House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 65% of the vote.
Interparliamentary Delegations March 13th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association which represented Canada at the meeting of the defence and security committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held in Washington, D.C., and Colorado Springs from January 30 to February 6, 2001.
Petitions March 2nd, 2001
Madam Speaker, I rise to present a petition signed by rural route mail couriers. They often earn less than minimum wage and have working conditions reminiscent of another era. They seek the right to bargain collectively to improve their wages and working conditions.
The petitioners call upon parliament to repeal section 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act that prohibits them from doing so.
Criminal Code March 2nd, 2001
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-291, an act to amend the Criminal Code (violent crimes).
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to be able to reintroduce this private member's bill. It amends certain provisions of the criminal code relating to life imprisonment.
The bill can be properly characterized as two violent strikes legislation. Anyone who is convicted for the second time of a violent offence shall be sentenced to life imprisonment.
For those who wish to rape, maim, conspire, corrupt and commit all manner of violent acts, this private member's initiative is bad news. For victims and their families, the bill represents a return to the principles of fundamental justice. It means those who repeatedly hurt and prey on the young, the innocent and the law-abiding will spend the rest of their lives in prison.
Let there be no mistake about the intent of the bill: Two violent strikes and the criminal is out for life.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Supply March 1st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I will do that very thing.
The member talks about this wonderful open process that the Liberal government has embarked upon. Documents show exactly the opposite. They show that there was political interference.
I would like the member to comment on just where he thinks this project will go, given the past track record of his government and its nasty interference into every procurement that it can put its finger in.
Supply March 1st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to the member's speech and it sounded just like the previous speech by one of his colleagues, the member from Mississauga.
He had the same basic comments in there, nothing new, nothing innovative, nothing to support the project itself. It seems that the speech writer over there has the same mindset that leads to absolutely nowhere.
The Liberals have been mostly patting themselves on the back and proclaiming this great open process that they want to deliver to the Canadian public and to industry.
Let us talk about this openness that the member has alluded to in his presentation. As I pointed out before, I have a book full of access to information documents on this particular project which clearly point to interference by the Deputy Prime Minister in this process. He wanted the statement of requirements changed so some changes were made through the senior oversight management committee. The committee met seven times to deal strictly with the SOR on the maritime helicopter. That is politicians interfering directly into the affairs of the military. They had no business being in the procurement process and yet it did happen. Now, that was the Deputy Prime Minister, those officials—
Supply March 1st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I listened to the member's speech very carefully, noting that there were comments in her speech that reflected the comments of some of her colleagues in almost identical words. I hate to think this, but it could not be a canned speech from the minister of public works that she was delivering, could it?
I know she gave a lot of credit to the minister of public works regarding the process he has set up. I am sure that she must be aware from his presentation, and it was actually one of the members of the media who brought this to my attention, that the contract for the maritime helicopter project will not be signed this year. It will be signed next year. What will that in effect do? That will push off the whole project again and it will be another five to six years before a delivery of even one machine to our military takes place.
We can talk about the openness of the process and so on, which I believe is a bunch of hogwash, but just think of this. Right now we have a 40 year old aircraft out there that requires 40 hours of service for every hour in flight, and we have this minister and this government stating that it will be another year before the contract is signed and another five years before one machine is delivered. There is something seriously wrong with the priorities on that side of the House, and I would like the member to comment on it.
National Defence March 1st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, shame on the defence minister and his policy for disaster.
The minister knows that the Liberal policies and actions have dangerously reduced the basic level of emergency preparedness in Vancouver and all over British Columbia.
Again I ask the minister, why does the government continue to play politics with the safety of people in British Columbia?
National Defence March 1st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the truth of the matter is that the armed forces in the country have been stripped to the bare bones by the government. Yesterday's earthquake on the west coast illustrates this kind of a crisis.
In 1994 the government punished B.C. for not voting Liberal by shutting down the army base in Chilliwack even though the military itself did not want CFB Chilliwack to be shut down.
My question is for the Minister of National Defence. Will he now reassess this politically motivated decision?
Supply March 1st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my support to the member who just made his presentation. He is looking after the constituents in his riding, those on the Shearwater base. He is very familiar with the problems which have plagued the pilots and the crews in trying to maintain and keep those machines in the air.
I know that he has involved himself significantly in trying to help bring the message to the House and the public as to what is going on. That is very important. I will commit myself and the defence committee in the Alliance to do whatever we can to support the member's endeavours at Shearwater.
According to the access to information documents, a new senior management oversight committee was struck. It was called SMOC. It involved high level members of the military, the deputy minister of defence, the deputy minister of material and the like.
When these documents were released, there were immediate complaints. Some offices acknowledged in their memos, which were obtained through access to information, that the top down approach headed by the new SMOC would likely include cabinet involvement at an earlier level. That is access to information, proof in itself, that there was government interference in the process. I would like the member to comment on that point.
Supply March 1st, 2001
Mr. Speaker, that is quite an analogy from the member for Saint-Jean. I do not think I would want to fly either a Cadillac or a Lada, but at the same time there should be a helicopter or a machine out there to do the job. I know that is what the member is seeking to do.
I have in my hands a book that is full of access to information documents we have received on this particular item. I would like to ask the member a question after I read one of the newspaper articles I received as a result of the release of these access to information documents. It states:
Documents obtained under the Access to Information Act by Ottawa researcher Ken Rubin reveal an unprecedented, top-down approach to defining the military's technical needs in areas such as aircraft range and cabin size.
It is talking about the maritime helicopter. What does that say to the member for Saint-Jean? Is the process open or is it not?