Dean Del Mastro

[Business of Supply, March 5th, 2013]

However, Albertans can.

The Prime Minister has a perfect record of nominating and selecting senators who have been selected by regions. It would be a welcome reform and something the NDP should support.

[Business of Supply, March 5th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the member has not been here for the entire debate, but certainly I do not think I have heard a single government member stand and defend the Senate in its current form. I simply have not heard that.

For some time we have been arguing for a Senate chamber that has moved forward from 1867 to reflect a modern Canadian reality, where Canadians should have a say in who represents them in the Senate, where those term limits are not for up to 45 years but are at a more reasonable term limit whereby there will be an opportunity for renewal.

In a modern context it is unthinkable that Canadians in my riding, and I am certain in this member's riding, could be asked if they could name senators to represent them in the Senate. I will bet that many Canadians could not come up with any people to represent them.

[Business of Supply, March 5th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I neither believe that the Senate is necessary, as the former Liberal member indicated, nor do I believe that it is without value, as the NDP has been indicating.

There have been reports such as “Out of the Shadows At Last” on mental illness, which was commissioned in the Senate, the Kirby-Keon report, as it was also known. I think of the value in that and what it has meant to so many Canadians. It was an important piece of work that the Senate completed. There are many important works that the Senate completes.

However, I also believe that the Senate is stuck in 1867, and that is not acceptable. It is not acceptable in a modern context. I have always felt that if the Senate would not accept changes, if it did not become more accountable, if it would not become more democratic and if Canadians do not have a say in who represents them, then it must be abolished because I do not believe it is necessary. I think it can provide great value, but I think that is the challenge for this place.

I would say to the members of the NDP simply this. They have put forward a motion, and I think many Canadians hold its view, but are they prepared to do the work to get the provinces onside to make that motion happen, or is this simply grandstanding here in the House of Commons today?

[Business of Supply, February 26th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, interestingly, I found myself agreeing with the member, on a number of points. The member suggested that the creation of an infrastructure bank in Canada might be a way to move forward, and I agree with him on that. I think there is a role for large public and private pension funds and so forth to participate in the investment of long-term infrastructure. We have seen that in other places.

However, there needs to be an acknowledgement that the federal government is simply a partner in these things. When we were making record investments in infrastructure over the last number of years, we have been a partner, such as for GO transit in the member's region. We have partnered on many upgrades, with over $1 billion going into Union Station.

I am curious. If we put this on the table, is the member suggesting he is going to vote in favour of infrastructure investments? The NDP did not vote for it in the past.

[Business of Supply, February 26th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, this member would know full well that our government has made record investments into Newfoundland and Labrador in terms of infrastructure. We have recently assisted with their new hydroelectric power aspirations in Newfoundland and Labrador, and I know that is very important to that province. We bought new ferries to provide for people who need to navigate between Newfoundland and the mainland, and we are proud of that.

The member seemed quite outraged at points in his speech. I know I was outraged and disappointed when I heard his comments about how he thought his pension should be enriched for being a member of Parliament in this place. That is out of touch with most Canadians, but I think he is also out of touch when it comes to infrastructure investment. No party has pledged more in infrastructure dollars than this government under this Prime Minister, and that member's party has voted against it each and every time.

[Business of Supply, February 26th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member going through a long list of investments and initiatives undertaken by this government. Since taking office in 2006, we have prioritized infrastructure. We have certainly brought funding for municipalities to record levels. We have brought the transfers to the provinces to record levels. We have also done something else that is very important.

The member represents Ontario. I do not think any member in the House has done more to further the infrastructure interests of his region than this member in his fight for the new international crossing between Windsor and Detroit. Is the member aware that despite Ontario being 38% of the population and producing roughly 41% of the GDP, it was receiving only 22% of the federal infrastructure investment dollars under the former Liberal government, whereas today, it receives fair per capita transfers right across this country? Does he agree with that?

[Young Scientist Award, February 25th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Adam Noble is a young award-winning scientist from Peterborough. His research won gold at the Intel Science and Engineering Fair in Pittsburgh last May. Adam is one of Canada's brightest minds. He spoke to journalists after meeting with the Prime Minister last week and said:

Canada is one of the only countries right now increasing the amount of funding going into primary research.... I've really changed my view on how research is in Canada.

Adam is now in the early stages of starting his own company. After meeting with the Prime Minister, he has chosen to do so right here in Canada.

Our government has made science and technology a priority, and we are getting results. We are creating jobs, strengthening the economy, and attracting the world's brightest to study and research here in Canada. We have invested an unprecedented $8 billion in new funding since 2006, and we will continue to support science and technology, even if others vote against it.

On behalf of all parliamentarians, we send congratulations Adam Noble and congratulations to the Minister of State (Science and Technology).

[Young Scientist Award, February 13th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to recognize a remarkable young man from the Electric City region and my riding of Peterborough, Ontario.

Mr. Adam Noble is a 19-year-old resident of Lakefield, Ontario, currently in his last year of studies at Lakefield District Secondary School. What Adam has achieved to date in the field of science is truly remarkable. I am pleased to have the opportunity to recognize it here in the House of Commons today.

Though his resume is surprisingly long for an individual who is only 19 years old, I will shorten it and just let members know that Mr. Noble is the proud recipient of the European Union Contest for Young Scientists' international cooperation award for his work with nanosilver and water filtration systems. Most recently, Mr. Noble was invited to attend and present at the Nobel Prize ceremony and symposium.

Adam is a driven young man with a bright future ahead of him, and I have little doubt that he will contribute substantially to our knowledge-based economy of the future.

We congratulate Adam, and we wish him continued success with his exciting future endeavours. His community, country and this House are proud of his achievements.

[Safer Witnesses Act, February 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, if there were a recurring theme in that intervention, it was spend, spend, spend. The NDP members stand often and speak about spending, and they have a big chequebook over there. I think they have found the magical mystical money tree because there is money for everything.

I am not aware of any budget suggestions that the NDP has sent to the Minister of Finance. We have expanded the amount of money we are spending on the RCMP and come forward with a number of very comprehensive measures aimed at safe streets and communities, but how much more money should we give to the RCMP? What is the dollar figure that the NDP feels the RCMP is being shortchanged? I am not aware that it is being shortchanged.

When we present a budget and ask the NDP members to seek efficiencies and work as efficiently as they can given their responsibilities, that is a responsible way to operate government. I would like to hear how much more money the member feels the RCMP should get.

[Hockey Day in Canada, February 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the riding and region that I represent, the electric city region of Peterborough, Ontario, is famous and renowned for many things. It was the first city in North America where electric street lights went on, the city that built the generators for the Hoover Dam and Churchill Falls, the home of the world's tallest hydraulic lift lock and the historic Trent-Severn Waterway. It is a place where we grow the grain and then produce Quaker oatmeal, granola bars and cereals for the nation. It is a place where we take our sports seriously.

Peterborough is a hockey town and not just any hockey town. Indeed no major junior hockey franchise has produced more NHL players than the Peterborough Petes, boasting names such as Yzerman, Larmer, Gainey, Staal, Ricci, Murphy, Pronger, Redman and even Gretzky. We have sent a few coaches as well, lesser known of course, such as Scotty Bowman, Mike Keenan, Roger Neilson, Dick Todd and Gary Green.

This Saturday CBC will be broadcasting live and celebrating Hockey Day in Canada from the base of the Peterborough lift lock along the Trent-Severn canal. I invite all Canadians to tune in and join one of Canada's greatest hockey cities, Peterborough, Ontario, to celebrate all that our game means to Canada and how it unites us as Canadians.