Denis Coderre, MP

Michael Ignatieff announces “Open mike” town hall tour

BADDECK, NS – As a successful Liberal summer caucus draws to a close, Michael Ignatieff announced today that he will be hosting weekly “Open mike” town halls in a community near you this fall.

“This summer, I learned that Canadians are tired of being shut out and treated with contempt by Stephen Harper,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “Canadians want their elected officials to listen to and respect them – and that’s why we’re leaving the mike open to hear from them.”

Beginning shortly after the House returns, the Liberal Leader will be embarking on a series of weekly “Open mike” town halls in communities across the country. These town halls, which will also have a live, online component, will be unscripted opportunities for every Canadian to share their views and ask questions about the issues that matter to them.

“While Stephen Harper tours the country from behind tinted car windows, attending scripted, invitation-only events, we are the party that talks to Canadians and creates opportunities for them to engage in public policy,” said Mr. Ignatieff.

Over the weekend, Liberals planned their strategy for the next session of Parliament and discussed plans to announce even more policy proposals in the coming weeks and months.

“We know where we stand and who we’re fighting for,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “The answer’s clear: we’re fighting for the hard-working, hard-pressed middle-class Canadian family. We’re fighting for Canadians who are worried about paying for their kids’ college tuition, saving for retirement, keeping our health care system universally accessible, and regaining Canada’s prestige on the international stage.”

The broad outline of the Liberal Party’s policy program – learning, care and global leadership – will be fully costed in a detailed and transparent platform by the time the next election comes.

“Canadians are looking for a clear alternative to the Harper Conservatives – one that is progressive, responsible and compassionate,” concluded Mr. Ignatieff. “As the big red tent at the centre of Canadian political life, we’re inviting all Canadians to take a look at what the Liberal Party has to offer.”

Liberals demand action on backlog of immigration applications from Haiti

Montreal – Liberals are demanding that the Harper government immediately address the huge backlog of family reunification applications from Haiti that has developed since January.

“There is no reason why Haitian-Canadian families should face these unnecessary delays,” Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said. “Those facing delays have strong family connections in our country.

“I was fortunate enough to sit down with some of the leaders from the Haitian-Canadian community just last week, and I can tell you they are prepared to help the office of Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney in any way possible to move these applications along,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “That we have put so many families through this waiting game, with no indication that these delays will be resolved, is unacceptable.”

More than five months after the earthquake that devastated Haiti, Haitian-Canadian families have yet to see any indication that Citizenship and Immigration Canada is dealing with reunification cases in an expeditious manner.  Meanwhile, thousands of displaced persons on the island are in limbo, while the slow process of rebuilding from the devastation of the earthquake continues.

Liberal MP Denis Coderre – having just returned from Haiti where he met with elected representatives, senior bureaucrats and aid workers from various NGOs to discuss redevelopment efforts – is concerned that the energy and focus the Harper government devoted to the initial surge of adoption cases has waned now that nearly five months have elapsed since the quake.

“Haitian-Canadian families know what anyone who has visited the island over the last few months will tell you – rebuilding from this disaster is going to be a very long process,” said Mr. Coderre. “It is going to require a sustained and focused effort to ensure that the countless victims of this tragedy can finally find a home again.  Yet the Haitian community feels that the Harper government doesn’t understand the gravity of getting these applications processed as quickly as possible.”

Liberal MP Massimo Pacetti added that there is no good reason why family reunification applications should require longer timelines or any other additional resources for processing than the volume requires.

“The Harper government knows that those who come to settle here through a family reunification application are actually less economically vulnerable than points-system applicants,” said Mr. Pacetti. “While other applicants have struggled because this government has failed to deliver promised settlement and integration funding, the fact remains that family reunification applicants have a network and a support base that makes settlement and integration more successful.”

“We believe that the Harper government has not exercised the necessary leadership to come to the aid of Haitian families on this issue,” Mr. Coderre concluded. “All that the Haitian-Canadian community is asking for is that the government have the political will to allocate the necessary resources to get these applications done.”