Jim Maloway - Federal Politics

Federal Politics

Maloway was among a group of Manitoba MLAs who sought to persuade former Manitoba Premier Edward Schreyer to run for the federal NDP leadership in 1989. He supported Lorne Nystrom's bid to become NDP leader in 1995, and endorsed Bill Blaikie in 2003.

After Blaikie announced his retirement from the Canadian House of Commons in 2007, Maloway indicated he would seek the NDP nomination to succeed him in the federal Elmwood—Transcona riding. He won the nomination over rival candidates Lorene Mahoney and Kevin Rebeck on September 7, 2008. Maloway made the Disraeli bridge his main issue in the 2008 federal election, and was elected over Conservative candidate Thomas Steen. The Conservatives won a minority government nationally, and Maloway was appointed as the NDP Critic for Science and Technology.

Maloway introduced a Private Member's Bill known as the "Airline Passenger's Bill of Rights" in February 2009. The bill would require airlines to include hidden fees and taxes in their advertised ticket prices, reimburse passengers who are bumped from overbooked flights by up to $1,200, and provide compensation for passengers who are left stranded on airport tarmacs for long periods of time. It has won the support of consumer advocacy groups, and Maloway has said that it will force airlines to act more responsibly. The National Airlines Council of Canada has opposed the measure, and has said that it will strengthen protection for travelers under an existing federal initiative. Maloway's bill narrowly passed second reading in the House of Commons in May 2009. On May 29, 2009, Maloway wrote a guest editorial defending the bill in the National Post newspaper.

Maloway has spoken against proposed free trade deals between Canada and the governments of Peru and Colombia.