House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
Canada-U.S. Relations February 3rd, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the government and the minister are dancing around the issue once more. They refuse to even say the words “perimeter security” and yet they are holding secret negotiations with the Americans on this very issue, which poses a serious threat to our country's sovereignty and the rights of its citizens.
Why are these negotiations secret? Why do they refuse to clearly state what they are discussing with the Americans in Washington?
Canada-U.S. Relations February 3rd, 2011
Mr. Speaker, for months the government has been negotiating a secret perimeter security deal with the Americans. For weeks we have been trying to figure out, asking it over and over again, what this means for Canadian sovereignty and our rights as citizens.
Why the secrecy? Why is it that the government is talking about fundamental issues of Canadian sovereignty and Canadian freedoms with the Americans without talking to Canadians first?
Pensions February 2nd, 2011
Mr. Speaker, talk to the income trust retirees about what the government did to them.
The issue here is the government should be strengthening the public provision, the Canada pension plan, instead of enriching banks and insurance companies.
The Prime Minister himself has a public pension. It is a good fat public pension. He stood up for that pension. When will he stand up for improved public pensions for average Canadians?
Pensions February 2nd, 2011
Mr. Speaker, 75% of private sector employees do not have a pension plan. However, instead of strengthening the public pension plan, the Prime Minister is enriching banks and insurance companies with his private plan, in addition to the $6 billion in tax breaks he has given those very companies.
Why does this government line up behind banks and insurance companies and never behind ordinary middle class Canadian families?
Pensions February 2nd, 2011
Mr. Speaker, for five years the government has done nothing about pensions and then it comes up with a private option that will weaken the Canada pension plan and simply boost profits for banks and insurance companies on top of the $6 billion tax break they have already been given.
When will the Prime Minister stop lining up behind banks and insurance companies and start lining up behind middle-class Canadian families who need security in retirement?
Canada-U.S. Relations February 1st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has announced that he will be going to Washington on Friday to talk to the Americans about something he does not seem to want to talk to Canadians about, and that is a secret perimeter security deal with the United States.
Will he confirm that these negotiations are under way? Will he confirm that is what he will be talking to President Obama about? Will he commit to the House to bring this deal back to the House for an open debate before he surrenders Canadian sovereignty?
Post-Secondary Education February 1st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, 16% of our low-income students have to abandon their post-secondary education because of debt. Instead of helping these young people, this government is going to cut the taxes of the largest, most profitable corporations.
Why is it doing this instead of helping young people who would like to attend CEGEP, college or university?
Post-Secondary Education February 1st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, nearly 80% of Canadian families say that they are not sure whether they will be able to afford post-secondary education for their kids. The government has done nothing to help those middle-class Canadian families. Instead, it borrowed $6 billion on top of a $56 billion deficit to lower taxes for the most profitable corporations in the country.
Will the Prime Minister explain why he is borrowing from our kids instead of investing in their education?
Questions Passed as Orders for Return January 31st, 2011
With regard to Advance Contract Award Notices (ACANs): (a) what were all ACANs issued between 1 January, 2010, and December 14, 2010; (b) what were all ACANs where an individual or company other than the identified supplier indicated to the government that it was able to meet the ACAN's requirements within the ACAN posting period; and (c) what were all ACANs that were eventually awarded to a company or individual that were not the original identified supplier, including the name of the company or individual that won the contract?
Questions Passed as Orders for Return January 31st, 2011
With respect to all incremental expenses relative to relocating Canada's Camp Mirage capability outside the United Arab Emirates (UAE), extending until the end of the foreseeable use of the new base capabilities, including the ongoing training mission through 2014, and including, but not limited to, expenses involved in planning the move, in getting equipment and personnel moved (including, but not exclusively, fuel, amortization on equipment used for the move, personnel involved in the move), expenses involved in cancelling contracts with suppliers in the UAE, lost perishable goods, incremental costs of new suppliers (when there is a difference in price of supplies between the two base capabilities), leases for the use of new base capabilities and incremental expenses for transportation to and from the base capabilities (for instance, when flying soldiers from Canada to Afghanistan): (a) what is a (i) detailed itemization of all such expenses, (ii) total summation of all such expenses, (iii) summation by type of expense; (b) for expenses in (a) already incurred, what were the amounts paid and, if this information is unavailable, what are estimates of the amounts paid; (c) for expenses in (a) not yet incurred, what are estimates of the amounts to be paid; (d) for expenses in (a), (b) and (c) incurred in foreign currency, what is the value of those expenses both in the foreign currency and in Canadian dollars; (e) what is a detailed itemization of all expenses to be incurred at the new base capabilities; and (f) for information deemed sensitive due to national security reasons, could the answer state so explicitly and include a general description?