House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2000, with 58% of the vote.
Taxation November 5th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the finance minister's own advisers are telling him to cut taxes for businesses. Canadians are calling out for tax relief as well. Yet the government continues to refuse to listen.
What is it that the government does not understand about reducing taxes for businesses to help the economy? Why does it not just go ahead and do that?
The Late Greg Moore November 5th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, thousands of people attended a memorial service in Maple Ridge in my riding to honour the life of our hometown hero, Indy CART racer, Greg Moore.
Greg's accomplishments on the racetrack have been well documented. He was the youngest racer to ever win the Indy Lites championship at age 20 and the youngest to win an Indy CART race at age 22.
The greatness of Greg Moore lay not only in his racetrack performances, but in the fact that he remained a regular guy. Although he had become a star in his chosen profession, he still had time for his fans, charity work and his hometown. He never forgot his roots.
Greg was an ambassador for auto racing, for Maple Ridge and for Canada. Many dream but few dare to take action to attain that dream. Greg pursued his dream of racing with persistence and passion.
Today, together, we continue to mourn the loss of a great young man. On behalf of all members of the House, we extend our deepest sympathies to Greg's family and friends and offer our prayers of support at this very difficult time.
Supply November 4th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, that was quite an interesting departmental speech handed to the member so he could just rattle off a bunch of things that have absolutely no impact on what is happening here in Canada today.
There is a farm income crisis and this parliamentary secretary does not even seem to notice that. He talks about farmers having money to buy combines. They do not have money to put food on the table. When he is going to wake up?
When is the government going to wake up and address some real problems like input taxes that farmers are paying and by developing a real AIDA program where the money gets off the cabinet table and is delivered to farmers to help them out at this crucial time? When is it going to fight high foreign subsidies by the Europeans and Americans that will have a real impact on farmers in our country?
Business Of The House November 4th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to ask the government House leader the very important question that we have every Thursday.
Could we know what the government might have in store for us for the remainder of this week and the week following the break? Could the government House leader also inform us as to whether or not he will be employing the Mulroney-like tactic of invoking closure and time allocation, as the government has done on Nisga'a, on the legislation that will be coming up in the near future?
Committees Of The House October 29th, 1999
Madam Speaker, I guess the hon. member did not get enough air time earlier, so he is doing a little venting right now.
The point is that members of the official opposition are fulfilling their duty as members of the opposition to hold the government accountable. We will stand in this place today. We will stand in this place tomorrow. We will stand wherever we need to stand to hold members of the government accountable. It is very clear that they do not want to travel to British Columbia. They do not want the aboriginal affairs committee to go there to hear the people of British Columbia on Nisga'a. They do not want to do that. It is those people over there in the Government of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada.
Committees Of The House October 29th, 1999
Madam Speaker, it has been quite a day. Let us just summarize what has happened here today.
Of course the government is saying certain things. Members of the NDP are saying certain things and other parties are not saying anything. The government House leader stands up ranting and raving about procedures and standing orders and whatnot. It is unbelievable he would do that. We are following the standing orders and the procedures. He put a motion forward on this whole topic which is clearly in the standing orders. That is the procedure we are following here today.
He talked about the finance committee travelling and how important that is. Members of the NDP said the same thing. We know it is important, but we also know that it is mainly an exercise for the Minister of Finance to have a photo opportunity. I guess the member for Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys is also in the photo-op. Perhaps that is why he was so upset earlier today.
It is obvious what is happening here today. There has been some procedural wrangling about this, that and the other thing.
The official opposition wants the aboriginal affairs committee to travel to British Columbia. We want the standing committee to go to British Columbia. Sure, we want the finance committee to have hearings as well. But fundamental to this—
Committees Of The House October 29th, 1999
Yes, they are. It happened earlier today. The second speaker can move an amendment. It is done all the time. It was done on a motion before us today and it is done on most supply day motions as well.
Committees Of The House October 29th, 1999
Madam Speaker, I rise further to this point of order. I think what is at issue here is whether or not a divided speech is in fact one speech or two separate ones.
It is a well established practice that these two speeches are two distinct speeches—
Committees Of The House October 29th, 1999
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I know my NDP colleague is excited about this topic. He is demonstrating that and I think he is verging on using unparliamentary language when he makes those comments.
Apec Inquiry October 29th, 1999
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is being pressured to testify before the APEC commission. One of the key people who will determine whether or not he should testify was at a fundraising dinner for the Prime Minister. In spite of this fact he is supposed to remain at arm's length, and it does not look good. Why does the government define arm's length as being close enough to pass the pepper?