In Parliament

• The opposition critic for Seniors and sits on the Veterans Affairs Committee
• Fought against Conservative cuts to women’s organizations, housing programs, and the student summer jobs program, successfully winning reinvestment in all three areas.
• Served for 5 years as the NDP Critic for the Status of Women
• Has served as the critic for Housing, deputy Critic for Veterans Affairs, and the deputy Critic for Public Safety.

As a frequent, strong voice in Parliament, Irene has introduced:

• Bill C-225, an Act to create and maintain a national Breast Implant Registry.
  Link to Petition: http://irenemathyssen.ndp.ca/post/petition-for-bill-c-255
• Bill C-253, an amendments to the Access to Information Act to ensure that all requests to information are granted.
  Link to Petition: http://irenemathyssen.ndp.ca/post/petition-for-bill-c-253
• Bill C-254, an amendment to the Income Tax Act to increase the RRSP deduction limit to include a taxpayers one-time contribution of any severance pay to an RRSP.
  Link to Petition: http://irenemathyssen.ndp.ca/post/petition-for-bill-c-254
• Bill C-256, an amendment to the criminal code to offer more protection to firefighters.
  Link to Petition: http://irenemathyssen.ndp.ca/post/petition-for-bill-c-256
• Bill C-282, an amendment to the Excise Tax Act to exempt female hygiene products from the GST.
  Link to Petition: http://irenemathyssen.ndp.ca/post/petition-for-bill-c-282
• Bill C-283, an Act to create the office of the Veterans Ombudsman, which will review certain matters pertaining to veterans and and other clients.
  Link to Petition: http://irenemathyssen.ndp.ca/post/petiton-for-bill-c-283
• Bill C-284, an Act to create the Advisory Council for the Status of Women.
  Link to Petition: http://irenemathyssen.ndp.ca/post/petition-for-bill-c-284
• Bill C-285, an amendment to the criminal code that will add a person's sex to the list of "identifiable groups" in relation to hate propaganda.
  Link to Petition: http://irenemathyssen.ndp.ca/post/petition-for-bill-c-285
• Bill C-286, an amendment to the Employment Insurance Act which will increase the period a claimant may receive special benefits to care or support a family member from six weeks to fifteen.
  Link to Petition: http://irenemathyssen.ndp.ca/post/petition-for-bill-c-286
• Bill C-287, an Act to create a consumer price index for seniors which then can be used to make amendments to the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act.
  Link to Petition: http://irenemathyssen.ndp.ca/post/petiton-for-bill-c-287