Malcolm's Posts

OTTAWA – New Democrats hailed recommendations from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De Schutter, who concluded his 11 day visit to Canada today. Members of the Official Opposition urged Conservatives to act quickly on the proposals as soon as possible.

“Like it or not, the situation is bleak for millions of Canadians. Food security is a right. Hunger and malnutrition are unacceptable anywhere, but especially in a country as wealthy as Canada,” said NDP Aboriginal Affairs Critic, Jean Crowder.

OTTAWA – Proposed changes to Meat Inspection Regulations (MIR) will leave Canadians wondering if the meat they buy is actually safe, because of the Conservatives’ reckless cutting spree.  Private inspectors, who may not be qualified, will now be able to inspect meat.  Worse, these changes to meat inspection rules also change what meat is acceptable – meaning already-dead meat and crippled animals’ meat will be okay for processing for Canadians’ tables.

REGINA –New Democrats reacted today to the announcement made by Alliance Grain Traders (AGT) that they will be postponing the development of a $50 million pasta and pulse processing plant due to uncertainty in the North American grain market. This decision comes just months after Stephen Harper posed for a photo-op at the Regina plant stating the dismantling of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) as a single desk marketing system would result in new jobs.

MAY 2, 2012

OTTAWA – This morning the Ontario New Democrat Caucus voted to elect Malcolm Allen (Welland) as its new chair.

“I’m extremely happy and honoured to serve as the new Ontario Caucus Chair” said Allen. “We have a lot of hard work ahead of us in this province.”

Allen currently serves as the party’s Critic for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and was the National Caucus Chair until just after the NDP’s historic Federal Election breakthrough a year ago today.