Ryan Cleary

[International Trade, December 12th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, “read one word”? The deal is not out yet.

The Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador has come to Ottawa today to call on the Prime Minister to honour the commitment he made to my province. It is well known that this Prime Minister is no friend to Newfoundland and Labrador, but he made a commitment to our province, and this Conservative government has an obligation to honour that commitment. If he thinks that New Democrats in this House will just stand by and let him break that promise, let him break yet another promise, the Prime Minister had better think twice.

[International Trade, December 12th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the federal Conservatives needed Newfoundland and Labrador to give up local processing requirements to get a trade deal with Europe. After two days, an agreement was struck. The Province has the documents to prove it.

The deal was not for compensation for losses, but a research and marketing fund to create a fishery for the future. That was publicly announced 14 long months ago. Now, lo and behold, the Conservative government says Newfoundland and Labrador has it all wrong.

The obvious question is, why did the government not say anything back then, before now?

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, December 11th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, if that is a promise, let us see the details in writing.

I would remind Conservatives that they also promised to compensate Newfoundland and Labrador for giving up rules that protect our fish processing jobs. What happened to that promise?

Tomorrow, the premier is coming to Ottawa to meet with the Prime Minister to find out what happened. Will the Prime Minister agree to honour the terms of the commitment he made, or will this be a replay of the foot-dragging, promise-breaking, disrespect, and contempt that Conservatives showed to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with the Atlantic accord?

[Intergovernmental Affairs, December 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador is coming to Ottawa because the Conservatives are backing away from a promise they made to our province. The Conservatives committed to $280 million in compensation after they bargained away our minimum processing requirements in CETA negotiations. They have since been trying to break that promise. What is the deal now? The fishery fund was announced more than two years ago with money that was to be spent on research and marketing.

Is the $280 million on the table for Newfoundland and Labrador, yes or no?

[Newfoundland and Labrador, December 8th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe had a short stopover in Gander, Newfoundland, this past weekend. Between the jigs and the reels and the laughs and the digs with the likes of Allan Hawco and Alan Doyle, Russell Crowe let it be known to the Twitterverse what he thinks of my province: “I love Newfoundland”.

I thought about that quote over the weekend, and I have a question: why does the current Conservative government not love Newfoundland and Labrador? We do not see the love in federal fisheries policy. In fact, when it comes to northern shrimp, the Cons are punishing our communities. Where is the compensation for their EU trade deal? Where is that love? Where is the love when it comes to search and rescue or Marine Atlantic?

Then there are the Liberals. They show up on our doorstep every now and then when they want something—a vote—all dickied up and promising this and that, but they have never delivered in 65 years of Confederation. We are tired of being their jilted lover. We could sue them for breach of promise. Where is the love? Right here—

[Veterans, November 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. This is a minister who, rather than fixing the disgraceful record of his government on caring for veterans, chose instead to mislead Canadians about the mental health care they can expect to receive. He has literally run away from veterans and their families, while those who have served our country face a mental health crisis of unprecedented proportions.

Why are the Conservatives more interested in covering up their shameful treatment of Canada's veterans than in actually helping our veterans?

[The Environment, November 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland was identified as the highest potential area for an oil-related environmental accident in Canada.

Only last year, a federal tanker safety panel confirmed that Placentia Bay was at high risk for an oil spill. Now, the Atlantic Pilotage Authority wants tankers to navigate another 20 risky kilometres into the bay before being boarded by an experienced pilot. The danger is clear.

What is not clear is why the government is standing by and allowing the risk to increase. Why?

[International Trade, November 20th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, in order to get a trade deal with Europe, the Conservatives bargained away minimum processing requirements that protected fish processing jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador. At the time, the Conservatives promised Newfoundland and Labrador compensation of $280 million to help our fishing industry adjust. The province accepted but, now, two years later, we have learned that the Conservatives are not following through. What is the deal?

Could the minister clear the air and confirm he will keep the commitment to Newfoundland and Labrador?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, November 17th, 2014]

With regard to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the recreational and food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador: what amount of money has been spent by the government to monitor and enforce the fishery in each of the last five years?

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 17th, 2014]

With regard to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the closure of the Corner Brook Veterans Affairs office: (a) has the Department hired personnel specifically to provide the services of the closed Corner Brook office; (b) if so, what offices in Newfoundland and Labrador do the personnel work from; and (c) are their positions full-time permanent, if not, how are they classified?