House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2006, with 46% of the vote.
Budget March 28th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the Conservative budget did not bring harmony to our country. It has divided instead of uniting. It has divided provinces, regions and even citizens. Take a worker who earns minimum wage and works 40 hours per week, earning $16,000 per year. According to the budget, this worker is not eligible for the working income tax benefit.
How can the Minister of Finance explain this injustice? Why did he not help the most vulnerable people in our society?
The Budget March 20th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, despite this year's surplus of $9.2 billion, there is not one word, one single mention, one iota in this 478-page budget about Canada Economic Development.
The Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec received nothing in last year's budget and commented at that time that he would get something the following year. It seems that this budget has not been good to him.
What will the minister say to workers as job losses accumulate in all regions of Quebec?
The Budget March 20th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, when the finance minister presented his economic update last November, he told us how much money he was projecting. Now, just four months later, guess what? He was wrong and not just by a little bit. This year alone he was off by $7 billion and over three years $14 billion.
How could his numbers have been so wrong and how can Canadians trust this finance minister?
Government Programs March 1st, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the neo-conservative ideology that guides this government does nothing to help many Canadians in need. It is a fallacy to believe that everyone has the ability to thrive without help from the community.
Why cut support to volunteer initiatives, access to affordable housing and the court challenges program? Why make these systematic cuts to social programs that create equal opportunity for all? Why does the Prime Minister not understand that the government has a role to play in the lives of Canadians?
Government Programs March 1st, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government is trying to impose its ideology on the lives of every Canadian. The government's actions are based on the belief that everyone in our society must fend for themselves. Nothing is further from the truth. Consider, for example, someone with a disability, someone forced to sleep in the street or someone who does not know how to read or write.
Why did the Prime Minister decide to slash services to the most vulnerable members of our society, while swimming in a surplus? Why will he not help all Canadians succeed in life?
Anti-terrorism Act February 27th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, Canadians do not want to hear security today, rights tomorrow. They know that they cannot trust the Prime Minister with the protection of rights.
The Prime Minister eliminated the court challenges program, he abolished the Canadian Human Rights Commission, he has attacked the impartiality of judges, he even stooped so low as to make personal attacks, insults and insinuations.
In light of all this, how can the Prime Minister believe that Canadians trust him to defend their rights?
Anti-terrorism Act February 27th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, reconciling security and the protection of rights is a complex issue and partisan insults do not help. The Prime Minister has not reassured Canadians. He has known, since last October, that the anti-terrorism legislation had to be reworked and brought back into balance, but he did nothing. There was no analysis, no plan, nothing.
Why did the Prime Minister not carry out a rigorous analysis of the act these past five months? Why did he not exempt the issue of national security from partisanship?
Finance February 26th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, it only proves that the member of Parliament for Wascana worked very well when he was the minister of finance.
Before Ontarians fired it for making such a huge financial mess, Mike Harris's government massaged the province's numbers. It announced the sale of assets worth over $2 billion, but all they really collected was $132 million. They were off by 94%.
Currently, the Conservatives are getting ready to sell federal buildings.
Why is the Minister of Finance planning to make the same mistakes for Canadians that his government made in Ontario?
Finance February 26th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government reminds one of a remake of the Harris government: $3 billion in anticipated revenues that did not come in; $2.6 billion in savings that have not been identified; several billion in asset sales that did not happen. In Ontario, this resulted in the discovery of a $5.6 billion deficit. Imagine what would happen here in the federal government.
Why is the Minister of Finance using economic trickery to fool Canadians?
The Prime Minister February 22nd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Public Safety cannot create a diversion and stop the Prime Minister from answering. Yesterday, he abused his power in this House. Unfortunately, it was not the first time we witnessed a sad spectacle on the part of the Prime Minister, and he has never apologized.
Can the Prime Minister explain why he did what he did if not to avoid answering the question about judicial impartiality? Why does he not have the courage and the humility to withdraw his statements?