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. Private inspectors, who may not be qualified, would now be able to inspect meat.  Worse, these changes to meat inspection rules also change what meat is acceptable – meaning already-dead meat and crippled animals’ meat will be okay for processing for Canadians’ tables.

According to Atamanenko, these changes have been tried before, and with disastrous results. “The 1970’s “rotten meat” scandal caused the meat industry to collapse which is what led to the creation of federal regulations in the first place.” said the BC MP.  “This happened because of a lack of meat processing regulations and already-dead and crippled animal meat was entering the food supply. It’s staggering that the government would ever considering going down this road”

Atamanenko suspects that these changes are arising out of meetings between the US Department of Agriculture, industry reps and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) officials, to further the aims of the Regulatory Cooperation Council to harmonize regulations between the US and Canada.  The government claims they are just looking for ways to cut red tape and provide greater flexibility to slaughterhouse operators.

“I’m certain that most Canadians would agree that cutting red tape and flexible regulations should not be the principles guiding our food safety system” stated NDP Agriculture Critic, Malcolm Allen. “To top everything off, hundreds of CFIA employees, including front line inspectors and veterinarians are on the chopping block.

Atamanenko believes the strength of our federal meat inspection rules for major meat packers must not be weakened.  “I join with my NDP colleagues in echoing the calls of industry workers to keep our meat inspection system regulated, and safe for Canadians,” concluded Atamanenko.  “The Conservative government has no business gambling with Canadians’ health and safety.”

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For more information: Office of Alex Atamanenko, 613-996-8036

The core of Food Sovereignty is “the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through sustainable methods and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.  It puts the aspirations, needs and livelihoods of those who produce, distribute and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations.”

Of course this clashes with the current economic world order of globalization and the concept of continuous growth where goods and capital move freely between countries without any consideration for fair distribution, sustainability or food sovereignty.

There are seven principles of food sovereignty defined by La Via Campesina:  Food as a basic human right cemented in constitution, agrarian reform and indigenous rights to land, protecting natural resources (especially land, water, seeds and livestock breeds), reorganizing food trade (food imports must not displace local production or depress prices), ending the globalization of hunger (regulation and taxation of speculative capital and a strictly enforced Code of Conduct for multinational corporations), social peace (food must not be used as a weapon to marginalize smallholder farmers) and democratic control (United Nations and other related organizations  (ie: WTO, World Bank, and IMF) must undergo a process of democratization so that smallholder farmers have direct input into formulating agricultural policies at all levels).

In what can only viewed as a scurrilous attack against Canada’s food sovereignty, the Conservative government recently dismantled the Canadian Wheat Board despite huge opposition from the majority of western farmers. Our supply managed system for dairy, chicken and eggs is on the table at the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) negotiations and it remains to be seen whether Canadian farmers will be sacrificed to get the deal signed.  Also under discussion in the CETA deal is the ability of municipalities and the provinces to give preference to local procurements as way to stimulate local economies or support local farmers.  In this year’s budget, as part of broader cuts to Agriculture Canada, the federal government severely cut funding to the Canadian Cooperative Association, a low-cost program ($4 million a year) which has made a difference in hundreds of communities across the country.  This government also refuses to consider tightening the rules around genetically modified food, one of the most serious threats to Canadian food sovereignty.

There may have been a time when Canada could be called a sovereign country.  Unfortunately, the Conservative government under Stephen Harper is eroding that at a furious and unabated pace.  One of the weapons we have to push back against such ill conceived policies is to support local farmers any way we possibly can.

Alex Atamanenko, MP
BC Southern Interior

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. All you have to do is open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and you don’t have to put any of your own money into RESP to get the bond. An extra $25 will be paid with the first $500 bond to help cover the cost of opening an RESP. The bond can be used to pay for full- or part-time studies in an apprenticeship program, a CEGEP, trade school, college or university.

You are eligible for the program if your child was born after December 31, 2003, and you get the National Child Benefit Supplement as part of the Canada Child Tax Benefit, commonly known as “family allowance” or “baby bonus.” It’s a simple 2-step process to apply. 1.  Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) for yourself and your child. There’s no fee. However, certain documents, such as a birth certificate, are required. 2.  Open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) account with an RESP provider that offers the Canada Learning Bond.

Choose the RESP provider that best suits your needs and ask: • if they offer the Canada Learning Bond and the Canada Education Savings Grant; • what types of RESPs they offer (family, individual or group) and the advantages and risk factors of each; • what investment products they offer and the advantages and risk factors of each; and • what are their administration fees and penalties.

Remember, you don’t have to put money into the RESP. Your RESP provider will apply for the bond, which will be deposited directly into your child’s RESP account. The Canada Learning Bond will not affect other Government of Canada benefits however it can only be used for post-secondary education. If your child does not continue their education after high school, the Government will take the Canada Learning Bond back. For more information call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232) or visit www.canlearn.ca.

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.

“Those living on limited incomes or who don’t have access to the internet at home can’t always get to places of public access,” the BC MP added. “Once again, rural communities are paying the price for corporate tax cuts.”

Ironically, at the same time as this news was released, the Harper government also announced that it is axing the Community Access Program, which has been supporting programs to make computer access available to as many people as possible.

Permanent residents in the riding may face further difficulties since they are required to pick up their Permanent Resident (PR) cards in person from a CIC official. Since the cards expire every 5 years, this will place an increased burden and cost on permanent residents in the BC Southern Interior and other communities at distance from BC’s lower mainland. Once the Kelowna CIC office is closed, the nearest offices will be in Vancouver or Surrey.

“I am categorically opposed to the closing of the Kelowna CIC office and urge the government to reconsider. This is another example of the grave disservice being done to rural residents. At the absolute minimum, in-person pick-up service for PR cards must be offered at local Service Canada centres to ease the burden on those who can’t travel,” Atamanenko concluded.

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Letter to the Honourable Jason Kenney

For more information contact:
Alex Atamanenko, MP – 1-800-667-2393 or 250-365-2792

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

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 64 Canadian communities and served more than 500 community work partners. They created value to the tune of an estimated $10.8 million.”

“The Conservatives will have deprived federal coffers of 220$ B in revenue between 2006 and 2014 because of corporate tax cuts and now they want to try and balance the books by gutting such worthwhile programs as Katimavik. This makes no sense whatsoever,” concluded Atamanenko.

Katimavik letter to Heritage Minister, James Moore

Katimavik Petition forms – EN

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For more information contact:

Alex Atamanenko, MP –  (613) 996-8036

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 make it a certainty that more families are left without a family doctor.”

The BC Southern Interior MP is also worried that the increase in duty free shopping to $200 for 24 hours and $400 for 48 hours will be sure to hurt businesses in border communities.  “It’s a gift to American retailers and it undermines our tax base further,” said Atamanenko.

“It seems the government’s only job creation strategy is to facilitate super tankers and dirty oil pipelines over our most pristine land and waterways while gutting environmental assessments,” declared Atamanenko, referring to Conservative plans for sweeping legislative and regulatory changes to environmental assessments and over $100 million in funding to expedite resource extraction.

“Once again this government is taking care of its big business friends while completely ignoring the growing inequality that is plaguing this country.”

“New Democrats have called for a reduction in the small business tax rates, real protection for retirement security and stable Health Care funding for the provinces,” concluded Atamanenko.  “Instead we are seeing the reckless gutting of Canadian programs and a budget that actually plans for unemployment to grow.”

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For more information contact: Alex Atamanenko, MP – (250) 365-2792 or 1 800 667 2393

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 House of Commons, pressing the government to admit whether they were planning to make changes to the legislation.

Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield said they were looking at policies and there had been no decisions made, but issued a statement on March 16 saying “The government has been clear that the existing policies do not reflect the priorities of Canadians.”  This week Natural Resource Minister Joe Oliver said the Fisheries Act was “one of the most frequent triggers” to environmental assessments, calling this a “huge disincentive to investment”.

“It makes you think that they have only been listening to corporate lobbyists,” said Atamanenko, echoing the very conclusion stated this week by former Conservative Cabinet Minister John Fraser.  “I fear this proposed change could be rolled into another Omnibus federal budget bill next week, which will once again bury other significant policy changes that have no place in a budget debate,” said Atamanenko.

“People need to speak up quickly to make sure fish habitat protection remains federal law,” said Atamanenko.

Constituents can email:

• The Honourable Keith Ashfield (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans)  min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca • Fin Donnelly (Federal NDP Critic, Fisheries and Oceans) fin.donnelly@parl.gc.ca • Prime Minister Stephen Harper  pm@pm.gc.ca  with a copy to: • Alex Atamanenko, MP, BC Southern Interior  alex.atamanenko@parl.gc.ca

or write to them c/o House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6, postage free.

As well, there are several petitions against the changes.  Go to: http://www.sierraclub.bc.ca/take-action/seafood-oceans/fish-habitat-protection-must-remain-law

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/124/389/037/keep-protection-of-habitat-in-the-canada-fisheries-act/   “We all need to speak out against this ill-informed proposal.  The future of our rivers, lakes and streams is at stake.”

To see Ex-DFO staffer Otto Langer’s press release and the leaked legislative proposal, go to:  http://blogs.canada.com/2012/03/13/are-tories-secretly-rewriting-the-rules-on-protecting-fish-habitat/  and go to http://www.findonnelly.ca/node/418 for more information.

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

]]> http://alexndp.ca/files/2012/03/mp-atamanenko-criticizes-federal-conservative-plans-to-gut-the-fisheries-act-with-budget-bill/feed/ 0 http://alexndp.ca/files/2012/03/atamanenko-angered-by-provincial-decision-on-jumbo-resort/ http://alexndp.ca/files/2012/03/atamanenko-angered-by-provincial-decision-on-jumbo-resort/#comments Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:10:19 +0000 LaurelW http://alexndp.ca/files/?p=903 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 access road upgrade is at great taxpayer expense. Climate change is a fact of life.  Why the province chose to make this decision at this time is incomprehensible.  Which British Columbians are benefitting from this project?”

Jumbo developers are still looking for investors to finance the plans for the resort, which has divided residents in the Kootenays for more than two decades. “This decision makes no sense, economically and environmentally,” said Atamanenko.

Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall and the provincial NDP have also voiced disappointment in the decision by the Liberal government, saying that to come down on the wrong side of the region is unacceptable.

Atamanenko agrees: “I think that the Liberals will find that they will still have a fight on their hands when it comes to making the plans for Jumbo a reality,” he said.

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Contact: Alex Atamanenko, MP BC Southern Interior 1-800-667-2393

Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior is all set to welcome constituents to a series of public forums he has organized with others throughout the riding on the topic of Food Sovereignty.

 “I couldn’t be more pleased that Colleen Ross, Vice President of Policy for the National Farmers Union (NFU) has offered to share her wealth of stories and experience in international and national food movements alongside local presenters at each of the forums,” said Atamanenko. “Colleen and the NFU work very closely with Via Campesina, a global small farmer organization fighting an epic battle against the world’s largest corporations for the right to have a say in their countries’ food policies.

According to Atamanenko there are enormous barriers and challenges facing farmers and eaters in Canada and around the world to produce, trade and have access to healthy and sustainable food supplies. “The solutions to these challenges are varied and often complex, but overcoming these barriers will rely on the intentional actions of informed citizens in each and every community,” said the BC Southern Interior MP.

“Under the current regime in Canada, there is really little hope of influencing policy that positively impacts small and medium sized farmers in a way that will rebuild our local food systems,” said Ross. “For this reason, we must organize more strategically at the grassroots levels – forming partnerships with each other here in Canada and with our allies abroad so that change for the good happens globally, not just locally.

Ross went on to stress that every person involved in the food sovereignty movement can help to make a huge difference by getting more people to join in the struggle.  “This will quicken the pace and impact for a better future for food, farmers and society as a whole.”

Atamanenko is inviting everyone to an evening of inspiring discussion at one of the following forums:

•  March 18 - United Church – 602 Silica St., Nelson
• March 19 – Senior Citizens Hall – 565-71st Ave., Grand Forks
• March 20 – Elks Club – 9725-360th Ave., Oliver
• March 21 – Cawston Hall – 2119 Main St., Cawston
• March 22 – Princeton Legion – 172 Bridge St., Princeton

All forums are from 7:00-9:00 pm with a break for local and fair trade refreshments.

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For more information contact:  Alex Atamanenko, MP – (613) 996 8036