MP Report

By Denise Savoie

As Parliament resumes for the fall session, I want to update you on a few of the initiatives I plan to focus on over the coming year.

I am especially looking forward to pushing for better services for youth and children who suffer from mental illness. There are significant gaps in these services in British Columbia, especially for those in their late teenage years.

We also need to ensure mental health is addressed during the negotiations for a new health accord between the provinces and the federal government.

We must ensure services are there for our children but we must also ensure that the policies we support are building a healthy society overall.

I am also planning to continue my campaign to improve decorum and civility in the House of Commons. Civility and respect are essential to the health our democracy.

When I began my push to improve civility in the House, Jack Layton was one of my main supporters. The respect Canadians had for Jack was in large part based on his ability to engage with his opponents forcefully but respectfully - an approach that I will continue to promote, even as we tackle the most serious issues, such as climate change.

I'm concerned about the Government's inaction in the face of the biggest problem that we are creating for the next generation by allowing greenhouse gas emissions to skyrocket. We have enough clean energy as we have oil in the tar sands if the Government stopped subsidizing the tar sands and created a more level playing field for renewable energies. We have the tar sands worth of energy efficiencies if we were to retrofit homes and buildings across Canada through a federal retrofit program.

A willing government would encourage people to make smart choices that reduce their carbon footprint through encouraging cycling over driving, and investing in green public transit infrastructure like the Victoria Light Rail Transit project.

Environmental security is a matter of intergenerational equity. Older generations owe it to the youth of the world to take action now. And youth must continue to fight for their future.

That's just what's happening in Ottawa with our expanded and youthful NDP caucus. My colleague Megan Leslie has put forward Bill C-244, a bill that would ensure that Canada meets its international climate change obligations and adheres to science-based standards. All 18 New Democrat MPs under the age of 30 have seconded Megan Leslie's Bill, sending a reminder to government that younger generations are serious and united on the importance of climate change.

Locally, I continue to work to address concerns about the future of Victoria's Inner Harbour. As I write, I have just met with the new Minister of Transport, Denis Lebel, about the safety concerns associated with increased traffic should dozens of mega yachts be added to the mix of paddlers, ferries, planes and other activities associated with a busy working harbour, and will be meeting again with citizens and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority.

Finally this fall, voters turn their attention to the municipal elections where some of the most important issues facing our community will be debated. My role will be to work with all newly-elected leaders to ensure the best future for our region. The strongest communities are built from the ground up, and I urge everyone to get involved.

We live in an extraordinary place-let's keep it that way!