House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2019, with 8% of the vote.
Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1 May 3rd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I would like to build on the question asked by the hon. member for Toronto—Danforth and ask the member for Saint-Lambert to say more about this.
It was very worrisome to me when I discovered that in Bill C-60 we would have the government staff sitting on the boards of our crown corporations, vetting and making decisions. This would end an historic arm's-length status of companies like VIA Rail, Canada Post and the CBC—
Petitions May 3rd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, petitions continue to roll in on the Experimental Lakes Area today from Winnipeg.
The petitioners demand that the government reverse its decision or, if not that, at least in good faith ensure that it moves forward on transferring the facility in an orderly fashion to a responsible new program.
Tourism Industry May 3rd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, tourism in Canada is in crisis. It is one of the fast-dropping sectors of the Canadian economy. One-third of Canada's record trade deficit can be attributed to the deficit in tourism, over $17 billion last year.
Will the government go back to the drawing board on its failed tourism policy, restore the HST rebate for tourists and reverse its 25% cut to the Canadian Tourism Commission?
Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1 May 2nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we all know that raising payroll taxes is one of the most effective ways to kill jobs. The EI program was projected to be in a surplus even before the Conservatives decided to hike the EI premiums on employers in this budget. Raising premiums might make some sense if there were a real need, but clearly there is not. The unemployment rate is 1.4 million Canadians out of work, with six job seekers for every job.
My question to the hon. member for Kings—Hants is this: would he like to comment on why the Conservatives are raising payroll taxes at a time like this?
Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1 May 1st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Parkdale—High Park is always well-researched, well-spoken and logical. I thank her for her recent topic.
I wonder if she heard my statement today at the beginning of statements by members. Mr. Stern of the London School of Economics has said that Canada is facing a huge carbon bubble with the risk that if we continue to export huge volumes of fossil fuels and do not diversify our petro-economy, at some point the bubble is going to burst, and it will cost us thousands of jobs and huge amounts of economic benefit to Canada.
Would she like to comment on that, particularly given that her leader has made very valid comments about how rushing the huge volume of oil into other countries has put our loonie and our economy at risk in other ways?
Petitions May 1st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, petitions continue to roll in regarding the Experimental Lakes Area, so today I have the pleasure of presenting a petition on behalf of the residents of Thunder Bay, Kaministiquia and Murillo.
The petitioners are opposed to the government's decision to close the ELA. They want the world-renowned facility to continue operations and the government to negotiate any hand-off of the ELA in good faith so vital freshwater research can continue uninterrupted.
The Environment May 1st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the London School of Economics states that up to 80% of Canada's hydrocarbon reserves are “unburnable” if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change, but speculators and markets are counting these stranded assets toward the value of oil companies. This carbon bubble represents at least $236 billion of inflated assets in Canada.
If the government continues to avoid real action on its Copenhagen promises, investors will burst the bubble suddenly, taking our economy and thousands of jobs with it.
Ostrich-like oil companies, stockbrokers and the government are all betting against fixing climate change and diversifying our petro-economy. Instead, they are inflating the carbon bubble as fast as they can.
With so much at risk, the government needs to price carbon and fix its $236 billion job-killing carbon bubble.
Petitions April 24th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is also about the ELA. I do not think it will be the last time I will be presenting petitions on the ELA, until this is a final deal—signed, sealed and delivered—and Ontario has taken over the ELA.
Once again, petitioners are asking the government, even today, to reverse its ill-advised decision on the Experimental Lakes Area.
Petitions April 24th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today. The first is with regard to the introduction of genetically modified alfalfa, and it is from the residents of Dorion, Thunder Bay and Kaministiquia in my riding.
They are very concerned about the introduction of GM alfalfa, for a number of reasons, including inevitable contamination, harm to organic farming and loss of farmers' rights. They are asking for a moratorium.
Combating Terrorism Act April 23rd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the hon. member that he has done a good job of listing the problems with this bill. I would like to underscore the fact that from 2001 until 2007 we already had some of these draconian measures, and they were never used. They really have not helped or were needed. I also agree with him that what we really need is boots on the ground in our cities.
The terrorists that people in my riding of Thunder Bay—Superior North are worried about are gangs, as well as unlicensed, unregistered and illegal guns and the drug problem. The government cut the federal funding to municipal police departments a while ago. Those are the things Canadians are worried about. I wonder if he agrees with me.