Lost his last election, in 2006, with 32% of the vote.
Political Party Financing January 27th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I have a supplemental question for the Minister of Finance.
To guarantee that the new legislation on political party financing is effective, can the Minister of Finance confirm right now that there will be money allocated in his next budget to publicly finance political parties? Can he confirm this right now?
Political Party Financing January 27th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the right hon. Prime Minister.
I have a long list here. I first thought it was the “Who's Who” of corporate Canada but a second look at this long list shows it is a list of big business donations for the leadership campaign of his friend the former minister of finance.
Could the Prime Minister assure us that his new rules for the financing of political parties will put a stop to the role of big money in politics in this country?
Fair Vote Canada December 4th, 2002
Mr. Speaker, last week was the second anniversary of the 2000 election, an election that handed most of the power to a party for which, once again, only a minority of the Canadian people voted.
In the wake of this distorted outcome, Fair Vote Canada launched a grassroots campaign to make every Canadian's vote count.
Just an hour ago the president of Fair Vote Canada, Doris Anderson, joined with opposition members, including myself, calling on the government to take real action on electoral reform.
The last time the House of Commons voted on proportional representation was in 1923 when a cautious Mackenzie King led 20 of his fellow Liberals in supporting PR. Canadians think it is high time for another vote.
According to Environics, support for PR has risen to 62%. The success of this campaign shows what can be achieved through multipartisan cooperation, both inside and outside the House.
On behalf of my party, I salute the perseverance of Doris Anderson and Fair Vote Canada and its supporters, and I can assure them of our continued support on proportional representation in Canada.
Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act November 6th, 2002
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-299, an act to amend the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act.
Mr. Speaker, the enactment amends the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act to provide for the appointment of a nominee of Canadian labour organizations as one of the permanent members of the tribunal.
It is a common sense idea and I am sure members would support it with enthusiasm.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Interest Act October 28th, 2002
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-268, an act to amend the Interest Act (interest payable on repayment of a mortgage loan before maturity).
Mr. Speaker, this is simply an enactment to amend the Interest Act. It would help consumers in terms of the loans and the mortgages they have in this country if they want to repay the loan or mortgage before maturity. It is a very common sense bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Canada Pension Plan October 28th, 2002
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-267, an act to amend the Canada Pension Plan (early pension entitlement for police officers and firefighters).
Mr. Speaker, I reintroduce the same bill as I have done in the last few sessions. This enactment is to allow police officers and firefighters who retire at 50 years of age or more after at least five years of service, for the years between the ages of 55 and 60, to elect to be deemed self-employed for earnings up to the total of last year's earnings in the force, or if actually self-employed, to add a sum up to that total to their actual self-employment earnings.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Credit Ombudsman Act October 28th, 2002
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-266, an act to establish the office of Credit Ombudsman to be an advocate for the interests of consumers and small business in credit matters and to investigate and report on the provision by financial institutions of consumer and small business credit by community and by industry in order to ensure equity in the distribution of credit resources.
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this enactment is to establish the office of a credit ombudsman to be an advocate for the interests of consumers in credit matters.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Proportional Representation Review Act October 28th, 2002
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-265, an act to provide for a House of Commons committee to study proportional representation in federal elections.
Mr. Speaker, under this bill a report would be prepared by a standing committee of the House of Commons after public hearings regarding proportional representation formulas. A referendum may be held and the question would be whether the electorates favoured replacing the present system we have, which is a first past the post system, with a system proposed by the committee as concurred in by the House. I am sure the Prime Minister of Canada would support this in light of his promise back in 1984.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Family Farm Cost of Production Protection Act October 28th, 2002
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-264, an act to provide cost of production protection for the family farm.
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this enactment is to provide a cost of production formula for family farms in cases where the weighted average of input costs of production typical in or suitable for the farming zone exceed the weighted average net back to the farm gate for such products averaged over three years. It is a very common sense bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Pension Ombudsman Act October 28th, 2002
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-263, an act to establish the office of Pension Ombudsman to investigate administrative difficulties encountered by persons in their dealings with government in respect of benefits under the Canada Pension Plan or the Old Age Security Act or tax liability on such benefits and to review the policies and practices applied in the administration and adjudication of such benefits and liabilities.
Mr. Speaker, it is a short title and it does not cover MPs pensions; I want to assure the House of that. The purpose of the enactment is to establish the office of a pension ombudsman to assist persons dealing with the government on benefits under the Canada pension plan and the Old Age Security Act or tax liabilities thereon in cases where they are dealt with unfairly and unreasonably or with unreasonable delay.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)