Statements

August 20, 2011
Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

The following aired on CBC Radio One June 1, 2011

Good morning. I’m Lorraine Michael, Leader of the Newfoundland and Labrador New Democratic Party and MHA for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi.

Diabetes is a major public health threat in Newfoundland and Labrador. There are 47,000 people diagnosed with diabetes in our province. There are probably twice that many who have pre-diabetes, a high blood glucose level that can lead to diabetes. If nothing is done, the number of people with diabetes could double in the next ten years.

Dear Friends,

I invite you to join me tomorrow morning at the Baine Johnson Building on Factory Road in St. John’s at 7:30am as I walk the picket line with striking United Steelworkers in Voisey's Bay and visiting workers from Manitoba and Brazil.

Here’s why I’m walking:

For over a year United Steelworkers (USW) have been on strike with international mining giant Vale.

Striking job coaches in Marystown and striking miners in Voisey’s Bay - what do they have in common?

They both represent groups of workers whose current labour struggles are being ignored by the Williams government.

September 6, 2010 marks the 90th anniversary of the first Labour Day celebration in this province in Grand Falls-Windsor. What do the striking workers have to celebrate this year as they stand on picket lines while their employers and the government deny them their rights?

Dear Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Council Members,

I am writing you both in my capacity as MHA for Signal Hill-Quidi Vidi and as a citizen of St. John’s who was born here and who has spent most of my life working and living in our beautiful, historic city. I am writing to say how affronted I am in both those capacities by the actions of Fortis Properties.

I have to express my great dismay at the fact that a proposal which goes so blatantly against the laws for development, not just guidelines, of the city is being passed on to the Planning Department for what I fear is serious discussion. I have to hope that the Planning Department will send this proposal on to the council with the message that it just cannot be considered. I do not believe that time should be wasted on a proposal that doesn’t even attempt to meet the requirements for development in the historic part of our city.

Good Afternoon

I would like to thank the Commission for the opportunity to give this presentation, and to say how honoured I am to be able to be a part of what I hope will become a turning point in the history of this province’s oil and gas development.

I also want to offer my condolences to the families and friends of those who were lost in the crash of Cougar Flight 491 on March 12, 2009.

Like others who have presented, I like to think of my contribution here, in the House of Assembly, and as Leader of the province’s New Democrats, as being dedicated to their memory.

Delivered by Lorraine Michael, Leader NL NDP
At Memorial University St. John’s Campus

Good evening everyone.
I cannot tell you how humbled I am that the organizing committee has asked me to speak to you on the occasion of the 20th anniversary vigil of the Montreal Massacre.

As a woman who has fought for equality, as many of you in this auditorium have as well, I am pleased tonight that it is my turn to stand and give voice to our beliefs.

Mr. Speaker it gives me great pleasure to stand in the House today and recognize three young women who received the Fry Family foundation Scholarships for 2009.

These young women have been involved in the Virginia Park Community Centre for most of their lives, first through participation in the Centre programs and then as volunteers exhibiting initiative and leadership.

Dear Committee Members,

Please accept my comments on what I think are appropriate recommendations regarding the future compensation for the province’s Members of the House of Assembly in the future.