House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 17% of the vote.
Aboriginal Affairs March 27th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier this week, last week I did a tour of the prairies and met with several chiefs, councillors, and stakeholders on the aboriginal file to discuss a wide range of issues. While I do not disclose specifics of closed-door meetings, I can assure the hon. members in the House that the discussions were productive, and our government will continue to work with first nations to address these issues.
Northern Development March 27th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, if the member and his party are really concerned about the cost of healthy food in the north, they should scrap their plan to tax carbon, which will increase the cost of food in the north.
The results are clear. As I have said before, thanks to nutrition north Canada, the average annual volume of healthy foods shipped has increased by about 25%, and the cost of a family's basket of groceries has dropped by $137 per month. That is significant, and we will stay the course with northerners.
Aboriginal Affairs March 26th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the member should get her facts right. The airstrip that she is referring to is under provincial jurisdiction. Our government provides a nursing station for that community. The first nation in question currently receives medical emergency evacuation by helicopters or planes.
We will continue to work in partnership with first nations for stronger, healthier and self-sufficient communities.
Northern Development March 25th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I guess I missed the question.
Unlike previous Liberal governments, this Conservative government has made the long-term prosperity of Canada's north and northerners a priority. This includes fostering economic development, among others, by improving Yukon and Nunavut regulatory systems, while protecting our environmental heritage. That is what Bill S-6 would do, and I encourage him to support it.
Aboriginal Affairs March 25th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, indeed, last week I toured the Prairies and met with several first nations chiefs, councillors and stakeholders to discuss a wide range of issues. While I do not disclose the specifics of closed-door meetings, I can assure the hon. member that the discussions were productive, and our government will continue to work with first nations to address these issues.
Aboriginal Affairs March 13th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, first of all, I must correct the member. The parliamentary secretary did not say that. He simply said that the hon. member's bill would give a group of Canadians, in this case aboriginal Canadians, a veto over the will of Parliament.
That flies in the face of the Canadian Constitution, which is why we will not be supporting his bill.
Aboriginal Affairs March 12th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the member can choose a few quotes, but the fact of the matter is that industry, the Yukon government, the Nunavut government, NTI, and all of these groups support this legislation, because for the first time, this Conservative government has taken steps to level the playing field so that those resources in the north can be exploited for the benefit of northerners. This would change the regulatory system to attract investment and create jobs and long-term prosperity, which is our objective.
Aboriginal Affairs March 12th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, what the hon. member said is completely false. First nations in the Yukon and in Nunavut—I mean, everyone was consulted plentifully. As a matter of fact, $100,000 of taxpayers' money went to those first nations to participate in the consultation process.
Therefore, the consultations have taken place. The bill is now before the House, and I hope the NDP will stop preventing the progress being made in northern Canada.
Yukon and Nunavut Regulatory Improvement Act March 11th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I thought you were going to offer him a copy of the Standing Orders so that he would realize that you are not here to answer questions.
The opposition members refuse to admit the very fact that if we let them stand up and talk away on this bill, the House will rise without the northern communities in question benefiting from the bill.
This bill must become law. We want to bring it to the north, go to the Yukon, have the people there give their input on the bill, let the committee do its job, consider the bill, make recommendations, and bring it back to the House.
Yukon and Nunavut Regulatory Improvement Act March 11th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, let me start by saying again for the record that no government in Canadian history has ever done as much for Canada's north as ours. This legislation is further proof of this. It would create conditions to encourage investment, which would in turn lead to jobs, growth, and long-term prosperity for Yukoners and Nunavummiut alike.
Bill S-6 introduces timelines that would create consistency and predictability in environmental assessments and the issuance of water licences. This is a big plus for the north. I implore my colleagues on the other side to see the light.