Bonnie Crombie

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, September 20th, 2010]

With regard to the Business Development Bank of Canada: (a) what was the total cost for legal fees to set up the Secured Credit Facility announced in the 2009 Budget; (b) what was the total cost for consulting fees to set up the Secured Credit Facility announced in the 2009 Budget; (c) what was the total amount of loans extended to all businesses in the 2009 and 2010 calendar years; (d) who were the loan recipients in the 2009 and 2010 calendar years; and (e) how much was each loan to each recipient in the 2009 and 2010 calendar years?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, September 20th, 2010]

With regard to government television and radio advertising during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics: (a) how much money did the government spend on promoting Canada’s Economic Action Plan through television and radio commercials in Canada and the United States; (b) which television and radio stations aired commercials advertising Canada’s Economic Action Plan; (c) what were the exact dates and times of each television and radio advertising spot airing commercials of Canada’s Economic Action Plan; (d) what were the media costs of each advertisement; (e) what were the production costs of each advertisement; (f) which advertising firms were used for the creation and production of these advertisements; (g) which media buying agency was used; and (h) what rate of commission did each agency of record charge for the creation, production and media booking of each advertisement?

[Questions on the Order Paper, September 20th, 2010]

With regard to the closing of Canada Post call centres: (a) how many call centre jobs will be lost in Canada; (b) what has been done to replace call centre services in Canada; (c) is Canada Post looking outside of Canada to replace these services; (d) is there a tendering process in effect to replace these services and, if so, what companies have submitted bids; and (e) if (d) is answered in the negative, why is there no tendering process in effect?

[National Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Heritage Day Act, June 16th, 2010]

Artificial lake, fake mosquitoes, too.

[Religious Freedom, June 9th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, we are constantly reminded of the events against human rights, and religious intolerance around the world.

We remember the invasion of the Golden Temple in Amritsar against the Sikh faith in 1984, then quickly following, the bombing of Air India flight 182 over the shores of Ireland. We still deeply mourn these losses.

Last year, thousands of innocent Sri Lankans lost their lives in defenceless attacks against humanity.

This past Christmas Eve, six members of the Coptic community were shot down for practising their faith.

Not even two weeks ago, Ahmadiyya Muslims worshipping and attending prayers on a Friday in Lahore, Pakistan faced violent and brutal attacks.

We have a duty to defend against religious intolerance and the violation of human rights that these deplorable acts of violence, fear and intimidation represent. I urge all members to join together today in condemning these violent acts and call on all governments around the world to bring justice to the perpetrators to ensure religious freedom for all people.

[Jobs and Economic Growth Act, June 4th, 2010]

Madam Speaker, the member for Okanagan—Shuswap said that the government was attempting to legitimize remailers. Obviously, they were existing illegally and by imposing them into the budget bill does not really legalize them, but it does not make it right either. We know that Bill C-9 supercedes an upper court decision that confirmed Canada Post Corporation's exclusive privilege.

We know as well that deregulation will lead to compromised service in rural areas and in some urban areas as they close outlets. It will lead to lost jobs and increased costs. The government tell us that there is a service charter in place, a moratorium on closings in rural areas, so we should not worry about it. However, we know that if it had really meant it, it would have legislated the moratorium. Therefore, it is as worthless as the paper it is written on.

I do not even want to go toward AECL, which the member also referenced. This is proprietary technology that all Canadians should be proud of and a barnburner sale is going to take place. It will be the Avro Arrow of our generation.

As the member said, why is the government not willing to sever out these portions of the bill? Why is the government not willing to open up debate on deregulation and privatization to full disclosure and fulsome and mindful debate? Why will it not sever out remailers and AECL for a full debate?

[Jobs and Economic Growth Act, June 4th, 2010]

Madam Speaker, the government has taken a cowardly and immoral approach to enacting such profound policy shifts as deregulation of Canada Post and privatization of AECL. It is cowardly because it buried these profound policy shifts into this omnibus bill without giving it fulsome debate in the House, and thoughtful and mindful consideration at committee.

AECL will be sold off for barnburner prices. It is proprietary technology that has made all Canadians proud. Instead, it is going to become the Avro Arrow of our generation with lost technology, lost jobs and lost opportunities.

With Canada Post, deregulation is going to lead to compromised service, lost jobs and increased costs.

Why will the government not agree to give these items, deregulation and privatization, the fulsome debate that they deserve, that Canadians deserve to hear?

[Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, June 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the mystery of the missing PMO communications director continues. Dimitri Soudas, the 30-year-old spokesman for the unaccountable Conservative Prime Minister, has been evading a House of Commons bailiff all week long in an elaborate cat-and-mouse game, all so he can avoid being accountable to Canadians by answering questions before the Commons ethics committee.

Mr. Soudas has so flouted the law on parliamentary privilege that he has even barred the bailiff from the Prime Minister's office in Langevin Block. Clearly, Mr. Soudas needs to educate himself about the laws of this land. Parliament is the highest court in the country, and dodging a summons to appear before a parliamentary committee is in contempt of the law.

He also has no right to prevent a licensed bailiff from a parliamentary building, a bailiff who is only carrying out the duty he was assigned.

Mr. Soudas's boss, the Prime Minister, needs to instruct his employee to stop playing games, to stop thumbing his nose at the law, and to avail himself to the bailiff. He can run, but he cannot hide, and he can no longer be saved by the fire alarm. It is time--

[Business of Supply, May 31st, 2010]

Mr. Chair, this is Canadian legacy and proprietary technology at stake.

How much of the additional $300 million is for refurbishment project shortfalls? How much of that is for the work at Point Lepreau and does this include any funding to compensate New Brunswick for Point Lepreau's refurbishment delays, and if so, how much?

[Business of Supply, May 31st, 2010]

Mr. Chair, obviously, he cannot be a leader in the industry if he plans to privatize it and sell it off, now can he?

Thomas from Mississauga recently wrote to make the following comment about the sale of AECL. He said, “As a Canadian, I am deeply offended by the very thought of the fire sale of Canada's largest remaining crown corporation. If Bill C-9 is passed, not only will Canada no longer be capable of manufacturing nuclear reactors for people to use at home and abroad, but a significant engineering achievement by Canadians will be lost forever. AECL has contributed to Canadian technological innovation for over 50 years with the public interest in mind. Please do not allow this legacy to come to an unfitting and unjust end”.

What are the minister's plan with respect to AECL? Will it be a fire sale, minister?