Christine Moore

[National Defence, December 15th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are going to pay an additional $35 million to Washington for research and development of the F-35s. The Canadian government just hands over the money without asking any questions or demanding any guarantees.

In April, the Prime Minister told us we would not be charged for any costs related to research and development.

With all the concerns raised over the F-35s, why did the Associate Minister of National Defence not take this opportunity to get answers to address these concerns and get some guarantees?

[Canada Labour Code, December 13th, 2011]

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for his speech. Some of the members of the House know that I trained as a nurse and that I have begun occupational health and safety certification. I am therefore beginning to clearly understand these issues. I would like to say that the bill introduced by my colleague is excellent.

Are there any workers under federal jurisdiction who have been denied leave without pay or who have experienced major inconveniences because they do not benefit from the same legislative provisions as employees under provincial jurisdiction?

[Fair Representation Act, December 13th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask a question of my colleague regarding the rural ridings.

If one were to take, for example, three Quebec members, the member for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, the member for Manicouagan and myself, we represent 75% of Quebec's territory, but only 4% of Quebec members. So, if you consider land mass alone, the levels of representation are disproportionate.

The seats that the government wants to add, regardless of the province, are primarily in urban regions where there is demographic growth. My concern is how to ensure that the rural ridings maintain their political weight in the House of Commons. There are not a lot of members representing the big ridings. So how do we maintain our political weight and our role as spokespersons?

[National Defence, December 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I am always surprised at how the government can give such convoluted responses to such simple questions.

Senator McCain said there has been a 61% increase in development and acquisition costs since the program started. However, the Conservatives are still quoting a 10-year-old price from Lockheed Martin.

Why will they not agree with Senator McCain that this program needs rethinking? Why will they not put this deal out for competitive bids?

[National Defence, December 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Associate Minister of National Defence refused to answer a very simple question. I will repeat it in order to give one of his colleagues a chance to answer it.

This week, Senator John McCain said that after 10 years and hundreds of billions of dollars, “we still do not have an aircraft that provides the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps with the combat capability they need”.

Can the Conservatives tell us how they interpret Senator McCain's comments? What will it take for them to realize that the F-35s are a disaster?

[National Defence, December 8th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, Senator McCain asked for accountability and transparency on the part of Lockheed Martin. We know that the government will never make such a request. Moreover, the Associate Minister of National Defence got his lines mixed up again. Senators McCain and Levin asked that test flights be postponed, because there are too many safety issues. I assume the government's only source of information is the senior management at Lockheed Martin. All the facts contradict the Conservatives' position.

Why do the Conservatives keep saying that everything is fine?

[Search and Rescue, December 8th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, my question to the Associate Minister of National Defence is simple.

I will be brief in the hope that, for once, he will listen to the question. Using a search and rescue helicopter for one hour costs $32,000. Therefore, how much did the transportation of the Minister of National Defence cost on July 9, 2010?

[Search and Rescue, December 7th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence has refused to take responsibility. He refuses to apologize or step down. He does nothing but make up new stories.

Will he at least answer Canadians' questions, when they know that he used search and rescue services a number of times? Will he tell us how much this little taxi helicopter expedition cost the taxpayers, who are being asked to tighten their belts?

[Business of Supply, December 5th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, since the hon. member is from Alberta, I imagine her province's economy is very important to her.

In her opinion, is there a way to develop the oil sands in an ecologically sound manner, without harming the economy in her province?

[Business of Supply, December 5th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, in the hon. member's speech, I heard her talk about her son quite a bit. In fact, through her son, she probably has access to the younger generation, to her son's friends and classmates. In her opinion, are young children worried about what is happening right now in terms of climate change? How do they view all this? How does the younger generation see it?