NDP convention: ‘Building a Clean and Sustainable Canada’

The resolutions passed this morning by New Democrats.

2-01-13 Resolution on Coastal and Marine Area Protection
Submitted by Dartmouth—Cole Harbour

WHEREAS, Canada has the longest coastline in the world and Canadians expect and deserve healthy oceans and marine areas for present and future generations.

BE IT RESOLVED, that the following clause be added to section 2.1 of the policy book.

New Democrats believe in:
– Canada’s commitment to protect at least 10% of coastal and marine areas by 2020 as committed to under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity

2-02-13 Resolution on Updating the Federal Water Policy
Submitted by the Quebec Section

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP support updating the Federal Water Policy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Policy must be updated in a manner respectful of provincial and municipal jurisdiction and First Nations over water management.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the policy’s core principles should include the notions already part of the NDP policy—that free universal access to clean water is a human right, and integrated water management must ensure that reserves of clean water are adequate to maintain aquatic ecosystems.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the policy be revised in consultation with the public.

2-03-13 Resolution on a National Mining Strategy
Submitted by Nickel Belt

WHEREAS Canada, a major mining country, was a top 10 producer of 17 key metals and minerals in 2012; and

WHEREAS New Democrats understand the significance of mining to Canada’s overall economy and to our mining communities in particular;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the following clause be added to Section 1.2 of the policy book:

New Democrats believe in

E. Supporting a national mining strategy that will contribute to sustainable development, job protection, training and skills development, responsible treatment of the environment, as well as community and Aboriginal partnerships for resource sharing.

2-04-13 Resolution on Support for the Forestry Industry
Submitted by Burnaby—New Westminster, Gaspésie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine

WHEREAS the evolution of the market for forest products over the last decade has had an important impact on the forestry industry, including: the declining demand for newsprint; the lower number of construction projects; the dispute with the United States over the export of softwood lumber; and the rise in international competition combined with a strong Canadian dollar and high fuel costs;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP reaffirm its opposition to the softwood lumber agreements –signed by the Liberals in 1996 and by the Conservatives in 2006 that are still preventing the expansion of our industry;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP work in consultation with provinces and territories, First Nations, and the public to put forward a strategy to revive Canada’s forestry industry, with the objective of creating value-added jobs, developing our forests in a sustainable way, and respecting aboriginal rights;

BE IT RESOLVED that this strategy include measures to diversify the secondary manufacturing of timber through programs in support of research and development;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP call on the government of Canada to expand international markets in Canadian wood products, especially in Asia.

2-05-13 Resolution on Improving Pipeline Safety and Environmental Protection
Submitted by Burnaby—New Westminster

WHEREAS the Conservatives have used numerous omnibus budget bills to weaken environmental protections in order to fast track major energy projects;

WHEREAS the construction of large scale oil pipelines for export of raw bitumen amounts to the export of tens of thousands of value added processing jobs from Canada; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT New Democrats condemn the reckless gutting of environmental assessments through Conservative changes to the Fisheries Act, National Energy Board Act, Navigable Waters Protection Act, and Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and commit to reversing those legislative changes;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT New Democrats reaffirm their commitment to thorough, evidence based reviews of existing energy pipeline projects, proposed energy pipeline projects, and reverse pipeline projects, and that full public consultation must be open and accessible to all concerned Canadians;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT any construction or maintenance of energy pipelines should be based on the highest safety standards; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the NEB should be directed to consider the impacts of proposed pipelines on the sustainability of the environment and of value-added processing of resources.

2-06-13 Resolution to Reverse changes to Fish Habitat Protection, to Navigable Waters Protection, and to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act
Submitted by Gaspésie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour

WHEREAS, instead of strengthening habitat protection and environmental oversight, the Conservative government has: gutted the Fisheries Act and the Navigable Waters Protection Act; weakened the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act; cut funding for science and research; and continues to ignore the threats of climate change to Canada’s oceans; and

BE IT RESOLVED that New Democrats call on the Conservative Government to reverse changes to fish habitat protection, to Navigable Waters Protection, and to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the federal government immediately implement the 75 recommendations identified in the Cohen Commission Report, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that cuts to funding for fisheries science and ecosystem management be restored