Bill Blaikie, MP - Speeches outside the House

NDP Faith and Justice Caucus Address

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 11:48:32 -0500

Notes from an address by the Hon. Bill Blaikie to the Faith and Social Justice workshop at the NDP Convention Quebec City September 9, 2006

During a speech in Toronto in the fall of 2002 at a debate organized during the NDP Leadership Race, I made a reference to the social gospel as one of the traditions that inspires and informs the NDP. In the question period that followed I was taken to task by a woman at the back of the hall who said that “gospel” was a Christian concept and that by using the word “gospel” I was engaging in a form of Christian imperialism that left non-Christians out of the conversation.

Whether one thinks that this was over reaction to an objective description of one of the origins of the party, or a brilliant flash of multi-cultural sensitivity, it nevertheless raised for me an important question. How do those of us who see ourselves in the social gospel tradition speak of ourselves and what we believe, in a 21st century Canadian context that is characterized by secularism, pluralism, a touchiness on the part of many about anything Christian, and a touchiness in general about the role of religion in politics.

Claiming Democracy

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 19:15:02 -0500

Address to Vancouver Island NDP Renewal Meeting

August 25, 2001

Bill Blaikie, MP for Elmwood-Transcona

The invitation to this event begins with a question – where is democracy? I would like to shape my remarks this morning around the structured questions of an anti-war folk song that was popular back in the 60’s, in the coffee houses that had sprung up across the nation for a while: “Where have all the flowers gone?” And so today, we might legitimately ask, where has all the democracy gone? And how do we get it back, not just as it was, but hopefully deepened and broadened, because even at its best, liberal capitalist democracy was not the truly democratic society and democratic economy envisioned by many on the left.

Cancun Address to IPN

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 19:15:01 -0500

Remarks by Bill Blaikie to the Inaugural Ceremony of the World Parliamentary Forum of the International Parliamentary Network

Cancun, Mexico, September 9, 2003

I am very pleased to be able to participate in this world parliamentary forum and extend my thanks to our Mexican hosts and Senator Leticia Borgesia in particular for organizing this event. As the Parliamentary Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, I am proud of the political fact that our party has always believed and advocated the idea that, as it says in the declaration of the International Parliamentary Network on the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the WTO, “another economic and trade paradigm is possible, which benefits the majorities of the populations all over the world.” I have been an MP for almost 25 years and unfortunately I have spent almost my whole political life contending against the neo-liberal paradigm.

Campaign Launch Speech

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 19:15:01 -0500

\"Canada is the issue on which the next election should be fought. \"

Family, friends, political colleagues, fellow New Democrats, a grateful welcome to you all for being here this morning to join me as I announce what must be the worst kept secret in town, that I will be a candidate for the leadership of the New Democratic Party of Canada. Je serai un candidat pour le cheferie de l’NPD, et merci, tout le monde pour votre presence ici ce matin.

Labour Day - Northern Workers

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 18:44:30 -0500

Keynote Address to the Triennial Convention of Union of Northern Workers

Yellowknife, N.W.T.

It's a pleasure to be here among union friends as we head into the Labour Day weekend. And it is a pleasure to be here in Yellowknife again. I have visited Yellowknife on a number of occasions. I remember coming here with the Transport Committee to conduct hearings on deregulation north of 60. I’m sure that many of you here remember all the false promises of deregulation.

Anti-terrorism Legislation

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 18:44:23 -0500

Nation’s Business

October 25, 2001

Good evening, my name is Bill Blaikie. I’m the Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Transcona and NDP House Leader.

The Liberal government’s new Anti-terrorism Legislation is welcome in so far as it implements certain United Nations conventions that Canada has ratified. Other sections of the legislation are, however, attracting a great deal of controversy. Many Canadians share the concerns expressed by New Democrats in Parliament that the legislation is a potential threat to the right of Canadians to legitimate political dissent, and it is this concern for the preservation and protection of legitimate dissent that guides the NDP in its approach to Bill C-36. The liberal government has not been respectful
of legitimate dissent in recent years and has created an atmosphere of mistrust
as to how it might use new legislative powers

Address to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 18:44:22 -0500

Notes for an Address to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Bill Blaikie, MP

Prague, May 2003

Mr. Chairman, I sought the floor to briefly bring a Canadian perspective to the debate about what is happening within the North Atlantic community as a result of the war on Iraq. My primary purpose is to criticize a caricature that plagues this debate. Too often in this assembly I hear the debate framed in the context of Europe vs. America, a way of talking about the alliance that is difficult in any event for Canadians. We are a part of North America ,but we do not think of ourselves as “America”.

A Just Economy

Thu, 02 Feb 2006 18:44:22 -0500

Keynote Address On The Theme Of A Just Economy

“Globalize This” Conference sponsored by The Ontario Public Interest Research Group at the University of Windsor

February 3, 2001

On Tuesday of this week a new Parliament was opened, and in the Speech from the Throne the government spoke of its commitment to successfully completing a Free Trade Area of tbe Americas, as a follow on and expansion of the North American Free Trade Agreement. In that Throne Speech mention of the FTAA, and the Summit of the Americas meeting this spring in Quebec City, there was not even the slightest hint that any Canadians had any concerns whatsoever with the prospect of an FTAA, and the further entrenchment of the ideology already enshrined in existing regional agreements like NAFTA, and global agreements like the WTO.

Bill Blaikie, MP - Speeches outside the House

NDP Faith and Justice Caucus Address

Claiming Democracy

Address to Vancouver Island NDP Renewal Meeting

August 25, 2001

Bill Blaikie, MP for Elmwood-Transcona

Cancun Address to IPN

Remarks by Bill Blaikie to the Inaugural Ceremony of the World Parliamentary Forum of the International Parliamentary Network

Cancun, Mexico, September 9, 2003

Campaign Launch Speech

\"Canada is the issue on which the next election should be fought. \"

Labour Day - Northern Workers

Keynote Address to the Triennial Convention of Union of Northern Workers

Yellowknife, N.W.T.

Anti-terrorism Legislation

Address to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly

Notes for an Address to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Bill Blaikie, MP

A Just Economy

Notes for an Address to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Bill Blaikie, MP