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STATEMENT: Jenny Kwan’s statement on the launch of EMPP and the Global Task Force on Refugee Labour Mobility

The Liberals need to make good on their promises if we are to meaningfully realize the talent of ​the refugees who want to come to Canada and contribute to ​Canada's economic, social and cultural fabric.
Furthermore, the EMPP’s requirement that applicants must have UNHCR refugee status determination means that many talented refugees will not be able to access this program as in some regions,  there are no UNHCR offices available. This requirement is not only an impediment for this program, it is also a huge barrier for those seeking private sponsorships through the Group of Five Initiative. I have repeatedly called on the government to waive this requirement and I must echo that call now. For those seeking asylum in Canada and elsewhere, time is of the essence.

REALITY CHECK: Conservatives want the Liberals to increase budget spending by $25 Billion

New Democrats believe it's important to be fiscally responsible with Canadians' money. That's why they proposed measures to make the very rich pay their fair share to invest in programs to help Canadians:
        • Making big banks, big box stores and big oil pay their fair share on excess profits.
        • Cut billion-dollar subsidies to big oil.
"The Conservatives and Liberals continue to protect the profits of the super-rich and are getting us nowhere on solving big problems people are facing now. The Liberals found a way to give billions to big oil companies while they are making record profits on the fantasy of being able to capture carbon. And while the Conservatives like to pretend they want to help you, they refuse to make the ultra-rich pay their fair share. Leaving you and your family struggling to make ends meet. While the Liberals and Conservatives protect the very rich and their profits made on the backs of people, New Democrats stand with workers and families. Every time." – NDP MP Charlie Angus

MEDIA RELEASE - New Democrats are using their power to secure results that will make a big difference in people’s lives

In Budget 2022, the NDP secured dental care coverage for kids, help to pay rent for a million Canadians, and making big banks pay their fair share

OTTAWA – With today’s budget, the NDP used their power to secure results the Liberals haven’t delivered – results that will make a big difference in people’s lives. The cost of living has gone up and people are struggling to make ends meet. By asking the big banks to pay a little bit more, we can help families make ends meet with dental care coverage and help to find a home.

CIMM MEDIA RELEASE: Extending special immigration measures to regions faced with humanitarian crises

MP Jenny Kwan’s motion to address the differential treatment of refugees in different regions is being passed at the Immigration Committee.

IN THE NEWS: Hill Times - Scrap tax exemption ‘loophole’ causing ‘erosion’ of rental affordability: housing advocates

The existing corporate tax exemption makes real estate investment trusts (REITs) especially attractive to investors, said Steve Pomeroy, a housing policy consultant and professor of industry at McMaster University. He said the big-picture result has been the “erosion” of affordable rental units over the years as large corporate landlords have used this “much larger pool of capital” to buy older apartment buildings, renovate vacant units, and raise rents.

NDP MP Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East, B.C.) said whether these measures make it into the budget “remains to be seen, but the NDP is absolutely calling for the government to take action.” She described the corporate tax exemption as “a tax loophole” that benefits investors at the expense of renters.

MEDIA RELEASE - Liberals continue to rubberstamp oil projects, fail to invest in workers or solutions to the worsening climate crisis

Just days ago, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a scathing report warning people that we cannot continue on our current path if we are going to have any chance of addressing climate change.
The reality we are facing could not be more clear: bolder action is urgently needed.
But today, we learned the Liberals are going ahead with a new fossil fuel project and will continue to hand out billions of dollars to oil and gas companies.

IN THE NEWS: Globe & Mail - Church group halts refugee sponsorship role, calls on Ottawa to provide support

A B.C. church organization that has been instrumental in sponsoring refugees has abruptly suspended its program, as Canada’s private sponsors face frustration and burnout amid a growing humanitarian crisis.

“I regret to inform you that all sponsorship activities under the auspices of the Anglican Diocese of BC are hereby suspended effective immediately,” Tony Davis, the diocese’s sponsorship co-ordinator, told community partners in a March 27 e-mail obtained by The Globe and Mail. “This action is taken with a heavy heart, and I am not certain how long the issues behind this decision will take to be resolved.”

MEDIA RELEASE - We must fight against the spread of fake news for the safety of Canadians

“Canadians want reliable information about public health–especially during this pandemic. Unfortunately, the spread of fake news online has compromised the reliability and quality of the information people are getting. It has also created a space to feed online hate. People expect their government to help fix this problem.
Furthermore, the unfair competition from web giants is decreasing the revenue of media outlets that people depend on. The lack of a level playing field is leading to the closure of many local media outlets and making the spread of fake news a pandemic of its own threatening the safety of people, particularly racialized and Indigenous communities.

MEDIA RELEASE - Migrant workers deserve respect and dignity

People who come here to work deserve dignity and protection. There is no denying that there is a power imbalance in the Temporary Foreign Workers program that has resulted in many migrant workers being exploited, including being subject to wage theft and poor working conditions. We’ve seen the horrors of how TFWs are put in substandard housing, unable to isolate in dense living quarters during the pandemic and unable to speak up until their health was affected. This highlights the ongoing and deep-seated problem with the TFW program.
The findings of a recent damning report by the Auditor General exposed the Liberal government's failure to ensure the health and safety of temporary foreign agricultural workers where Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) provided little assurance that workers were protected during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons. In fact, even though the Liberals promised they would take action to address this blatant violation of the worker's rights in 2020, the quality of inspections have gotten worse. By adding more TFWs to the system, ESDC will be spread even thinner and struggle even more to ensure the safety of these workers.

MEDIA RELEASE - New Democrats call for bolder action in response to russian war crimes

“The world is watching in horror as reports emerge from Ukraine about the discovery of a mass grave in the city of Bucha,” said McPherson. “300 bodies, many of them women and children, have been found further confirming that crimes against humanity and war crimes are being committed by the Russian federation. In addition to the unconscionable killing of civilians, reports are also emerging about sexual violence against women and children by the Russian military. These heinous acts demand action. Vladimir Putin and the Russian military must not be allowed to get away with this.”
McPherson’s motion calls on Parliament to support increased aid to Ukraine so that Ukrainians can defend themselves against these horrific events, accountability for these actions at the International Criminal Court, as well as increased punitive measures like stronger trade restrictions and economic sanctions.