House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2019, with 8% of the vote.
Petitions May 16th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, even though the Experimental Lakes Area has been transferred away from federal jurisdiction, I continue to receive petitions asking the government to support the staff and the programs at the Experimental Lakes Area due to the critical and important nature of the ecosystem of whole lake research done at that facility.
The Environment May 16th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, perhaps the most important book of 2014 is called Waking the Frog by venture capitalist Tom Rand. Rand has climate solutions on how we can build an economy that will reduce CO2 and create jobs and wealth.
I ask the Ministers of The Environment, Natural Resources and Finance if they are willing to consider Rand's template for a renewed and sustainable 21st century Canadian economy.
The Environment May 16th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, we must price carbon, and a carbon fee and dividend almost does it all. It prices carbon fairly and scientifically. It uses only free market forces to reduce CO2. It costs virtually nothing to administer, it benefits lower-income Canadians, and no money goes to government.
The Citizens Climate Lobby strongly supports carbon fee and dividend. Will the Minister of Finance consider carbon fee and dividend?
Business of Supply May 15th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member talked about $1 billion. A billion dollars per capita today is a dime a day, 10¢ a day or a little less.
We are not talking about money. Money is not the problem. We do have monies in revenues to the government, but the CBC is not the problem. The problem is that we have less than half the large corporate tax rate that the United States has with no criteria at all for job creation or investment.
The Conservatives are doing away with things that have always been an important part of Canada: VIA Rail and postal service. Health services will be next, and environmental protection.
The problem is that it is not about the dime a day. It is about data, science, evidence, and opinions that disagree with the Conservative ideology. Let us increase that dime a day to maybe even a rousing 20¢ a day per Canadian. My constituents in Thunder Bay—Superior North would be willing to pay a lot more to maintain the high quality, especially of CBC Radio.
Business of Supply May 15th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member mentioned a billion dollars. It sounds like a big number, but it comes down to pennies a day per Canadian. Do the math.
I believe that the really important part of the CBC, especially for rural locations like northwestern Ontario, the high Arctic, the Prairies, and many places, is CBC Radio. It is cost-effective. It is a small percentage of the overall CBC budget. I am hopeful that at some point, the CBC will split its finances and its organization into radio and television.
I wonder if the hon. member might agree with me that splitting it into radio and television would allow Radio-Canada to compete effectively for the scarce funds.
Petitions May 12th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from dozens of people from Thunder Bay who remain concerned that the Experimental Lakes Area, while it has its temporary reprieve, still needs support for the scientists and the staff and the important work that they do and should continue to do in whole ecosystem research on lakes and rivers.
Employment May 12th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the minister has even been recruiting young people abroad for the international experience Canada work program, although our own young people, including in Thunder Bay—Superior North, have double the national unemployment rate. Can the minister assure the people of northern Ontario that temporary foreign workers will not take away their jobs in the Ring of Fire?
Employment May 12th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the temporary foreign workers program is being abused left, centre and mostly right, meaning lower wages and less work for Canadian—
Natural Resources May 8th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, while Canada waffles on climate disruption, Red China is eating our lunch on green technologies and jobs.
Canada has sleepwalked into their trap. By refusing any binding greenhouse gas targets, Red China has successfully hamstrung our Conservatives while Red China's national bank is pouring capital into solar and wind energy.
When will our government wake up and smell the morning, not coffee, but green tea?
Petitions May 6th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I continue to receive hundreds of petitions from people from across Canada who are concerned about the Experimental Lakes Area, which is absolutely indispensable as a bastion of science, ecosystem, and fisheries research. They ask that funding to the ELA continue even though the ownership has been transferred.