Masse sets sights on airport protection, national urban park on Ottawa return
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MP Brian Masse (NDP – Windsor West) said he’s returning to Ottawa next week with a list of priorities that range from legislation to protect the Windsor airport tower to creating a national urban park.
“What I’ve done is prepare our legislative agenda for the weeks coming up, because expectations should be high around getting things done,” Masse said.
Masse is the NDP critic for innovation, international trade, economic development and auto, as well as United States-Canada border relations and Great Lakes, following re-election to his long-held Windsor West seat in September.
Masse said he’ll continue to advocate for Canada’s auto sector and a national auto strategy, citing the summit of North American leaders Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, United States President Joe Biden and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador currently taking place in Washington.
“The unfortunate thing about today’s meetings with the Three Amigos is Canada goes there empty-handed, we do not have a national auto strategy,” Masse said noting a recent American proposal incentivizing U.S.-made electric vehicles.
Masse also said they’re working to establish the Ojibway national urban park
“We’re crafting that legislation right now … it’s going to be a massive investment and very important for our climate change strategies,” he said.
Other potential private member’s bills include legislation protecting the Windsor airport tower from future NAV Canada studies, right-to-repair law, action on a digital bill of rights and potentially making passports free for veterans and half-price for seniors, Masse said. He said he’s also looking at issues including housing affordability and lower cellphone and internet bills.
And while these are private member’s bills — bills introduced by Members of Parliament who are not ministers — Masse said he hopes that, as in the past, other parties and members will adopt the proposals.
“They are almost all private member’s bills by definition, but the exciting thing is they can be stolen,” Masse said. “We’re ready and willing to have that happen.”
“I am really pleased about going back to Ottawa, I’m excited to do so, I’m going back prepared.”
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