House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 40% of the vote.
Health June 16th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned that 120,000 Quebeckers are on surgical waiting lists and 43,000 of them have waited longer than is medically acceptable.
What concrete measures is the government going to provide to resolve the waiting list problem highlighted by the Supreme Court?
Request for Emergency Debate June 15th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian auto industry is the largest manufacturing industry in the country and the biggest employer in my hometown of Oshawa. It employs directly and indirectly over 500,000 Canadians. The sector is crucial to the economic well-being of our country.
The Liberal government has been promising an auto strategy for ages and still nothing has been delivered.
Last week General Motors announced 25,000 layoffs in the United States. According to the CAW there will definitely be spin-off effects here in Canada.
The Liberal government seems content to accept job losses as an inevitable conclusion. Without a clear, concrete, public, transparent auto strategy, I fear it may be correct.
Auto manufacturers need to know what they are getting when they invest in Canada. An auto strategy would involve a new crossing at the Windsor-Detroit border. The government is content to wait 10 years and that is totally unacceptable. The strategy would also involve harmonization of our regulations; stable infrastructure and power supply; and human resources and other important points.
The government has failed to deliver and will cost Canada new plants, new investment and new jobs.
For that reason, I call for an emergency debate on an auto strategy before the government's dithering drives away our auto sector.
Aerospace Industry June 13th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, Quebec's industry minister stated on the weekend that Quebec could create its own policy for the aerospace industry in the absence of any federal policy.
For months now, since October to be precise, the federal government has been promising such a policy but nothing is forthcoming.
Given the importance of this issue and this sector for Canada and especially Quebec, it is high time the federal government showed transparency and tabled a real draft policy on the aerospace industry.
Awards
Automobile Industry June 10th, 2005
Again, Mr. Speaker, another non-answer.
It is quite simple. Last fall the minister promised that jobs would grow. This spring he signed a deal allowing the loss of up to 28,000 jobs. Which is it? What he promised last fall or what he signed away this spring?
Automobile Industry June 10th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I asked the Minister of Industry to respond to the potential loss of thousands of auto jobs in Ontario. The minister, in typical Liberal fashion, skirted the issue and failed to answer. Does the minister stand by the statement he made last November? He said:
The 80,000 workers in the automotive industry will still be there in 10 years. The number will actually grow.
I will ask the minister again. Does he stand by his guarantee that auto job numbers in Ontario will grow?
Automobile Industry June 9th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the only hot air is coming from that minister's commitment to the auto industry.
I would say that the government is asleep at the wheel, but it is clear that it is not even in the driver's seat. The Liberal-NDP budget will put Canadian auto jobs at risk. The fact that the government is reneging on its promise to provide tax relief for corporations will have a devastating effect on the industry that drives our economy.
Will the minister commit to reinstating corporate tax breaks and finally make auto jobs in Canada a priority?
Automobile Industry June 9th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, last November the Minister of Industry stood in this House and promised me that no auto jobs would be lost, despite the failure of the government to develop a national auto strategy.
As today's Globe and Mail points out, the recent federal investment in the auto industry allows for a reduction of up to 4,000 jobs at GM, meaning 28,000 spinoff jobs would also be at risk, taxpayer funding in exchange for job losses.
When will the minister admit that the lack of a Liberal auto strategy is killing auto jobs in Ontario?
Petitions June 8th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition calling on the House to immediately commence an independent and public investigation into Health Canada's firing of the whistleblowers Shiv Chopra, Margaret Hayden and Gerald Lambert.
General Motors May 19th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the hardworking men and women of General Motors and to recognize the success of Oshawa's GM complex in the recently awarded J.D. Power and Associates 2005 initial quality study.
In the prestigious awards, General Motors swept the North and South America plant categories, with Oshawa No. 2 taking the gold Plant Quality Award and Oshawa No. 1 receiving silver.
The executive director of J.D. Power and Associates stated:
GM's Oshawa complex is an extremely important driver of economic well-being in Ontario and in Canada. The recent investment announcement is also testimony to the importance that GM places on these facilities and these awards should solidify confidence in the Oshawa operation. This is an important achievement, not only for GM Canada but also for the industry in Canada as a whole.
Oshawa's auto workers led the industry with an unprecedented number of awards. I am proud to represent the thousands of individuals in my riding who helped make GM an industry leader worldwide.
Dental Technology May 18th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to pay tribute to the Association of Dental Technologists. I am pleased to welcome here today the president of the association, Stephen DeLuca, and Al McOrmond of Oshawa.
The Association of Dental Technologists is an often overlooked but critical association in Canada. It advances the dental profession through education and communication, and is instrumental in pursuing excellence in dental technology services.
Canada is a world leader in dental technology, in large part due to the work of this association. Its members continuously work to improve the standards of their profession nationwide, ensure the health of the public, and continue to advance their professional knowledge. It is instrumental in setting and maintaining the high standard of laboratory skills increasingly demanded of dental technicians in Canada.
The ADT is working to keep Canada at the forefront of the profession. I am honoured to have these members here today.