House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 40% of the vote.
Firearms Registry February 11th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, on December 5, 2002, in the House, the supplementary estimates were passed devoid of new money for the firearms program. Today, without that funding, the national gun registry continues to receive new registration forms.
Could the Minister of Justice tell the House from where the operational funds are coming?
Petitions February 5th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of many constituents and petitioners who have submitted their names on paper supporting the petitions that we have been hearing about this afternoon.
The petitioners are calling upon Parliament to ask the Minister of Justice, who has now appointed Mr. Kaufman, to review the case of Mr. Truscott. This terrible miscarriage of justice occurred within my riding boundaries.
I stand with the petitioners in support of this issue this afternoon and I, on their behalf, submit these names to Parliament today.
Petitions June 12th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, according to Standing Order 36, I have a number of petitions here, with 600 signatures drawn from the Kitchener area of Ontario.
These signatories draw the attention of the House to the following: they believe that the majority of Canadians respect the sanctity of human life. They also contend that human life at the pre-born stage is not protected by Canadian society. They pray upon parliament to act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the criminal code to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings.
Agriculture May 6th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, rural Canada is the foundation upon which Canada was built. Furthermore, aside from being home to thousands, rural Canada supports the agriculture sector which is the second largest industry in the nation. With this in mind, could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food tell the House what the government is doing to help rural Canada seize the opportunities that are desperately needed to keep this essential part of our economy alive?
Hockey April 16th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, it was the series that brought a nation together and it was the goal that brought us collectively to our feet. On September 28, 1972, the Huron--Bruce born Paul Henderson scored what is perhaps the most famous goal in hockey history. It was in the dying minutes of game eight of the Canada-Soviet summit series when Henderson slipped the winning goal past the Soviet net minder, Vladislav Tretiak, to clinch the win for Canada.
As Foster Hewitt's words reported the goal to the world, millions of Canadians danced and hugged in a manner reminiscent of only a few other pivotal moments in our history. Never has a single sporting moment meant so much to so many Canadians. The sound of that winning shot reverberated across the Pacific and then from coast to coast to coast. Few Canadians do not know the name of this genuine Canadian hero.
Today, 30 years after that historic moment, although many of his teammates have been given the honour, Henderson has yet to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Given the importance of preserving Canadian culture perhaps it is time to recognize this truly Canadian hero.
Business of the House April 10th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I rise to present a petition signed by residents of Huron--Bruce. The petition deals with the proposed assisted human reproduction act, an act that would deal with the regulatory areas of surrogacy, stem cell research, embryo cloning and new reproductive technologies.
The petitioners are calling on parliament to enact legislation that respects the dignity of human life by completely prohibiting the destruction of human embryos. They request that parliament give consideration to providing financial resources and support for research into adult stem cell potential.
An Act to Amend the Criminal Code (Cruelty to Animals and Firearms) and the Firearms Act April 9th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I would like it to be known that I will be voting no on this motion.
(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)
Agriculture February 7th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, happy Food Freedom Day. It is kind of like tax freedom day except it pertains only to our food bill. If we put 100% of our total income toward our basic food requirements, today is the day we would have our yearly bill paid in full.
This day is possible because Canadians enjoy a safe and affordable food source produced by the Canadian farmer. Despite the fact that our farmers generate a safe and accessible product the portion of the bill that goes directly to them was paid in early January.
If we were to eat a meal worth $9.20 excluding tip in a restaurant, only 50 cents would go to pay the people who produce all the food. By comparison a respectable gratuity for the server on that same meal would be about $1.38.
To continue to have a reliable food supply our farmers need our support. I am calling upon every member of the House to support our primary producers with a lobby for cash. Let us make food freedom day a celebration for everyone in Canada.
Petitions December 12th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present a petition wherein the petitioners are suggesting that rural mail carriers are earning less money than the minimum wage and have working conditions reminiscent of another era. They also believe that they have not been allowed to bargain collectively to improve their wages and working conditions like other workers. They also believe that section 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act prohibits the RRMCs from having collective bargaining rights.
The petitioners therefore call upon parliament to repeal section 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act.
LandMines October 17th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, on October 4, Frank O’Dea from the Canadian Land Mine Foundation addressed a group of my constituents. Although he only spoke briefly his message was substantial.
Landmines are among the cruellest of all weapons because they do not recognize the difference between a soldier and a child. They kill and maim long after the warring soldiers have left the battlegrounds. They are not only a weapon of terror but also an impediment to social recovery. At this moment there are between 50 million and 100 million landmines in 70 countries lying in wait to kill innocent people.
Since the tragic events of September 11 the world has asked how it can contribute to fighting terrorism. In response I would suggest: host a dinner. Terrorists need tools like landmines to create their havoc. By having a dinner in their homes on November 30 Canadians can directly contribute to the worldwide de-mining operation.
This simple act represents an opportunity for Canadians to do something that will enhance the quality of life for many innocent people all over the world. I encourage them to make a difference by calling 1-866-611-7669.