House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2006, with 47% of the vote.
Labour June 5th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, just as the offshore petroleum boom in Atlantic Canada is taking off, the federal government snatches away long awaited and long promised jobs for Canadian workers. Thousands of experienced Canadians are more than ready to take up the challenge of seismic offshore work but the government is once again prepared to put the demands of foreign vessel owners for cheap labour ahead of Canadian interest.
What does this government have against Canadian workers?
National Defence June 4th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is clearly a policy that it will be tolerated unless discovered and brought to the light of day.
We know the military justice system simply has not protected women. Yet the minister wants to keep sexual assault cases in military courts and away from civilian courts.
Under the military system women have been subjected to ongoing reprisals rather than redress. They have been victimized again and again.
Why should women trust a military justice system that has consistently failed them?
National Defence June 4th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the defence minister claims to support a policy of zero tolerance for sexual wrongdoing, but his actions do not match his words.
In February 1997 the human rights commission directed compensation for one of the victims recently named in Maclean's magazine. Sixteen months later, there has been zero action. Is the minister not sending the message that sexual harassment will indeed be tolerated?
Health June 3rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, unbelievably these saline breast implants about which this member does not want to talk are in widespread use in Canada today. To quote one expert “All such devices have the same leaky valves that don't hold water. They grow algae and fungi like a dirty aquarium”.
Why does this government continue to allow this threat to women's health?
Health June 3rd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.
Tens of thousands of women in Canada and the United States are suffering severe health problems from breast implants. Yesterday in this House the health minister made it clear that he is totally unconcerned, so unconcerned that he authorized his own officials to go to the United States to serve as expert witnesses in the courts, defending the manufacturers of these hazardous devices.
What is the Prime Minister prepared to do about those irresponsible actions of the health minister?
Hepatitis C June 2nd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely clear that the health minister will not accept his responsibility for the breakdown of these talks.
My question is for the Prime Minister. Why can the Prime Minister not give a clear directive to federal bureaucrats to successfully negotiate compensation for all hepatitis C victims in the same way that he expedited the $2.6 billion contract with Bombardier?
Hepatitis C June 2nd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the health minister failed once again to provide leadership, failed to put resources on the table and to provide a clear mandate to federal bureaucrats to ensure the successful negotiation of compensation for all hepatitis C victims.
Not surprisingly the talks broke down today. The health minister has one more chance. Will he today clearly provide the leadership to put the resources on the table that will enable the successful compensation package to be completed for all hepatitis C victims?
Hepatitis C June 1st, 1998
Mr. Speaker, today's hepatitis C negotiations in Edmonton will be a complete waste of time unless the federal government puts money on the table.
It is simple: the feds put money on the table and negotiations go forward, or the feds do nothing and victims are doomed to an endless shuffle between doctors' offices and the law courts. What is it going to be?
Hepatitis C June 1st, 1998
Mr. Speaker, while the health minister stalls and blunders on hepatitis C compensation lawyers line up to feed on victims' insecurities.
In Manitoba we now have evidence that victims are being coaxed to give up 25% of their compensation in exchange for legal representation.
Can the minister not see that his stalling is driving victims into the arms of lawyers only too willing to take a hefty cut out of their compensation?
Health May 28th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, if the minister was doing his job he would know that the imported albumin being used on Canadians was made before Alpha was ordered to clean up its practices, before Alpha was ordered to stop using reworked and rejected products, and before Alpha was ordered by the courts to improve purity and quality.
In view of these facts the minister should have Canadians inspect the site, trace the lot and test the product now.
What is the minister waiting for?