House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2000, with 60% of the vote.
Airline Industry May 10th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Transport announced the creation of a special commissioner to oversee consumer complaints. While the minister claims that the bill will regulate Air Canada and make sure consumers' interests are truly looked after, the reality is that this commissioner has no authority to resolve complaints.
Why does the minister think that consumer interests will be better protected by the creation of a paper tiger than by ensuring that there truly is competition?
Airline Industry May 9th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport thinks he can protect Canadians from Air Canada if he is provided with more regulatory powers. I hate to disillusion the minister but there is a better way.
The Canadian airline industry is in its current predicament because previous government regulations did not provide healthy competition. Last fall the competition commissioner stated that the best way to protect the Canadian travelling public was by fostering competition.
While the minister wants to cast himself as the white knight doing battle with a dominant Air Canada, the solution is much simpler. Ensure that Canadians have a choice. If the minister is truly concerned about the Canadian consumer, he will take the necessary steps to foster competition in the airline industry and give Canadians the power to regulate the industry themselves by exercising their right to choose.
Petitions May 5th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present on behalf of my constituents.
Both petitions urge parliament to withdraw Bill C-23, to affirm the opposite sex definition of marriage in legislation and to ensure that marriage is recognized as a unique institution.
Airline Industry May 4th, 2000
It is interesting, Mr. Speaker. The minister could increase competition in a real and meaningful way by getting a couple of his cabinet colleagues to sign an order in council.
Even Air Canada's CEO Robert Milton stated today that he supports and thinks that raising foreign ownership to 49% would be good and healthy for the Canadian airline industry. Why does the minister refuse to consider bringing greater competition into the airline industry by raising the foreign ownership component from 25% to 49%?
Airline Industry May 4th, 2000
Mr. Speaker, as Air Canada continues to consolidate its dominance of the domestic airline industry, the minister claims that Bill C-26 is the only thing to protect consumers.
The competition commissioner stated last fall that it was vital that every opportunity be taken to promote and create competition. Will the minister finally take the competition commissioner's advice and create some much needed competition by addressing the foreign ownership component and Canada only carriers?
Acoa May 2nd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, this is not about continuing an ongoing program; this is about putting an extra $100 million of taxpayer money into ACOA before and during the 1997 election in an attempt to protect the jobs of Liberal members of parliament; not average Canadian jobs, but MP jobs.
Why did Canadian taxpayers fund the Liberal campaign in Atlantic Canada?
Acoa May 2nd, 2000
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister will do whatever it takes to support his Liberal colleagues, especially when the taxpayers are paying for that support.
It cost the taxpayers an extra $100 million. He lost over half of his Atlantic caucus and has driven one of his former cabinet ministers to the Alliance.
Why did the Prime Minister waste so much taxpayers' dollars in his failed attempt to influence Atlantic Canadian voters?
Human Resources Development May 1st, 2000
Mr. Speaker, I think Canadians want to know, if this program is so good in providing these jobs skills for people, why did only 20% of the funds go to job creation and preparing for jobs? Why did 80% of those funds go to something else?
Human Resources Development May 1st, 2000
Mr. Speaker, according to senior civil servants who run job creation partnerships, the majority of funds for this program are supposed to go to salaries.
However, in the Deputy Prime Minister's riding over 80% of $1.6 million went to buy materials like trees and toilets for a waterfront park.
Would the minister not agree that this is the latest example of flushing taxpayers' money away just to provide a Liberal member of parliament with a photo opportunity?
Petitions April 14th, 2000
The second petition, Mr. Speaker, calls on parliament to prioritize funding for the national highway system, a project very dear to me, in the 2000 budget to reduce fatalities and injuries on the roadways, alleviate congestion, lower vehicle operating costs and reduce emissions, improve Canada's competitiveness, economic development and overall economic prosperity. This is a wonderful petition.