The Nepean-Carleton Federal Liberal Association is pleased to release its November 2009 newsletter.

Check it out here: November 2009 NCFLA Newsletter

Also please take a look at the 2008 NCFLA Advertisement Compilation!

For Immediate Release
October 21, 2009
Liberal Women’s Caucus recommends policies for economic and social equality in Pink Book, Volume III

OTTAWA – The Liberal Women’s Caucus today released the third volume of its “Pink Book” – its Action Plan for Canadian Women that outlines the Liberal approach for a compassionate Canada where women can achieve economic and social equality.

“The Pink Book isn’t just a frank account of the status of women in Canada – it is a clear statement of principle that we want a Canada that provides a strong, secure future for all Canadians,” said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.

“The Pink Book offers hope for change, and concrete proposals on some of the most challenging issues women across Canada are facing. I’m grateful for the work of the National Liberal Women’s Caucus, which has done so much to advocate for Canadian women.”

National Liberal Women’s Caucus Chair Maria Minna said the Pink Book is about compassion and opportunity for all women.

“There is still much to be done to close this gender gap and bring about true economic and social equality. The Pink Book tries to take us there,” said Ms. Minna. “Women in Canada still earn just 70 per cent of what their male colleagues make, regardless of education level. They make up a disproportionate share of low-income Canadians, particularly Aboriginal women, women with disabilities and immigrant and refugee women.”

Liberal Status of Women Critic Anita Neville said since 2006, Stephen Harper has done nothing but undermine the advancement of women.

His government cancelled early learning and child care agreements with the provinces, denied real pay equity, eliminated the Court Challenges Program, cut funding for literacy programs, silenced women’s equality-seeking groups and ignored the criticism of international bodies.

“Stephen Harper even called those who would fight for equality through programs like the Court Challenges program ‘left-wing fringe groups,’” she said. “To Liberals, women are not and could never be considered a special interest group. Women are half the population of this country, and they deserve better.”

Mr. Ignatieff said while the Conservatives have been spending wildly to get themselves re-elected, they’ve deliberately left women out.

“They’ve forgotten about women.  There were no programs aimed directly at women in the 2009 Budget – only attacks on pay equity. Women are less likely to benefit from the stimulus dollars going out to infrastructure projects in Conservative ridings.  Social infrastructure – child care, health care, home care – has been ignored.

“A Liberal government will make strategic investments in Canada’s social infrastructure in order to secure our future.  This isn’t just good for women, this isn’t just good for families – this is smart policy for Canada,” he concluded.

 Download the Pink Book here.
 

Ryan Keon
Your Liberal Candidate

The Nepean-Carleton Federal Liberal Association is pleased to announce that at our nomination meeting, held on September 9, 2009, Ryan Keon was nominated as our candidate for the next federal election.

More details about our candidate can be found here.

Food Safety Forum draws crowd from all over Nepean-Carleton

On April 21, 2009, a grassroots town hall style discussion on Food Safety drew over 60 participants from across the region interested in food from business, family and personal perspectives.

Co-hosted by the Nepean-Carleton Federal and Provincial Liberal Associations in the Council Chambers at Ben Franklin Place, the event provided valuable information and insight about the three S’s of Food: Food Safety; Food Security; and Food Sovereignty.

The event explored what governments are doing about it, and what consumers can do. After a quick introduction from the President of Nepean-Carleton Federal Liberal Association, Gordon Shields, College Ward City Councillor Rick Chiarelli emphasized the increasing importance of food safety in our global society.

The speakers’ viewpoints ranged from a producer perspective from local farmer Merle Bowes, to Ms. Moe Garahan, the director of a local non-profit organization promoting a sustainable food system in Ottawa, to a local food retailer, the owner of Ross’ Your Independent Grocer in Barrhaven, Ken Ross. Rounding out the panel was former Cabinet minister the Hon. Wayne Easter (P.C., M.P.), Official Opposition Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food and member of the parliamentary committee looking into the summer’s deadly listeriosis outbreak.

Easter told the crowd that, in 1979, he contributed to a paper on issues in the agriculture area. The same issues then still remain today. On Parliament Hill, there is a federal Liberal Food Caucus that discusses such issues. Since 1979, Canada has lost nearly 80% of its farmers. We are losing approximately 3 600 farmers a year. However, there is a changing mood towards food sovereignty and food security. This needs to grow. We need a balanced comprehensive policy as a whole.

Merle Bowes argued that Canada does not have inferior meat, but we have an insufficient number of processing plants. Slaughtered meat cannot go out of province, so we move our live cattle instead. Our entire food system in Canada is geared toward food export. Most of our issues are policy and system oriented. Systems need to be streamlined as regulations have become too complex. People need to get involved to make a positive difference.

Moe Garahan took a different approach, informing the crowd that there are many things about food safety that we are not aware of. Ignorance about the food supply in general is rife as well.

Canada needs to change its focus from the marketing-based food system – the globalized food system. We need to shift our focus to growing food locally.

Ken Ross emphasized that food is a collective responsibility for everyone. Every part of the food chain is needed. As a food retailer, Ken must be aware of the environment, the producers, the entire supply chain and most importantly the consumers. There is a lack of consumer education about all of these areas and this is an important missing element in good safety.

For their part, food retailers hire independent auditors for municipal, provincial and federal regulation compliance, and they have visits by municipal and provincial inspectors. They are there to help educate, while ensuring safe food practices. In his stores, he also regularly promotes educational seminars on food.

The event guests were treated to refreshments and excellent accommodations at Ben Franklin Place. The NCFLA would like to thank Vice-President (Policy) Rabia D’Andrade and the Policy Committee for putting this event together.

Thanks as well go out to the NCPLA for co-hosting and co-sponsoring this successful community discussion forum. Stay tuned for more discussion forums in the future – balanced views, intellectual stimulation and friendly company!