Alex Atamanenko Urges Government to Uphold Ban on Oil Tanker Traffic

May 18th, 2012

May 2012 (CASTLEGAR, BC) Forty years ago, the Canadian government introduced a moratorium banning oil tankers from the north and central coast of British Columbia.

Now with hearings taking place into the Enbridge Northern Gateway project, Alex Atamanenko, Member of Parliament for BC Southern Interior, is urging the federal government to uphold that ban.

“As we approach the forty-year anniversary of the north coast tanker ban, the Conservative government is paving the way for unprecedented oil tanker traffic off the BC coast and gutting the environmental review processes,” said Atamanenko.

“I believe that the tanker moratorium is at risk due to the Conservative government’s promotion of the proposed Read the rest of this entry »

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Atamanenko Concerned About Proposed Changes to Meat Inspection Regulations

May 15th, 2012

 

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

(OTTAWA, ON) – New Democrat MP, Alex Atamanenko (BC Southern Interior) is appalled by the reckless changes to Meat Inspection Regulations (MIR) being proposed by the Conservative government that will leave Canadians wondering if the meat they buy is actually safe. Read the rest of this entry »

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FOOD SOVEREIGNTY – A CONCEPT TO FIGHT FOR

May 8th, 2012

The concept of ‘Food Sovereignty’, was developed by La Via Campesina as the best way to promote social justice and human dignity.  La Via Campesina is an independent, non-partisan body of local and international organizations from 70 countries, including Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, representing 200 million small and medium sized farmers, farm workers, landless people, fisher folk and others.  The increasing call for Food Sovereignty has become a very powerful response to food, poverty and climate crises Read the rest of this entry »

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TAX TIP: Canada Learning Bond

April 25th, 2012

TAX TIP: Canada Learning Bond

The Canada Learning Bond provides money from the Government to help you start saving early for your child’s education after high school.

Your child could get $500 NOW to help you start saving early for your child’s education after high school, and an extra $100 each year up to age 15. That’s up to $2,000 (plus interest) in bonds for your child’s post-secondary education Read the rest of this entry »

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CONSERVATIVE WRECKING BALL DEMOLISHES MORE RURAL SERVICES

April 18th, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2012

CONSERVATIVE WRECKING BALL DEMOLISHES MORE RURAL SERVICES

Castlegar – BC Southern Interior Member of Parliament Alex Atamanenko was dismayed to hear the news that the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) office in Kelowna is slated for closure earlier today.

“The Conservatives are dismantling Canada piece by piece,” he declared. “This will result in a critical reduction in services related to citizenship and immigration matters for the people in my riding.”

Although CIC is expanding the use of online processes which is helpful in some circumstances, Atamanenko’s office receives calls from many people who don’t have computer access or who don’t know how to use them. Read the rest of this entry »

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MP ATAMANENKO SLAMS CUTS TO BORDER SERVICES

April 15th, 2012

MP ATAMANENKO SLAMS CUTS TO BORDER SERVICES

CASTLEGAR – Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior, slammed the Conservatives for slashing services at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and putting Canadian public safety and business at risk.

“These cuts could end up costing Canadians more than they save,” said Atamanenko.

The CBSA faces a $143.4 million cut to its current budget. Canada is cutting back on border officers at a time it is introducing comprehensive changes on “perimeter security” with the United States, strengthening ties to harmonize regulations and processes with the United States.

“I have spent time at some of our border crossings and have a deep appreciation of the work our Canadian Border Service officers do. They turn back illegal weapons, keep drugs and criminals out of our country and collect the necessary duties that protect Canadian businesses and supplement our tax base,” stated the NDP MP.

“To be faced with a reduction of personnel at our border crossings is ludicrous. It seems a contradiction to the government’s so-called tough-on-crime” focus. Let’s also not forget that border service officers and their families help contribute to the local economies of our rural communities.”

According to NDP International Trade Critic Brian Masse, by slashing jobs and cutting the CBSA’s budget, the Conservatives are guaranteeing lost business and weakening public safety for Canadians.

“Fewer border services officers mean longer wait times for Canadian travellers and lost revenue for businesses stuck clearing customs instead of moving goods. For every extra minute trucks are stuck idling at border plazas, thousands of dollars are lost.”
Masse also points out that Conservative mishandling of the border will compromise public safety while diminishing government tariff revenues.

“First and foremost, fewer border officers mean a greater likelihood for guns and drugs to sneak over the border. But in their reckless attempts to save money, Conservatives will also miss out on valuable revenue that comes from tariffs,” said Masse.

“Our government should not be playing with the safety of Canadians. We should be increasing staff at border crossings instead of slashing jobs,” concluded the BC Southern Interior MP.

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For more information: Alex Atamanenko 250-365-2792 1-800-667-2393

 

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ATAMANENKO SLAMS KATIMAVIK CUT AS “UN-CANADIAN”

April 4th, 2012

ATAMANENKO SLAMS KATIMAVIK CUT AS “UN-CANADIAN”

 

April 4, 2012 (Ottawa, ON) - BC Southern Interior Member of Parliament Alex Atamanenko is outraged at the Conservative decision to cut Katimavik.

“This is purely a political decision. Just because the Liberals started this program, Conservative ideology believes that it must go,” stated the NDP MP.

“I have personally witnessed the good work that these young Canadians do in helping our communities and have seen the positive interaction that takes place between them. This is truly a grassroots way to build national unity. Cutting the program is, in my opinion, un-Canadian!”

Katimavik began in 1977 with the purpose of educating youth and fostering lifelong civic engagement through community service. Through various changes to the program, it has continued to adapt to changing society while staying true to its mission.  According to their most recent annual report, from 2010-2011, “600 Katimavik volunteers worked 81,770 hours in Read the rest of this entry »

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Conservative Budget Plan – Gut Canadian Institutions

March 30th, 2012

March 29, 2012 (Ottawa, ON)

Conservative Budget Plan – Gut Canadian Institutions and Prop up Big Business

Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior, is not impressed with the direction taken by the Conservative government in the 2012 federal budget introduced today in the House of Commons.

Atamanenko says the government’s plan to raise the eligible age for Old Age Security from 65 to 67 will force seniors to work two years extra while denying jobs for younger workers longer.  It also forces low-income seniors in BC to live two more years on degrading rates of social assistance.

The budget also short changes the Provinces by $31 billion with unilateral changes to the funding formula for federal health transfers, opening the door wide to privatization and two-tier health care.

“These are massive cuts and the provinces cannot afford it,” said Atamanenko.  “It is shameful that this government will balance the books on the backs of seniors who want to retire in dignity and Read the rest of this entry »

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MP ATAMANENKO CRITICIZES FEDERAL CONSERVATIVE PLANS TO GUT THE FISHERIES ACT WITH BUDGET BILL

March 22nd, 2012

MP ATAMANENKO CRITICIZES FEDERAL CONSERVATIVE PLANS TO GUT THE FISHERIES ACT WITH BUDGET BILL

Proposed changes could end crucial powers to protect fish habitat

MARCH 22, 2011  (Castlegar, BC) - MP Alex Atamanenko (BC Southern Interior) said the Conservative’s plan to make changes to the Fisheries Act in an omnibus federal budget bill next week has been exposed and the federal government needs to come clean on its agenda.

A former DFO employee Otto Langer leaked documents last week that shone a light on government plans to strip the Fisheries Act of habitat protection provisions.

“In the current climate of the Enbridge pipeline, increased mining proposals and private power projects on BC rivers, these proposed changes to fish habitat protection make you wonder just what interests are they choosing to protect?,” said Atamanenko.

“I find it very interesting that two former Progressive Conservative cabinet ministers have lashed out at the federal government as ‘foolish’,  saying the Harper government has ‘very, very limited understanding, intelligence or wisdom’ on this subject,” Atamanenko added.

“As they put it, you can’t protect fish if you don’t protect their habitat,” he said.

Federal NDP Fisheries Critic Finn Donnelly first challenged the government over the leaked documents on March 13 in the Read the rest of this entry »

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Atamanenko Angered by Provincial Decision on Jumbo Resort

March 21st, 2012

Atamanenko Angered by Provincial Decision on Jumbo Resort

March 21, 2012

Alex Atamanenko, Member of Parliament for BC Southern Interior voiced his dismay and anger at the BC provincial government’s approval of the controversial Jumbo Alpine Glacier Resort.

“The Liberal government has seen fit to make this decision in spite of years of fighting against the development of Jumbo by communities and individuals.  Ignoring the voice of the people and paving the way for an unwanted development is short-sighted and irresponsible,” said the NDP MP. “What is this government doing?”

If built, the $1-billion Jumbo Glacier Resort would create a ski resort and recreational city on Crown land in the remote Jumbo Valley in the Purcell Mountains, 55 kilometres from Invermere. The site is home to grizzly bears and other wildlife whose habitat will be impacted by the development.  The site is also carries historic and spiritual significance for the Ktunaxa First Nation.

“This is decision goes against the wishes of rural communities, a First Nation and the environment,” said Atamanenko.

“The Jumbo resort is being proposed in a region that already has a dozen ski resorts within 150 kilometres.  The proposed Read the rest of this entry »

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