House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2021, with 53% of the vote.
COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters August 12th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, yesterday in the National Post the Prime Minister's Office refused to answer some questions. I would like to give the government the opportunity to provide some clarity.
Did the Prime Minister or anyone in his office meet or speak with Rob Silver, who is the husband of the Prime Minister's chief of staff, Katie Telford, about commercial rent, yes or no?
Proceedings of the House and Committees May 26th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her excellent speech and comments about the need for Parliament to sit. I wonder if she could talk about some of the challenges her constituents are facing during this pandemic. Although there has been some support from the government, it seems that every time the Liberals roll out the support, there is a mistake they have to fix. Those things would have been dealt with had we been able to have Parliament sitting and to talk about some of the programs and deal with them as a Parliament. I am wondering if she would comment on that.
Proceedings of the House and Committees May 26th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, I am very, very disappointed that we are seeing the government shut down debate on this important motion. When the government gave notice of it, I was anticipating it might try this manoeuvre earlier today and then I was very pleased when the government House leader did not move a motion to shut down debate.
What would possess him to do this right now I do not know, except for the fact that what I do know is that the government does not want Parliament to sit. The government wants a committee to sit so the Liberals can escape the accountability and rigour Parliament demands. We have seen the Prime Minister stand outside his cottage day after day over the last several months taking nice questions from the media and not having to answer questions, opposition day motions, questions on the Order Paper or deal with private members' legislation.
The work Parliament should be doing in this House the Prime Minister has been able to escape from day after day after day, and this motion continues to give him that escape hatch.
We know the government House leader is shutting down debate, but I will ask him this. He and the Prime Minister think that we can be here face to face, as the 40-some of us are here in this place today. If we can do that every day four days a week for the next several weeks, why can we not meet face to face in a Parliament setting with Parliament working and acting, and not just a feeble committee that is a fake parliament?
COVID-19 Emergency Response May 26th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, according to a memo obtained by the National Post, foreign nationals are not required to show any proof of status before getting CERB payments. Temporary foreign workers do not need to show a work permit and international students do not need to show enrolment or a student visa. There are virtually no safeguards in place.
Does the minister not realize that by failing to prevent fraud he is actually encouraging it?
COVID-19 Emergency Response May 26th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, a relative of one of my constituents is a student who is renting out a room in her home to a foreign student. The student recently informed her that he has found a way to collect the CERB and go back to his home country overseas, and that he would not be paying her rent any longer. He gets to leave Canada, he gets to collect the CERB and she gets shafted. We are hearing more and more stories like this.
Why are the Liberals turning a blind eye to individuals who seem to be purposely trying to scam the system?
Business of the House May 26th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, can I have clarification? My interpretation said Standing Orders 7 and 8, but I believe it should be Standing Orders 15 and 17. Could the House leader clarify?
Sittings of the House May 25th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, we are very happy to ask questions. It would appear the Prime Minister does not really like to answer them, but we are very happy to continue to ask those questions.
As we are preparing to come out of this pandemic, we have an economic recovery that we need to see. We could see a possible second wave of the pandemic. Is it not more important than ever that Parliament, with all of its powers, including opposition days, private members' business and the business that Parliament does, happens in this place, and not just this so-called glorified committee, which is really the Liberals trying to pass off a fake Parliament, which it is not?
Does the government believe that Parliament is essential?
Sittings of the House May 25th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear: The plan the Liberals are presenting on how members of Parliament can do their job in this place does not include a return to Parliament. The Liberals want a glorified committee with stunted duties and limited powers. It is a fake Parliament, which is not a surprise coming from the Liberals.
If the Prime Minister thinks it is okay for us to be here four days a week, face to face, in a glorified committee, why is it not okay for us to be here, as we are today, having real Parliament?
Proceedings of the House and Committees May 25th, 2020
Madam Speaker, I am very happy to clarify for that member.
We absolutely agree that we should not resume sitting business as usual. We should not have 338 of us here. We need to have a very much reduced setting. However, I think my colleague, who has been here for a while, understands the difference between the roles and powers of a committee and the roles and powers of Parliament.
We are calling for Parliament in a very reduced number to return in a responsible way. If the NDP members want to abdicate and sit on committee their whole careers, that is their choice, but we do not want to do that.
Proceedings of the House and Committees May 25th, 2020
Madam Speaker, one of the problems that we have had, and in some cases it has been necessary, is dealing with government legislation in such a speedy and accelerated way that we have not been able to hear from witnesses. This is a huge gap, and it is lacking right now, because Parliament is not sitting.
Legislation is passed. After the fact, we are finding out about gaps in the legislation and where there are problems. Whether it is the wage subsidy, support for farmers, which I know is sorely lacking, or support for small businesses, there is always an after-the-fact gap. We have seen the government try to fix it, or in some cases again play catch-up. It is just another reason why we need full Parliament to sit and not just the special committee.