House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 38% of the vote.
Canada Elections Act February 13th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, as promised, we are looking at some reforms to our elections laws and they will be put forward in due course.
However, while we are talking about the laws, Canadians expect political parties to follow the law, unlike the NDP that took hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal donations from its big union bosses. Canadians expect political parties to follow those laws.
Canada Elections Act February 13th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, as promised, we are looking at some reforms to our elections laws. A comprehensive proposal will be put forward in due course.
Ethics February 8th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that in fact the members opposite did not vote on it because at every opportunity they filibustered and did not even let the whole issue come to a vote. That is where the NDP stand on this. They are delaying Senate reform.
On this side of the House, we are taking action. We have referred the whole issue to the Supreme Court. We are accelerating the pace of Senate reform and laying the foundation for further reform.
Ethics February 8th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the NDP members are in a bit of a contradiction here. They cannot blame the Senate for having unelected senators, because they refused to pass legislation to allow senators to be elected.
We have taken action to make the Senate more democratic, accountable and representative. That is why we referred the whole issue to the Supreme Court of Canada. Our reference to the Supreme Court will accelerate the process of Senate reform and lay the foundation for further reform.
Democratic Reform February 8th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we want to see a more democratic, accountable and representative Senate. That is why we took action and referred Senate reform to the Supreme Court. Our reference to the Supreme Court will accelerate the process of reforming the Senate, and may even lay the foundation for further Senate reform.
Electoral Boundaries February 8th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the electoral boundary process encourages input from parliamentarians, political parties and the public. It is well known that our party agrees with the 75% majority of public submissions opposed to the commission's proposals in Saskatchewan.
While we are working and respecting the process, on the other hand, the Liberals, while in government in 1994, introduced legislation that would have suspended the independent electoral boundaries commissions. We would not do that.
Democratic Reform February 4th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I thank the new Quebec lieutenant for the NDP for that question.
Actually, the New Democratic Party members are in a little bit of a contradiction. They cannot blame the Senate for having unelected senators when they refuse to pass legislation to allow senators to be elected.
We made the reference to the Supreme Court of Canada to accelerate the pace of Senate reform and to broaden the process for Senate reform.
Democratic Reform February 1st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we will take no advice and no lessons from the Liberals. That member, in the time that his party was in government, did nothing to advance Senate reform. Our government tabled the Senate reform act to limit the terms of senators and to give Canadians a say in who represents them in the Senate. We are committed to making the Senate more democratic, accountable and representative of Canadians.
I would remind the member that this legislation is already being considered by the courts.
Questions on the Order Paper January 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the Privy Council Office has no records related to this request.
Ethics January 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we are following through on our long-term commitment to reform the Senate. I am pleased to welcome the appointment of our government's third elected senator who was selected democratically by the people of Alberta.
All of our new appointed senators support our government's plan to have an elected Senate. The NDP and the Liberals are opposed to Senate reform measures. They only have themselves to blame for stalling Senate reform.