House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2015, with 40% of the vote.
Air Canada March 27th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the thousands of Canadians thrown out of work do not want excuses. They need action. Hundreds of people in Mississauga were suddenly left without jobs when Aveos shut its doors. Like all out-of-work Canadians, their families relied on those jobs.
That minister keeps stalling, hoping no one will notice. However, we have noticed and Canadians have noticed. When will the government act? The Conservatives are failing these families. When will the minister act?
Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada March 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House with renewed energy, more determined than ever to build the Canada we dream of.
For the past six months, I have had the privilege to run against eight excellent leadership candidates and put forward a progressive vision for Canada. Nathan, Niki, Martin, Brian, Paul, Robert, Romeo and Tom, thank you for that honour.
I also thank the hundreds of members of my campaign team and those who worked tirelessly on other teams who could imagine a country that we would like to build, a country where Canadians are passionate for a new direction toward economic prosperity that includes everyone, with a sustainable environment and strong social programs. I know we can get there with our caucus united behind our leader and future prime minister, Thomas Mulcair.
Petitions December 8th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the second petition I wish to present today pertains to the Canadian Museum of Human Rights.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to ensure that the Holodomor and Canada's first national internment operations are included in the exhibits permanently displayed at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and that any further funding to the museum be suspended until there is a transparent review of the governance of the museum.
Petitions December 8th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions to the House, the first of which pertains to Bill C-4.
Hundreds of petitioners in my riding of Parkdale--High Park wish to call the House's attention to Bill C-4, the preventing human smugglers from abusing Canada's immigration system act. The petitioners argue that the bill is in violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as numerous international conventions and covenants to which Canada is a party. They therefore call upon the House to withdraw the bill.
Strengthening Fiscal Transparency Act December 8th, 2011
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-381, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Budget Officer).
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce my private member's bill, an act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Parliamentary Budget Officer).
I am pleased to present this important legislation. I would like to thank my colleague from Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques for seconding the bill and for supporting efforts to promote transparency and accountability, which are so important to our role as members of Parliament.
The position of parliamentary budget officer was created in 2006 after the Liberal sponsorship scandal, as part of the Conservatives' commitment to government accountability. But despite their promise to create an independent parliamentary budget office, the Conservatives refused to grant the PBO the same independence and the same authority as other officers of Parliament, such as the Auditor General.
In accordance with the legislation, the PBO's appointment can be revoked at the discretion of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, and not Parliament, has the power to hire and dismiss the PBO. This restriction is not imposed on other officers of Parliament.
Canadians and their members of Parliament deserve to know the real costs of policies and laws, and the PBO must have enough power and independence to achieve this goal.
Canadians and their MPs deserve to hear about the real costs of policy and legislation, and the PBO must have sufficient power and independence to meet this goal. The bill would allow the PBO to operate independently with a budget to fulfill his or her mandate.
Canadians want the government to be held accountable. We must be focused on ensuring that fiscal transparency and accountability are standard operating procedure in Ottawa.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Jenna Morrison November 14th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, this morning, I joined hundreds of cyclists and other community members at the corner of Sterling and Dundas Streets in the west end of Toronto. It was there, on November 7, that Jenna Morrison, who was cycling to pick up her five-year-old son, died under the back wheels of a truck.
We came together this morning to express our condolences to Jenna's family and to grieve. The shock of Jenna's loss is very difficult to accept. A ghost bike was installed on that corner today, another one of the all too many reminders of cyclists killed on our city streets.
Making our streets safe requires governments at all levels to act. This afternoon I will join my colleague from Trinity—Spadina to second her bill that would require side guards on trucks to prevent deaths like Jenna Morrison's death.
I urge my colleagues here in Ottawa to do their part by quickly adopting this bill. Lives depend on it.
The Economy October 26th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives love to present misleading job creation numbers. The truth is that we have lost 220,000 jobs for young people since the recession began. Unemployment is up, economic indicators are down and, according to the Bank of Canada, our economy is slowing to a crawl. Conservatives want Canadians to believe that corporate tax giveaways to profitable companies are the answer. They are not.
When will the minister have something more than empty talking points to offer jobless Canadians?
The Economy October 26th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned that cuts to the public service could prevent qualified young workers from getting good quality jobs. Furthermore, the government's newly lowered growth projections do not predict anything good for our young workers.
We have an unacceptable unemployment rate of over 14%. What is the minister doing to stop wasting the talent of our young people?
Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act October 20th, 2011
Madam Speaker, I want to inform the member opposite that food security and the well-being of farmers concerns everyone in our country. Farmers feed cities. We rely on farmers.
I have not reviewed the voters list for this plebiscite, but, surely to goodness, if the government is concerned with that list, then it should obey the law, conduct its own vote and let farmers decide the future of the Wheat Board. It is as simple as that. Why does it not allow the farmers the democratic right to decide whether they will be able to keep the Wheat Board? That is the government's responsibility under the law.
Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act October 20th, 2011
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.
When Australia lost its equivalent of the Canadian Wheat Board, farmers lost control over their wheat. They became clients of a large American company. They lost control and became very dependent on that company, which led to loss of revenue and the destruction of that sector.