Katy Austin : New Democrats

In light of the fact that the current federal government is a minority one, two recent
events in the House of Commons underline the fact that when the nation’s parties work
together good things can be achieved.

The bill to send inexpensive drugs to combat AIDS in Africa is a great example of such
co-operation. Bill C-393, “Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime”, was a result of a long term
grassroots movement supported by grandmothers, AIDS activists, physicians, and prominent
Canadians, especially Stephen Lewis, the former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. In a
rare show of unity on March 9, New Democrats, Liberals, the Bloc Quebecois and even some
Conservatives voted in favour of the bill. It now goes to the Senate, where it must be passed
before it can become a law.

Unfortunately, in the same week, a similar attempt to address poverty in Canada met
with little success. The Commons Human Resources Committee, composed of MPs from all
parties, spent three years and $230,000 to assemble 58 recommendations that would have
given the federal government a key role in efforts to help the nation’s poor. However, the
Harper government has chosen to ignore its work and concentrate on simply improving the
economy.

Addressing the poverty question is the latest in a long list of issues in which the
Conservatives have ignored the wishes of opposition parties and activist groups across the
country. They refused to comply with a federal court order to repatriate Omar Khadr. They
sent back to the U.S. soldiers who had refused to fight in Iraq, despite the will of Parliament,
which had voted against such action. It was also Conservative senators who killed the Climate
Change Accountability Act which was passed by a majority of the elected members of the
House of Commons.

Minority governments can be productive by taking advantage of the best and brightest
minds from all the parties, but only if the governing party co-operates. If only the Harper
government would do so.

Katy Austin,

Simcoe Grey New Democrats

Categories: Katy's Letters to the Editor
Tags: features