The Prime Minister’s actions have pitted region against region, abandoned the Canadian economy without a fiscal stimulus plan for another two months, and left both his own party and the nation questioning his belligerent style of leadership. In essence, what we have witnessed is a man desperate to maintain power by putting his own interests ahead of the country’s.

The Prime Minister continues to be in denial about the severity the economic crisis. Today it was announced that 70,000 jobs were lost in the last month, the most since the recession of 1982. Here in BC, trouble in our forest and pulp and paper industries will leave thousands jobless during the holidays.

Recent polls have not only demonstrated that Canadians are desperately looking for cooperation in Ottawa, but, more importantly, are truly frightened for the future of our country. Now that the decision has been made to prorogue Parliament, it is contingent on all of us to return to the House of Commons on January 26th, 2009 with cooler heads and a willingness to work together.

Yesterday Stephen Harper said that he wants to work together with the other parties on the upcoming budget and Liberals will be proposing ideas to jumpstart our ailing economy over the coming weeks. I sincerely hope that the Prime Minister’s rhetoric proves to be genuine.

I can promise you that his invitation will be put to the test, and that in the absence of leadership from the government, the Liberal Party is prepared to step up to the plate and present a real plan of action. Pushing for a stimulus package is my first priority in working for the best interests of the residents Newton - North Delta over the coming weeks.

It is your job, your pension and your savings that are on the line and you rightly expect your elected officials to deliver results. As always, your concerns are my guiding light when it comes to making my decisions as your Member of Parliament, and I will continue to put the well-being of my constituents above all other considerations.

Please feel free to contact me over the coming weeks to share your opinions, concerns, questions and ideas. They will be very important for me to hear in this crucial time in our history.

Yours truly,

Sukh Dhaliwal, MP
Newton-North Delta

I am writing this letter to you to provide an explanation about the dramatic events that have occurred in Ottawa over the past week. Stephen Harper and his Conservative government have created a constitutional crisis, and have lost the confidence of not only the House of Commons, but of Canadians across the country.

On November 27, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty presented his fiscal update to provide a window into Canada’s prospects in the global economic downturn. Yet in spite of the document admitting that we as a nation are headed into recession, there was absolutely no plan or new measures to effectively address the economic crisis we currently face. In fact, economists across the country roundly criticized the document as severely underestimating the impacts of the financial turmoil, while building up false expectations with overly optimistic projections. In other words, Canada’s top economic minds considered the update an ideological political ploy that was leading us down a dangerous path.

Your jobs, your pensions and your savings are on the line and you are right to be concerned that now is not the time to play politics. In response to the complete absence of leadership on the economic crisis, the three opposition parties - the Liberals, the NDP, and the Bloc Québécois - have come together to take action. Our respective leaders have signed an agreement to form a government, and have proposed an immediate two-year stimulus package that focuses on:

• Accelerating existing infrastructure funding and make substantial investments in new projects (transit, clean energy, water, economic corridors and gateways to international trade);
• Housing construction and retrofitting;
• Investing in key sector strategies (like manufacturing, forestry and automotive) designed not only save, but to create jobs;
• Facilitating skills training to help ensure that Canadian workers are properly equipped to keep pace with the rapidly changing economy;
• Lowering the minimum required RRIF withdrawal for 2008 by 50 per cent.

These are just a few of the tangible measures that a coalition government would implement. Unlike Stephen Harper’s desire to continue his political games, the Liberal party and its new partners understand the gravity of the situation, and are prepared to step up to offer Canadians real solutions.

It is true that I never campaigned on a coalition agreement during the recent election campaign. However, this crisis, which was caused by the current Conservative government, has become too important not to seek cooperation for the good of the country. The Liberal Party has decided to put its differences aside and work together with the NDP and the Bloc Québécois - an approach that represents a new way of conducting politics in Canada.

The NDP and the Bloc Québécois have agreed not to bring down a new government until at least June 30, 2010. Because this arrangement represents the majority of the house, it provides long-term stability in a time of great economic uncertainty.

Whether the Opposition Parties vote non-confidence, or the Conservatives attempt to prorogue the House of Commons, it will be up to the Governor General to step in. She will either call an election or inquire whether an alternative government could be formed that would have the confidence of the House of Commons.

Regardless of the outcome, you can continue to have faith that I, as your Member of Parliament, will continue to act in the best interests of Newton-North Delta. As has been the case since the first day I stepped into the House of Commons, you as my constituents are and always will be the most important consideration in any decision that I make in Ottawa.

To find more specifics on the coalition agreement (including the formal Accord and policy priorities), please visit www.sukhdhaliwal.ca.

I look forward to your continued feedback, and am as always ready and willing to listen and take guidance.

Best regards,

Sukh Dhaliwal, MP
Newton-North Delta

“I am very pleased to have been elected to this important position as a result of tremendous support from my colleagues,” said Dhaliwal. “As Chair, I will bring strong, independent leadership that will put the interests of the West first. We will push for the West’s priorities to be heard on the national stage.”

Dhaliwal cited his independent voice and grassroots approach as the reason for the results. As Chair of the North and Western Caucus, Dhaliwal will speak every week at the meeting of Liberal National Caucus on behalf of the western provinces and the territories. He will also Chair the regional caucus’ weekly meeting and sit on the National Caucus executive.

It is a common refrain that the Conservative government has taken issues in the West for granted, Dhaliwal says.

“Whether it has been support for the troubled forestry industry or the fight for First Nations’ rights, Stephen Harper’s government has been missing in action. If Conservative MPs and Senators are not going to stand up for the rights of the West, then it is important that the Liberal Party continues to fight to have our voices heard,” Dhaliwal concluded.

Sukh Dhaliwal also serves as the Official Opposition Critic for the Asia Pacific Gateway and Sport.

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media@sukhdhaliwal.ca
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Ottawa, ON - After dying on the order paper in the last Parliament, a bill to give judges the option of consecutive sentencing instead of mandated concurrent sentencing was reintroduced in the House of Commons today. Mississauga East-Cooksville MP Albina Guarnieri’s proposed legislation was seconded by Sukh Dhaliwal, MP for Newton-North Delta. 

Under current laws, there is no difference in sentencing between single acts of murder or sexual assault and criminals who commit additional acts of violence. This bill proposes to send a clear message to criminals that every victim deserves a measure of justice, and that multiple offences will be individually and consecutively punished.

“It an obscenity that our justice system does not stand up for those individuals victimized after the first act of brutality,” said Dhaliwal. “Following the senseless murders of Chris Mohan and Ed Shellenberg in Surrey last fall, I have been determined to ensure that there are severe penalties for those that regard human life as worthless.”

In 1999, a similar bill passed in the House of Commons by an overwhelming vote of 117 to 40, but was once again lost to an election before the Senate was able to give it royal ascent.
Despite the efforts of the RCMP and other police forces in Metro Vancouver, gang violence continues to cause fear in our community. While citizens have come to realize that the majority of the murders are occurring between drug gang members themselves, the Mohan and Shellenberg deaths were a wake up call that these killers, when caught, would receive no additional penalty for silencing the witnesses of their crimes.

“This tragedy prompted many to call for change, including Surrey Mayor Diane Watts. Sukh and I are proud to take their fight to Parliament,” Guarnieri said. “Sukh’s leadership and determination has been instrumental in bringing this bill forward.”

“We promise to work to reach out to my colleagues in parties to build support for this important measure and get it passed,” added Dhaliwal. “Without this legislation, all Surrey and Delta residents remain vulnerable to criminals who show no regard for the lives of the innocent.”

Such Dhaliwal is the Official Opposition Critic for the Asia Pacific Gateway and Sport.

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“For British Columbia, these are two public policy areas that will have huge economic impact in the coming years, and I am pleased to step into the role of critic for both,” said Dhaliwal. “This government cannot treat these issues as second class, because on both fronts, there are national implications that must be considered.”

The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative is an integrated set of federal government investment and policy measures focused on trade with the Asia-Pacific Region. Its mission is to establish Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor as the best transportation network facilitating global supply chains between North America and Asia. Over the past two years Dhaliwal has worked with his constituents and stakeholders on the South Fraser Perimeter Road, a portion of the Gateway that passes through his riding.

Federal support for sports includes Sport Canada and the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will be held from February 12 to February 28, 2010 in Vancouver and Whistler. The Government of Canada is a major partner of the Games, and has invested more than $650 million into various initiatives.

The announcement comes on the heels of Prime Minister Stephen Harper shutting out Surrey and Delta from any cabinet representation, in spite of having a number of MPs to choose from.

Sukh Dhaliwal has represented Newton-North Delta since 2006, and is one of the only Liberal MPs in Canada to increase his electoral margin of victory in 2008.

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(604) 506-0735

“Stephen Harper doesn’t care about Surrey and Delta. We are one of the fastest growing major regions in Canada and yet Harper has given us no voice in his government,” Dhaliwal said.

“Harper has no interest in listening to us. He’s all too happy to have us add to seat count, but then we’re shut out of the room when it’s time to make decisions. It is outrageous that Harper is taking Surrey and Delta for granted.”

Harper appointed 37 cabinet ministers and 27 parliamentary secretaries from his 143 member caucus.

“It’s not as if he didn’t have the space. Stephen Harper has created one of the largest executives ever—half of his MPs have positions of responsibility. Even rookie MPs were promoted to higher offices, yet Harper couldn’t find a single spot for any Surrey and Delta MPs,” Dhaliwal said.

“Politics is about respect and clearly Stephen Harper has no respect for Surrey and Delta,” Dhaliwal concluded.

Sukh Dhaliwal is the Member of Parliament for Newton - North Delta. He was elected in 2006 and re-elected in 2008.

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“Of all of the issues that have come through my office, this rates in the top three in terms of the letters that I have received. Many of my constituents have told me that they fear that this will give the government ‘police state-like powers’ if it passes,” said Dhaliwal. 

Dhaliwal welcomed special guests Geof Glass from the local chapter of Fair Copyright Canada and Langley internet entrepreneur Scott Cave of Rook Interactive.

“Under this bill, art will be locked up. Not by humans, not by a judge or a court of law, but by digital locks with no ability to distinguish the good from the bad. These locks are embedded in technology,” warned Glass. “I am concerned that Bill C-61 threatens Canadian art, culture, and innovation.” 

Cave, whose company provides a web-presence for independent musicians, that Industry Minister Jim Prentice’s early statements on this bill implied that its intent was to provide balance to copyright law. Yet he discovered that Prentice failed to consult people like Terry McBride, the CEO of Nettwerk Productions, the largest record label in Canada.

Several participants mused that it appeared that U.S. recording industry lobbyists dictated this bill for Minister Prentice and that it was evident that he did not understand the issue.

Rita Penco, manager of Delta Libraries spoke of her concern that “Bill C-61 ignores the fact that a 2004 Supreme Court judgment already allows libraries to do a desktop delivery of an electronic document in an interlibrary loan. This bill would restrict us from sharing research material that is requested between libraries.”

“We certainy need to update our copyright laws because of new technologies, but we also have to consult with Canadians in order to create a law that does not stifle innovation, culture and the fair use of copyright material by consumers. There is no excuse for the Conservatives’ failure to consult,” Dhaliwal concluded.  “Feedback from this meeting will help the Liberal Party draft amendments so that we can ensure that our copyright law is truly balanced.” 

A representative from the Canadian Independent Record Production Association was invited to the town hall meeting, but was unable to attend.

Sukh Dhaliwal is the Member of Parliament for Newton - North Delta and the Opposition Critic for Competitiveness and the New Economy. 

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For more information, please contact
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Event: Copyright Fairness Town Hall Meeting
Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Time: 7pm to 8:30pm
Location: George Mackie Library, 8440 112th Street, Delta

Sukh Dhaliwal is the Member of Parliament for Newton - North Delta and the Opposition Critic for Competitiveness and the New Economy.

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For more information, please contact
604-506-0735
media@sukhdhaliwal.ca