OTTAWA – On Wednesday, NDP MP Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) asked all Members of Parliament in the House of Commons to support a guaranteed livable basic income in Canada. Thousands of individuals across the country, including advocacy groups, are calling for the government to work to end poverty.
Budget 2021 doesn’t do enough to end poverty
TREATY 1 TERRITORY, WINNIPEG—On Monday, the federal government released its first budget in two years, which did not include a guaranteed livable basic income. This is in spite of the fact that thousands of people across Canada have been urging the government to expand our social safety net to include a guaranteed annual livable basic income.
Statement on Petition e-3242
I am deeply troubled by a petition (e-3242) that was recently sponsored by another Manitoba Member of Parliament. As legislators, we all take an oath to affirm the concept of democracy and uphold the Canadian Charter and the rule of law. It is of utmost importance that we respect our role as legislators to protect these freedoms and rights of all Canadians and residents of Canada.
Telephone Townhall 2021
On Monday, March 29th, Leah held a telephone townhall with Winnipeg Centre residents. The community discussion covered a number of critical topics, including: Motion-46 for a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income, Pharmacare, Dental Care, and Childcare.
Liberals and Conservatives vote against Right to Safe, Clean, Healthy Environment as a Human Right
OTTAWA, ON—Today, at the second reading of NDP MP Leah Gazan’s Private Member’s Bill C-232, The Climate Emergency Action Act, Conservatives and Liberals voted to defeat the opportunity to recognize the right to a safe, clean, healthy environment as a human right.
Long-term care: Liberals and Conservatives vote against abolishing profits in long-term care facilitie
Today, Liberal and Conservative MPs in Manitoba voted against the NDP motion to abolish profits in long-term care (LTC). This motion, proposed by the NDP would remove all profit from long-term care facilities. Profit has no place in the care of our loved ones
LETTER: Justice for the families of Dwayne Simard, William Ahmo and Sagkeeng First Nation
Gazan demands answers from Federal Government in Death of two Sagkeeng men in Custody
Today, NDP MP Leah Gazan asked the following questions to Minister Bill Blair (Minister for Public Safety):
Leah Gazan Statement on the Public Ownership of Portage Place
I wanted to provide context about a recent article about Starlight and the private development of Portage Place. I would like to clarify that I do not support Starlight or the privatization of Portage Place. Rather, I believe that Portage Place should be publicly owned.
If agreed, the combined contributions from all levels of government would total approximately 338 million dollars. This is close to 85% of the total projected project costs with the risks offloaded onto the public and 100% of the profits benefiting the private sector. We need to end corporate handouts and ensure that public investments actually benefit the public.
My frustration is that the Liberal government has a magic wand to provide support for big corporations including the 120 million they recently gifted to Imperial Oil, while our community of Winnipeg Centre continues to fight for the most basic human rights.
Our community has been very clear about what it wants; investment in affordable, accessible, social housing, a place to buy food and essentials, and a safe place where community members can gather.
I will continue to advocate for the decommodification of housing stock for the public good of our community, substantial investments in accessible, affordable, social housing, and for the public ownership of community spaces.
Gazan: Basic Income must be in addition to strengthening social safety net, not gut it
TREATY 1 TERRITORY, WINNIPEG—NDP MP Leah Gazan is sounding the alarm on Liberal Member of Parliament Julie Dzerowicz’ private member’s Bill C-273, National Strategy for a Guaranteed Basic Income Act introduced last week, indicating another study is not needed and that the legislation opens the door to replacing our current social safety net, with something that could potentially lead to greater levels of poverty.