House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 25% of the vote.
Petitions June 18th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a petition signed by people from my riding who are calling for the creation of an ombudsman position that will really have some authority when it comes to Canadian mining companies operating abroad.
This problem is tarnishing the image that many people have of Canada. Fixing this situation would be the right thing to do.
Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1 June 15th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague who talked about a very important phenomenon: the loss of good manufacturing sector jobs. Regions like mine have been especially hard hit by job losses in the aerospace sector.
Can my colleague comment on how this so-called economic recovery plan does absolutely nothing to correct the situation and bring back the good jobs that we have lost?
Small and Medium-Sized Businesses June 12th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, for me, the position of the government is a deception, but absolutely not a surprise. Why? It is because in the House, there are two sides. One side is the side of Canada and of Canadians. It is the side of the spirit of Tommy Douglas, a great Canadian. This Canadian developed a policy to include economic development and social solidarity. At the same time, everybody had a job and the respect and help of the state.
The other side is the side of great American losers. This un-Canadian government is motivated by the spirit of George W. Bush, a great loser. Those guys are on the other side. Presently, this un-Canadian government refuses to help small Canadian enterprises. Imagine: the result of the un-Canadian government policy is a 2% rate for credit cards in Canada for small enterprises, but in the European Union it is 0.3% and in Australia it is 0.5%, a fraction of the present rate.
For this reason, it is a clear deception, but absolutely not a surprise. Each time this un-Canadian government has a chance to sabotage the Canadian economy, it does not lose the opportunity. It transformed Canada into a kingdom of corporate welfare dumps. That is it. That is all.
It is our choice. We refuse to have such a Canada, and in the next election, Canadians will vote for a Canadian party.
Consumer Protection June 12th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, small and medium-sized businesses are our economic lifeblood and they create the vast majority of jobs in Canada.
Unfortunately, our SMEs are still being forced to pay some of the highest credit card fees in the world—an average of 2%. A number of countries have restricted these fees to rates from 0.5% to 0.3%, far lower than Canada's rates. My motion to lower these exorbitant fees will be debated today.
Will the government support my motion and SMEs?
Petitions June 11th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition calling for the creation of a legal ombudsman mechanism for responsible mining. The petitioners find that the voluntary office set up by this government in 2009 has proven to be totally ineffective. It is time to replace it with something that works.
Aerospace Industry June 9th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the aerospace industry is a high tech sector in which Canada has a unique expertise.
The Conservative government, however, does not seem to understand the strategic importance of that industry. Over a thousand jobs have been lost in the aerospace industry this year. Let us not forget that the Conservative government made $500 million in cuts to tax credits for research. The Conservatives botched the airplane and helicopter procurement process. As a result, there were cost overruns and the equipment was not delivered on time. Canadians deserve better.
The NDP has committed to investing in the aerospace industry by creating an innovation tax credit and extending the accelerated capital cost allowance. With regard to government procurement contracts, the NDP will hold an open and transparent bidding process and will work with the aerospace industry to ensure that we keep as many jobs here in Canada as possible. Canadians can count on us to protect these good jobs.
MAIN ESTIMATES 2015-16 June 8th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the member for Saint-Laurent—Cartierville is invoking the Liberal Party's own turpitude as an excuse for doing nothing. It was the Liberals, in fact, who made the Constitution so hard to amend, and now they are using their own misdeeds as an excuse for not doing anything.
After listening carefully to the hon. member's presentation, it is clear that what he is recommending is an elitist Senate. It seems to me that he is saying that they would select those whom they deem to be intelligent enough to be members of that great, noble institution. Canadians see that institution as a parasite. Canadians want people who are accountable to them.
Why is it so hard to accept the idea that anyone who holds legislative authority should be accountable to the people?
Business of Supply June 4th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, he is talking about the number of communities. I do not want to see any Canadian go hungry. We need to invest however much it takes to achieve that goal. We do not need billions of dollars. We simply need to say that no matter where people live, they will no longer go hungry. That is my objective.
If the government's objective is to calculate how much is going to be given to one community over another, then it will never successfully combat hunger.
Business of Supply June 4th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the member is asking questions about the number of communities, but I am going to tell him very clearly what I want: I want all Canadians to have enough to eat. I do not give a damn about how many communities will have to be added to the list.
Business of Supply June 4th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, finding an honourable solution that would help Canada maintain its international reputation as a country that respects human rights would not cost a fortune. We are talking about negligible amounts. A fraction of what the government is spending in Iraq would solve all of our problems. The government would rather go to war in Iraq than transport food within our own country. If there were a famine in Africa, the government would send our air force to transport food by air, but it will not do the same thing for our own people. That is shameful and humiliating.
Some of the members here have aboriginal communities in their ridings. I cannot believe that they are not aware of this problem. There are people suffering from starvation. That is obvious. Those members must be deliberately turning a blind eye.
I am calling it a genocide because these communities are being refused aid when they are clearly in danger.