Answer him.
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 45% of the vote.
National Defence November 4th, 2013
Answer him.
National Defence November 4th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the Conservatives could not care less about our injured veterans just before they are to be released from the armed forces and qualify for their pension.
Last week we asked the minister about Corporal David Hawkins. He could not care less. Today, Corporal Hawkins wants to know, “What are the minister's intentions in term of retaining injured soldiers to allow them to get their ten year pension?” The minister should answer the corporal.
National Defence October 30th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, last June the previous minister of defence said, “Any Afghan vet injured in combat will not be released as a result of those injuries”.
He even went further, “...everyone would be better off if the hon. member had chosen to contact my office...”. Last week we did just that. We contacted the minister's office. It did not help Corporal David Hawkins, who suffered injuries in Afghanistan and was released last Friday with less than a year of service left before he qualifies for a pension.
Will the minister today honour his predecessor's promise and reinstate Corporal Hawkins?
Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 2 October 29th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for bringing her views forward.
I want to share with her something that has happened at the Department of National Defence. A veteran today, who was a member of the armed forces last week, Corporal Hawkins, was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. He had one year to finish his 10 years in order to get a pension. I do remember the Minister of National Defence last year saying that no member of the forces would be pushed out. Yet, last week, last Friday, he was given his marching orders. He was pushed out.
Therefore, I am just wondering if my colleague could share with us how she sees the shortcomings of the government and the failed promises of the Minister of National Defence as this veteran, a soldier of yesterday, is pushed out of the forces and not allowed to finish his 10 years.
David Lewis Public School October 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, on May 10, 1990, David Lewis Public School opened its doors for the first time. Since then, thousands of young students have walked through those doors in pursuit of an education.
Karen Peach, the principal, has been at David Lewis for the past 11 years. She and her staff teach 362 students, ranging from junior kindergarten to grade 8. The school serves a culturally diverse community, which is celebrated by the school community and the community at large.
Over the last five years, on the Fraser Institute school report card the overall rating of the students' academic achievements out of a possible score of 10 ranged between 9.3 and 10.
I wish the staff and students at David Lewis Public School a happy 25th anniversary and continued success over the next 25 years.
Business of Supply October 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, my question for the member across the way is very simple. We have watched that party, since it came to power, appoint 57 senators, including Duffy, Wallin and Brazeau, and there is a problem. That is 2% of the Senate that the Conservatives appointed.
When the member sits in caucus, has the Prime Minister revealed some of the information that we have seen now between Mr. Duffy and the Prime Minister? Has the Prime Minister revealed to caucus members when Mr. Duffy and Pamela Wallin were going across the country during the election? Was he also part and parcel of that? Did he benefit from Mr. Duffy going to his riding to speak?
Do Conservative members know what is going on in the Prime Minister's office since they sit in caucus or are they in the dark, too?
Veterans Affairs October 18th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, substantial? Nine district offices are closing. They are laying off case workers across Canada. Veterans are advised to go to the Service Canada office or dial the 1-800 number. In some instances the case workers are a five-hour drive away from the veterans.
Why is the government walking away from our veterans and not giving them the service that they deserve? Why? When are they going to do it?
Veterans Affairs October 18th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, a young veteran, Kate MacEachern, began her “long way home” walk at the Canso Causeway in Nova Scotia. She walked to raise the Canadian public's awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder and to raise funds for Military Minds. Today, 1,685 kilometres later, she arrived in Ottawa and sits here with us.
When will the government allocate the required funds and resources to help veterans such as Kate who are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder? When will the government step up to the plate?
Tax Conventions Implementation Act, 2013 June 10th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, it is indeed important that the member said that we should be debating issues that are important and this issue is certainly not less important than others.
Can the member can stand on his feet and say how many bills that are very important to this country the government has brought closure to and has tried to asphyxiate the rest of this chamber from talking about?
Tax Conventions Implementation Act, 2013 June 10th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if my colleague would share his views on the taxes that should have been paid by former Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney when he took the $300,000 and put it in the safe.
I wonder if he would also like to comment on whether Senator Mike Duffy should also be paying taxes on the $90,000 present that he got from the Prime Minister's Office.