http://www.ndppei.ca/ Your Voice, Your Power en-ca http://www.ndppei.ca/news.php?id=79 June 7- Socializin' with Socialists!



Saturday June 7 The Island New Democrats are hosting their first annual Party-fundraiser-variety-concert from 7 to 10 pm at the Carrefour d'Ile-Saint-Jean in Charlottetown.


Talent includes singer/songwriters: Andrea Macdonald, Mark Barrett and Tony Reddin; the Belfast Ceili Band of Michael Page, Susan Sherwood, and Cef Pobjoy; comedians Jenny McQuaid and James Rodd; accordianist Pat Dunphy, fiddler and welder Richard Dixon, singers Bill McKinnon, Joe Byrne and Mark MacPhee; and folk duo Zain Esseghaier and Cheryl Murray.

$10.00 per ticket. Tickets may be purchased from Tony Reddin - 675-4093 , Ron Kelly - 894-3143, James Rodd - 566-2030 or Sylvie Arsenault at the VRC - 368-7337

The evening begins with a licensed social from 7 to 7:30 pm followed by a full evening of rousing entertainment.

A night of song, comedy and political banter, Come one come all- cousins of all political stripes and beliefs welcome! ]]> June 7- Socializin' with Socialists!



Saturday June 7 The Island New Democrats are hosting their first annua...]]> Island NDP http://www.ndppei.ca/news.php?id=78


The strong words were sparked by Wednesday afternoon’s motion before the budget that sought the unanimity of the legislature in support of agriculture and primary resources.



“All 24 elected members of the Ghiz government, including 8 farmers and fishers, voted against supporting agriculture and our primary resources. 5 of these 8 are in cabinet and it is obvious that they have no influence or power to make a difference,” said Rodd.



The budget for 2008/2009 was tabled on Wednesday by Treasurer Wes Sheridan and contained about $2.8 million for agriculture. Nova Scotia, by comparison, where agricultural revenues are similar to P.E.I., allotted $40 million to agriculture in the last provincial budget.



“The Ghiz government with this Liberal budget, has not listened to the plight of farm families, in fact, they have absolutely undermined farmers, and farm families, and future farmers for generations to come,” Rodd expressed.


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Charlottetown, January 24th, 2008. Despite the rhetoric, political patronage on Prince Edward Island continues. James Rodd, Interim Leader for the Island New Democrats is calling on the Ghiz government to establish a transparent hiring process for all public positions on government commissions and boards.



“It makes little difference whether the Conservatives or Liberals are in power. Islanders’ tax money is still being wasted in the courts as a result of the wholesale purges of public jobs when the Tories came to power. In 2008, the Liberals are doing the same, just under the façade of Participate P.E.I.,” said Rodd.

In light of the recent appointments of Nancy Guptill, co-chair for Robert Ghiz’s election campaign, to the chair of the Workers Compensation Board, and, John Broderick, described as having played a pivotal role in Liberal electoral success, to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission, public perception of the hiring process for government jobs through Participate P.E.I. is reaching new lows.

“Islanders expectations of government are changing. The Conservatives were booted out for more ethical government and saw something different with Robert Ghiz’s Liberals. Now, the person on the street will tell you they know they haven’t got a snowball’s chance of public service employment.”

The New Democrats point to a number of inconsistencies in the hiring process which, they contend, are flaws that allow government to carry out political patronage under the guise of Participate P.E.I.

“There are a number of flaws in the Participate P.E.I. hiring process. These flaws undermine any notion of a clear and transparent hiring process. What is required is the establishment of an unbiased, independent panel, representative of all Island political parties to review applications and make recommendations to government. This could easily be incorporated into the existing procedure,” said Rodd.

Island New Democrats call for clear, concrete action to bring integrity, and ethics into the hiring process for public positions on government boards and commissions.



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Charlottetown, January 24th, 2008. Despite the rhetoric, political patronage...]]> Island NDP http://www.ndppei.ca/news.php?id=76 Charlottetown, January 11th, 2008. Island New Democrat Interim Leader James Rodd will be in Ottawa Sunday, January 13th, until Monday, January 14th, for a historic provincial and territorial NDP leader’s summit on Parliament Hill hosted by national NDP Leader Jack Layton.

The two-day talks will cover a range of issues with provincial and federal leaders bringing to the table particular issues and concerns from their provinces for discussion that will see representation from all provinces and territories in Canada.

“My hope is, in the presence of all provincial, territorial, and federal leaders, that we can address some very important issues that are affecting Islanders and Canadians on a daily basis,” Rodd said as he prepares to attend the meetings.

Rodd expects that the crisis in agriculture, as well as increasing income disparities, will feature as important items on the agenda and is prepared to address these issues, as they relate to P.E.I., at the summit.

“What we are facing on Prince Edward Island is the collapse of our agriculture industries. The crash in agriculture has had a severe negative impact on our economy and all trends indicate that this situation is getting worse by the day. What I plan on discussing at the summit is the need for an immediate cash injection into our cattle and hog sectors to get by these difficult times and a plan for agriculture that will help farmers thrive in the twenty-first century global economy.”
]]> Charlottetown, January 11th, 2008. Island New Democrat Interim Leader James Rodd will be in Ottawa Sunday, January 13th, until Monday, January ...]]> Island NDP http://www.ndppei.ca/news.php?id=75 Charlottetown, January 9th, 2008. The Island New Democrats are expecting positive and constructive action for the Island’s hog and beef crisis from Premier Robert Ghiz at Friday’s meeting of Canadian Premiers and the Prime Minister.



Friday’s meeting will see participants engaged in discussion and debate on a range of issues affecting Canadians. James Rodd, Interim Leader of the Island New Democrats, suggests that the current crisis within Island and Canadian hog and beef sectors should take center-stage and that the Premier should be “pushing this issue with his counterparts and the Prime Minister whenever and wherever possible.”



“I would like to see our Primer represent the interests of Islanders at this Friday’s meeting. This means appealing to his provincial counterparts and the Prime Minister that what we are facing on P.E.I. and in many other parts of Canada is nothing less that a complete social and economic disaster,” said Rodd.



At November’s meeting of federal and provincial agriculture ministers, Neil LeClair, agriculture minister for P.E.I. came home with no new money but with the acknowledgement of a national crisis. Rodd says that is it “of the utmost importance that disaster relief money injected into our hog and beef industries by the end of January.”



“The suggestion of CAIS payments or other federal programs to deal with this crisis is insufficient, they fall way too short, and our producers can wait no longer. The Premier must come home cheque in hand, and if not commit provincial dollars until such a time as the federal government comes through for Islanders,” Rodd.



The Island New Democrats have called for a moratorium on farm foreclosures since the mid-nineties and reiterated their position since November when Rodd was elected as interim party leader. The last moratorium on farm foreclosures for Islanders occurred during the government of Premier Joe Ghiz who recognized the urgency of protecting farmers from market conditions beyond their control.



“As our Premier leaves for the airport for Ottawa, Prince Edward Island’s rural communities are disintegrating beneath his feet. It is within the Premier’s power to ensure that this does not happen,” Rodd said.

]]> Charlottetown, January 9th, 2008. The Island New Democrats are expecting positive and constructive action for the Island’s hog and beef crisis ...]]> Island NDP http://www.ndppei.ca/news.php?id=74 Charlottetown, January 4, 2008. Island New Democrats are calling on the Liberal government for greater clarity and transparency in the selection of candidates to public positions on all government commissions and boards in light of the recent appointment of Nancy Guptill to the chair of the Workers Compensation Board.





It was announced on December 19th, 2007 Guptill would begin her duties as chair effective January 1st, 2008. Guptill served as an MLA from 1987 until 1999 with the Joe Ghiz and Catherine Callbeck governments in a number of different capacities and portfolios.





“In order for these appointments to be based on merit, the selection process must be clear and transparent, if it is not, Islanders cannot be assured that politics was not involved. Given the political baggage of Nancy Guptill, most recently as co-chair of the Robert Ghiz election campaign, and the lack of a transparent process, although she may be qualified, one cannot conclude that the best person for the job was appointed to the Workers Compensation Board,” Island New Democrat Interim Leader James Rodd said.





The Island New Democrats offer to the Ghiz government a new process for the selection of qualified chairs for government commissions and boards which consists of an unbiased, independent panel, representative of all Island political parties that will review applications and make recommendations to government.





“This way the government is seen to be acting in the best interest of Islanders in the clearest, most transparent way possible. The consensus building that would take place on such a panel will provide much needed integrity for the process. This will ensure that the most qualified person, regardless of political stripe or none, will work for the benefit of Islanders,” said Rodd.


]]> Charlottetown, January 4, 2008. Island New Democrats are calling on the Liberal government for greater clarity and transparency in the selectio...]]> Island NDP http://www.ndppei.ca/news.php?id=73 Charlottetown, December 11th, 2007. The Island New Democrats support the call for a province-wide ban on cosmetic pesticides and propose practical steps for the implementation of such a ban.

Island New Democrat Interim Leader James Rodd and party coordinator Zain Esseghaier called on the PEI government to take the necessary steps to provide a two-kilometer, no cosmetic pesticide spray zone, around all municipalities at Tuesday’s Standing Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and Environment. This zone would also include public places such as health-care centers, educational facilities, and other sensitive areas outside the jurisdiction of municipalities.

“If we were to identify ourselves as cosmetic pesticide free, we would be joining Quebec, and the one hundred and thirty plus municipalities in Canada that have, or are putting, their children seniors, and the heath of their citizenry ahead of the cosmetic application of pesticides,” Rodd said at the committee meeting.

The Island New Democrats proposal would be the first step in implementing a province-wide ban on cosmetic pesticides with the goal of becoming a fully pesticide-free province.

“As demand for clean, environmentally-responsible products and surroundings increase, land values, as well as economic sectors such as tourism, stand to benefit from a ban on cosmetic pesticides” said Esseghaier.

Movement toward the elimination of all harmful pesticides from Prince Edward Island’s landscape helps create an investment friendly environment for business, but more importantly, for families who wish to see their children grow up in a healthy environment.

“The time is right for re-thinking and re-inventing how we, as an Island, and as Islanders, identify ourselves to the world, and how we present ourselves to international markets as an agricultural province” Rodd said.
]]> Charlottetown, December 11th, 2007. The Island New Democrats support the call for a province-wide ban on cosmetic pesticides and propose practi...]]> Island NDP http://www.ndppei.ca/news.php?id=72 Charlottetown, December 10th, 2007. Premier Ghiz and the Island government are to be commended for Sunday’s agreement with federal and maritime governments to inject 12 million dollars into the struggling Borden-Carleton beef plant. While these much-needed funds are a step in the right direction, the future of our Island’s beef sector still hangs in the balance.

Sunday’s announcement for the beef plant comes amid a growing wave of farm foreclosures within the Island’s hog and beef sectors.

“We must not forget that the current farm crisis continues to pose a threat to our rural communities and our provincial economy. The premier must continue to use his collaborative savvy with other maritime premiers to implore the Prime Minister and the federal Minister of Agriculture for a cash infusion to the troubled Canadian beef and hog sectors.” James Rodd, Island New Democrats Interim leader.

With the new funds, the beef plant will be secure for another three years, what about our Island beef and hog farmers? To ensure that our maritime beef producers are able to stay in business to supply the plant, measures, such as a Canadian moratorium on farm foreclosures is immediately necessary.

By securing the beef plant’s future all parties concerned are presented with an opportunity to develop new products for international, national, and local markets. The Island New Democrats feel that world markets will be at our doorstep if we were to declare that every animal is BSE-tested, growth-hormone free, and fed with GMO-free grains and protein crops.

“The time is right for re-thinking and re-inventing how we, as an Island, and as Islanders, identify ourselves to the world, and how we present our agricultural products to international markets” says Rodd.
]]> Charlottetown, December 10th, 2007. Premier Ghiz and the Island government are to be commended for Sunday’s agreement with federal and maritime...]]> Island NDP http://www.ndppei.ca/news.php?id=71 Charlottetown, December 7th, 2007. In light of ongoing farm foreclosures, and considering the implications for Prince Edwards Islandˇ¦s economy, the Island New Democrats implore the Premier to urgently appeal to the federal government to enact a moratorium on farm foreclosures while new strategies for our agriculture industry are developed.



Farm foreclosure moratoriums are not new and can be found in the historical record. In the late eighties, confronted by high interest rates, coupled with increasing equity levels and high debt, the federal government implemented a farm foreclosure debt moratorium to keep farmers from losing their farms.



ˇ§We face a similar situation today where we find farmers unable to repay their loans. This situation is as grave today as it was then. We need immediate action and political will for this to happenˇ¨ Rodd.



The Island New Democrats presented their solutions to the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, and the Environment today in the Coles building.



ˇ§As Island farmers cease operations, our rural communities face uncertain futures. At the same time, effects caused by their loss, pose serious questions for future of the agriculture industry and PEIˇ¦s greater economy. We cannot afford to lose any new farmersˇ¨ Rodd.



ˇ§What we are witnessing in Prince Edward Island in effect a complete market failureˇ¨ said Rodd at the meeting.



At the meeting, Interim leader James Rodd and party coordinator Zain Esseghaier, from the Island New Democrats proposed, in part, the following solutions to the crisis:

„« Demand a moratorium on farm foreclosures by whatever means necessary.



„« The PEI Government investigate the implementation a cost-of-production mechanism for hog and beef farmers.



„« The PEI Government exercise strong leadership in funding a five-year transition program for conventional hog farmers who aim to produce organically, and include the promotion of organically grown cereals and protein crops.



„« Develop a Maritime strategy for enhancing our beef sector by testing every beef animal for BSE, and ensuring that no growth hormones are used.



„« Enhance the growth of our economy that reflects the history, traditions, and culture of our Island in the twenty-first century.



]]> Charlottetown, December 7th, 2007. In light of ongoing farm foreclosures, and considering the implications for Prince Edwards Islandˇ¦s economy...]]> Island NDP http://www.ndppei.ca/news.php?id=70 Charlottetown, November 23rd, 2007. The interim leader of the Island New Democrats, James Rodd, commends the Ghiz government for their tough stand against political patronage.

“The days of firing people are gone. The days of mass purges are over”, Ghiz said during the Liberal party convention as reported in the November 19th edition of The Guardian.

“Jobs in the public service should be filled based on merit; that goes for workers and our elected representatives alike. Premier Ghiz is to be commended for his tough stand against political patronage. Island New Democrats hope to see this trend continue during this government’s term,” said Rodd.

The Island New Democrats have long condemned political patronage in Prince Edward Island as an inefficient allocation of vital government resources, and as a detriment to the advancement of fully representative government for Islanders.

“When government and people no longer accept that votes can be bought, voters are free to vote with their conscience, and our elected officials can get down to the business of providing services to Islanders. We no longer have to feel enslaved to a particular party by the archaic practice of political patronage,” says the Interim Leader.

In the interest of further strengthening Island democracy, Island New Democrats call on government to support the Citizen’s Assembly, and to provide it with adequate resources so that Islanders may engage in an informed debate on electoral reform.

An electoral system based on proportional representation will provide Islanders with a transparent, responsible, and accountable government, with an Official Opposition that is reflective of the votes cast that did not form the government.

“As a party that believes in democratic values, Island New Democrats regret the election of only four Conservative MLAs to the Official Opposition in the May election. Their party received forty-two percent, almost half, of the total votes cast. There is a better way,” says Interim Leader James Rodd. ]]> Charlottetown, November 23rd, 2007. The interim leader of the Island New Democrats, James Rodd, commends the Ghiz government for their tough st...]]> Island NDP