Blake Richards

[Democratic Reform, June 1st, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, if the Minister of Democratic Institutions is actually interested in having a conversation on electoral reform, she cannot just keep repeating random verbs and nouns. She actually has to listen. Consultation, conversation, and listening are all great nouns and verbs.

However, I have a noun for the Liberals: referendum. The Canadian people deserve one. Will the Liberals finally commit to one?

[Democratic Reform, May 31st, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I will give the minister an idea on how to engage Canadians. Have a referendum.

In 1992, a referendum was held on the Charlottetown accord, and nearly three-quarters of eligible Canadians voted; that is 13,736,634 Canadians. To reach the same number of people, 40,000 Canadians would have to show up for a town hall meeting in every riding in the country.

Will the Liberals finally actually listen to Canadians and hold a referendum, yes or no?

[Democratic Reform, May 31st, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, it seems like the Liberals need some help with their math homework. First, the Minister of Democratic Institutions announced eight principles to guide electoral reform, but then, poof, a couple of weeks later, those principles were magically down to five. Now the minister thinks that the broad buying of Canadians on electoral reform equals stacking six Liberals MPs on a committee.

Will the Liberals finally cut the charade and give 30 million Canadians a direct say through a referendum?

[Tourism Week, May 31st, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Canada's vibrant tourism sector as we celebrate Tourism Week.

This week, I invite my hon. colleagues and all Canadians to celebrate tourism's contribution to Canada's economy.

This $90 billion per year industry is Canada's largest service export, employs more than 600,000 Canadians, and is supported by small and medium-sized businesses nationwide. In my own riding, in communities like Canmore and Banff, more than 16,000 jobs and over 1,000 businesses are tourism based.

While the sector is thriving, we must build on our previous work toward improving competitiveness, increasing international visitation, and ensuring our public policies are developed to help realize Canada's full potential as a top tourism destination. As official opposition critic for tourism, I look forward to continuing to work with tourism stakeholders to build on these principles and to support innovation and jobs all across this country.

[Democratic Reform, May 30th, 2016]

No, Mr. Speaker, Canadians have spoken. Seventy-five per cent of them want a referendum.

The Minister of Democratic Institutions claims that a referendum is not the best way to consult Canadians but at the same time the minister is speaking out of the other side of her mouth by saying that she is listening to all Canadians.

How better to know that one has the broad-based support of all Canadians than with a referendum?

Will the Liberals stop pulling the wool over Canadians' eyes and hold a referendum, yes or no?

[Democratic Reform, May 30th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, on electoral reform the Liberals keep claiming that they are listening to Canadians but three-quarters of Canadians want a referendum on any changes to their system of democracy. It seems that Canadians have already spoken.

Will the Liberals drop the lip service and listen to Canadians and hold a referendum?

[Democratic Reform, May 19th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals arrogance knows no bounds. It is quite evident that the Prime Minister has absolutely no respect for this place and the democracy it represents. The Liberals are trying to ram through electoral reform just like they tried to ram through the opposition yesterday. Does the Prime Minister think that he can also manhandle democracy, or will he let Canadians have a say in a referendum?

[Democratic Reform, May 19th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, it seems that sunny ways have quickly turned into “Sonny, get the bleep out of my way”. That is the elbows up approach the Prime Minister took in this Parliament yesterday, but it also seems to be the approach he is taking to voting reform. He is trying to rig the next election in the favour of the Liberals.

Is the Prime Minister really so arrogant that he thinks he can impose his will on Canadians without giving them a say in a referendum?

[Democratic Reform, May 17th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, to encourage more Canadians to vote, the Liberals first have to realize that we cannot accomplish that by taking away their right to vote at all.

Canadians are demanding the right to have a say in a referendum before any changes are made to their electoral system. That right belongs to all Canadians, not this minister and her six Liberal cronies.

If the Liberals were truly listening to Canadians, as the minister claims, they would already have heard that loud and clear. Why will they not hold a referendum?

[Democratic Reform, May 17th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Democratic Institutions seems to really love Liberal doublespeak. On one hand, she claims to want Canadians to be able to participate in a democratic process, but on the other, she appointed six Liberal MPs to rig the future of Canadian democracy.

The only way to truly consult all Canadians is to give them a direct say through a referendum.

Will the minister finally drop the talking points and commit to giving all Canadians a referendum?