House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2008, with 38% of the vote.
Infrastructure December 3rd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the previous Liberal government renewed $11.5 billion in infrastructure money in its 2005 budget. The government only included $4 billion of that in its 2007 budget. This cut and the government's building Canada fund is an elaborate shell game that should be called re-gifting Canada.
While the finance minister may think that mayors are stupid and whiners, they are not. When will the government come clean and admit that it has abandoned Canada's cities and communities?
Infrastructure November 30th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the building Canada fund, everyone knows, is nothing more than re-gifting. It consists of the Liberal gas tax rebate, the Liberal infrastructure program and the Liberal transit funding, all of which were announced by the previous Liberal government. There is nothing new here.
The Conservatives are recycling Liberal programs. While recycling is good for the environment, it should not apply to promises for our cities and communities. This cannot wait until 2050 like the government tried to do with the environment, because our cities need action now.
Why is there so much contempt?
Infrastructure November 30th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, here is a quote:
We should abandon the infrastructure works program immediately and begin the overdue process of cutting government spending.
Who said that? It was the current Minister of Human Resources and Social Development.
In the face of a report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities demonstrating that our national urban infrastructure is on the verge of collapse, does that minister still believe in slashing municipal infrastructure?
Infrastructure November 26th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, 22 billion of those dollars were in Liberal programs.
Canada's mayors know how to do their jobs and they know dire the situation is. They know that municipal infrastructure in this country is on the verge of utter collapse.
This government does not take mayors seriously. That is disgraceful. That is neglect. It is disdain for all Canadians.
The mayors left Ottawa with a bagful of insults, just as the seniors did with regard to income trusts.
Would the Prime Minister ask his ministers to treat Canadian--
Infrastructure November 26th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities estimates a $123 billion infrastructure deficit that is putting our cities on the verge of collapse.
The government's response to this crisis? Insults. What do the finance minister and the transport minister tell our mayors? Stop whining.
The government repackaged $22 billion from Liberal programs but only committed a pittance for our cities over the next seven years.
With bridges collapsing and water plants in jeopardy, when will the government take this crisis seriously?
Questions on the Order Paper November 22nd, 2007
What funds, grants, loans and loan guarantees has the government through its various departments and agencies issued in the constituencies of Saint John, Fundy Royal, New Brunswick Southwest, and Tobique—Mactaquac, respectively, for the period of January 24, 2006 to September 30, 2007 inclusive, and in each case where applicable: (a) the program under which the payment was made; (b) the names of the recipients; (c) the monetary value of the payment made; and (d) the percentage of program funding covered by the payment received?
Support our Troops Rally November 21st, 2007
Mr. Speaker, Don and Laurie Greenslade from Saint John lost their only son, David, on Easter weekend when he was tragically killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.
Together with their family, friends and neighbours, they started a red ribbon campaign about the importance of supporting our troops.
The Friday support rally held September 28 in Saint John with thousands of New Brunswickers attending was a real tribute to David and all of our brave soldiers.
Members of this House united as one by helping the Greenslades support the troops and their families by donating flag pins for this important event. The generosity of members of Parliament has made us all very proud.
The Saint John rally was a huge success and highlights the sacrifice made by our Canadian troops. Forty thousand pins and ribbons have been given away since Easter in Saint John and with this House's support, this worthwhile project will continue.
The Greenslade family has asked me to thank members of the House for their support and to remember to wear red on Friday for David and for our soldiers.
Equalization Formula June 19th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, in case the Prime Minister did not hear me, that was $1.1 billion, not a million, but a billion, with a capital B.
His bumbling brood has engaged in buffoonery in their brutal budget bungles and their backstabbing and betrayal by these ministers of bark and bluster.
Will the Prime Minister restore the billion dollars that he robbed from New Brunswick and become a partner in our drive to self-sufficiency, or will he give us more “boonrush”?
Equalization Formula June 19th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council has confirmed that the government's unilateral gutting of equalization hammers New Brunswick just as brutally as it does Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
This Conservative government is robbing New Brunswick of more than $1 billion, and it has broken the trust of Canadians everywhere.
Will the Prime Minister get off his sanctimonious perch, stop his bullying and stop treating the Atlantic provinces as afterthoughts of Confederation?
Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act June 14th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Discussions have taken place among members and parties with respect to Bill C-440, An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act, which, as members know, is for mail free of postage to and from members of the Canadian armed forces, that was introduced in the House of Commons on May 8.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that if you were to seek it you would find consent for the following motion to support our troops and their families: That notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, Bill C-440 be deemed to have been read a second time, referred to a committee of the whole, reported without amendment, concurred in at report stage and read a third time and passed.