New Brunswick's labour minister recently asked the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development to help workers in the crab fishery. Her answer came yesterday. She is refusing to change the employment insurance eligibility criteria to help the 2,500 workers. She is refusing to set up special programs for workers 55 and older and, for over a year now, she has been refusing to meet with New Brunswick's minister.

Mr. Yvon Godin (Acadie—Bathurst, NDP):
Mr. Speaker, on April 16, the task force put together by the New Brunswick government to look at the decision of Canadian Blood Services to relocate its centre in Saint John, New Brunswick, to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, released its report, which recommends that the centre be kept in Saint John.

Canadian Blood Services confirmed that Health Canada approved its decision to close the facility.