News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2010

The latest unemployment figures for Newfoundland and Labrador make it clear that Harper’s Conservative government is on the wrong track by ignoring growing unemployment in the province, says New Democrat M.P. Jack Harris (St. John’s East).

Statistics Canada’s figures released today show unemployment up by 8100 in June, bringing the unemployment rate to 14.7% for the province. This also offsets employment growth experienced in previous months.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 17, 2010

OTTAWA – New Democrats are outraged to hear of allegation that petty politicking is interfering with the work of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency in New Brunswick.

“Greg Thompson’s revelations are very concerning,” said New Democrat Member of Parliament Yvon Godin (Acadie-Bathurst). “The people of New Brunswick should not play second fiddle to Minister Ashfield’s political games.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 10, 2010

DECISION TO CHOP ‘SURPLUS’ LIGHTHOUSES IRRESPONSIBLE SAYS NDP
New Democrats demand Minister of Fisheries review this decision

OTTAWA – A plan by the Harper Conservatives to shut down 1,000 lighthouses and declare them “surplus property” is irresponsible and is being done by stealth, say New Democrats. The decision will affect lighthouses in every region of the country, from Atlantic Canada to British Colombia, Ontario, and the Arctic.

MAY 27, 2010

NEW DEMOCRAT PENSION SECURITY LEGISLATION MOVES CLOSER TO BECOMING LAW

OTTAWA – St. John’s East MP Jack Harris joined with other New Democrats in celebrating the passage at second reading of the NDP Private Member’s Bill that would put workers at the front of the line when a company goes bankrupt, making it a step closer to becoming law.

He said he is pleased that Bill C-501 has passed a significant step.

"Mr. Harris seems like just the sort of negotiator you’d want on your side: insistent, thorough and somewhat indignant, with just a hint that, if necessary, he’d step outside and settle matters the old-fashioned way. Maybe he’d rather not fight, but he’s not afraid to do so. Anyway. One could easily overstate with hyperbole the significance of this week’s deal, but we also shouldn’t understate the accomplishment or reduce it to a simple election calculation. What happened this week was impressive and it will have, one imagines, lasting consequences.

OTTAWA – For the past five years, New Democrats have pressed the previous Liberal government and the current Conservative government to tell Canadians the truth about the handling of Afghan detainees. The agreement struck by all parties today is a critical step forward in holding the government to account on the issue.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ATLANTIC REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Another photo op for Minister Ashfield, when he announces funding cuts to ACOA?

OTTAWA – The announcement of a 5% cut to the budget of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) illustrates the Conservative’s glaring lack of vision with regard to economic development in the Atlantic Region, charged the NDP critic for ACOA, Jack Harris and his Atlantic Caucus colleagues (St. John’s East).

MAY 4, 2010

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ATLANTIC REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Another photo op for Minister Ashfield, when he announces funding cuts to ACOA?

OTTAWA – The announcement of a 5% cut to the budget of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) illustrates the Conservative’s glaring lack of vision with regard to economic development in the Atlantic Region, charged the NDP critic for ACOA, Jack Harris and his Atlantic Caucus colleagues (St. John’s East).

"Jack Harris - Maybe the most underrated (or underappreciated, or undernoticed) politician in the country. All he’s done since returning to Ottawa in October 2008 is help push Parliament toward one of the most significant moments in its history while doggedly pursuing one of the great moral and political issues of our time. Now he’s around the table to participate in a series of historic negotiations that may set a standard for the future of our federal democracy. Not bad for the former leader of the third party in Newfoundland." - Aaron Wherry, Maclean's Online - The Backbench Top 10

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, of which all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are very proud and which is celebrating its 215th anniversary from its roots in 1795. New colours were presented by Princess Anne, the honourary Colonel-in-Chief, last Saturday.

The Newfoundlanders were part of General Brock's forces defending Canada in the war of 1812 long before Confederation and even longer before Newfoundland and Labrador joined Canada in 1949.