House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 52% of the vote.
Judicial Appointments October 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, as we are talking about paying in court, at the very time the government is acting so firmly against the charter, it is appointing Conservative Party activists to be judges in Alberta, Quebec and New Brunswick.
While the Conservatives destroy the rights of individual Canadians before the courts, they are naming their partisan supporters to high judicial office.
This may be payback time for Conservative operatives but what does it mean for the integrity of our justice system?
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms October 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, preserving our official languages is one thing but normal citizens do not have the resources behind them that organized lobby groups have when they go to court.
In 2004, the Supreme Court of Canada made an important decision about our Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The case in which the National Citizens' Coalition, headed by the present Prime Minister, sought to advance the interests of the powerful. The court challenges program allowed other Canadians to have their say and defeat those interests.
Is the destruction of the court challenges program today payback time for losing that famous case, Harper v. Canada?
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms October 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, for the first time, Canadians have reason to worry about the future of their Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The government has eliminated the court challenges program, which protected the rights and freedoms of the least fortunate and also protected our francophone schools and hospitals. By acting in this manner, this government has clearly illustrated its base intention to gut our Charter.
Why is this Prime Minister attacking the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in this insensitive and senseless manner?
Privilege September 28th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a question of privilege arising out of a wilful misrepresentation during question period by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.
It has been my privilege to serve in the House for 13 years. It is the first time in my life here that I have ever felt called upon to stand on a matter of personal privilege because of what happened in the House today, which I think brings into doubt the conduct of the House and the nature of our parliamentary democracy.
The parliamentary secretary said in response to a question about the terrible events around the torture and rendition of Maher Arar to Syria by American authorities that they--the Liberals--took actions “which ended up putting him in a Syrian jail”. This is from the representative of a party whose prime minister at the time accused me of being in high level consultations to defend a suspected terrorist.
The member for Calgary—Nose Hill accused Liberals also of the government's screening system failure to find its al-Qaeda list and the present Minister of Public Safety called for--and wait for this--a public inquiry, not a public inquiry to find out what happened to Maher Arar but a public inquiry to determine why the Liberals were defending a man suspected of links to al-Qaeda.
Mr. Justice O'Connor has specifically said that the actions that we took in order to get Mr. Maher Arar a release from jail were correct, that they were the right things to do in the circumstances.
Either the hon. parliamentary secretary should withdraw his remarks, as he did previously for misleading the House, or it is incumbent upon him to identify in the House those Liberals that he smeared by his comment, attacking them for specifically being involved in one of the worst human rights tragedies Canada has ever been involved in. It is a disgrace to Parliament and he is a disgrace to the House.
Government Programs September 27th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, let us look at the facts. The youth employment strategy specifically targets visible minorities for help. Cutting it is a direct assault on the finest values of our society.
The Conservative government is undermining programs for equality. It is undercutting access to the courts for minorities, access to reading and writing help, and access to housing and job skills.
In the name of decency, in the name of compassion, how can the Prime Minister be so incredibly harsh and ultimately so short-sighted for Canadian society?
Government Programs September 27th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, perpetual hyperbole and bluster no longer fool the House or Canadians.
The Prime Minister's assertion in the House yesterday that the government is not cutting funding to immigrant youth is simply not true. The court challenges program for visible minorities is gone. Workplace programs for disadvantaged youth are gone. Reading and writing programs for refugee kids are toast.
Why did the Prime Minister not at least admit the facts? Why were programs for visible minority youth cut in such a meanspirited way? I use that term not only in its parliamentary sense, but in the sense that every common Canadian would understand.
Government Programs September 27th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister treated us yet again to Conservative twaddle about how his cuts will not affect minorities.
Today, the president of the Canadian Bar Association said that the court challenges program is often the only way for the vulnerable and underprivileged to be treated fairly.
Will the Prime Minister admit that, among other things, he has just cut an opportunity for our minority francophone communities to seek justice in the Supreme Court? Let him explain that to the Acadians.
Government Programs September 26th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, affordable housing for our seniors—cut; the rights of minority communities—abolished; training for older workers—terminated; employment assistance for young immigrants—forget all that; equality of gays and lesbians—that is in the past.
Why is this government so set against the most vulnerable Canadians? Considering all the money they have received from Canadian taxpayers, do the Conservatives have no consideration for the human condition of Canadians?
Government Programs September 26th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, when this party inherited the Government of Canada, we had a $42 billion deficit that we managed for the people of our country. That party has a $13 billion surplus that it is squandering. It will not give a cent to poor people.
Why on earth is the Prime Minister eliminating research on the health of visible minorities, child abuse, trafficking in women, support for voluntary groups for soup kitchens and training for Canadians with disabilities? Are they not Canadians too? Do they not deserve value for their money?
Government Programs September 26th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the vindictive, meanspirited cuts targeted at the weak, the needy, the vulnerable and the marginalized in Canada could only have been dreamt up by the insider group of Conservative Mike Harris holdover ministers in the government. Conservatives have continued their them versus us mentality. People without money or clout get clobbered by them.
How in a country as blessed as ours does the Prime Minister justify cuts to funding for immigrant youth, aboriginal women, adults with literacy problems, housing for the disabled and vulnerable workers?