SoVote

Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP)

Feb/3/22 10:03:21 a.m.
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Re: Bill C-227

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-227, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting age). He said: Mr. Speaker, today I am honoured to introduce legislation that would extend the right to vote to all Canadians aged 16 and over. I would like to thank the hon. member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley for seconding this bill and for his tireless efforts to move this important initiative forward. The history of the franchise in Canada is one of constant expansion. At the time of Confederation, voting was restricted to male British subjects who were at least 21 years of age and owned property. However, as our country progressed over subsequent generations, voting rights were extended to women, Asian Canadians, indigenous people, those without property and those under 21 years of age, now 18. I believe it is time to give young people the full rights and responsibilities of citizenship as well. Young Canadians are engaged, well informed and passionate advocates for a brighter future, their future. They work and pay taxes, but they have no say in how those tax dollars are spent. This disenfranchisement is unjustified and must change. I call on all parliamentarians to make young people equal participants in our democracy by supporting this vital legislation.

212 words

Context: House Hansard - 23 - Feb/3/22

Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP)

Feb/3/22 2:48:29 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, the COVID pandemic has exposed the dangerous results of underfunding Canada's health care system. Overburdened ICU wards, burnt-out staff, cancelled surgeries, excessive wait times for diagnostic tests and millions of Canadians without a family doctor, mental health care or prescription medicines are impossible to deny, but this is not surprising. The federal share of health care spending has plummeted from 50% to just 22% today. Will the government provide national leadership at the upcoming premiers meeting and increase the Canada health transfer to ensure the long-term funding needed to protect Canadians?

96 words

Context: House Hansard - 23 - Feb/3/22

Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP)

Feb/3/22 3:33:01 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-8

Madam Speaker, picking up on my hon. colleague's comments, he is absolutely right. Among OECD countries, Canada's ICU beds per capita is less than everyone but Mexico. We are 26 out of 27 in terms of number of doctors per thousand. Among developed countries, we rank tenth out of 10 in terms of wait times. Of course, the reason for this is that in 2014 the Harper Conservatives capped the federal health transfer at 3% when health care costs are rising at 5%. The current government said it would change that, but then it adopted the Harper cuts. Will my hon. colleague finally acknowledge that part of the problem today is the Conservative and Liberal cuts to health care that kept federal transfers at 3%, and does he agree with the NDP that it is time to raise it so that we can start properly funding the health care system in this country?

155 words

Context: House Hansard - 23 - Feb/3/22

Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP)

Feb/3/22 5:15:08 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-8

Madam Speaker, in terms of inflation, I do not think we will see more inflation or a better example than that of prescription drugs, which have gone up every year for years and years. In fact, it is the single fastest growing product in insurance services. We know that with pharmacare, with bulk buying, with streamlined administration and with cost-related non-adherence, we can save over $4 billion a year and produce drugs for every Canadian at a reduced cost. I am just wondering if my hon. colleague can explain why the Conservative Party is opposed to universal pharmacare, when it will help reduce the cost of drugs.

109 words

Context: House Hansard - 23 - Feb/3/22

Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP)

Feb/3/22 6:31:10 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-8

Mr. Speaker, during the last election I have to say that the most common global concern I heard was on the climate crisis, and my hon. colleague touched on public transit. I am wondering if he can expand a bit on how a massive expansion of public transit in Canada may help us address the climate crisis, and particularly how that might reveal itself in terms of smaller communities like the ones he represents, and what that would look like between cities.

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