3rd Annual FREE Brantford Youth Leadership Conference to take place Friday May 3, 2013

The Young New Democrats of Canada - Brant Riding Chapter and the Brant NDP are happy to offer this Free Non Partisan event to our community again this year.

The 3rd Annual FREE Brantford Youth Leadership Conference will take place at Counterpoint Churchon 4 Pearl St, in Brantford on Friday May 3rd from 9am-3pm.

There will be activities, workshops, keynote speakers and lunch provided by the Brantford and District Labour Council.

Over 100 students are already registered and we have room for more. Please call 519-751-9111 or email marc@brantndp.ca or ryan@brantndp.ca to register.

Want to learn more about our Keynote Speakers?

Bill Johnson:
Different from most other speakers, Bill's presentations don't focus on what "leaders" or "the best" do or don't do. He presents what everyone can do and how to do them. The interaction provided, examples and personal stories shared all help to support what the message really is: "Before you do something great, you must DO SOMETHING!"

Bill Johnson has both speaking and leadership experience that stretches over a decade and his messages have reached people all across North America. He has helped out with groups such as the North Dakota Association of Student Councils (NDASC) ,North Dakota Association of National Honor Societies (NDANHS), Massachusetts HOBY, Ontario Student Leadership Conference (OSLC), National Student Leadership Camps (NSLC), and many others in addition to being a student himself studying Education Administration.

Leigh Zachary Bursey:
Back by popular demand is this twenty-five year old cable access talk show host, volunteer coordinator, activist and Brockville city councillor Leigh Zachary Bursey.

Bursey, who is also the president of the Brockville Municipal Non-Profit Housing Corporation, and board member for the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association wowed those in attendance last year with his incredible personal story of conquering adversity and doing so with high energy, humour and heart.

Rathika Sitsabaiesan:
MP for Scarborough - Rouge River.

Appointed by Jack Layton as Post-Secondary Education Critic in 2011 she is also the first ever Tamil Canadian MP and the youngest ever MP from the Toronto area. She's also done great work on post secondary, youth and human right's issues since being elected. Now Magazine Readers named her Best Local MP of 2012 for the GTA.

Gary A. Newman, Director
Canadian Training Institute Breaking the Cycle Programs:

website: www.ctibreakingthecycle.org
blog: http://ambassodorVox.blogspot.ca/

Breaking the Cycle is all about helping young people avoid getting involved in gangs or getting out of gangs if they are already involved. Participants include males and females, ages 15 – 30, who are or have been involved in a youth gang and are currently unemployed or not attending school.

Part of Breaking the Cycle, the Ambassador Leadership Project builds on the leadership potential of youth and involves them in community awareness efforts. Through speaking engagements and development projects, youth reach out to youth to reduce the risk of gang involvement and develop a positive image of youth in the community, while also balancing work placements to gain experience to enter the labor market.

Business Roundtable today with MP Glenn Thibeault & Brant NDP Federal Candidate of Record Marc Laferriere.

Today MP Glenn Thibeault, Official Opposition Critic for Consumer Affairs, is continuing his cross country tour on credit card fees for business with a visit to the riding of Brant with Brant NDP Federal Candidate of Record Marc Laferriere.

As you may be aware, Canadian merchants pay some of the highest fees in the world to process credit card payments. The average rate to process a credit card payment in Canada is over 2% of the purchase price, whereas in Australia the average rate is about 1% and in the UK about 0.79%.

These high fees have repercussions for both small businesses, which have to pay about $200 or more in processing fees for every $10K processed, and for consumers, as businesses are forced to pass along this cost in the form of higher retail prices, regardless of the payment method. Over the past four years, we have been hearing countless stories from entrepreneurs who are struggling to stay in business because of the high cost of these merchant fees which eat into their sustainability.

Thibeault will be in Brantford & Brant, to hear from businesses and business organizations about their experiences with merchant fees and to look for suggestions on how we can make the system fairer for job creators and consumers.

Special thanks to Sophia’s Bakery - 60 Colborne Street (Corner of King St. & Colborne St.) in Brantford for hosting today's Roundtable discussion for business owners and organizations which will take place from 3-4pm.

Official Opposition Agriculture Critic Malcolm Allen in Brant

Join us for this important town hall meeting.

Irene Mathyssen joins Marc Laferriere for activities focused on Seniors and Pensions.

BRANTFORD – NDP Seniors critic and London-Fanshawe MP Irene Mathyssen and Brant NDP Federal Candidate of Record Marc Laferriere will be participating in a public protest on pensions this Friday at noon on the corner of Clarence St and Icomm Dr.

At 2pm on the same day Irene and Marc will be hosting a Seniors Townhall Meeting to hear from seniors about the various issues they are facing in the community. This meeting will be held at the Seniors' Resource Centre.

Public Protest to Protect Seniors Pensions

When: Friday, November 16
Noon - 1:00PM

Who: Irene Mathyssen, MP London-Fanshawe

Where: Corner of Clarence St and Icomm Drive in Brantford Ontario.

Seniors Town Hall Meeting

When: Friday, November 16
2:00PM - 3:30PM

Who: Irene Mathyssen, MP London-Fanshawe

Where: Seniors' Resource Centre - 783 Colborne St East in Brantford, Ontario.

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath in Brantford today.

BRANTFORD – For the second time this year popular Ontario New Democratic Party Leader Andrea Horwath will be visiting Brantford and Brant Riding for a full day and evening of activities with a focus on the Ontario economy.

“I am looking forward to meeting with businesses and residents in Brant.” said Andrea Horwath. “Unlike the Premier who puts the Liberal Party's interest ahead of the issues facing Ontarians I am here to listen, so when MPP’s get back to work we can offer real solutions to the challenges Ontario faces today” she said.

"Brant's unemployment rate is stuck above the Provincial average and has been for 4 straight years. Andrea touring the area focused on jobs and the economy is a great opportunity to connect with local sectors that are significant to both job creation and economic growth," said Brant NDP Provincial Candidate of Record Brian Van Tilborg.

During the day she will be meeting with various stakeholders including members of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Brant Realty Association before attending a Brant NDP fundraiser open to the public at 7pm at Sophia's Bakery and Cafe on 60 Colborne St.

"The NDP has been very active in Brant in between election periods. The next election, whenever it occurs, will be very important and we will be prepared," said Van Tilborg.

The evening event will have a cupcake decorating contest, refreshments, entertainment from local performer Bethany Schultz and remarks from Andrea Horwath. Tickets can be purchased at Sophia's Bakery or can be reserved by e-mailing event organizers Brian Van Tilborg at brian@brantndp.ca or Marc Laferriere at marc@brantndp.ca or by calling 519-751-9111 and reserving tickets via voicemail.

Fund Raiser

When: Saturday, November 10 7:00 PM

Who: Andrea Horwath, Leader of Ontario's New Democrats

Where: Sophia's Bakery & Cafe, 60 Colborne St, Brantford