Libby Davies, MP for Vancouver East (NDP)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Libby Davies, MP for Vancouver East (NDP) 1. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Parliament in the 21st Century? - Parliament doesn't reflect Canada' s diverse demographics. - Democracy in the House has been eroded and compromised over the years. - We look like people who squabble all the time. Just ask any visitor in the public galleries. 2. What change would you propose to “redesign” Parliament, and the way it works, so it’s more relevant to Canadians? - Make Committees more viable and credible; provide resources; do a better job of hearing witnesses. It’s very formal right now. Make it more Roundtable/dialogue style. Get out into the community. Yes, it costs money - but we'd learn a lot more. - Make time for each Question in QP (Question Period) to be longer to allow for fuller Questions/Answers. Consider not allowing notes! (With only 30 seconds most need a script). - Encourage the Speaker to enforce a code of civil conduct. - Limit “in-camera” items at Committees. 3. What change would make you better able to do your job and more effective as an MP? - Allow more debate time that's "open," beyond the 1- minute statements every day, or on prescribed legislation. This way MP's can bring forward issues in their community for debate and discussion. (Without having a vote, necessarily). - Set up regular sessions with Ministers and rotating small groups of MP's so we can raise issues with Ministers outside the Estimates process. I'd even be ok with it being closed door, so we can get real answers, about trends in case work, issues we're facing and have an honest discussion about key issues in that Department. - Provide MP's with resources to do research in their riding, as long as it meets professional guidelines and can be published. Maybe once a year? Libby Davies has served as MP for Vancouver East since 1997. She is Deputy Leader for the NDP, and is also the federal NDP Spokesperson for Health. Ms. Davies served as the NDP House Leader from 2003 to March 2011. She and her late partner, Bruce Eriksen, were key figures in the formation of the Downtown Eastside Residents' Association (DERA) in 1973. In 1982, Ms. Davies was elected to Vancouver City Council and served 5 consecutive terms. http://www.libbydavies.ca/ .