In this issue

1 Consultations for the future of public health

1 Will EI be there when you need it?

2 Blocking the attempt to reopen abortion

2 Bill C-427

3 In our community

4 Honouring involvement in the community

While Medicare was estab-lished to make sure Canadi-ans have the quality health care they need regardless of their ability to pay, today there are growing dispari-ties in health coverage across Canada. We need a change.

Canadians deserve the best care in the world, and there is no reason they shouldn’t get it. There are affordable improvements we can make to Medicare, and New Demo-crats are committed to get-ting the job done.

After six years in government,

Stephen Harper’s Conserva-tives have failed to improve public health care. Worse, they’re cutting $36-billion in funding—even before the Health Accords with the prov-inces come up for renegotia-tion in 2014.

In July 2012, provincial pre-miers agreed to a new plan with clear goals for health care innovation. But provinc-es will not be able to achieve these goals if the federal gov-ernment doesn’t do its part.

We need a federal government that is willing to work with the

provinces and territories, and ensure long-term investment to bring our health care sys-tem into the 21st century.

Fifty years ago, the party of Tommy Douglas brought Medicare to Canada. Today, the New Democrats remain

committed to showing the same leadership and ensur-ing the sustainability of Can-ada’s healthcare system. That is why the NDP is organiz-ing public consultations on the future of free, universal healthcare in our country.

CONTINUED PAGE 2

Consultations for the future of public health

Losing a job is a terrible blow for any family. That’s why Canada has Employment In-surance—for peace of mind. We pay into EI throughout our working lives, and we expect this safety net to be there when we need it.

But something has gone wrong. Under the Conserva-tives, the majority of Canadi-ans can no longer count on Employment Insurance.

The Conservative record on EI:

1 They refused to fix EI rules that disqualify six in 10 Canadians from the

program they’ve paid into.

2 They ran up a $57-billion surplus of EI premiums collected from work-ers and employers, then deleted any record of it in their 2010 budget.

3 In their 2012 omnibus budget, they changed the rules again to cut you off EI unless you accept any job the Conservative cabinet deems “suitable.” Even if that means aban-doning your career to take a low-wage job.And if you don’t agree? You’ll lose your EI.

Employment Insurance was designed to help you build your career by finding a new job in your chosen field. But the Conservatives are ready to see teachers, nurses, tradespeople and other spe-cialists leave their careers paths to take low-wage jobs.

Forcing more people into low-wage jobs—or onto pro-vincial welfare rolls—is no way to build the skilled and confident workforce Canada needs.

That’s why the New Demo-crat economic plan puts Ca-nadian workers first.

Will EI be there when you need it?

Parliamentary Bulletin • Autumn/Winter 2012

Tyrone BenskinMEMBER OF PARLIAMENT // JEANNE-LE BER

Riding office

2403, rue du Centre Montreal QC H3K 1J9

Charlevoix

Phone: 514.496.4885Fax: 514.496.8097

Ottawa office

950 Promenade BuildingHouse of CommonsOttawa ON K1A 0A6

Phone: 613.995.6403Fax: 613.995.6404

Mail to your MP does not need a stamp.

tyrone.benskin@parl.gc.catyronebenskin.ndp.ca

A message from Tyrone Benskin

Dear friends and neighbours,

Parliament is back in session, and I’m right back to work representing your interests in Ottawa. Unfortunately, the Harper government doesn’t always make it easy!

One of the biggest issues right now is the tainted beef scandal. You’ve probably seen signs about the recall in grocery stores right here in Verdun and the Sud-Ouest. Conservative cuts in food safety inspections led directly to this fiasco. But rather than taking responsibility, they’ve pretended the system works fine. That’s not leadership.

We have already made some gains so far this session. We took the Minister of Human Resources back to the drawing board on some of the most harmful changes to employment insurance. And we blocked the Conservatives’ underhanded attempt to reopen the abortion debate. (Many thanks to the hundreds of you who wrote to my office, making it clear that the right to choose is a basic value for Quebecers.)

But it’s not enough to oppose: we are also proposing. We have launched a cross-Canada tour to consult the public on the future of our health care system. We proposed a pan-Canadian strategy for public transit. For my part, I’m proposing an income tax reform to recognize the realities of Canada’s artists.

My job in Ottawa is to represent you. Don’t hesitate to contact my office to let me know your opinion on the issues of the day. Hearing from you helps me do my job better!

Sincerely, Tyrone Benskin, MP

We want to work together with Canadians, health care professionals, and the pro-vincial and territorial gov-ernments to determine what changes are needed to adapt our health care system to the 21st century.

Among our ideas:

• Reducing drug costs by im-proving the analysis of new drugs, reviewing how the Patented Medications Price Review Board establishes the price of new drugs, and ensuring that internation-al trade agreements do not drive up drug costs.

•Working with the provinc-es and territories to ensure seamless transitions from hospital to home and long-term care by negotiating fi-nancial transfers to expand home care and long-term care services across the coun-try, with a right of withdrawal

with full compensation for Quebec.

• Supporting the country’s 2 million natural caregivers by extending and improving ac-cess to the EI compassionate care benefit and providing a Caregiver Tax Benefit, mod-eled on the Child Disability Benefit.

• Ensure the living conditions that support good health: decent income, proper food and housing, and a strong social safety net including secure pensions and acces-sible employment insurance.

The NDP’s health tour will come to Jeanne-Le Ber this autumn. Keep your eyes open for the announcement of the date and time by press release and on my website and Facebook page.

ndp.ca/health

Health consultationsCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

On September 26, Tyrone Benskin voted against Mo-tion M-312, which aimed to reopen the abortion debate. The NDP caucus voted unan-imously against this back-ward motion.

“My constituents in Jeanne-

Le Ber massively support women’s right to choose,” Mr. Benskin said. “I was proud to stand up for wom-en’s rights with all my NDP colleagues. We will not allow the clock to be turned back.”

Motion M-312 called for the

creation of a special House of Commons committee to study the definition of hu-man being in the Criminal Code, an underhanded way of reopening the abortion debate. New Democrats have always fought for gen-der equality and constantly

defended women’s right to abortion.

91 MPs, including the Minis-ter for the Status of Women Rona Ambrose, supported the motion.

Blocking the attempt to reopen abortion

Bill C-427: Reflecting the realities of Canadian artists

2 Tyrone Benskin, MP

The culture industry is one of the biggest sectors of the Canadian economy. But during my long career as an independent artist, I have learned first-hand how un-forgiving our tax system can be to those engaged in cre-ative enterprise.

Due to their often irregu-lar hours and inconsistent incomes, artists are nearly always disadvantaged both by punitively high taxation during years of high earning

and by being ineligible for a number of federal programs such as Employment Insur-ance (EI), the Canada Pen-sion Plan (CPP) and others.

That’s why I proposed Bill C-427. It will begin to level the playing field by allow-ing Canadian artists to aver-age their income over a pe-riod, achieving considerable tax savings over two to five years. This would follow the example of Quebec and of a number of foreign countries.

It will also exempt from taxa-tion a portion of the income derived from royalties and residuals.

I am determined to enact this modest measure prom-ising greater fairness for Canada’s artists and their incredible contribution to our economy and society.

My bill enjoys widespread support in the artistic com-munity. Among others, the artist’s union ACTRA and

the Union des artistes have endorsed it.

To find out more and to lend your support to this initiative, please consult my website on the bill: tyronebenskin.npd.ca/c-427.

1 The Leucan Shaved Head Challenge at Atwater Market, a benefit for children with leukemia. 2 Public forum on social housing organized by

Tyrone Benskin and Hélène LeBlanc (LaSalle—Émard) at CÉDA. 3 and 4 Neighbourhood parties for Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. 5 Dinner for Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day organized by the Centre africain du développement et d’entraide. 6 Launch of the Coopérative jeunesse de service (CJS) de Verdun. 7 The community comes together to build a playground at Parc Jessie-Maxwell-Smith. 8 Planting trees on the banks of the Lachine Canal, with Hélène LeBlanc MP.

In our community

1

2 3

4 5

6 7 8

In their 2012 omnibus budget, the Conservatives changed the rules for Employment Insurance again, to cut people off unless they accept any job the Conservative cabinet deems “suitable.” Even if that means abandoning your career to take a low-wage job. And if you don’t agree? You’ll lose the EI you paid into.

Have these changes affected you? Yes, I had to take a job I’m overqualified for or that’s outside my field.

Yes, I had to take a job that doesn’t pay enough for me to live on.

Yes, I had to take a job much farther away from where I live.

No, but I’m worried they might.

No, and I don’t think they will.

How would they? With the government’s stringent conditions, I don’t qualify for EI to begin with—even though I’ve paid in my whole life.

Your comments:

We want to hear from you

3Jeanne-Le Ber

I would like to receive electronic updates

E-mail _________________________________________________

Name _________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________

Postal code ____________________________________________

At your serviceMy team is here to help you with any concerns you may have regarding federal services, such as immigration, employment insurance, Canada student loans, and federal pensions (CPP, OAS, and GRS).

I am here to make sure your voice is heard in Parliament. Do not hesitate to write, telephone, or e-mail to let me know your opinions about the issues that affect our community.

A new look

In the House

Portage, a non-profit or-ganization that helps people suffering from substance abuse-related problems to overcome their dependen-cies and live healthy, happy and productive lives, held a recognition ceremony on September 30 to celebrate the achievements of those completing its program. Portage’s Montreal offices are an important part of the Little Burgundy community. Warmest congratulations to the graduates for your persis-tence and commitment, and to the staff for their service, caring, and professionalism.

portage.ca

The Benedict Labre House, an independent Griffintown resource for the homeless, marked 60 years of service and compassion this Sep-tember. The centre offers meals, showers, clothing, laundry, services, activities, and referrals for homeless men and women in a non-judgmental and welcom-ing atmosphere, respecting the innate human dignity of each. Hats off to the staff and volunteers of Benedict Labre House.

benedictlabre.org 308, rue Young

The Jardin communau-taire de l’allée des Tanneries is a community garden in the Tanneries Village neighbour-hood in western Saint-Henri.

With 18 garden plots and plans for 15 more, it com-bines urban agriculture and access to healthy food with a friendly, inviting neigh-bourhood space. September 15 saw a collective clean-up and barbecue in the garden, in collaboration with Opéra-tion Montréal.NET and Pro-Vert Sud-Ouest. A great community initiative in Tan-neries Village

obnljcat.wordpress.comSouthern ends of Rue Wal-nut and Rue Desnoyers, Saint-Henri

The Concertation en dével-oppement social de Verdun (CDSV) is delighted by the success of the Semaine des déplacements actifs (active transport week), which took place September 17–23 in Verdun. During this week, numerous activites such as exploration walks, work-sops, and surveys helped to paint a clearer picture of the transportation habits of Ver-dun residents and the prob-lems they encounter in get-ting around. Based on these exchanges, a transportation portrait will shortly be cre-ated. And starting this win-ter, Verdun residents will be invited to take part in devel-oping concrete proposals for promoting active transpor-tation (walking and cycling) in Verdun.

tinyurl.com/8hhk4ul

Honouring involvement in the community

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY, PROVINCE, POSTAL CODE

Tyrone Benskin Member of ParliamentHouse of CommonsOttawa, ONK1A 0A6

“If the aim of these changes in the program is to encourage people to work, then why do that through a process of threats as opposed to answering some of the issues that have been problematic with Service Canada and EI system accessibility? [...] Why is the government not making it easier, as opposed to penalizing people who are trying to use the EI system?”

– Tyrone Benskin, MP Jeanne-Le Ber October 1, 2012

Based on your comments, my parliamentary bulletin has gotten a new look. I hope you’ll find this new format attractive and easy to read. Don’t hesitate to send us any comments you may have about the new bulletin.

We are currently looking for photos for our 2013 calendar! I invite amateur photographers to send me their best photos of scenes in the riding by e-mail at tyrone.benskin@parl.gc.ca. Please send high-resolution JPEG files.

CUT HERE

no stamp required