House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2008, with 42% of the vote.
Calgary Declaration May 6th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the House passed a Reform resolution last fall promoting the Calgary declaration. The Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs even voted for it but he has done absolutely nothing to bring the details of the declaration to Quebec. He has left that job to Lucien Bouchard. Great, leave the job of unity to a separatist.
Is it not true that the only reason the Prime Minister did not consult Quebeckers is that he is afraid to upset Bouchard and the separatists?
Calgary Declaration May 6th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, last September I asked the Prime Minister when he would be consulting the people of Quebec on the Calgary declaration. He did not answer.
I asked him again in October, November and December. He always said “soon”, but he did nothing. This week, Lucien Bouchard's separatists started their so called consultation.
Why is the Prime Minister leaving himself open to embarrassment this way? Is it laziness or fear of offending Lucien Bouchard?
Canada Evidence Act April 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I do not believe we have quorum and I think it would be in the interests of democracy to have quorum in the House.
Petitions April 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of Edmonton Southwest, I have a petition to present to the House on the multilateral agreement on investment asking that public hearings be held across the country so that Canadians have the opportunity to express their opinions about the agreement before parliament ratifies it.
Hepatitis C April 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, there are normal risks associated with a tonsillectomy, for example, but everyone knows about them. It is an accepted part of life. However, being transfused with poison blood during that operation is not a normal or acceptable risk. It is the government's fault because it refused to screen the blood.
Why has the health minister said in the past that the government infected blood is just like any other natural medical risk?
Hepatitis C April 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is surprising how the government relies solely on the CBC to deal with such a serious problem as hepatitis C.
The health minister has insulted hepatitis C victims by comparing their tragic situation to random medical accidents. He pretends there is no moral difference between being negligently poisoned by the government and suffering a random medical mishap.
These hepatitis C victims did not suffer an accident. They suffered a cruel government decision. It is government policy that infected them, not fate.
He is a lawyer. Can he not see the difference?
Taxation April 23rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I guess streamlining means that the size of the phone book goes from the size of the Toronto area to the size of the Edmonton area.
When tough questions come up the Liberals will try anything to avoid answering them. It would be great if Canadian business owners could register their companies in the Bahamas to avoid high taxes. But for most Canadians that is not an option.
Again, why do we pay the highest personal income taxes of the G-7?
Taxation April 23rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Income Tax Act is bigger than the average phone book. It is so complicated that every year more Canadians just throw their hands in the air and hire professional help to file their taxes.
Under the Liberals the tax act probably needs only two lines. Line one, how much do you make? Line two, send it in.
Canadians pay the highest income taxes in the G-7. Is that why the finance minister is smiling?
Hepatitis C April 21st, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I stand in the House today to call on the government to end the suffering of two of my constituents, both of whom contracted hepatitis C as a result of government negligence and incompetence.
Allan Ordze contracted hepatitis C in 1975 and he wrote to me about his shattered dreams and his feelings of hopelessness. He fears every day for his family and wonders how he will care for them when his condition worsens.
Lisa Holtz contracted hepatitis C in 1985, just six months before the government accountants set their arbitrary date for compensation. Lisa too wonders how she will care for her three boys when she is sick and too tired to stand.
Allan and Lisa do not want the government's charity or apologies. They do not want to hear from any more government bureaucrats and accountants. They want justice and compensation for themselves and their children and they want it now.
Tuition Fees March 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, when I visited Montreal last week, a McGill University student asked me about the differences in tuition fees in Quebec. In the present system, students from other provinces are penalized.
We know that the provincial governments are trying to freeze tuition fees, but penalizing students from other provinces is not the solution.
Does the government feel that these different tuition fees are acceptable?