12/21/2012 11:58:54 PM

2012 in review: Clear choices

My fellow New Democrat,

With Parliament now adjourned until January, I wanted to take a moment to update you on your New Democrat team’s achievements this year in Parliament.

I’ve said it before: We have the best team in Canadian politics. And I’m delighted to close out 2012 by inviting our MPs to speak to you directly—about what drives them each and every day.

Our NDP MPs are taking on the Conservatives in Ottawa and offering Canadians a clear choice. A choice between a tired, arrogant government that puts well-connected insiders first. And a fresh New Democrat team that’s working to build a better Canada for everyone.

And as the curtain falls on 2012, Canadians see that Stephen Harper’s Conservative government is increasingly plagued by their own mismanagement. In the last four weeks alone:

* An independent audit confirmed the Conservatives have bungled the fighter jet procurement for years, misleading Canadians about the F-35’s capabilities and cost overruns.
* They rubber-stamped the foreign takeover of Nexen that hands a $15-billion stake in Canada’s oilsands to China’s government—threatening Canadian energy security and jobs.
* The rammed another 400-page omnibus bill through Parliament, cutting more services and protections, and showing their contempt for our democratic institutions.
* They forced the Parliamentary Budget Officer to take them to court to access basic information about their cuts to frontline services for Canadians.

So our mission has never mattered more. We are continuing to show that we’re ready to provide a competent, progressive alternative to Stephen Harper. On issue after issue, we’re making sure Canadians see they have a clear choice:

* On jobs and the economy: The Conservatives are doing nothing to stop the bleeding of high-quality jobs—they’re more interested in helping their well-connected friends. New Democrats have a plan to build a strong, balanced economy that works for everyone. That’s a clear choice.
* On the environment: The Conservatives just gutted environmental reviews for energy projects and stripped protection from millions of rivers and lakes. New Democrats want to grow our economy without sacrificing our environment or ignoring climate change. That’s a clear choice.
* On health care: After promising zero cuts, the Conservatives just slashed $36-billion from health transfers to provinces. New Democrats have launched a chain of public consultations and are making public health care a top priority in this country. That’s a clear choice.
* On international development: Conservatives just killed our proposed legislation to get affordable medications into Africa. New Democrats want to offer hope to the developing world, with a focus on human rights and poverty alleviation. That’s a clear choice.

We continue laying out clear choices on every issue we tackle. On immigration. On pensions. On consumer protection. On rights for First Nations, Metis and Inuit people. In Quebec, on the prairies, from coast to coast to coast, we’re working with provinces and citizens to build a better Canada.

In January, NDP leaders from across the country will join me for a summit in Ottawa to continue building the framework for a future New Democrat government. Then we’ll take another step forward in April in Montreal—where I hope to see many of you at our next national convention.

As we continue our drive toward 2015, I want to thank you for supporting our team, and for taking our hopeful message into your communities. And on behalf of our entire team, let me wish you and your loved ones the very best this holiday season.

Tom Mulcair
Leader of the Official Opposition
New Democratic Party of Canada