Layoffs will affect Air Canada workers in Montreal, Winnipeg and Vancouver Following today?s lay-off announcement of more than 1,000 Air Canada machinists, New Democrats are proposing measures which would help these workers and their families in these tough economic times. ?With our economy still on shaky foundations, we need to make sure that we are proactive to help lessen the damage caused by these layoffs,? said New Democrat Deputy Leader Thomas Mulcair (Outremont). ?This isn?t just about 1,000 workers, but a choice by our government to put jobs first in our economic recovery.?

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Following four years of Conservative disinterest in China, Liberals are meeting today to work on Canada?s long-term strategy for China. ?China has the world?s third largest economy, the largest population and is growing at full speed,? said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. ?In order to compete internationally and assert our voice in the Asia-Pacific region, Canada needs a comprehensive plan for engagement with China.?

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The Green Party of Canada is calling for the immediate release of the panel report "2010 And Beyond" on the future of high performance athletics in Canada. The panel, chaired by policy expert David Zussman, toured Canada and received advice from Canada's sports community on how to better support athletes. "The panel report has been on Gary Lunn's desk since October 2009. Now that a very successful Olympics--showing the benefit of investments in high-performance athletes--has closed, it is time to look to the future," said Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada.

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper today congratulated the Canadian athletes, coaches, volunteers and organizers who contributed to making the 2010 Olympic Winter Games held in Vancouver and Whistler a tremendous success: ?These Games were Canada?s time to shine. With the hopes of millions of Canadians resting on their strong shoulders, our Olympic athletes more than shone, they swept away records, amazed us with their courage and showed the world the strength of Canadian athletics. ?On behalf of all Canadians, I would like to thank the entire national Olympic team for providing us with some of the most exciting moments in Canadian sporting history. Your commitment, dedication, spirit and success at these Games have inspired the nation and will undoubtedly motivate young Canadians to follow in your footsteps.

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Le chef du Bloc Québécois, Gilles Duceppe, a exprimé sa tristesse à la suite du décès de l?écrivaine Madeleine Ferron. Vous trouverez ci-joint le message livré un peu plus tôt par le chef du Bloc Québécois. « Permettez-moi ces quelques mots pour exprimer ma tristesse à la suite du décès de Mme Madeleine Ferron au cours de la dernière fin de semaine. Écrivaine engagée, Mme Ferron est issue d?une famille qui a grandement contribué à la culture et à l?identité sociale des Québécoises et des Québécois. Elle était notamment bien connue pour ses actions significatives pour la protection du patrimoine beauceron.

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The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Marc Mayrand, announced today that the registered parties' fourth quarter financial returns for 2009 are now available on the Elections Canada Web site. The chief agent of a registered party that is entitled to a quarterly allowance must submit a quarterly return on the party's contributions and transfers to the Chief Electoral Officer within 30 days of the end of the quarter.

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Prime Minister Harper?s prorogation of the 40th Parliament last December for the reasons he has given sets a dangerous precedent. And the op-ed piece by Paul Benoit in The Ottawa Citizen on January 15th failed miserably in its attempt to refute an earlier article written by 170 university professors who accused the Prime Minister of undermining our system of democratic government. The Professors were right and Mr. Benoit reflects the problem we have with Harper?s bias towards American philosophies. He works with Hill & Knowlton, one of the largest public relation firms in the U.S. In 2009 Harper?s government paid them over $132,000 for their services as ?Management Consultants?. Will that op-ed be part of their next bill? Harper states the government needs time to recalibrate. He wants time to develop new policies and programs. But that is what Parliament and its committees are designed to do! Why send the MPs and Senators home when the government is looking for new ideas?

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New Democrat Employment Insurance Critic Yvon Godin (Acadie?Bathurst) is calling on the Minister of Human Resources to help the more than 500,000 unemployed who have still not found work and who have exhausted their employment insurance benefits. ?Without an effective job creation strategy, the unemployed will need government assistance. The government cannot simply offload the problem onto the provinces,? said Yvon Godin. ?People who are unemployed and without employment insurance benefits still have to pay their bills and pay rent. Since social assistance benefits are just above the poverty line, there is cause for concern about these families.?

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New Democrat Sports Critic Glenn Thibeault (Sudbury) and Deputy Leader Thomas Mulcair (Outremont) called today for a Royal Commission on violence in sports. New Democrats made this demand on behalf of the millions of people concerned about the increase in disgraceful and violent behaviour in sport, and the inability of professional and amateur leagues to solve the problem. ?It is high time this issue is taken seriously. League authorities need to explain why a savage attack, which would result in charges of aggravated assault anywhere else, warrants nothing but a few game suspensions,? said Thibeault.

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Liberals are working on Parliament Hill today by hosting a roundtable on international development, with an eye to repairing Canada?s global reputation damaged by the Harper Conservatives. ?Under the Harper government, the world has taken a different view of Canada ? and it?s not a positive one,? said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. ?We once had a proud reputation as the most generous, compassionate and giving nation for coming to the aid of the world?s vulnerable. We need to return to that position of prominence, not out of pride, but because helping our global neighbours in need is the right thing to do.?

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