Blake Richards

[Points of Order, September 28th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I ask for your guidance. Would you like me to restate the case already made, or can I continue from where I left off?

[Points of Order, September 28th, 2020]

I have a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I would think that I should get to finish the point before the responses.

[Points of Order, September 28th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order pursuant to Standing Order 69.1, to have the question on Bill C-4, An Act relating to certain measures in response to COVID-19 divided for the purposes of voting at second reading.

Standing Order 69.1(1) reads:

In the case where a government bill seeks to repeal, amend or enact more than one act, and where there is not a common element connecting the various provisions or where unrelated matters are linked, the Speaker shall have the power to divide the questions, for the purposes of voting, on the motion for second reading and reference to a committee and the motion for third reading and passage of the bill. The Speaker shall have the power to combine clauses of the bill thematically and to put the aforementioned questions on each of these groups of clauses separately, provided that there will be a single debate at each stage.

Standing Order 69.1(2) exempts budget implementation bills, but Bill C-4 is not a budget implementation bill so we may disregard this portion of the rule.

My argument is that Part 3 of Bill C-4, that is to say clauses 10 to 14 and the schedule, is sufficiently different from the remainder of the bill so as to warrant—

[Committees of the House, September 28th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, if you seek it this time, I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:

That the membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be amended as follows: Ms. Vecchio (Elgin—Middlesex—London) for Mr. Richards, (Banff—Airdrie), Mr. Lukiwski (Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan) for Mr. Brassard (Barrie—Innisfil) and Mr. Doherty (Cariboo—Prince George) for Mr. Duncan (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry).

[Privilege, September 28th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I thought you had notice, but if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion, that the membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be amended as follows: Ms. Vecchio for Mr. Richards; Mr. Lukiwski for Mr. Brassard; and, Mr. Doherty for Mr. Duncan, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, March 13th, 2020]

With regard to the January 15, 2020, Twitter post of the National Capital Commission Rideau Canal Skateway, under the Twitter handle @NCC_Skateway, entitled “Ice Ice Maybe”: (a) what was the total video production cost involved in the planning, production, editing and posting of the video, broken down by (i) work hours of public servants used, (ii) types of expenditure; (b) what are the names and titles of any persons within the government and the National Capital Commission who were involved with the production, planning, editing and posting of the video, including any ministers or ministerial exempt staff that were involved; (c) was any overtime pay granted to public servants as a result of this video, and, if so, what were the details, broken down by (i) the names and titles of managers who signed off, (ii) the total amount and cost of overtime used; (d) what are the details of all documentation on the planning, production, editing and posting of the video, including any scripts, contracts or briefing notes; (e) what are the names and titles of all persons who signed off on and had knowledge of the production of this video; (f) was any paid advertising used to promote the video on Twitter, and, if so, what were the cost and targeting metrics used; (g) were outside services procured in the production of this video, and, if so, what was the name of the company or the persons used and the total cost of any outside contracts, including the (i) date, (ii) amount, (iii) vendor, (iv) summary of goods or services provided; (h) was an outside contract procured, and was there an open request for proposals or was it a sole-sourced contract; and (i) was a music licence sought for the use of the musical likeness of the song “Ice Ice Baby” by the artist Vanilla Ice, and, if so, what were the cost and terms of the licence?

[Shop Local: Airdrie, March 12th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, in the face of challenging times for local businesses in Alberta, the small business community in Airdrie has banded together.

Lindsey Cybulskie and other local business owners in the community joined forces and created a Shop Local Facebook group. The reaction to the group has been incredibly positive. New members joined from across Airdrie and the Facebook group dramatically expanded in size. It provides a platform through which to share positive reviews, spread the word about exciting events and allows residents of Airdrie to explore local business options.

The community came together and the Facebook group has transformed into a movement that supports and empowers local businesses in Airdrie. Shop Local: Airdrie has led events, such as a flash mob lunch date; a selfie challenge that encouraged community members to take a selfie with a business and its owner; and a midnight madness event, where local businesses were open late for Christmas shopping. The Facebook group now has over 11,000 members.

The Shop Local: Airdrie movement has become a unifying force, supporting small businesses and reminding us all of the great strength in our community.

[The Economy, February 20th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the blockades are now into their second week and the Liberals continue to sit on their hands. VIA Rail announced it is laying off 1,000 people and has cancelled service again this week. In fact, its chief executive said this is the first time in 42 years of existence it had to interrupt most of its service across Canada. The tourism industry is being directly impacted and people are cancelling their planned trips. Can the tourism minister tell the House exactly how much this is costing our tourism industry?

[Indigenous Affairs, January 28th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, for all their talk about reconciliation, the Liberals are shutting first nations students in my riding out of their school. Exshaw School is home to nearly 200 first nations students. The Liberals have terminated a 47-year-old agreement and cut funding for the students. The school is left with an insurmountable $1.6-million shortfall and will be forced to close its doors if Indigenous Services Canada continues to refuse to work towards a solution.

Typical Liberal lip service will not do. Why are they shutting the door on indigenous students and a school they have chosen to attend?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, June 19th, 2019]

With regard to the approximately 103,000 non-citizens who were found to be on the National Register of Electors illegally: (a) how many voted in the 42nd General Election, held in 2015; (b) how many voted in each of the 338 electoral districts in the 42nd General Election; (c) how many voted in any federal by-election held since October 20, 2015; and (d) what is the breakdown of (c), by each riding where a by-election has been held?