House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 43% of the vote.
Questions Passed as Orders for Return January 31st, 2011
With regard to advertising by the Minister of International Cooperation, the Canadian International Development Agency or its agencies: (a) what was the total amount of money spent by the department and each of its agencies since January 1, 2009, in multi-cultural targeted print, radio, television and web-based media; (b) what was the exact placement of each ad purchase; and (c) what was the target demographic of each advertisement?
Questions Passed as Orders for Return January 31st, 2011
With regard to advertising by the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada or its agencies: (a) what was the total amount of money spent by the department and each of its agencies since January 1, 2009, in multi-cultural targeted print, radio, television and web-based media; (b) what was the exact placement of each ad purchase; and (c) what was the target demographic of each advertisement?
Questions Passed as Orders for Return January 31st, 2011
With regard to advertising by the Department of Finance or its agencies: (a) what was the total amount of money spent by the department and each of its agencies since January 1, 2009, in multi-cultural targeted print, radio, television and web-based media; (b) what was the exact placement of each ad purchase; and (c) what was the target demographic of each advertisement?
Questions on the Order Paper December 15th, 2010
With regard to the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and its partner agencies and all e-mail and any other written correspondence which occurred between January 1, 2008 and October 31, 2010, excluding all matters which are in their nature secret: (a) for each correspondence, including e-mails, between ministers’ exempt staff and departmental staff at FedDev Ontario, (i) what are its contents, (ii) what are the names of the sender and recipients, (iii) on what date was it sent; (b) for each correspondence, including e-mails, between ministers’ exempt staff working at FedDev Ontario and departmental staff at FedDev Ontario, (i) what are its contents, (ii) what are the names of the sender and recipients, (iii) on what date was it sent; and (c) for each correspondence, including e-mails, between ministers’ exempt staff working at FedDev Ontario and ministers’ exempt staff working at the National Research Council, the Business Development Bank of Canada, and Industry Canada, (i) what are its contents, (ii) what are the names of the sender and recipients, (iii) on what date was it sent?
International Cooperation December 15th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of International Cooperation is facing very serious allegations that she did not tell the truth to the House, mistruths which were repeated by the minister both in the House and in response to order paper questions that she is also now evading. However, the evidence paints a more disturbing picture. Clearly there were others at the cabinet level who contributed to the decision to de-fund KAIROS.
How are Canadians to trust a government and a Prime Minister who knowingly hide the truth from them? What does that say about their moral character?
Economic Negotiations with the European Union December 14th, 2010
Madam Chair, the member opposite speaks with some enthusiasm about his government giving up local autonomy and the rights to local procurement in exchange for whatever else might be in the trade agreement.
First, I am wondering if he is aware that in the Canada-U.S. procurement agreement many municipalities in the United States refused to negotiate away their right of local procurement, and second, I am wondering how he feels about the rights of municipalities to prefer local industry to spur innovation, to spur the economy, to protect the environment. I am wondering if he is prepared to give that up at any cost.
Economic Negotiations with the European Union December 14th, 2010
Madam Chair, I want to thank the member for Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor for his wonderful speech. It was very comprehensive.
My question of the member is how does he feel about a municipality, hoping to spur local innovation, spur the local economy and protect the environment, being sued by a corporation from Europe that might have provided a lower tender on a particular project to that municipality, notwithstanding that the ultimate economic benefit that municipality might gain would far, far exceed the difference in those two quotes? How does he feel about that?
Economic Negotiations with the European Union December 14th, 2010
Mr. Chair, I will refer to the document, “Municipal Procurement Implications of the Proposed Economic Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union”. It is an opinion that was prepared by Sack Goldblatt Mitchell for the Centre for Civic Governance at Columbia Institute. He refers to sub-national procurement and states:
In setting out the principles that should guide Canadian trade negotiations, the FCM [Federation of Canadian Municipalities] stressed the importance of: Canadian content for strategic industries or sensitive projects: A trade deal must recognize strategic and public interest considerations before barring all preferential treatment based on country of origin. There may be industries of strategic significance to a particular region, such as transit, or projects where considerations of quality, public benefit, environmental protection or business ethics means that a local government may be allowed to implement minimum Canadian content levels, within reason.
Thus under CETA, municipalities would no longer be able to restrict tendering to Canadian companies, or stipulate that foreign companies bidding on public contracts accord some preference for local or Canadian goods, services, or workers. As a result, municipalities would lose one of the few, and perhaps the most important tool they now have for stimulating innovation, fostering community economic development, creating local employment and achieving other public policy goals, from food security to social equity
I am wondering if the member would tell me whether he considers this as being one of the technicalities that he speaks to, these mere technicalities, that might upset a free trade agreement and how serious he considers the issue of sub-national procurement.
Government Funding December 14th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, regardless of who cut the funds, these cuts make no sense. They undermine the health of Canadians.
The money already spent and infrastructure built through AFMNet will be thrown away, as will the discoveries it is on the verge of making, like sodium substitutes to improve Canadians' nutrition and therefore health.
Healthy Canadians equal reduced health care costs. The Conservatives find the money for other things.
Will the minister assure the House that funding will be restored, even through other sources, to such a vital stakeholder that provides critical information, research and development to the food industry?
Government Funding December 14th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, after seven years of federal funding, the Advanced Foods and Materials Network, AFMNet, a large group of Canadian experts whose research in healthier food innovation, nutrition and traceability is fundamental to food policy development in Canada, had its funding cut leaving a huge R and D vacuum on these important issues. Healthy eating means healthier people and reduced health care costs. It is that simple. Creating more nutritious and healthier food needs research.
Did the minister consult with Health Canada and with Agriculture Canada before AFMNet funds were arbitrarily cut?