House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
Canada-U.S. Relations December 14th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, again the Prime Minister is evading the question. It seems obvious that immigration is on the table, charter rights are on the table and security is on the table. It is about time he stood in this House and told Canadians what is going on. Why can he not afford to stand in this House and tell Canadians the truth?
Canada-U.S. Relations December 14th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, that vague response does not answer the question.
We know the government is negotiating a deal with the Americans. A text has been leaked to the press. The communications plan is out there. We know it is planning to announce it in January when Parliament is not sitting so it can shut down debate on the issue.
If the Prime Minister is so convinced that the deal is good for Canadian sovereignty and good for Canadian rights, why will he not debate it in public? What is he hiding?
Canada-U.S. Relations December 14th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, it has become clear that the government is currently negotiating a secret deal with the Americans regarding security. The details of the deal and the communications plan have already appeared in the media. However, with its usual disdain for this House and for the public, this government refuses to speak the truth.
Why does this government want to impose a secret deal on Canadians without a public debate? What is it trying to hide?
National Defence December 13th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, this is about value for taxpayers' money. I defy the Minister of National Defence to tell the Canadian people what this plane will actually cost. In the United States the estimates go from $50 million, to $95 million, to $125 million. The maintenance contract estimate goes from $5 billion to $12 billion. This is an issue of credibility. No number the government presents on this issue is credible.
How can the Conservatives ask the taxpayers to foot the bill without a competitive bid?
National Defence December 13th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the defence minister's credibility on this issue is in tatters. On May 27, he promised Parliament an open and competitive bid. On July 16, he reversed himself. He made one estimate for the maintenance costs of this airplane. It has now more than doubled. He has overplayed the industrial benefits, downplayed the cost. None of his numbers about this plane add up. When will he put a stop to this boondoggle in the making?
National Defence December 13th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, clearly, the purchase of fighter jets without a competitive bidding process would be a huge mistake. Not only would a competitive bidding process give us more jobs and more industrial benefits, it would also save taxpayers billions of dollars.
Why is the government letting the Americans choose our aircraft at the expense of our industries and our taxpayers?
Canada-U.S. border December 9th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, there is a basic issue of competence here.
The Conservative government gave us the fiasco of the G8 and G20. The Conservative government lost us a seat on the Security Council. The Conservative government lost our troops the rear base at Camp Mirage. Now the government is asking the Canadian people to trust it in secret negotiations that put in question the sovereignty and liberty of Canadians.
Everybody wants to thin down this border, but the question here is about trust. Can the Conservative government be trusted with the sovereignty and freedom of Canadians?
Canada-U.S. border December 9th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I am wondering whether the opposite side could inform the hon. member that the question was about the secret perimeter negotiations with the Americans, not Cancun. Will the member wake up and treat this House with respect?
The government has already surrendered energy policy and climate policy to the Americans. The question is: What is next?
How can the government be trusted with the sovereignty and civil rights of Canadians in secret negotiations with the Americans? That is the question.
Canada-U.S. border December 9th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives gave in to the Americans on the softwood lumber dispute. They asked permission from Washington before taking action on the environment. They purchased American fighter planes without a bidding process here in Canada.
With this track record, how can Canadians trust that the Conservative government will protect Canada's sovereignty and the freedom of its citizens during its secret perimeter negotiations with the Americans?
The Environment December 8th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, we have to situate this performance at Cancun in a wider perspective. Let us look at the opportunities the government has squandered just this year.
It held a G8-G20 summit and it turned into a fiasco. It went for a seat on the security council and it blew it. It had Camp Mirage and then lost it. It went to Cancun and all it managed to achieve was to sabotage an international climate change agreement. Meanwhile, it has stood silently while Haiti's democracy is in peril.
How can the Prime Minister explain this pattern of obstruction, indifference and missed opportunities?