House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 38% of the vote.
Mining Industry March 23rd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the labour dispute at Vale Inco has been going on for eight months. The Minister of Industry has met with the company representative 13 times since July 2008. The workers are still waiting for the company to negotiate in good faith.
Yesterday, thousands of miners and their families gathered together to show that the fight for fair wages and a fair pension is not over.
When will the minister put pressure on the company to negotiate in good faith?
International Day of La Francophonie March 18th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, with the International Day of la Francophonie being celebrated on March 20, the New Democratic Party would like to wish all the francophones and francophiles here in Canada and abroad a happy International Day of la Francophonie.
Despite the progress we have been able to make in Canada over the past 40 years with respect to bilingualism and support for French-language minority communities, unfortunately there is still too much inequality.
If you think of the government’s lack of will to foster the French language, you might wonder if the situation is even getting worse.
Despite its great promises, the government has disparaged the rights of francophones since coming to power, and the francophones of this country have had enough. With the International Day of La Francophonie upon us, I have a wish to make. I wish that the government will once and for all recognize the francophones of this country as full citizens and give them the rights to which they are entitled.
I am very proud to be a Franco-Ontarian.
The Economy March 12th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member for Sudbury on this fine speech. The member for Sudbury and I are neighbours in northern Ontario. In the throne speech the government wants to relax the rules for foreign investment. In our joint ridings we have two foreign companies, one that is trying to implement its third world mentality on our workers and the other one is hydrating the ore reserves in Nickel Belt and Sudbury.
Could the member tell us what the relaxation of the foreign investment rules has done to both of our communities?
Petitions March 12th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, it pleases me to present this petition of dozens and dozens of pages, with hundreds of names from across my riding, places such as Noelville, Alban, Crystal Falls, Hanmer, and Azilda.
The petition states that whereas there is a scientific consensus and public acknowledgment that animals can feel pain and can suffer, all efforts should be made to prevent animal cruelty and reduce animal suffering. The petitioners request that the Government of Canada support a universal declaration on animal welfare.
Sudbury March 12th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the past week has been an eventful week for my constituents. The week began with the disappointing news that mediated talks between Brazilian-owned Vale Inco and its striking workers, USW Local 6500, had broken off.
This eight-month strike has taken a significant toll on the lives of the workers, who are fighting to protect fair wages and pensions. New Democrats want both sides to start talking again. The federal government needs to show real interest in ending this strike, instead of brushing off the concerns of workers and the community.
On Wednesday, Greater Sudbury welcomed, with open arms and grateful hearts, some of our fantastic Olympic athletes: Tessa Bonhomme and Rebecca Johnston, gold medallists with the Canadian women`s Olympic hockey team; Devon Kershaw of the Canadian men's cross-country skiing, who delivered the best ever Canadian finish in the men's 50 kilometre, mass start classic; and Chris Del Bosco of the Canadian men`s ski cross team, whose determination to make Canada proud is truly inspiring.
My constituents have proven that even in the most difficult of times, they can set aside their worries and put on a great welcome for our deserving athletes.
The Economy March 12th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the member talked a lot about accountability during his speech. The government should be accountable to the people of Canada but the official opposition should also be accountable to the people of Canada.
The budget will raise EI premiums. It has a transport tax and it has the HST that people in Ontario and B.C. will need to pay. The member for Markham—Unionville said that the Liberals were against these tax increases.
I would like to ask the member for Mississauga South why his party did not show up to vote against the budget. That would have nullified these tax increases. If the Liberals want the government to be accountable, how come they are not accountable?
Resumption of debate on Address in Reply March 11th, 2010
Madam Speaker, the word “solidarity” is used in the throne speech and it is an important word in the labour movement right across Canada. We have a strike in Sudbury in my riding of Nickel Belt, which has gone on now for eight months. The foreign company, Vale Inco, is trying to implement its Third World mentality on those workers.
Could the member across show leadership? She probably will tell me it is a provincial issue and the Conservative government will not get involved. However, as an elected official and as the new labour minister, I would like her to show leadership and ask the company to get back to the bargaining table and accept arbitration.
Petitions March 10th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition with dozens of pages and dozens of names. The petitioners state that whereas Transport Canada is reducing traditional oversight and inspection methods and delegating its responsibility to aviation companies via safety management systems, and that whereas aviation workers and the travelling public are in danger as a result, the petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to initiate a commission of inquiry headed by a Superior Court judge to conduct a judicial review into Canada's state of national aviation safety and government oversight of the aviation industry, to be followed by further reviews at defined interventions.
THE BUDGET March 9th, 2010
Madam Speaker, unless we change our policies on the environment and make the companies that pollute clean up, the only people who are going to pay for this cleanup are ordinary Canadian men and women. They are the ones who can least afford it.
Those who can afford it are the companies that are profiting throughout Canada. They are making billions and are leaving our country when they are done, and we are left to pay for what they leave behind.
Again, we should reconsider the tax cuts the government wants to implement and use the money for seniors, women and children.
THE BUDGET March 9th, 2010
Madam Speaker, unless we roll back the corporate tax cuts, we will have the money to deal with the issues that the hon. member has mentioned. As I stated a while ago, if we were to roll back the tax cuts we could invest money in women, children, seniors and in our infrastructure.
The corporate tax cuts are not working in the first place, and I will give an example. In Welland, John Deere, which had several hundred employees and profited by these generous tax cuts, just closed shop and moved to Mexico anyway. It is not working.