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.

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.

Join us for this important town hall meeting.

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.

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

The Brant NDP's Federal Candidate of Record Marc Laferriere was recently named the Platinum Winner in the category of Best Local Politician in the 2012 Brant News Readers Choice Awards. Nominees and winners were chosen by Brant News readers and were announced on Thursday October 25th. The Brant News Readers Choice Awards are a new opportunity for the community to have their say about a variety of local businesses, people and services. This is the 1st time the awards have been presented and thousands of households participated in the voting process with over 133,000 individual votes being received.

"I want to thank everyone for their participation especially those people from our community who took the time to vote. I was surprised to be nominated and even more surprised to be named one of the winners," said Laferriere. "Whether its for an election or for a local contest like this one the process of being heard through your vote is an important one"

"Kudos to the Brant News for doing something like this to help people be aware of many of the wonderful services, businesses and people in our community. Congratulations to all the nominees and winners in all categories.We have a vibrant and engaged local community. It's great to be a part of it."

Laferriere, despite not yet holding elected office was nominated beside MPP and Speaker of the House Dave Levac, current MP Phil McColeman, Mayor Chris Friel, former MP Lloyd St. Amand, City Councillor Jan Vander Stelt, and City Councillor, former Mayor, and Former MPP David Neumann.

"I think this shows people are aware of the work Marc does behind the scenes and in the community - and not just during elections but all year" said recent Brant NDP Provincial Candidate Brian Van Tilborg. "Marc was helping out in the community and with the Brant NDP long before putting his name up for an election and he continues to do exactly that long after an election too. When I first approached him about running in 2008 he was unsure it was the right thing to do. I'm glad he did and it seems that a lot of the readership of the Brant News is too."

To learn more about Marc follow him on twitter @MarcLaferriere or like his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BrantMarc

Brantford - MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau (Berthier-Maskinongé) the NDP Official Opposition Deputy Agriculture Critic will be visiting Brant Riding this Saturday September 22nd, 2012.

Accompanied by Brant's Federal Candidate of Record for the New Democrats Marc Laferriere, Ruth Ellen will be visiting the Brantford Farmer's Market at 9:00am to hear from residents about food and agriculture issues before holding a series of smaller meetings with various agricultural stakeholders from the rural parts of the riding and the nearby region.

"Food prices are rising between the loss of income and the high cost of feed for livestock, and this is negatively affecting the pocketbooks of both farmers and consumers" said Brosseau. "The factors leading to the loss of family farms are numerous, that is why I'm happy to visit a riding like Brant and hear more about how the NDP can help farmers, rural communities and everyday Canadians with these issues."

"We have the strongest platform of any party for farmers and for the continuation of family farms. By listening to the stakeholders in rural communities like Brant it will only get stronger," said 2011 Federal Candidate Marc Laferriere. "We are here to listen and to react appropriately to the needs of farmers and family farms in the County of Brant and beyond."

The NDP's history is linked very intricately with farmers as far back to the CCF's days and as recently as Alex Atamanenko ground breaking 'Food for Thought' report and the party's support for consultation with farmers during the Conservative Government's most recent reckless cuts to Risk Management Programs.

The Brantford Farmer's Market is located at 79 Icomm Drive in Downtown Brantford. Media availability will occur during the Farmer's Market portion of the visit.

Recent Brant NDP Federal Candidate Marc Laferriere has been nominated for a 2012 Brant News Readers' Choice Award in the category of "Best Local Politician".

"My understanding is that the nominees were chosen by the readership. That is pretty humbling and pretty grassroots," said Laferriere who is known for his grassroots style of community organizing. "To be nominated next to our mayor, two seated city councillors, the provincial speaker of the house, a former MP and a current MP is quite an honour. Congrats to all the nominees."

Those wanting to vote on this category and many others can log on to www.brantnewsreaderschoice.ca and cast their ballot. Votes can only be cast online, with one vote per IP address accepted. Its fast, simple and effective, and will save you a stamp. To vote for the "Best Local Politician" category simply register on the Readers' Choice site then click the "Best People" link then the "Local Politician" link. Mark your vote for your preferred candidate and it is as simple as that.

Voting is open until 6pm on Sunday September 23rd.

Follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

With local unemployment highest in region NDP to focus on jobs

BRANTFORD – Hot off the heels of another devastating rise in the local unemployment rate Federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair will be making his second visit to Brantford this year to talk about jobs, listen to the concerns of local business and make a case for the NDP to manage the Canadian economy after the next federal election.

The latest numbers released by Brant Jobs show Brantford and area's unemployment has risen nearly a full point and back to 8.6%.

"Despite governing since 2006 and having their coveted majority for well over a year the Conservatives record on unemployment has been an abject failure," says 2011 Brant NDP Federal Candidate Marc Laferriere who will accompany Mulcair on his visit. "The Conservatives like to recite their talking points about 'jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.' The problem remains that these things have not occurred under Conservative policies."

"The top priority for most Canadians is jobs yet unemployment nationally and locally has been far too high under the Harper Government," said Laferriere. "We have witnessed years of weak job numbers locally that have been consistently above the federal, provincial and regional averages – and now we see the worst unemployment numbers in the region."

"I'm excited for Tom Mulcair to share his vision for better employment in the region on Wednesday."

Mulcair's job-focused visit will centre on a local manufacturer ProFab Plastics located at 162 Bruce St on Wednesday September 12th from 1:30pm - 2:30pm. Pro-Fab Plastics is a member of the Brantford-Brant Chamber of Commerce and was established in 1980 to create point of purchase displays, formed & fabricated jewelry, sunglass displays and other items for the retail industry.

Due to the nature of the tour and safety regulations only accredited media outlets will be allowed into the factory floor for the site tour and press availability.

Beginning at 2pm on Sunday September 2, 2012 at Dufferin Park will be the Brantford stretch of the Crossing Canada for Katimavik Relay. The local portion of the relay will travel along Brant Ave and end at City Hall where participants will discuss the importance of the Katimavik youth program which was cut in the recent omnibus budget bill.

This hope of the organizers is to raise awareness and support of NDP MP Charmaine Borg's Motion M-352 which would reinstate funding to Katimavik and will be voted on in the Fall session of Parliament.

"Its in support of an NDP motion but that is not the point," said local organizer Marc Laferriere. "We're hoping people from every party and people with no party affiliation come out and support this well liked and successful program for youth and host communities."

The relay is taking place in over 50 former Katimavik host communities and a Katimavik t-shirt and journal will be traveling across the country with a petition that will be signed by a range of Canadians who support the program.

"I'm supporting Katimavik for the youth who benefit so much from it in service, in vital employability skills, and in increased knowledge about our country," said Laferriere. "And also, because communities like ours have benefitted from being host cities for years. Its a good and positive program for kids and communities and it should never have been cut."

To learn more about Ms. Borg's motion and other ways to participate in these initiatives please visit: http://www.longlive-katimavik.ca/. Those who require more information about the Brantford stretch of the relay can email Marc directly at marc@brantndp.ca or visit the Facebook event page at http://www.facebook.com/events/264477570338464/