Ottawa

NDP convention: ‘Strengthening Human Rights and the Canadian Identity’

Health care for refugees, bilingualism and human rights

The seven resolutions passed during the last panel yesterday.

6-01-13 Resolution on a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women
Submitted by Churchill, the Aboriginal Peoples Commission

WHEREAS over six hundred Aboriginal women have gone missing or been murdered in Canada;

WHEREAS the Government of Canada has cancelled funding to Sisters in Spirit research into missing and murdered Aboriginal women; and

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party of Canada urge the Government of Canada to immediately launch, in consultation with Aboriginal women and their representatives, a national inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party of Canada reaffirm its commitment to ending violence against First Nations, Inuit and Métis women by committing to action, including addressing root causes and systemic inequalities.

6-02-13 Resolution on Healthcare for Refugees
Submitted by Newton-North Delta

WHEREAS Conservative cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program excluded many refugees and asylum claimants from temporary health benefits;

WHEREAS the Conservative cuts are demonstrably impacting on refugees with legitimate health concerns, including vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, cancer patients and the elderly;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party of Canada condemns the Conservative cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program and the impact that it has had on the health of those seeking refugee protection in Canada.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party of Canada will work to restore temporary health benefits to all refugees making asylum claims in Canada.

6-03-13 Resolution on the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Submitted by London—Fanshawe, London West

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the following clause be added section 6.1 in the policy book:

6.1.k. Re-establishing the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women to advise the Government of Canada on, and promote women’s equality rights

6-04-13 Resolution on Official Languages
Submitted by Acadie-Bathurst

WHEREAS French and English are Canada’s two official languages;

WHEREAS the Government of Canada is required to foster the progression towards the equal status of French and English in Canada;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party reaffirms its commitment to: a) protect and promote both official languages and the linguistic rights of Canadians; b) the development and enhancement of official language minority communities;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party calls on the Harper government to keep open the Quebec Maritime Rescue Centre, the only bilingual centre of its kind in Canada, to ensure the safety of francophones at sea; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party supports Bill C-208 from the MP for Acadie-Bathurst Yvon Godin and Bill C-419 from the MP for Louis-Saint-Laurent Alexandrine Latendresse regarding language skills for Supreme Court judges and Officers of Parliament, respectively.

6-05-13 Resolution on Northern Food Security
Submitted by the Aboriginal Peoples Commission

WHEREAS northern communities are facing increasingly higher food prices

WHEREAS Canada is the only developed country to have received a visit from the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party is calling for immediate action to ensure the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur are implemented as quickly as possible, including the adoption of a Canada-wide food strategy

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party will continue consultations with northern communities to ensure this strategy responds to their specific needs so that northern communities finally have access to quality and nutritious foods at a reasonable price

6-06-13 Resolution on Pay to Pay
Submitted by Davenport

WHEREAS many telephone, internet, television and banking companies have introduced a new fee for customers who continue to receive a printed statement of their monthly bill; and

WHEREAS these charges effectively force consumers to pay an additional fee just so they can pay their bills; and

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the New Democratic Party of Canada calls on the federal government to prohibit federally regulated businesses and industries, appropriate to their jurisdiction, from charging consumers for receiving monthly bills or statements in the mail.

6-07-13 Omnibus 2 – Children’s Rights
As Compiled by the Resolutions Committee
Submitted by Outremont, London—Fanshawe, London West

Part 1
WHEREAS the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989 and recognizes the right of all children in the world, without discrimination, to such protection and care as is necessary to their well-being, as well as the opportunity to be heard on any matter that concerns them;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP expressly recognize the International Convention on the Rights of the Child by adding a new Subsection 6.1 entitled Children’s Rights specifying that, with regard to the application of such rights in Canada, the following points are of primary importance:

New Democrats believe in:

a. Upholding the rights of children set out in the UN Convention and in particular the right to life, development, and non-discrimination, and respecting the priority accorded to the child’s best interest, and to children’s right to be heard in all matters affecting them; and ensuring such rights are upheld consistently and uniformly across Canada and, eventually, expressly incorporated into Canadian law;

Part 2
WHEREAS the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989 and recognizes the right of all children in the world, without discrimination, to such protection and care as is necessary to their well-being, as well as the opportunity to be heard on any matter that concerns them;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP expressly recognize the International Convention on the Rights of the Child by adding a new Subsection 6.1 entitled Children’s Rights specifying that, with regard to the application of such rights in Canada, the following points are of primary importance:

New Democrats believe in:

a. Instituting a National Children’s Advocate, appointed by Parliament, to promote and protect the rights of children under federal jurisdiction including aboriginal children, immigrant and refugee children, and children in the youth criminal justice system, to work alongside children and youth advocates of the various provinces and territories;

b. Restoring and further developing a system for gathering and compiling specific information on child welfare so the government can effectively and comprehensively evaluate children’s situations and any shortfalls in in upholding children’s rights;

Part 3
WHEREAS the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989 and recognizes the right of all children in the world, without discrimination, to such protection and care as is necessary to their well-being, as well as the opportunity to be heard on any matter that concerns them;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP expressly recognize the International Convention on the Rights of the Child by adding a new Subsection 6.1 entitled Children’s Rights specifying that, with regard to the application of such rights in Canada, the following points are of primary importance:

New Democrats believe in:

a. Having the government of Canada immediately produce, as part of its work with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and in collaboration with the provinces and territories as well as concerned non-profit organizations representing civil society and children, detailed and transparent reports on the status of children’s rights in Canada, and share the Committee’s
findings and recommendations with Parliament and with the Canadian public with a view to better meeting its obligation under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, all to better honour Canada’s obligations under the UN Convention.

Part 4
WHEREAS the Rights of the Child are clearly defined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and has been ratified by Canada; and

WHEREAS 1 out of 6 children in Canada live in poverty;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Children’s Rights be specifically identified in the NDP Policy Book by adding 6.2 Children’s Rights to the policy book with the following sections:

New Democrats believe in:

6.2 a. The Rights of the Child as expressed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified by Canada December 13, 1991

6.2 b. Governing to provide an economically and ecologically sustainable and peaceful future for generations to come

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all subsequent sections be renumbered accordingly

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