RESOLUTIONS 22nd BIENNIAL CONVENTION NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF CANADA QUÉBEC CITY, SEPTEMBER 8-10, 200654 2. BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE CANADA C. SOCIAL POLICY 2 C1 WHEREAS the Navigating the Waters is a Canadian Association of Independent Living (CAILC) national employment initiative that is currently delivered in 22 Independent Living Resource Centres across Canada. Centres that are run by and for people with disabilities; and WHEREAS this project provides individually tailored one-to-one employment services and supports to men and women with a wide variety of disabilities including those with multiple disabilities; and WHEREAS the Independent Living approach empowers men and women with disabilities to make their own decisions about career options and to address barriers to the workplace; and WHEREAS since the program began in 1997 Navigating the Waters has supported 5,021 participants. Among them: 1,478 participants have become employed/self-employed; 851 participants have upgraded their skills and/or become volunteers, and taken the first steps toward employment; 800 participants have begun on their employment journeys, many out of the workforce for years; and WHEREAS in 2003-2004 alone NTW supported 954 participants, 266 of whom became employed or self-employed and the balance of the participants are upgrading their skills in order to successfully enter the labour force; and WHEREAS with these results Navigating the Waters serves 1/3 of the entire Opportunities Fund participants across Canada with only 3.3% of the Opportunities Fund budget of $30,000,000; and WHEREAS the federal government has defunded this program effective October 31, 2004, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP call upon the federal government to immediately reinstate funding for “Navigating the Waters”, a program vital for people living with disabilities. FEDERAL COUNCIL – OCTOBER 2004 2 C2 WHEREAS over the last decade, the number of youth aged 15-25 has risen by 8% to 4.4 million; and WHEREAS the funding for youth programs is fragmented and short-term. Youth sector organizations provide efficient and effective programs that produce desired outcomes. The benefits of which are maximized when they have sufficient and sustainable multi-year funding commitments; and WHEREAS effective youth programs must be staffed by skilled directors, youth workers and large numbers of volunteers. Only with adequate support can these programs flourish; and55 WHEREAS there is a strong positive correlation between youth being involved in community activities and their disengagement from anti-social or illegal behaviours; and WHEREAS lack of welcoming, positive environments may lead young people to seek belonging in dangerous or harmful environments. To deter this we must provide as many welcoming, safe, productive, and varied environments as possible to encourage young peoples sense of belonging in positive developmental environments; and WHEREAS two-thirds of parents are “very concerned” about their children’s safety as they enter their teenage years. (according to an Ipsos-Reid poll commissioned by the Boys and Girls Club of Canada – released July 7, 2005); and WHEREAS half of the Aboriginal community is under the age of 25, and that Aboriginal peoples have one of the highest rates of poverty among social groups in Canada makes youth development of great importance. Investing in community based youth programs is an effective way to break the cycle of poverty; and WHEREAS youth spaces offer the opportunity to both inform and facilitate peer-to-peer interactions within a positive and welcoming environment; and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP actively and publicly plan to: a) a) Provide core and sustainable funding for community based multi-dimensional youth programs for 2-5 years; b) Develop meaningful and long-term vocational and skills training programs for youth; c) Support plans that focus on youth-to-youth mentorship and leadership programs; and d) Increase the amount of dedicated multipurpose youth spaces available. TRINITY-SPADINA NDP 2 C3 WHEREAS unattached women sixty-five (65) years of age and older have a poverty rate of forty-five per cent (45%); and WHEREAS women have a longer life-expectancy than men and make up the majority of the population of seniors; and WHEREAS pension reform and affordable housing are essential to women’s economic equality, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada use all of its influence to increase the Public Income Supports so that the sum is equal or greater than the low-income cut-off; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada use all of its influence to create systematic sharing of pensions from former spouses; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada use all of its influence to reinvest in affordable housing for seniors. LONDON NORTH CENTRE NDP LONDON WEST NDP56 2 C4 WHEREAS in 1998 Federal, Provincial and Territorial Social Services Ministers came together to develop a strategy for Canadians with Disabilities. This resulted in an agreement entitled "In Unison: a Canadian Approach to Disability Issues". However, nothing has resulted from this agreement, which outlined a vision for full citizenship and full participation for people with disabilities in all aspects of community, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP move forward with the development of a Canadian with Disabilities Act that ensures full citizenship and full participation in the community for the disabled, and that the Act must be developed with equal representation of disabled individuals and their families in all aspects of decision making. LONDON-FANSHAWE NDP 2 C5 BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP recognizes the urgent need to address the ongoing exclusions of persons with disabilities from Canadian life; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP actively engage with national disability organizations on an ongoing basis to stay informed of their views regarding legislation, regulation, and policy developments, and program initiatives. PARKDALE HIGH-PARK NDP 2 C6 WHEREAS the New Democratic Party had its origin in the minds and hearts of people who wanted to make the world a better place; and WHEREAS increasingly the world which best describes the world in which we live is ‘corrupt’, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that in the society to be proposed by the New Democratic Party there shall be, at a minimum: 1. Equal numbers of women and men representatives in legislatures and all governing bodies; 2. Absence of control of the media by the rich, government, or any special interest group; 3. Elections uninfluenced by the rich, and based on principles rather than posturing; 4. Accountability between elections of representatives to their constituents; 5. Total elimination of spin doctors, consultants and speech writers, so that all policy arises from a genuine concern for justice and so that tax dollars are spent on programs instead of a manipulation of the masses. DURHAM NDP57 2 C7 WHEREAS the estimates of undocumented workers in Canada range from 100,000 to 200,000 people; and WHEREAS undocumented workers are easily exploited due to their lack of status in Canada; and WHEREAS undocumented workers make significant contributions to the Canadian economy and to our communities and many of them and their families are fully integrated members of Canadian society; and WHEREAS temporary foreign workers are among the most exploited workers in Canada, suffering difficult working conditions often for minimum wages; and WHEREAS applications for temporary foreign workers are approved by the federal government when there are Canadians available to do the work and sometimes solely because an employer is seeking to undercut Canadian wage standards; and WHEREAS the current immigration application point system discriminates against blue collar workers, trades people, caregivers, agricultural workers and others whose labour is seen as essential to the Canadian economy while assigning higher value to those with professional or university or college education and work experience, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that: 1. The NDP urge the government to immediately stop deportations of undocumented workers who have been in Canada for at least three years and who meet health and security requirements 2. The NDP urge the government to immediately put in a place a programme to regularize undocumented workers who have worked in Canada for at least three years, can show attachment to Canada and their communities, and who meet health and security requirements, or do so itself when it forms government. 3. The NDP urge the government to immediately ensure that before temporary foreign worker applications are approved that there are no Canadians available to do the work, that mobility programmes are in place to allow Canadians to move to other parts of the country to work, that industries seeking to bring in foreign workers have training programmes in place to ensure Canadians have first had the opportunity to be trained for such jobs, and that all relevant unions are consulted about the availability of Canadian workers. 4. The NDP urge the government to immediately end the policy where temporary worker applications are approved solely because employers are unwilling to pay the Canadian standard for work in a particular field or industry. 5. The NDP urge the government to immediately increase enforcement of contracts and employment standards law regarding the working conditions and pay and benefits of temporary workers and that the government-expand the eligibility of foreign workers for Canadian benefit programmes. 6. The NDP urge the government to immediately review the immigration application point system and all temporary worker programmes to ensure that blue collar workers, trades people, caregivers, agricultural workers and others whose labour is essential to the Canadian economy can qualify in their own right as immigrants to Canada and permanent residents, ending the discrimination they face in the current immigration system, or do so itself when it forms government. 7. The NDP urge the government to put in place a viable immigration system that ensures Canada’s ability to meet the needs of nation building, family reunification, protection of the vulnerable, Canadian labour standards, and our economy, while58 ensuring fairness, efficient and time-sensitive processing of applications, and appropriate and effective appeals and removals where necessary, or do so itself when it forms government. VANCOUVER EAST NDP BURNABY-DOUGLAS NDP 2 C8 WHEREAS 12.4% of Canadians (1 in every 8 citizens) have disabilities (Statistics Canada: Participation and Activity Limitations Survey, 2001); and WHEREAS 65% of adult Canadians with disabilities have moderate, severe or very severe disabilities (Stats Can: PALS 2001); and WHEREAS the Canadian population is ageing and the prevalence of disability increase with age (Stats Can: PALS 2001); and WHEREAS disability has a direct impact on the ability to conduct activities of daily living, on economic and social participation and on full integration into Canadian society; and WHEREAS the Federal NDP has committed to introducing a Canadians with Disabilities Act; and WHEREAS the Federal NDP does not have a body of resolutions addressing disability, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP strike a committee to develop an integrated policy framework and action strategy on disability appropriate for the federal level; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee present the policy framework and action strategy to the next Federal NDP Convention. PETERBOROUGH NDP 2 C9 WHEREAS Canadians with disabilities have witnessed an erosion and the elimination of many services across the country and a declining quality of life; and WHEREAS in 2001, 3,601,270 persons, or 12.4% of the Canadian population reported having activity limitations; and WHEREAS Canadian adults lack the disability supports they need; and WHEREAS half of the children with disabilities who need specialized aids do not have all the aids they require; and WHEREAS 50% of the homeless people are people with disabilities, and that 40% of those rely on food banks to make ends meet; and WHEREAS the unemployment rates among people with disabilities exceeds 60%; and WHEREAS the federal government has moved away from regulation to mere voluntary compliance on accessibility in transportation; and59 WHEREAS successive federal governments – both Liberal and Conservative – have been cutting back employment programs and scaling back accessibility in transportation and in health; and WHEREAS people with disabilities are highly marginalized and invisible and have been largely ignored through successive governments; and WHEREAS this crisis needs to be addressed through an effective income strategy and better access to all services and employment, that would allow people with disabilities to fully participate in Canadian society and live above the poverty line; and WHEREAS an income and a high employment policy should be supplemented by legislation in support of a full access strategy and of a higher income strategy; and WHEREAS a national disability act would establish a law under which the federal government is bound to continually maintain and develop measures that secure not just the equality, but the dignity of all human beings with disabilities, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada support a comprehensive approach of policy measures to secure the dignity of persons with disabilities, recognize their contribution to the welfare and richness of the community; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these policy measures include: 1) A comprehensive new disability investment strategy that would combat the poverty and exclusion of persons with disabilities and their families, which would include as a first step substantial investments and obligatory achievement of goals over a five year period to, 2) reduce by half the annual income gap between Canadians with – and those without disabilities; 3) reduce by half the poverty rate of adults with disabilities; 4) reduce by half the labour market participation gap between Canadians with and without disabilities; 5) reduce by half the non-reimbursed costs faced by persons with disabilities; and 6) A comprehensive Canadians with Disabilities Act, which would work with other income and high employment strategies to produce the sea change required to enhance the opportunities of persons with disabilities, removing obstacles to work, to housing, to access a better quality of life, and to achieve full equality and inclusion; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Canadians with Disabilities Act build on existing rights or enforcement bodies; and 1) Help enforce accessibility for all areas of federal jurisdiction; 2) Improve access to employment, housing, and public transportation to persons with disabilities; 3) Put into place an effective, timely, and accessible complaint mechanism; 4) Establish a National Disability Commissioner office that would ensure regular and complete reporting of the status and conditions of Canadians with Disabilities across the country, as well as public concerns from the disability community; 5) Establish a National Disability Employment Fund which would help support the provision of workplace accommodation; and 6) Create a National Disability Accommodation Council which would advise the federal government on policy issues as well as on the Administration of the National Disability Employment Fund60 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party support the development of a long-term national disability strategy and action plan that will address the lack of disability- related supports and poverty and unemployment of Canadians with disabilities and would include the following elements: This long-term national disability strategy would be developed collaboratively between all levels of government and the disability community; It would include a specific national strategy to address the issues of Aboriginal peoples with disabilities; and It would seek to bring about the full and equal participation of Canadians with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian life. BURNABY-NEW WESTMINSTER NDP61 E TRANSPORTATION 2 E1 WHEREAS barriers within Canada’s current transportation system prevent persons living with disabilities from travelling as they wish or need; and WHEREAS voluntary standards of accessibility in transportation for persons living with disabilities have proven ineffective; and WHEREAS the lack of formal implementation of these standards has caused severe frustrations and inconveniences for people living with disabilities such as families being forced to travel separately, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP call upon the government to immediately re- regulate accessibility on all inter-provincial modes of transportation; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the next NDP platform include a promise to reintroduce National Enforceable standards of accessibility on all modes of inter-provincial transportation for all persons living with disabilities. PERSONS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES COMMITTEE 2 E2 WHEREAS the Liberal government has moved to Voluntary Codes of Practice in the area of transportation accessibility; and WHEREAS the move to Voluntary Codes of Practice instead of regulations has resulted in Canada moving backwards and losing ground in accessibility; and WHEREAS the situation in Canada in many respects is now consistent with the complete absence of regulation, such as prevails in third world countries; and WHEREAS in light of this major step backwards, the Council of Canadians with disabilities has withdrawn from the Transportation Advisory Committee; and WHEREAS these Voluntary Codes of Practice were violated in at least two significant transportation areas, namely, the withdrawal of fare reductions for personal attendants providing in-flight services to persons with disabilities, and the purchase by VIA Rail of passenger rail cars that could have been sold to countries without rail accessibility standards, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP condemn the Liberal government’s move to reduce the disabled community’s access to public transportation by allowing that transportation standards of accessibility be defined voluntarily; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP call for adequate national standards in respect to disabled access to public transportation. FEDERAL COUNCIL – JANUARY 200562 F. LABOUR, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2 F1 BE IT RESOLVED the New Democratic Party demand the federal government meet with the public and public sector unions in the course of developing a comprehensive plan to improve accountability at Crown Corporations. BC FEDERATION OF LABOUR 2 F2 WHEREAS political trends favouring commercialization are transforming public oriented post offices around the world into commercially-driven businesses through privatization and deregulation; and WHEREAS our public post office plays a key role in our social and economic life by providing the infrastructure that healthy communities need to thrive and that businesses need to grow; and WHEREAS our public post office connects communities throughout this vast land, helping us to overcome differences and distances; and WHEREAS Canada Post would not have to consider the public’s interest if it were privatized; and WHEREAS deregulation would threaten revenues, services and jobs at Canada Post and ultimately its ability to provide universal service at uniform rates, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party support universal, public postal service and oppose post office closures and the privatization or deregulation of Canada Post. VANCOUVER EAST NDP63 G HEALTH 2 G1 WHEREAS the New Democratic Party has historically supported a women’s right to choose on abortion; and WHEREAS the Supreme Court of Canada overturned the federal abortion law in 1988 which stated that abortions had to be done in hospital and be deemed “medically necessary”; and WHEREAS the province of New Brunswick still requires abortions to be done in hospital, by an obstetrician/gynecologist and be deemed “medically necessary” by two physicians; and WHEREAS the province of New Brunswick is refusing to fund abortions provided in a clinic setting, and has refused an offer to bring the clinic into public health system; and WHEREAS the Fredericton clinic provides approximately 600 of the 1,000 abortions performed in New Brunswick yearly, which women have to pay for out of their own pockets, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party urge the government of New Brunswick to fund abortions performed at the Fredericton Clinic. USW LOCAL 8300 2 G2 WHEREAS the New Democratic Party has historically supported a women’s right to choose abortion; and WHEREAS the Supreme Court of Canada overturned the federal abortion law in 1988 requiring abortions to be performed in hospitals; and WHEREAS the province of New Brunswick put in place policy which requires that abortions be performed in hospitals, that it be approved by two doctors, and that it be medically necessary; and WHEREAS the Fredericton Morgenthaler Clinic has offered to become part of the public health system in New Brunswick, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP urge the government of New Brunswick to fund abortions at the Fredericton Morgenthaler Clinic; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Federal NDP Caucus be encouraged to advocate that the Canada Health Act be applied to New Brunswick and that the province be penalized for refusing to fund a health care service that is "medically necessary". OUTREMONT NDP PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN COMMITTEE64 2 G3 WHEREAS the fundamental principle in the Canada Health Act is that “the primary objective of Canadian health care policy is to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers”; and WHEREAS this principle is threatened by current trends in health care, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP Caucus pressure the government to entrench Medicare as a “right” in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms through passage of an amendment to the Charter (preferably to be known as the Tommy Douglas Amendment) stating that: “Every citizen of Canada and every person who has the status of a permanent resident of Canada has the right to reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers”; thereby elevating this principle to the status of a right. SAANICH-GULF ISLANDS NDP65 K. JUSTICE & RIGHTS 2 K1 WHEREAS crime is an important problem in our society that needs to be addressed in a reasonable, thoughtful and informed manner; and WHEREAS it is important for governments at all levels to understand that the causes of crime and the measures that might be taken to reduce the level of crime, on the one hand, and responding to crime (often but not always within the criminal justice system) are quite different issues and necessarily follow different principles; and WHEREAS governments and political parties have a responsibility to provide Canadians with realistic choices and to show leadership in recommending policies rather than following uninformed public opinion about how best to deal with a social problem; and WHEREAS it is important for Canadians both to respect their criminal justice system and to know its limits in reducing the level of crime in our society; and WHEREAS it is important that the measures taken by governments to combat and to respond to crime be fair to all parties; and WHEREAS it is important for government to use public funds in a manner that is most effective in addressing serious problems in our society; and WHEREAS it is inappropriate for a government to propose changes in laws solely for short- term political purposes, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party will review its policy, and that changes will be based on the following principles: Policies will be based on the best possible assessment of the evidence concerning what is known to be effective in addressing the problem of crime; Policies will be realistic in what they promise to accomplish. Policies should not be proposed the sole purpose of which (e.g., general deterrence) is known not to be attainable, or not effective or cost effective (e.g., policies based on lowering crime rates by incarcerating large numbers of people); Changes to be made to the Criminal Code and to other related statutes (e.g., the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Youth Criminal Justice Act) only when it can be demonstrated that there is an actual problem with the law and when it can be shown that the change in the law has a reasonable likelihood of improving our society, the fairness of the criminal justice system, and/or the operation of the criminal justice system. Policies will be based on the principle that the response by the state to crime should be proportionate to the harm that has been done; The state has a social and fiscal responsibility not to deprive Canadians of liberty if less restrictive measures may be appropriate in the circumstances [currently section 718.2(d) of the Criminal Code]. More generally, “The criminal law should be employed to deal only with that conduct for which other means of social control are inadequate or inappropriate, and in a manner which interferes with individual rights and freedoms only to the extent necessary for the attainment of its purpose.” [Criminal Law in Canadian Society, Government of Canada, 1982] Changes in social programs that affect Canadians and changes in the criminal law will, prior to their enactment, be assessed to ensure that their net effect on crime and on the operation of the criminal justice system will be positive. TORONTO-DANFORTH NDP66 2 K2 WHEREAS New Democrats must stand together on fundamental questions of human rights; and WHEREAS it is Party policy to support same-sex marriage, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal Council directs all NDP Members of Parliament to support same-sex marriage in any vote before the House of Commons; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Federal Council request the Leader to consult with the Party prior to determining any disciplinary action he may take if Caucus members vote in a manner contrary to Party policy on this fundamental right. FEDERAL COUNCIL – SEPTEMBER 2003 2 K3 WHEREAS on January 20, 2005 five students were arrested at the request of the York University Administration; and WHEREAS two students were hospitalized from injuries resulting from the arrest and custody; and WHEREAS this is the latest instance in the recent trend by the York University Administration to silence dissent and deny students the right to assembly on campus; and WHEREAS the York University Administration’s reaction to student leaders and students organizing on campus has escalated to extreme acts of violence, expulsions, and disciplinary letters; and WHEREAS the NDYC condemns the actions of the York University Administration and is sending a letter to the President of York University calling upon the Crown to drop all charges against students arrested at the demonstration and calling upon the York University Administration to cease and desist in pursuing any disciplinary or other punitive action against the five students, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the actions of the York University Administration toward the student protest on January 20, 2005 be condemned by the Leader of the NDP; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP calls upon the President of York University to call upon the Crown to drop all charges against students arrested at the demonstration; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP calls upon the York University Administration to cease and desist in pursuing any disciplinary or other punitive action against the five students; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Council encourage the President, Youth Critic, and Federal Councillors of the NDP to send letters to the President of York University calling upon the Crown to drop all charges against students arrested at the demonstration and calling upon the York University Administration to cease and desist in pursuing any disciplinary or other punitive action against the five students. FEDERAL COUNCIL – JANUARY 200567 2 K4 WHEREAS on May 15th, 1919, over 35,000 Winnipeg workers, a majority of them unorganized, left their jobs in an unprecedented demonstration of solidarity in support of fair treatment, dignity and justice for all working people, the right to unionize and bargain with employers, a living wage and an eight-hour day; and WHEREAS the Winnipeg crisis triggered a nation wide labour revolt with sympathy strikes in Brandon and other centres in Manitoba and in cities and towns across the country; and WHEREAS on June 17th, 1919, the following 12 strike leaders were arrested under both the Criminal Code and the recently amended Immigration Act: William Ivens, R.B. Russell, Dick Johns, John Queen, A.A. Heaps, George Armstrong, Roger Bray, Bill Pritchard, Michael Chartinoff, Samuel Blumenberg, Oscar Schoppelrie and Moses Alamazoff; and WHEREAS the government’s heavy handed actions were intended to crush the strike and provide convenient scapegoats which led to several strike leaders serving prison time or being deported; and WHEREAS the conspiracy between both the provincial and federal governments of the day and Winnipeg’s business elite, through the Committee of One Thousand, to prosecute, convict and jail the strike leaders, the misappropriation of public funds to fund their private prosecution and the lack of fair trials are all issues that must be redressed, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Convention urge the federal government to correct this past injustice by admitting and apologizing for its complicity in this travesty of justice and take action to exonerate the strike leaders who were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for their involvement in the Winnipeg General Strike. SAINT BONIFACE NDP PROVENCHER NDP BRANDON-SOURIS NDP MYND 2 K5 WHEREAS protection of children from sexual abuse or exploitation is imperative; and WHEREAS proposals in Bill C-2 have been deemed inadequate by a number of organizations concerned with this issue; and WHEREAS legislation on this topic should provide clear guidance as to actions the courts can and should take to protect children, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party take the position that: a) the age of consent to sexual activity be raised from 14 to 16; b) criminal law should not be brought to bear against sexual activity between people of relatively similar sexual and emotional development but allow for a ‘close in age’ exemption; c) proposed amendments in Bill C-2 be supported in order to protect children and young people age 16 to 18. WINNIPEG NORTH NDP68 2 K6 WHEREAS a huge proportion of Canadians who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and transsexual (lgbt) still live with this aspect of their lives ‘closeted’; and a reason for this is that they were raised in a social atmosphere of homophobia, and most have both `internalized’ this homophobia and fear persecution because of the homophobia in their society; and adverse outcomes of this too often result in much pain for the closeted individual, and distressing social disruption including premature deaths, broken families, and significant expenses for government and businesses; and the closeted lgbt persons are lost as healthy exemplars and thus deprive our society of desirable role models for young lgbt persons; and WHEREAS in all branches of Canadian society there continues to be active homophobia which endangers the healthy social growth of young lgbt persons to the extent that the continuing social and financial costs may be enormous; and WHEREAS Canada has signed both the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which include the right of each person to the inheritance of humanity’s culture and to the fulfillment of his or her own potential, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that it is policy of the New Democratic Party of Canada, which the Party strives to uphold: a) that every Canadian child has the right to nurture and upbringing which affirms the child’s right to mature into an adult who comfortably accepts and affirms his or her own innate sexual orientation and sense of gender identity; (b) that providing for these rights is a responsibility of every part of Canadian society; and (c) that this should be governed by our laws. ALBERTA CFR EDMONTON-STRATHCONA NDP 2 K7 WHEREAS the NDP is the Party of the working masses; and WHEREAS crime is largely a symptom of the exploitation and exclusion of people under capitalism; and WHEREAS mandatory prison sentences is simply another attack on workers, the poor, immigrants, youth, Aboriginal and people of colour, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP, and those responsible for publicizing the NDP’s platform, oppose mandatory prison sentences. ONDY 2 K8 WHEREAS the Conservative government plans to increase the basic age of consent for sexual activity to sixteen (16) years of age; and WHEREAS Bill C-2, passed into law in 2005, already prohibits any exploitative sexual relationship with a person under 18; and WHEREAS there is no evidence to indicate that the proposed legislation will protect young people from predators; and69 WHEREAS youth are significantly less likely to seek sexual health information or advice if their activities fall outside the law; and WHEREAS an increase to the age of consent is opposed by the Canadian AIDS Society, Egale Canada, The Canadian Federation for Sexual Health, The Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario, and others, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Convention direct Caucus not to vote for the Conservative legislation to increase the basic age of consent for sexual activity to sixteen years of age. ONDY 2 K9 WHEREAS cannabis has a long history of social, religious and medicinal use in a wide variety of cultures around the world; and WHEREAS government figures estimate 3 million Canadians, or 14% of Canada's population, are current cannabis users, and that about 45% of Canadians have used cannabis during their lifetime, and that virtually all of these people are otherwise law-abiding citizens; and WHEREAS numerous public opinion polls conducted since 2000 show that most Canadians support eliminating criminal penalties for cannabis; and WHEREAS the value of the Canadian cannabis industry is estimated at between 5 and 20 billion dollars, and that if taxed and regulated this industry would generate substantial revenues for provincial and federal governments; and WHEREAS over 20,000 Canadians are arrested each year just for cannabis possession, taking up a great deal of police and court time and resources; and WHEREAS studies into worldwide cannabis law have consistently shown that criminal prohibition of cannabis has little or no effect on the rate of use; and WHEREAS in 1971, the LeDain Commission on Non-Medical Use of Drugs, after exhaustive hearings and research, recommended allowing the cultivation and possession of cannabis for personal use; and WHEREAS in 2002, the Canadian Senate issued a comprehensive report on cannabis issues, after extensive research and hearings, which recommended that cannabis should be regulated and made legally available to adults, plus that Canada's 600,000 criminal records for cannabis possession should be erased, and that access to medical cannabis should be expanded; and WHEREAS in 2005 the City of Vancouver approved a plan called Preventing Harm from Psychoactive Drug Use, which recommends that the federal government end cannabis prohibition and instead create a "legal regulatory framework for cannabis," THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Canada’s NDP introduce legislation to establish a national cannabis policy based upon a non-punitive, regulatory approach, including support for a legal supply of cannabis, elimination of all penalties for personal cultivation and possession by adults, and amnesty for past cannabis possession convictions. ONDY SCARBOROUGH GUILDWOOD NDP70 2 K10 WHEREAS sex trade workers are members of Canadian society and all Canadians are entitled to the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms regardless of their socio-economic condition; and WHEREAS all Canadians have the right to an adequate standard of living and the prevalence of extreme poverty, especially amongst women and indigenous populations, is of grave concern; and WHEREAS sex trade workers have individual rights to health and security, and overwhelming research exists to suggest that Sections 210, 212, and 213 of the Criminal Code of Canada does not protect individual rights to health and security, but instead drives sex workers into dangerous and harmful situations; and WHEREAS all Canadians regardless of their work and/or occupation, have the right to self determination; and the criminalization of the sex trade creates a cycle of recidivism whereby Canadians charged under Sections 210, 212, and 213 of the Criminal Code of Canada often return to the sex trade to pay for their fines; and WHEREAS all Canadians regardless of their work and/or occupation, including sex workers have the right to dignity of person free from prejudice and discrimination and the criminalization of the trade perpetuates negative social stigma that impedes on their rights; and WHEREAS the trafficking of women and children to, or through Canada’s borders is of grave concern and the criminalization of the sex trade further victimizes those who have been denied of their human rights and trafficked against their will for the purposes of sexual slavery, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a NDP government will continue to support the review of current criminal codes with all parties, and publicly and formally support the decriminalization of the sex trade should evidence continue to illustrate the impediment of current laws on the basic fundamental rights of Canadians. HALIFAX NDP 2 K11 WHEREAS sentencing guidelines are designed with the goal of dissuasion, prevention, retribution, and/or rehabilitation; and WHEREAS experience of Mandatory Minimum Sentences (MMS) indicate a reduced dissuasive effect, ambiguous results for a preventive effect, are frequently proposed from a retributive motivation that is not part of the Canadian Criminal Justice System, and have no rehabilitative effect; and WHEREAS MMS can be inconsistent with principles of justice and therefore the Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and WHEREAS the "In Brief" summary on Mandatory Minimum Sentences of 8 January 2006 from the Parliamentary Information and Research Service of the Library of Parliament designated "PRB 05-53E" raises other significant concerns on MMS; and WHEREAS experience of MMS with respect to controlled substance-related crime is unambiguously negative; and71 WHEREAS the trend in Canadian Justice toward rehabilitation is very much in line with the social justice philosophy of the NDP; and WHEREAS Mandatory Minimum Sentence Guidelines result in greater cost for housing incarcerated persons, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) does not support Mandatory Minimum Sentences for controlled-substance motivated crime; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP of Canada does not support MMS as a means of crime reduction in Canada; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP of Canada shall request or require that bills adjusting sentencing guidelines shall include cost estimates and concomitant budgetary adjustments (i.e. "a funding plan" as suggested by U.S.A. National Institute of Justice Report NCJ 161839). HALIFAX NDP 2 K12 BE IT RESOLVED that the Canada Government repeal legislation that permits people to be held on Security Certificates indefinitely without public trial. PETERBOROUGH NDP 2 K13 WHEREAS it is a fundamental social democratic principal that all Canadians should have the right to live in safety and security; and WHEREAS it is often those that are the most economically and socially disadvantaged that are victimized by crime; and WHEREAS people and especially young people of colour all too often face stereotyping, inequality and discrimination, living in communities where poverty and despair fuel the negative forces of gang life, exploitation and violence; and WHEREAS Canada’s overall crime rate is holding steady, or even declining slightly, new and alarming trends threaten the safety of Canadian communities, particularly in urban and disadvantaged areas; and WHEREAS multiple inquests into violence against women, have made recommendations to improve the protections offered to women by the police, the courts and social services, recommendations which need to be reinforced and implemented across the country; and WHEREAS social spending cuts throughout the 1990s have led to increased poverty and decimated community infrastructure in urban neighborhoods, rural communities and remote areas; and WHEREAS Canada is in an extended period of economic growth and is in a position to make investments in social structures to help redress the cuts of the previous decade; and WHEREAS police forces, the courts and correctional systems need greater resources and more effective tools to be able to fulfill their important roles in safeguarding communities,72 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP work to achieve secure and stable communities through the development and implementation of a comprehensive three pillared approach to public safety that incorporates: a) An emphasis on crime prevention through adequate funding for social infrastructures, including youth programs to create alternatives to gangs and drugs, housing strategies, and employment programs; b) Providing the police with the resources needed to do their jobs, fostering collaborative problem-solving between law enforcement agencies and undertaking a thorough reform of the correctional system to reduce recidivism; c) Granting effective powers to the courts in cases of violent crimes, particularly those involving guns and encouraging the use of restorative or therapeutic jurisprudence where appropriate. TRINITY-SPADINA NDP 2 K14 WHEREAS Canada has signed both the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which include the right of each person to the inheritance of humanity’s culture and to the fulfillment of their own potential, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP declares and strives to uphold the principle that every child has the right to nurture and upbringing which affirms the child’s right to its own innate sexual orientation and to its own sense of sexual identity, and that protecting these rights is a responsibility of the institutions of Canadian society. TRINITY-SPADINA NDP 2 K15 WHEREAS the Conservative government plans to increase the basic age of consent for sexual activity to sixteen (16) years of age; and WHEREAS Bill C-2, passed into law in 2005, already prohibits any exploitative sexual relationship with a person under 18; and WHEREAS there is no evidence to indicate that the proposed legislation will protect young people from predators; and WHEREAS youth are significantly less likely to seek sexual health information or advice if their activities fall outside the law; and WHEREAS an increase to the age of consent is opposed by the Canadian AIDS Society, EGALE Canada, The Canadian Federation for Sexual Health, The Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario, and others, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Convention direct Caucus not to vote for the Conservative legislation to increase the basic age of consent for sexual activity to sixteen years of age; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP Federal Caucus work to ensure that the Age of Consent for anal sex be consistent with that for all other types of sexual activity. TRINITY-SPADINA NDP73 2 K16 WHEREAS marijuana is derived from a naturally occurring plant found growing wild throughout the world; and WHEREAS the prohibition on marijuana is a major source of income for organized crime; and WHEREAS the recreational consumption of marijuana is less harmful to health and society than tobacco or alcohol use, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP will actively promote and strive to introduce measures that will result in the legalization of production, sale and possession of marijuana. TRINITY-SPADINA NDP 2 K17 WHEREAS government figures estimate 3 million Canadians, or 14% of the Canada’s population, are current cannabis users, and that about 45% of Canadians have used cannabis during their lifetime, and that virtually all of these people are otherwise law-abiding citizens; and WHEREAS numerous public opinion polls conducted since 2000 show that most Canadians support eliminating criminal penalties for cannabis; and WHEREAS the value of the Canadian cannabis industry is estimated at between 5 and 20 billion dollars, and that if taxed and regulated this industry would generate substantial revenues for provincial and federal governments; and WHEREAS over 20,000 Canadians are arrested each year just for cannabis possession, taking up a great deal of police and court time and resources; and WHEREAS the laws prohibiting cannabis are federal laws, yet the brunt of the costs of enforcing criminal sanctions against cannabis are borne by the provinces, and municipalities, in paying for the extra policing, court time and imprisonment; and WHEREAS studies into worldwide cannabis law have consistently shown that criminal prohibition of cannabis has little or no effect on the rate of use; and WHEREAS in 1971, the LeDain Commission on Non-Medical Use of Drugs, after exhaustive hearings and research, recommended allowing the cultivation and possession of cannabis for personal use; and WHEREAS the 1995 Report of the Task Force into Illicit Narcotic Overdose Deaths in British Columbia, written by BC’s Chief Coroner and commissioned by BC’s NDP government, after extensive hearings and research, recommended that the BC Attorney General pursue discussions with the federal government on legalization of cannabis possession; and WHEREAS in 2002, the Canadian Senate issued a comprehensive report on cannabis issues, after extensive research and hearings, which recommended that cannabis should be made legally available to adults and regulated by provincial governments in the same way that they operate the wine industry, plus that Canada's 600,000 criminal records for cannabis possession should be erased, and that access to medical cannabis should be expanded; and WHEREAS in 2005 the City of Vancouver approved a plan called Preventing Harm from Psychoactive Drug Use, which recommends that the federal government end cannabis prohibition and instead create a “legal regulatory framework for cannabis”; and WHEREAS the policy of Canada’s Federal NDP has long included a non-punitive, regulatory approach to cannabis, including a legally regulated and taxed cannabis supply, elimination of penalties for personal possession and cultivation, and amnesty for past possession convictions,74 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Canada’s NDP introduce legislation which would establish an explicit cannabis policy based upon a non-punitive, regulatory approach, including support for a legal supply of cannabis, elimination of all penalties for personal cultivation and possession by adults, and amnesty for past cannabis possession convictions. NEWTON NORTH DELTA 2 K18 BE IT RESOLVED that the Sault Ste. Marie Federal NDP Riding Association support the legalization of marijuana. SAULT STE. MARIE NDP 2 K19 WHEREAS enforcement of Canadian Anti-terrorist laws is proving to constitute a flagrant diisregard of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP work toward the repeal of all ‘Anti-Terrorist’ legislation passed since 11 September, 2001. SAANICH-GULF ISLANDS NDP 2 K20 WHEREAS public concern about protecting Canadian youth from exploitive sexual relationships with adults and people of authority is increasing; and WHEREAS the NDP recognizes that young adults have the right to safe and healthy sexual lives; and WHEREAS statistics show that youth often begin their active sexual lives before they are entitled to vote or exercise other rights accorded to adults in Canadian society; and WHEREAS criminal sanctions as they relate to youth should exist to protect that group, not criminalize them; and WHEREAS instituting restrictive age of consent laws could result in the criminalization of a large percentage of consensual youth sexual behaviour; and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP work to ensure that any changes to the age of consent laws do not criminalize non-exploitive consensual sexual activity between youth near in age. WINDSOR-TECUMSEH NDP75 2 K21 WHEREAS the federal government has not laid a single charge against any detainee currently held in Canada under Security Certificates; and WHEREAS Security Certificates apply only to Permanent Residents and Refugees; and WHEREAS denying non-citizens access to the judicial process violates our Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as Canada’s international obligations and goes against the fundamental notion that human rights are inalienable and do not depend on legal status; and WHEREAS issuance of a Security Certificate by the Minister of Public Safety restricts the scope of a courts examination of the case to deciding on the possible viability of allegations – not necessarily evidence – on which the Minister has signed the Security Certificate; and WHEREAS neither the detainee nor their lawyers are informed of the precise allegations or given access to government information against the accused; and WHEREAS this process forces judges to base their decisions on one-sided arguments; and WHEREAS Security Certificates violate a basic tenet of the rule of law by denying detainees the right to appeal; and WHEREAS Canada is a signatory to the UN Convention against Torture; and WHEREAS detainees face deportation to their countries of origin, even if there is a substantial risk of torture or death; and WHEREAS the UN Committee against Torture felt bound to remind Canada in 2000 that it is a violation of the UN Convention against Torture to deport someone facing a substantial risk of torture, even if there may be some security concerns; and WHEREAS Security Certificates have been described by Amnesty International as “fundamentally flawed and unfair’, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP calls on the federal government to: Either lay charges and allow the accused to undergo a fair and transparent judicial trial or immediately release all individuals being held under Security Certificates; Refuse to deport any detainees to a country where there is a substantial risk of torture and possibly death, in compliance with the UN Convention against Torture; Immediately halt the use of Security Certificates and re-write the security provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to make them consistent with our Constitution and Charter, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the UN Convention against Torture; Provide leadership in ending the attacks on civil liberties and racial profiling and targeting of Arab and Muslim individuals and communities and other ethnic and religious minorities occurring within the federal jurisdiction, in partnership with other levels of government and civil society; and Develop a plan of action and provide adequate resources to defeat racial profiling and religious bigotry. WINDSOR-TECUMSEH NDP76 2 K22 WHEREAS it is a fundamental social democratic principal that all Canadians should have the right to live in safety and security; and WHEREAS people and especially young people of colour all too often face stereotyping inequality and discrimination, living in communities where poverty and despair fuel the negative forces of gang life, exploitation and violence; and WHEREAS Canada’s overall crime rate is holding steady, or even declining slightly, new and alarming trends threaten the safety of Canadian communities, particularly in urban and disadvantaged areas; and WHEREAS multiple inquests into violence against women, have made recommendations to improve the protections offered to women by police, the courts and social services, recommendations which need to be reinforced and implemented across the country; and WHEREAS social spending cuts throughout the 1990’s have led to increased poverty and decimated community infrastructure in urban neighbourhoods, rural communities and remote areas; and WHEREAS Canada is in an extended period of economic growth and is in a position to make investments in social structures to help redress the cuts of the previous decade; and WHEREAS police forces, the courts and correctional systems need greater resources and more effective tools to be able to fulfill their important roles in safeguarding communities, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP work to achieve secure and stable communities through development and implementation of a comprehensive three pillared approach to public safety that incorporates: An emphasis on crime prevention through adequate funding for social infrastructures, including youth programs to create alternatives to gangs and drugs, housing strategies and employment programs. Providing the police with the resources needed to do their jobs, fostering collaborative problem-solving between law enforcement agencies and undertaking a through reform of the correctional system to reduce recidivism. Granting effective powers to the courts in cases of violent crimes, particularly those involving guns and encouraging the use of restorative or therapeutic jurisprudence where appropriate. WINDSOR-TECUMSEH NDP 2 K23 WHEREAS multinational retailers such as Wal-Mart are determined to tag their goods with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Devices); and WHEREAS item-level tagging poses a direct threat to the privacy of Canadians; and WHEREAS in spite of the Privacy Commissioner raising explicit concerns regarding RFID’s in her latest report our governments continue to ignore this issue, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP call on the federal government to immediately investigate the implications to the privacy of Canadians associated with RFID’s; and77 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Federal NDP introduce legislation that compels retailers to conspicuously label goods that contain “Spychips” (or RFID devices) and ensures that the privacy of Canadians is protected. UFCW CANADA 2 K24 BE IT RESOLVED that the federal government appoint a public board of directors to operate the RCMP Public Complaints Commission. PRINCE GEORGE-PEACE RIVER 2 K25 WHEREAS Steven Harper's conservative government has stated its intention to implement measures that focus on greater punishment as opposed to rehabilitation including mandatory minimum sentences, sentencing repeat and serious youth offenders as adults and amending the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act to include deterrence and denunciation as mandatory principles in sentencing youth; and WHEREAS there is near consensus among academics who have studied systems of tough justice that this approach does not result in the reduction of youth crime and in all likelihood exacerbates it; and WHEREAS the Juvenile Court system in Quebec – that emphasizes rehabilitation instead of punishment – is the most successful in the country with a very low rate of recidivism and a high rate of successful reinsertion into society; and WHEREAS Canadians have traditionally supported the use of preventative measures (addressing social-economic causalities such as poverty and ghettoization) and alternative sentencing to address crime; and WHEREAS our court system is chronically backlogged, legal aid is under funded – resulting in poor access to representation – our penal system represents a significant financial burden on public funds; and, many institutions suffer from overcrowding often resulting in dangerous working conditions for workers at federal penitentiaries, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP oppose any legislation that seeks to implement mandatory minimum sentences, sentence youth as adults and/or amends the YCJA to include deterrence and denunciation as mandatory sentencing principles; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP promote alternative and preventative measures that address the causalities of crime as the primary approach to crime reduction; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP emphasize rehabilitation, as opposed to punishment and incarceration, with youth found guilty of a crime. OUTREMONT NDP78 2 K26 WHEREAS decriminalization is identified internationally as the most effective way to ensure the safety and promote the rights of sex workers; and WHEREAS the NDP has historically defended the right of all Canadians to dignity of person free from prejudice and discrimination regardless of their work and/or occupation and the criminalization of the trade perpetuates negative social stigma that impedes on these rights; and WHEREAS sex trade workers are members of Canadian society and that the NDP defends the equality of all Canadians in their entitlement to the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms regardless of their occupation or socio-economic condition; and WHEREAS overwhelming research exists to suggest that Sections 210, 212, and 213 of the Criminal Code of Canada does not protect individual rights to health and security, but instead can drive sex workers into dangerous and harmful situations; and WHEREAS all Canadians regardless of their work and/or occupation, have the right to self determination; and the criminalization of the sex trade creates a cycle of recidivism whereby Canadians charged under Sections 210, 212, and 213 of the Criminal Code of Canada often must return to the sex trade in order to pay their fines; and WHEREAS the trafficking of women and children to, or through Canada’s borders is of grave concern and the criminalization of the sex trade further isolates and victimizes those who have been trafficked against their will for the purposes of sexual slavery, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP, in line with its core principle of equality, will publicly and formally push for the decriminalization of the sex trade in the review of current criminal codes; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP work with other parties, community groups, international organizations, academics, sex trade workers and the justice community to promote and protect the rights, health and safety of individuals involved in the sex trade by using a harm reduction and human rights model; and BE IT FURTHTER RESOLVED that the NDP work at shifting the debate of the issue of sex trade work from its current place as a question of criminality, to one of public health and a question of workers’ health and safety rights; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP support the ongoing study of the links between poverty, abuse and prostitution and investigate ways in which we can contribute to the socio- economic health and well-being of sex workers who by choice, circumstance, or coercion remain in the business. OUTREMONT NDP 2 K27 BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP oppose the sharing of intelligence with governments which use such information to incarcerate persons in violation of any of the provisions of international human rights conventions; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Federal NDP actively oppose all deportations of persons seized on Canadian soil to countries in which they may be tortured; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Federal NDP conduct a public education campaign on this issue, to prevent the so-called “war on terrorism” from being used as a pretext for violations of fundamental human rights, especially those of visible minorities, in particular those members of the Islamic community. PARKDALE HIGH-PARK NDP79 2 K28 WHEREAS the Harper government introduced bill C-22 on June 22, 2006 which would raise the age of consent from 14 to 16; and WHEREAS it is a well-documented fact that most Canadian youths have become sexually active before the age of 16; and WHEREAS youths would be better served and protected by increasing their access to information and resources that would enable them to understand, manage, and enjoy their sexuality safely and confidently than by criminalizing their sexuality; and WHEREAS public health officials, AIDS prevention workers, health educators, health care providers, and spokespersons for youth service agencies oppose the bill, because it will put sexually active youths at greater risk by driving them underground and rendering them less likely to access their services; and WHEREAS 14 and 16 year old persons are Canada’s highest risk group for suicide, and to so drastically alter the conditions of their lives would put them at still greater risk; and WHEREAS legislation adopted by the last Parliament in July 2005 already protects persons under 18 against sexual coercion or exploitation; and WHEREAS the government is acting on behalf of interests which hold that all sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage is evil, and is engaging in the politics of fear and hatred by introducing this ill-conceived legislation, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada opposes the passage of Bill C-22 and urges the Federal NDP Caucus to do everything in its power to defeat the bill; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Party members and supporters are urged to educate themselves about the issues involved in youth sexuality, and, having done so, petition their MPs to oppose bill C-22. PARKDALE HIGH-PARK NDP 2 K29 WHEREAS the proposed omnibus Safe Communities Act calls for mandatory minimum sentences; and WHEREAS the proposed Act calls for the treatment of sixteen year old youths as adults, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the proposed Safe Communities Act be reviewed to ensure that it is consistent with New Democratic values of compassion and social justice and that its measures are consistent with available evidence on crime statistics and social determinants of crime. OTTAWA WEST-NEPEAN NDP80 2 K30 WHEREAS secret trials are a violation of fundamental justice according to one famed human rights lawyer and Canadians who are not five year old dyslexics as a former trade minister under Mulroney once claimed, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a NDP federal government make secret trials illegal and repeal the very anti-social "anti -terrorist" bills such as Bill C-36, the Anti-Terrorism Act. TORONTO CENTRE NDP 2 K31 WHEREAS an effective approach to crime prevention requires a holistic approach that includes enforcement but also a sustained effort to address the root causes of crime, such as poverty and drug addiction; and WHEREAS a large percentage of criminal activity in Canada is caused by addicted individuals stealing to pay for their drug habit; and WHEREAS punitive enforcement policies such as “mandatory minimums” have proven to be ineffective in other jurisdictions, and redirect scarce resources to policing and prison facilities rather than crime prevention and treatment, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada develop a comprehensive crime prevention strategy, based on a holistic approach that focuses on the root causes of crime, effective enforcement and restorative justice for inclusion in the next federal election platform. VICTORIA NDP 2 K32 WHEREAS criminal justice policy is an inherent and important part of broader social policy; and WHEREAS crime, especially crime committed with guns, is serious and even when no injury occurs, the potential for injury or death is high; and WHEREAS a sound and fair criminal justice policy requires evidence-based research, not a political ideology or simply fear responses at the time of high profile crimes; and WHEREAS our commitment expressed in our 2006 election platform “to counter the stereotyping, inequality and discrimination all too often felt by people, especially young people of colour” is contradicted by supporting mandatory minimum penalties which disproportionately discriminate against minorities; and WHEREAS mandatory minimum sentences according to vast research: fail to reduce crime; affect most severely the least serious offenders in circumstances that have the greatest mitigating circumstances while having little or no effect on the most serious offenders who would attract such sentences anyway; and often lead authorities to lay charges other than mandatory minimums; and81 WHEREAS the Provincial, Appeal and Supreme Courts are competent, and judges who hear a case are in a much better position than Parliament to impose just sentences because the discretion of the court is appropriate to tailor a sentence to a particular kind of crime; and WHEREAS long mandatory minimum sentences are incompatible with the Fundamental Principle of Sentencing as set out in section 718.1 of the Criminal Code, that being: A sentence must be proportionate to the gravity of the offence and the degree of responsibility of the offender. A sentence should be increased or reduced to account for any relevant aggravating or mitigating circumstances relating to the offence or the offender. That an offender should not be deprived of liberty, if less restrictive sanctions may be appropriate in the circumstances and all available sanctions other than imprisonment that are reasonable in the circumstances should be considered for all offenders with particular attention to the circumstances of Aboriginal offenders” ; and WHEREAS punitive sanctions must be assessed in light of their cost, effectiveness, destruction of lives and a community’s safety and health, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP oppose mandatory minimum sentencing and appoint a commission to make recommendations to the Party about how we might get smart about crime in a way that holds the perpetrators accountable for their actions, and addresses the immediate and long-term needs of victims and the community, including but not limited to: The allocation of dollars for basic, street/neighbourhood policing, working with other community resources (e.g., schools, public health, recreation, mental health, addictions professionals), all of which must be supported by multi-sectoral crime prevention efforts; The allocation of policing devoted to good intelligence work to identify gangs, and with their police colleagues mentioned above, reduce their numbers; Immediate and long-term support for victims and their families and for affected communities; Sentences for offenders that are relevant to the individual, the offence, the needs of the victim, families and communities; and The use where appropriate of restorative justice processes and Aboriginal traditions. CARLETON-MISSISSIPPI MILLS NDP 2 K33 WHEREAS the federal government has not laid a single charge against any detainee actually held in Canada under Security Certificates, for periods of up to four years; and WHEREAS Security Certificates apply only to permanent residents and refugees; and WHEREAS denying non-citizens access to the judicial process violates our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as well as Canada’s international obligations, and goes against the fundamental notion that human rights are inalienable and do not depend on legal status; and WHEREAS issuance of a security certificate by the Minister of Public Safety restricts the scope of a court’s examination of the case to decide on the possible viability of allegations – not necessarily evidence – on which the Minister has signed the security certificate; and WHEREAS neither detainees nor their lawyers are informed of the precise allegations or given access to government information against the accused; and WHEREAS this process forces judges to base their decisions on one-sided arguments; and82 WHEREAS Security Certificates violate a basic tenet of the rule of law by denying detainees the right of appeal; and WHEREAS Canada is a signatory of the UN Convention against Torture; and WHEREAS detainees face deportation to their countries of origin, even if there is a substantial risk of torture or death; and WHEREAS the UN Committee against Torture felt bound to remind Canada in 2000 that it is a violation of the UN Convention against Torture to deport someone facing a substantial risk of torture, even if there may be some security concerns; and WHEREAS Security Certificates have been described by Amnesty International as “fundamentally flawed and unfair”, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP Caucus call on the federal government to: 1. Either lay charges and allow the accused to undergo a fair and transparent judicial trial or immediately release all persons being held under Security Certificates; 2. Refuse to deport any detainees to a country where there is a substantial risk of torture and possibly death, in compliance with the UN Convention against Torture; 3. Immediately halt the use of Security Certificates and rewrite the security provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to make them consistent with our Constitution and Charter, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the UN Convention against Torture; 4. Provide leadership in ending the attacks on civil liberties and racial profiling and targeting of Arab and Muslim individuals and communities, and other ethnic and religious minorities occurring within federal jurisdiction, in partnership with other levels of government and civil society; and 5. Develop a plan of action and provide adequate resources to defeat racial profiling and religious bigotry. ESQUIMALT-JUAN DE FUCA NDP FEDERAL COUNCIL – 2005 2 K34 WHEREAS the Federal NDP at its Convention in 1999 stated its support for the decriminalization of marijuana; and WHEREAS the Federal NDP at its Convention in 2001 accepted and agreed to promote the Harm Reduction Model for drug addiction and abuse but taking the responsibility for this problem away from the Attorney General/Solicitor General’s offices and directing the presently allocated resources and personnel to the Ministry of Health; and WHEREAS federal government policy toward marijuana and other drugs has focused on illegality as a primary means of controlling drugs; and WHEREAS criminal prohibition increases the harms associated with drugs in that: Profits made on the illegal market caused by prohibition provide a lucrative source of income for organized crime; The criminalization of drug users produces enormous social and economic costs, and treats drug users as deserving of punishment;83 Enormous resources are wasted on a police enforcement approach that has failed to reduce the supply of drugs, as interdiction efforts stop only an estimated 10% of drugs destined for Canada; and WHEREAS a position of decriminalization of marijuana would still leave simple possession as an offence, punishable by fines, and would leave other harms associated with prohibition intact, and ignores the root causes of harmful drug use, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP use all possible means to advocate for the implementation of: The elimination of penalties for personal possession and personal cultivation of marijuana for adult use as a first step; and A federally mandated discussion and review of the impacts and harms created by the current legal model based on criminal prohibition; and A broad review and discussion of possible models for a regulatory approach to illicit drug use, to be introduced by the federal government, based on reducing risk and harm; emphasizing prevention, public education, health promotion and safety. VANCOUVER EAST NDP 2 K35 WHEREAS prostitution is legal in Canada, and consensual sex between two adults for money is not in itself an offense although the criminal code criminalizes most activities related to prostitution including communicating for the purposes of prostitution, keeping a common bawdy house and living off the avails of prostitution; and WHEREAS there is an increasing understanding that prostitution related laws work to intensify the problem in that sex workers are fearful to report violence, assault and coercion, are subject to police harassment and racial profiling, and are displaced to isolated areas where they face greater risks for harm, even death, and become easier targets for predators; and WHEREAS the 1985 Fraser Commission on Pornography and Street Prostitution concluded that it was the “the contradictory and often self-defeating nature of the Criminal Code that was at the root of the high levels of street prostitution in Canada and that communities, academics and non-government organizations agree that the status quo is not protecting sex workers or local communities”, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP calls for zero tolerance when it comes to the sexual exploitation of children and agrees that the State should ensure that no one is forced into prostitution by lack of choice; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Federal NDP recognizes that the status quo for sex trade workers is unacceptable and dangerous, and will advocate for the repeal of sections of the Criminal Code of Canada pertaining to adult activities involving prostitution; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Federal NDP advocates for the rights and safety of sex trade workers from exploitation and violence, and for a federal strategy that encompasses prevention, education, harm reduction, and safety for local communities, taking into account the underlying factors of poverty, social isolation, inequality, poor housing and under/un- employment. VANCOUVER EAST NDP84 2 K36 WHEREAS racial profiling has been a reality in Canada since before September 11, 2001; and WHEREAS since 9-11 and the enactment of anti-terrorist legislation (Bill C-36) we have seen an increased criminalization of diversity in Canada; and WHEREAS too frequently, innocent people report being detained, harassed or singled-out by enforcement officials based on nothing more than the colour of their skin or their religious beliefs; and WHEREAS to protect people’s rights and freedoms it is essential to have legislation that would ban racial profiling from all federal departments and jurisdictions; and WHEREAS this legislation should compel enforcement agencies to maintain policies and procedures designed to eliminate racial profiling and require the responsible Ministers to report to Parliament, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP supports federal legislation to eliminate racial profiling. VANCOUVER EAST NDP 2 K37 WHEREAS transgender and transexual Canadians suffer considerable discrimination in Canada, in employment, housing, health care, access to services, treatment by law enforcement officials and the courts, and with regard to the issuing of identity documents; and WHEREAS trans people face significant transphobic violence in our society; and WHEREAS the trans community, particularly trans youth face social isolation and a high incidence of suicide; and WHEREAS the NDP made a platform commitment to Human Rights Protection for transgender and transexual Canadians in the 2004 election, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that: 1. The NDP work for the full equality of transgender and transexual Canadians ensuring their ability to live happy, secure and productive lives and participate fully in our society, our communities, and our Party; 2. The NDP urge the government to include gender identity and gender expression as prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act, or do so itself when it forms government; 3. The NDP move to amend legislation governing hate crimes and sentencing to include protection for trans Canadians; 4. The NDP work in solidarity with the trans community, advocacy organizations, the labour movement, civil society, and other levels of government to address issues of job and housing discrimination, discrimination in the provision of services, discrimination in the health care system including the need for full Medicare coverage of Gender Reassignment Surgery and related therapies and procedures, suicide and mental health, appropriate relations with law enforcement officials and agencies, the issuance of appropriate identity documents including passports, and other issues that may be identified;85 5. The NDP urge NDP elected officials and Party members to stand in solidarity with members of the trans community and participate in Trans Day of Remembrance events across the country each November; and 6. The NDP work in solidarity with the trans community and partners in other countries to seek the full equality and security of trans people worldwide. BURNABY-DOUGLAS NDP 2 K38 WHEREAS the fight for the liberation of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgendered and transsexuals is not over; and WHEREAS gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered and transsexuals of the world suffer daily from government-enabled atrocities, both legally and extrajudicially, and that 73 countries criminalize sexual relations between people of the same sex, and that nine of them call for the death penalty for such relations; and WHEREAS refugees, who flee their country because of the persecution in view of their sexual orientation or their gender identity, are inhumanly belittled or stereotyped by the civil servants of Immigration Canada; and WHEREAS evidence shows that gay and bisexual youths in North America amount to more than half of all attempted or successful suicides among male teenagers raising the suicide risk 500% higher than among heterosexual teenagers; and WHEREAS people of non-normative gender identity or presentation on the physical, psychological or behavioural (transgendered, transsexuals, genderqueers and intersexuals) levels, suffer an extremely acute degree of discrimination and harassment both on the social and official and governmental levels, that may translate by a lack of opportunities, job opportunity denials, non-recognition of any aspects of their gender identity, denial of essential services, even medical, hate, contempt, increased risks of social problems and poverty, as well as violence and death; and WHEREAS a majority of provincial and territorial legislation on human rights and the Canadian Human Rights Act formally prohibit discriminating for reasons of gender identity; and WHEREAS no province allows changing the legal sex assignment without medical certification of the sex change surgery (while it is possible in the United Kingdom and in some American States), which causes endless legal and official problems for transgendered people; and WHEREAS the New Democratic Party boasts a proud history of fighting for the rights of sexual and gender minorities, they must therefore pursue, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP adopt the following policies: that criminalization of consensual homosexual relations between adults, anywhere in the world, is a violation of human freedom the same as any other violation of individual freedom; that, everywhere in the world, the Canadian Government should leverage its international prestige to make sure individuals who are detained because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or transsexual are freed, with the same urgency with which it would pursue and condemn any violation of human rights; that the Government should pursue the objective of prohibiting sexual orientation and gender identity as reasons for discrimination in the international human rights agreement;86 that refugees who flee their country following discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity should have the right to fair review of their case by public servants, requiring the adequate training of public servants and raising of their consciousness regarding the treatment of refugees; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP explicitly adopt policies fostering the following measures: adding gender identity, based on physical, psychological or behavioural criteria, as prohibited reason for discrimination in Canadian Human Rights Act (thus supporting Member of Parliament Bill Siksay’s undertaking in this regard); adding gender identity and expression, based on physical, psychological or behavioural criteria, as reasons for discrimination that could warrant granting the refugee status to come to Canada; implementation of a flexible system to officially recognize gender identity based on criteria other than the physical attribution of gender in order to respond humanly, understandingly and fairly to the community in question; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP adopt the following policies: that it support funding and implementing new and robust initiatives to demystify sexual orientation and gender identity in schools across the country; that it support funding and implementing resources for youths of sexual and gender minorities who have left home, throughout the country; that the Party adopt a high profile and active position in the fight against suicide and homelessness among youths of sexual and gender minorities, at the grassroots and political levels, across the country. QUEBEC SECTION 2 K39 WHEREAS Medias now present the NDP as being in favour of a future bill to increase the age of consent from 14 to 16 years; and WHEREAS increasing the age of consent is an effort to handle teenage sexuality by criminalising rather than educating, using transparency and good communication; and WHEREAS this measure would be prejudicial to open discussion, to availability and utilisation of sexual health tools among the youth (contraception, abortion, STDs, etc.); and WHEREAS history shows that repressive measures for teenage sexual behaviour lead to secret relations and that the invisibility of these rapports causes serious public health issues; and WHEREAS history shows that legislation criminalising sexuality is used disproportionately to attack the LGBTT community, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP oppose increasing the age of consent. QUEBEC SECTION87 2 K40 WHEREAS corporations in Canada have the legal status of persons without the responsibilities; and WHEREAS citizens of Canada are subject to and benefit from the provisions of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and WHEREAS the prevalence of poverty, homelessness and insecurity has become a marked feature of our society since government sees its role to respond more to corporate interests than to citizen needs and concerns, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party seek to amend the Charter of Rights and Freedoms: a) by including (Section 1, para.2) corporations as bodies to which the Charter applies; b) by adding to Section 6 (2) a further subsection c) providing for the right of every citizen to an income adequate to enable the citizen to live in dignity and to enjoy a life free from poverty. WINNIPEG NORTH NDP88 L. ABORIGINAL PEOPLES & THE NORTH 2 L1 WHEREAS the conditions faced by many First Nations citizens in Canada are a national disgrace; and WHEREAS the Government of Canada has failed in its duty to uphold the Honour of the Crown toward First Nations citizens, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that a New Democratic Party government will convene a Government of Canada – First Nations Constitutional conference, building on the ideas supported in earlier resolutions, to identify the means to: Implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples; Give full respect to Crown obligations in historic and modern treaties; Resolve comprehensive and specific claims in a timely manner; and Support First Nations governments in realizing the aspirations of their citizens; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a New Democratic Party government will make the necessary changes to the machinery of government to achieve these objectives. OTTAWA CENTRE NDP 2 L2 WHEREAS a historic agreement between the Prime Minister, the Premiers, and national Aboriginal leaders was reached at the First Ministers meeting in Kelowna, BC, in November 2005. This agreement addressed priority issues facing First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in Canada; and WHEREAS the federal government announced that the funding of the Kelowna Accord will amount to more than $5 billion; and WHEREAS no dollars were committed by the federal government for the Kelowna Accord in its financial statements prior to the federal election held January 23, 2006; and WHEREAS the new federal government has indicated that a new budget may be released as early as March 2006; and WHEREAS all leaders in Canada recognized the need for the federal government to take a leadership role in addressing important issues related to the well-being of Aboriginal people, including housing, poverty, employment, education and skills training; and WHEREAS the Kelowna meeting followed years of federal speeches from the Throne that raised these concerns but did not result in concrete budgetary commitments; and WHEREAS the Kelowna Accord was a commitment by federal, provincial and territorial leaders to put into place an agreement that would flow essential resources and funding to Aboriginal communities to address the history of inequality and impoverishment facing Aboriginal people in Canada on and off reserve; and89 WHEREAS during the federal election, the now elected Prime Minister publicly stated his Party’s support for the principles of the Kelowna agreement, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP continue pressing the federal government to honour its commitment to Aboriginal people in closing the gap and implementing the Kelowna Accord. SAINT BONIFACE NDP MYND 2 L3 WHEREAS First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples have been oppressed for centuries; and continue to live in Third World conditions in a developed First World country; and WHEREAS First Nations peoples' living conditions are dramatically worse than other Canadians' in poverty, sickness and despair, and are truly a national disgrace; and WHEREAS deterioration in the condition of countless First Nations houses has rendered these houses unfit for human habitation and forced many families to vacate their homes, which are fundamental necessity of life; and WHEREAS in November 2005 the federal government, all provincial governments and five Aboriginal organizations signed an agreement known as the Kelowna Accord, under which Ottawa promised $5 billion to improve First Nations health, housing, water and sewer systems and other critical aspects of living conditions on First Nations territories; and WHEREAS it was intended that nearly $1 billion of federal funds would be earmarked in 2006- 07 for health care, housing and other Kelowna-related initiatives; and WHEREAS the new Conservative government budgeted only $350 million over the next two fiscal years, refused to adhere to the Accord and is ignoring the long-term nature of many of the Kelowna components; and WHEREAS First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples' needs have been sacrificed in the Conservatives' first budget; and WHEREAS the new federal attitude endangers a historic agreement among governments that represents only a small step in addressing those needs and bridges with First Nations, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party condemn the refusal of the federal government to honour the commitments and obligations incurred in the Kelowna Accord; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New Democratic MPs work to secure a reversal of the government's political and financial dishonouring of the Kelowna Accord. NEWTON NORTH DELTA PRINCE GEORGE-PEACE RIVER NDP ESQUIMALT-JUAN DE FUCA NDP VANCOUVER ISLAND NORTH NDP SAANICH-GULF ISLANDS NDP90 2 L4 WHEREAS many Canadians are concerned about First Nation and Aboriginal rights across North America, including the imprisonment of the Spiritual and Community leader Leonard Peltier; and WHEREAS many Labour, Legal and Worker organizations including the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) as well as NDP Leader Jack Layton, have worked to support the release of Leonard Peltier after an unjust sentence; and WHEREAS Leonard Peltier has served over 31 years of a double life sentence on a questionable conviction through unsound evidence; and WHEREAS the Leonard Peltier Support Group has refocused efforts to encourage local support groups to assist in the ongoing campaign to gain justice for Leonard Peltier, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada renew and redouble education and lobby efforts through Canadian and International bodies to secure the freedom of Leonard Peltier and the repatriation of Leonard Peltier to Canada. CHATHAM-KENT-ESSEX NDP 2 L5 WHEREAS Education Day (Aboriginal Teaching Circle), a part of the Canadian Aboriginal Festival held annually at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, is a unique education program to bring awareness and understanding of Aboriginal heritage and culture to elementary school children of all races; and WHEREAS the Aboriginal Teaching Circle is a major part of the Canadian Aboriginal Festival the largest of its kind in North America and provides opportunities for many Aboriginal individuals and organizations both artistically and economically; and WHEREAS the Aboriginal Teaching Circle, and the Festival as a whole is the “signature event” for all First Nations in Canada, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party approve the active support specifically of the Aboriginal Teaching Circle and the festival by all members of the New Democratic Party. ABORIGINAL COMMITTEE 2 L6 WHEREAS the land reclamation in Caledonia, Ontario demonstrated the frustration First Nations and their neighbours feel over delayed land claims; and WHEREAS the current position of the federal government is that it is cheaper to negotiate rather than settle land claims; and WHEREAS the resolution of issues related to land and jurisdiction over land and its resources is of crucial importance to Aboriginal peoples throughout Canada, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party support the establishment of a new, independent Land Claims Commission that involves consultation and accommodation with First Nations, Métis and Inuit; and91 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party support a land claims policy that involves negotiations based on advancing mutual interests, not positions, while still protecting Aboriginal rights; and settlement within reasonable time frames; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party advocates for the federal government to take immediate steps to improve the current land claims system while implementing the new system. ABORIGINAL COMMITTEE 2 L7 WHEREAS the New Democratic Party affirms the right of Aboriginal peoples in Canada to self-government, ownership of traditional lands, economic development, protection of culture and language and a standard of living at least equal to that of other Canadians, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party endorses the following goals: Accepting responsibility for resolution of land claims by respecting the 1988 Joint Task Force report that recommends an independent, effective system to resolve disputes; Recognizing Canada’s responsibilities for residential schools abuse by working towards a Truth and Reconciliation process and a Prime Ministerial apology; Developing community economies with people as the priority by providing infrastructure for Aboriginal peoples to fully participate in Canada’s prosperity – including enhanced access to capital for community economic development; Supporting Aboriginal initiatives to improve health – providing adequate housing, water and infrastructure; and developing comprehensive health strategies with a renewed focus on wellness and quality health care that includes traditional healing; Creating approaches to justice that heal, creating better opportunities for youth to build stronger futures, and encouraging healing facilities and systems of restorative justice that also assist victims of crime; Ensuring communities have infrastructure, housing, water and other services equal to those enjoyed by other Canadians, by respecting community decisions and training local people to maintain systems; Respecting implementation of the inherent right to self-governance by recognizing the jurisdiction of indigenous governments and promoting supporting systems of government that have the support of communities and nations; Restoring the health of languages, strengthening First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and culture by supporting efforts to restore the health of indigenous languages; Making Canada safe for Aboriginal women by acting on the recommendations of Amnesty International’s Stolen Sisters report and supporting native women to develop healing centres and educational opportunities; Emphasizing education and training of children, youth and adults, especially through programs encouraging employment in health, education, social services, sciences, commerce, engineering and trades;92 Ensuring equitable participation of Aboriginal peoples in stewardship of Canada’s air, water and lands by encouraging environmental career choices and ensuring equitable participation on board, commissions, delegations and environmental projects; Keep governments accountable for their promises and obligations by appointing a Parliamentary Commissioner to use international standards as a basis for regular public report cards on government conduct. ABORIGINAL COMMITTEE 2 L8 WHEREAS the First Ministers meeting in Kelowna had closing the gap in the standard of living between First Nations, Inuit and Métis and the rest of Canadians as its goal; and WHEREAS the meeting was one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party continues to vigorously advocate for more effective and direct funding to close the poverty gap between Aboriginal peoples in Canada and the rest of Canadians; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party advocate for full participation, consultation and accommodation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit in all decisions regarding programs, policy and direct funding to close the poverty gap. ABORIGINAL COMMITTEE 2 L9 WHEREAS the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples released its report over a decade ago in 1996; and WHEREAS the federal government has taken action in only some areas covered by the report, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP Caucus call on the government to immediately conduct a 10-year review of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples outlining what recommendations have been implemented, which recommendations are currently being worked on and which recommendations remain unfulfilled; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP Caucus advocate that the recommendation of the position of a Parliamentary Commissioner immediately be implemented. ABORIGINAL COMMITTEE93 2 L10 WHEREAS the federal government has signed numerous land, resources, self-government and specific claim agreement with First Nations, Métis, Inuvialuit and Inuit peoples; and WHEREAS the federal department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development erroneously advised the Treasury Board that there would be no requirement for increased expenditures in order to implement the agreements resulting from these settlements; and WHEREAS these agreements form the foundation for Aboriginal Canadians to take their place in Confederation; and WHEREAS the many advancements and achievements of these agreements will not be fully obtained without adequate funding being committed by Canada to implement these agreements; and WHEREAS the federal government has a fiduciary responsibility to Canada’s Aboriginal peoples, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada supports the full funding for the implementation of these agreements, at levels determined through negotiations with all parties to these agreements, and with the objective of implementing these agreements according to their spirit; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada supports the insertion of clauses into the implementation plans for these agreements whereby increases to implementation funding are determined on a regular basis of not more than five years through negotiations, with the aim of reaching an agreement with the objective of implementing the spirit of these agreements, with all of the parties involved. WESTERN ARCTIC NDP 2 L11 WHEREAS the federal government has neglected the North and First Nations, when in power, the NDP will take immediate action to remedy their specific problems. QUEBEC SECTION 2 L12 BE IT RESOLVED that the future NDP government commit to change the name of the Ministry of Indian Affairs, after consulting with Aboriginal representatives. QUEBEC SECTION94 M. GENDER EQUALITY 2 M1 WHEREAS a substantial percentage of Canadian women 15 years of age and older in a current or previous intimate relationship experience violence; and WHEREAS shelters, safe houses, resource centers, support programs are threatened with closure due to cutbacks; and WHEREAS the financial situation of women’s shelters is so precarious, that they do not have the means to keep their shelters secluded and secure; and WHEREAS the reduction of financing of support services for women perpetuates violence against women, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP call for programs designed to combat sexism and violence against women; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP work towards the immediate provision of: Better financing of women’s shelters and support services for women and families who have been attacked and brutalized, including funding for shelter improvements; Funding to develop second stage housing programs for women victims of violence; Special programs for rural areas that would require working with the provinces to develop flexible, community based initiatives in addition to more outreach and follow up services; Additional funding for regional associations of transition houses, sexual assault support programs, women’s centres and similar organizations for annual conferences for the purposes of education and program development; A comprehensive education campaign on family violence that would include mandatory gender-sensitivity training for judges, police forces and corrections officers, interdisciplinary education for professionals and workers and non-violent conflict resolution for children of all ages; and Recognition of multicultural and Aboriginal experiences that would result in sensitizing professionals to cultural diversity via programs developed with marginalized communities. PERTH-WELLINGTON NDP 2 M2 WHEREAS Canada ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); and WHEREAS the UN CEDAW Committee made 23 recommendations on Canada’s 5th periodic report to the UN; and WHEREAS the UN CEDAW recommendations clearly illustrate that gender inequalities persist which result in higher rates of poverty and violence among women, and disproportionately impact lone female parents, Aboriginal women, immigrant women, women with disabilities, elderly women, visible minority women and women of colour,95 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party use all of its influence to achieve compliance with its international obligations by fulfilling the recommendations of the UN CEDAW Committee. LONDON-FANSHAWE NDP LONDON NORTH CENTRE NDP LONDON WEST NDP 2 M3 WHEREAS seven (7) percent of Canadian women and 15 years of age and older in a current or previous or common law union experience violence; and WHEREAS shelters, safe houses, resource centres, support programs are threatened with closure due to cutbacks; and WHEREAS the financial situation of women’s shelters is so precarious, that they do not have the means to keep their shelters secluded and secure; and WHEREAS the reduction of financing of support services for women perpetuates violence against women, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP call for programs designed to combat sexism and violence against women; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP work towards the immediate provision of: Better financing of women’s shelters and support services for women and families who have been attacked and brutalized, including funding for shelter improvements; Funding to develop second stage housing programs for women victims of violence; Special programs for rural areas that would require working with the provinces to develop flexible, community based initiatives in addition to more outreach and follow up services; Additional funding for regional associations of transition houses, sexual assault support programs, women’s centres and similar organizations for annual conferences for the purposes of education and program development; A comprehensive education campaign on family violence that would include mandatory gender-sensitivity training for judges, police forces and corrections officers, interdisciplinary education for professionals and workers and non-violent conflict resolution for children of all ages; and Recognition of multicultural and Aboriginal experiences that would result in sensitizing professionals to cultural diversity via programs developed with marginalized communities. LONDON NORTH CENTRE NDP LONDON WEST NDP96 2 M4 WHEREAS women’s centres were set up with one of their main priorities to give voice to what was happening in society from a women’s equality perspective; and WHEREAS historically the women’s movement has played an important role in keeping equality issues on the public agenda; and WHEREAS over the past decade the equality-seeking work of women’s organizations has been weakened as a result of decreased funding and the change from core funding to project-specific funding; and WHEREAS since funding for women’s equality-seeking groups has changed from core to project funding these groups have been unable to realize their priorities since their staff and volunteers spend most of their time and resources in writing project proposals and delivering services to women in need; and WHEREAS the one national lobby group, the National Action Committee on the Status of Women, was rendered powerless when unable to survive the change from core to project funding, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP demand that core funding be restored to fully support equality-seeking women’s advocacy and anti-violence organizations such as women’s centres, rape crisis centres, shelters, transition houses and committed to improving the status of women and ending violence against women; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Federal NDP demand that government provide annual resources at community, provincial, regional and national levels to allow women’s equality- seeking organizations to meet, learn from one another and share analysis and strategies for advancing women’s equality. OUTREMONT NDP PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN COMMITTEE 2 M5 BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party urge the federal government to adhere to Canada’s commitment to ending discrimination against women by ensuring the BC government reverses its regressive policies which discriminate against women in BC, as identified in the 2003 report of the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. BC FEDERATION OF LABOUR 2 M6 WHEREAS domestic violence cases are different from other criminal cases in that the relationship between victim and perpetrator is an intimate one; and WHEREAS with domestic violence, the accused often must have contact with the victim due to property, support and child issues; and WHEREAS the Criminal Code offence that comprises the majority of charges against men who use violence (Section VII: 266- level one assault) does not adequately encompass the context that is distinct to men’s violence against women within their intimate relationships; and97 WHEREAS while criminal prosecution usually proceeds in relation to singular or specific incidents of violence unlike most domestic violence cases which involve a succession of incidents and a pattern of behaviours enacted by the perpetrator that establish the conditions in which he perpetrates the crime; and WHEREAS Section VIII: 264 of the Criminal Code does not acknowledge a pattern of violence and is rarely used in domestic violence cases when the actions that constitute criminal harassment are perpetuated in the home, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP will use all of its influence to strike a Parliamentary committee to investigate, produce and institute domestic violence legislation into the Criminal Code of Canada; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a Federal NDP government would move to strike a Parliamentary committee to investigate, produce and institute Domestic Violence legislation into the Criminal Code of Canada LONDON WEST NDP98 N. FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL AFFAIRS 2 N1 WHEREAS the government of Québec is still not a signatory to the Canadian Constitution; and WHEREAS a strategic alliance between progressive forces in Québec and English Canada is an integral part of Social Democracy moving forward; and WHEREAS phrases like “in bed with separatists” do nothing to advance the aspirations of progressive forces in Québec and English Canada, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the delegates of the Federal Convention of the NDP endorse the statements of NDP Leader Jack Layton (as reported in the Montreal Gazette – May 8, 2005) that: Endorse the work of the Québec wing (NPD) in defining the role of the Québec nation in an asymmetric, co-operative and flexible Canada; Recognize Québec’s specificity within the federal Canadian state; and Pledge NDP support for the development of asymmetrical federalism as the best way to; combine the federal Canadian state with the reality of Québec’s national character. TORONTO CENTRE NDP99 S. ELECTORAL PROCESS 2 S1 WHEREAS Canadians are appalled at the revelations of Liberal corruption and systemic electoral finance system abuse coming out of the Gomery inquiry; and WHEREAS the integrity of our electoral system and the honest handling of public funds must be assured, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP believes it is necessary to urgently work to restore Canadians’ faith in our democratic system by ensuring that: 1) All of the recommendations from the Auditor General on the sponsorship program, advertising activities, and public opinion research regarding government contracting transparency and accountability be implemented fully; 2) The Access to Information Act be changed to incorporate the Information Commissioner’s recommendations to increase transparency and accountability, especially regarding crown corporations; 3) The Integrity Commissioner’s recommendations for greater power and autonomy be enacted; 4) Election contribution reporting be sped up to five days like in Ontario (including for ridings and leadership campaigns), and investigatory powers and budget related to election finances abuses be increased. TORONTO-DANFORTH NDP 2 S2 WHEREAS the Parliament of Canada is bi-cameral with two distinct Chambers, the House of Commons and the Senate; and WHEREAS the NDP refuses to participate in the Upper Chamber and calls for its abolition because we are critical of the undemocratic way Senators are appointed; and WHEREAS the NDP could have benefited over the years from having members in the Senate, especially during periods when the Party had very few elected members in the House of Commons and correspondingly few resources; and WHEREAS all the legitimate criticisms of the Senate can be addressed through Senate reform, rather than abolishing it, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP changes its policy towards the Senate, ends its boycott of the Upper Chamber and allows Party members who become Senators to sit in the NDP Caucus with full voice and vote. WINNIPEG CENTRE NDP100 2S3 WHEREAS the Canadian electoral system has repeatedly proven to be incapable of adequately reflecting fundamental tenets of representation and accountability; and WHEREAS the voting system belongs to all Canadians and, as such, in future must be determined by them in a national referendum, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal New Democratic Party support an independent, citizen-driven referendum process to renew Canada's democracy through voting system reform; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NDP promote a referendum process for voting system reform that would (be): 1. Based on the recommendations of an independent public commission; 2. Owned and driven by citizens without government interference or undue influence; 3. Transparent and objective; 4. Maximize opportunities for all Canadians to learn about the role and types of voting systems; 5. Allow citizens to make the final decision, by majority vote (50% + 1), through a binding referendum; and 6. Run in a timely fashion, with adequate time for public discussion and education, but without undue delay of the referendum; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP advocate that voting system reform would result in: 1. Proportional and fair representation; 2. Accountable and responsive government; 3. Real voter choice; 4. Removing barriers to democratic participation; and 5. Making each vote count; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New Democrats join with others, such as Fair Vote Canada, to endorse said process and principles ONDY 2 S4 WHEREAS our present electoral system does not reflect Canadian voters' intentions; and WHEREAS a recent Standing Committee of the House of Commons voted unanimously in favour of a motion for a concurrent, two-track process of consultation on Canada's democratic electoral system, which was not implemented, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the proposed electoral reform consultation process be immediately implemented to ensure that a final report with recommendations on Canada's democratic electoral system is tabled in the House in the next session. SAANICH-GULF ISLANDS NDP101 2 S5 WHEREAS the current electoral system in Canada does not accurately reflect in representation the votes of Canadian citizens; and WHEREAS the current electoral system creates an artificial barrier to achieving government implementation of the principles and policies of the New Democratic Party of Canada, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Convention and the Federal Executive and Council instruct the EPC, Communications Departments, and Advertising Companies to emphasize Democratic Reform/Renewal, as the foundation for the next federal election campaign and platform. LONDON-FANSHAWE NDP 2 S6 WHEREAS Canada is one of only three developed democracies in the world that employs the single member plurality (SMP) or first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system; and WHEREAS SMP consistently produces undemocratic, disproportionate electoral results; and WHEREAS proportional representation (PR) would not facilitate appropriate regional representation for a country the size and regional diversity of Canada; and WHEREAS New Zealand adopted by referendum in 1994 a mixed member proportional electoral system and has since experienced an increase in the legislative representation of both women and Maori, as well as increased voter turnout, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP electoral reform policy be amended to strike advocacy for a PR electoral system and replace it with advocacy of an MMP electoral system. LONDON-FANSHAWE NDP 2 S7 WHEREAS the current electoral system in Canada does not accurately reflect in representation the votes of Canadian citizens; and WHEREAS the current electoral system creates an artificial barrier to achieving government implementation of the principles and policies of the New Democratic Party of Canada; and WHEREAS progressive legislative achievements are easily imperiled by the action of future governments under the existing electoral system, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this Convention and the Federal Executive and Council instruct the EPC, Communications Departments, and Advertising Companies to emphasis proportional representation, as a major priority for the next federal election campaign and platform. LONDON NORTH CENTRE NDP102 2 S8 WHEREAS the Canadian electoral system has repeatedly proven to be incapable of adequately reflecting fundamental tenets of representation and accountability; and WHEREAS the enhancement of citizenship is central to any social democratic endeavour; and WHEREAS widespread voter alienation, as exemplified in the falling percentage of citizens casting a ballot, is provoking the mobilization of popular opinion around demands for electoral and Parliamentary reform; and WHEREAS our electoral system does not produce parliaments that accurately reflect the voting intentions of Canadian citizens and distorts and exaggerates regional differences; and WHEREAS a Committee of the NDP, struck by the previous Convention, recommended that an appropriate system of proportional representation for a social democratic society would aim to reflect the following principles: Proportionality: A party’s proportion of seats in the legislature should be nearly equal to the proportion of popular vote won by that party; Accountability: There should be a close and ongoing relationship between the elected member and the voter to ensure that legislators reflect the will of citizens; Inclusiveness: The system should hold greater promise to address and remedy the traditional under-representation of specific groups; Sincere Voting: Voters should be able to cast their ballot in a positive that is for their preferred party or candidate, rather than in a “strategic” way to prevent a disliked option from being elected. Similarly, their ballot should be reflected in the calculation of the electoral results and not discarded at an earlier stage; and Strengthening Representation: Increasingly, Canadians define their politics in terms of issues, values and social identities, in addition to where they live. A new electoral system must give representation to those ideas that are not ties only to a constituency; and WHEREAS the system of mixed-member proportional electoral system based on the model elaborated by the Law Commission of Canada in their report “Voting counts: Electoral Reform for Canada” incorporates the above principles, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that it be the priority for the New Democratic Party to work towards the democratic reform of our electoral system and of our Parliamentary institutions through the following measures: The abolition of the unelected Senate; The introduction of an electoral system which would combine a key element of proportional representation with first-past-the-post individual constituency MP’s, ensuring that the number of members that each party has in the House of Commons accurately reflects the percentage of popular vote received by the party; The reform of the House of Commons and its procedures to strengthen the ability of elected Members of Parliament to participate more directly in the policy and legislative process through stronger and more independent House of Commons Committees and a reduction in the number of votes that are deemed to be a matter of confidence in the government; The removal of arbitrary powers from the prime minister and the Cabinet and the transfer of powers to the House of Commons, including: the ratification of international treaties and trade agreements by the House of Commons;103 binding votes in the House of Commons on all proposals to send Canadian Armed Forces overseas; and committee ratification of appointments to public agencies; committee ratification of appointments to public agencies; The ending of political patronage in the appointments of federal judges and the introduction of a nomination and appointment process that is professionalized, transparent and publicly accountable; The introduction of fixed dates for general elections; The establishment of Ethnic Codes of Conduct for Members of Parliament and Government Ministers and a Conflict of Interest Commissioner who reports to the House of Commons; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party promote a process of democratic and electoral reform and that the process involve two committees to consider and make recommendations on strengthening and modernizing the democratic and electoral systems: A special committee of the House of Commons to make recommendations on the specific components of Canada’s democratic and electoral systems; and A citizen’s consultation group to make recommendations on the values and principles Canadians would like to see in their democratic and electoral systems; Each would take into account an examination of the role of Members of Parliament and political parties; citizen engagement and rates of voter participation, including youth and Aboriginal communities; civic literacy; and how to foster a more representative House of Commons, including, but not limited to, increased representation of women and minorities, and questions of proportionality, community of interest and representation. WINDSOR-TECUMSEH NDP 2 S9 WHEREAS Prime Minister Harper has begun discussion on a partial reform of the existing unelected Senate, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada reaffirm its support for the abolition of the current unelected Senate; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, should elections proceed for a partially reformed Senate, the New Democratic Party affirm its intention to participate in those elections so as not to leave a vacuum on the left in the public debate; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party affirm its intention to use the campaign for, and seats won in, a partially reformed Senate to campaign for a fully reformed Senate that reflects the diversity of Canada as well as the will of the electorate and has specific work assigned to it. ESQUIMALT-JUAN DE FUCA NDP104 2 S10 WHEREAS there is ongoing discussion regarding the merits of a democratically reformed Senate to provide for balanced representation to give equal representation to all areas of Canada and groups that are currently underrepresented in both the Senate and House of Commons, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Federal NDP strike a representative special task force to examine the merits of Senate abolition or a democratic reformed Senate; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the task force would provide recommendations on how a democratically reformed Senate could better reflect the following demographic realities of our country: Gender Balance; Francophone Minorities; First Nations; Visible Minorities; Regional Representation; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force would also provide recommendations on how a democratically reformed Senate would be selected, through a combination of direct elections, proportional representation systems, appointments or delegate selection; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force would report its findings to the Federal NDP in a timely manner. VANCOUVER EAST NDP 2 S11 WHEREAS the Party's 2003 federal Convention adopted a comprehensive policy resolving that the NDP promote the adoption in Canada of a system of proportional representation, and that New Democrats join with others, including Fair Vote Canada, in calling for an independent public commission to make recommendations for reform of the voting system, followed by a national referendum on those recommendations; and WHEREAS Ontario has embarked on an independent process, the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform, which will hold public hearings over the next five months, and recommend whether Ontario should retain the current electoral system or adopt a new one. They will report by May 15, 2007, and any change to Ontario's current electoral system will go before voters in a province-wide referendum expected October 4, 2007; and WHEREAS the federal government's Throne Speech stated April 4, 2006 "this Government will seek to involve Parliamentarians and citizens in examining the challenges facing Canada's electoral system and democratic institutions”, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP call on the federal government to immediately introduce legislation for a Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform at the federal level. At the very latest, the following timetable for electoral reform should be adopted: - a Citizens' Assembly in 2007-2008, followed by public education and debate; and - a referendum as soon as possible, no later than the October 19, 2009 election (if an election is held on this date), followed by implementation of the new voting system as soon as possible. NORTHUMBERLAND QUINTE WEST NDP105 2 S12 WHEREAS elected Parliamentary representatives perform an essential role in our democratic society; and WHEREAS the rate of remuneration is subject to review and adjustment as deemed appropriate by Parliament; and WHEREAS Parliament has the ultimate responsibility and control of all aspects of national/provincial finances; and WHEREAS elected Parliamentary representative are placed in the awkward positions of reviewing and setting their own pay, benefits, and perquisites; and WHEREAS all Parliamentary representatives run for office with advance knowledge of the complete remuneration package and therefore hold office in a contractual relationship with their constituents; and WHEREAS adjusting the remuneration package to take effect within the term of office has the effect of upsetting constituents/taxpayers and generating cynicism toward Parliament and Parliamentary representatives, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party supports the review and adjustment of Parliamentary representative remuneration as deemed necessary and appropriate by Parliament, but that the NDP, as a matter of principle and sense of fairness, requires its elected representatives to adhere to the remuneration package in effect at the time of election until the dissolution of Parliament, and agree to accept the new rate of remuneration only after the next general election. LONDON WEST NDP 2 S13 WHEREAS the sponsorship scandal illustrates the significant flaws in the Canadian political system, in terms of compliance with ethical standards; and WHEREAS it is necessary, for the whole political class, to reinforce the mechanisms that ensure transparency and democracy within our institutions; and WHEREAS it is necessary to propose real solutions instead of simply reporting misuse; and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP defend the following principles: Pursuing the reform of the funding of political parties, particularly by authorizing only the contributions of citizens, (for example, completely eliminating funding by private companies or lobbies) and by reducing the limit of personal contributions to $3,000; Reaffirming the investigative power of the Chief Electoral Officer, so he or she can make sure the rules are followed; Making sure that an independent ethics advisor, who will report directly to the Parliament and not only to the Premier, (as for the Auditor General) is present; Enhancing the Auditor General’s power of recommendation; Reinforcing the standards that govern conflicts of interest, particularly where ministers are concerned;106 Ensuring a much more transparent process at the federal nominations level (for example for Presidents of Crown corporations); Regulating contributions through special events, reinforcing penalties for the offenders, ensuring transparency and strengthening the criteria in the contract attribution method; Demanding that the Liberal Party refund all illegal contributions made to its party; Demanding that any party found guilty of having received illegal contributions or fraud reimburse all of its contributions; Demanding that anyone guilty of fraud or criminal acts be brought to trial; Reinforcing protection for whistleblowers within the federal government; Seriously assessing possible reforms to the rules governing lobbying within the federal machinery, particularly where relations with professional lobbying firms and the private sector are concerned; Considering the possibility of establishing, within the Canadian policy, a Commission of Inquiry instead of lobbies, particularly corporate lobbies (such as the Business Council on National Issues). QUEBEC SECTION 2 S15 WHEREAS under the actual Constitution, Canada is a monarchy whose Chief of State is Queen Elizabeth II; and WHEREAS under the actual Constitution Queen Elizabeth II is the Chief of the Canadian Executive and the Commander in Chief of the Canadian Armies; and WHEREAS under the actual Constitution, the Governor General is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II in Canada; and WHEREAS Queen Elizabeth II was not born nor has ever lived in Canada; and WHEREAS in fact, the actual democratically elected Chief of state, Canadian citizen and residing in Canada, is the Prime Minister of Canada; and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP conduct an active campaign so that Canada becomes a Republic; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP conduct an active campaign to redefine the role of the Executive within the Canadian Constitution. QUEBEC SECTION 2 S16 WHEREAS some of the European countries have a proportional voting process; and WHEREAS the New Democratic Party has long supported this type of election process to elect our Members of Parliament and provincial legislatures; and107 WHEREAS other political parties have expressed interest in exploring some sort of proportional representation in the election process; and WHEREAS the previous federal government also seemed to be interested in implementing some sort of a proportional representation system; and WHEREAS the Government of New Brunswick has done a study and report on a mixed form of proportional representation where a certain amount of the members of the Legislature would be elected by the proportional system and the other members would be elected by the existing riding system; and WHEREAS the Government of New Brunswick is seriously considering this mixed form of proportional representation; and WHEREAS a proportional representation system is more democratic than the existing system and would have given our Party more Members of Parliament because of the percentage of the vote we had in the previous election, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada with our social partners, labour, and both our political partners and allies, raise public awareness on the benefits of this system; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party intensify both its campaign and lobbying of the government, because the timing may be right to implement some sort of proportional representation in Canada. ACADIE-BATHURST NDP108 T. PARTY AFFAIRS 2 T1 WHEREAS Hansard still does not clearly stipulate the parties supporting each bill during a “dissident” vote; and WHEREAS this information is critical to maintain accountability of the House of Commons towards the public; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that until the transcription procedure is amended to reflect how MPs voted on Parliamentary bills on debates of the House of Commons, the NDP request a vote by roll call during the second and third readings of all bills issued by the government (i.e., any bill tabled by a minister). QUEBEC SECTION 2 T2 WHEREAS the small proportion of women in the House of Commons reflects the inequality of women in society and political parties have to date been unable to provide a means or mechanism to resolve the gross inequality of representation; and WHEREAS gender balance achieved by having an equal number of men and women would provide greater democracy and lead to policies and laws which would remove barriers to equality of men and women in society; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the New Democratic Party of Canada supports the principle of representation by two members per constituency, one woman and one man. MISSISSAUGA-ERINDALE NDP 2 T3 WHEREAS Canada prides itself on being a democratic society; and WHEREAS many young Canadians have been alienated from our political institutions; and WHEREAS this is reflected in the decreased number of young Canadians who are represented in our provincial legislatures and in the House of Commons; and WHEREAS focusing on electoral reform is not sufficient to ensure Canada becomes a more democratic society, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the NDP commit to a major effort to achieve social, economic and political democracy for all Canadian citizens in the economy, in the workplace and local communities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP rededicate itself to the establishment of a truly democratic society committed to nothing less than social and economic justice for all. CHURCHILL NDP