House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 38% of the vote.
Transportation April 20th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, hundreds of Canadians have been stranded in Europe for a number of days because flights have been cancelled.
Other countries have provided consular assistance to their citizens. However, our Minister of Foreign Affairs has only provided a web site.
Why is the minister not helping Canadians stranded in Europe? Why is he letting them fend for themselves? What about our emergency plan?
Questions Passed as Orders for Returns April 19th, 2010
With regard to the transfer of Canadian offenders from abroad to Canada, what is, for the calendar years 2005 to 2008: (a) the total number of transfer applications carried over from the previous year; (b) the total number of new applications made; (c) the number of applications that were approved; (d) the total number of applications rejected; (e) the total number of applications withdrawn by the offender; (f) the total number of cases that remained open at the end of the year; and (g) the average time that the Minister took to make a decision regarding any decided cases?
Foreign Affairs April 15th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the problem is that the government has waited two years. Calgary Child Services is no longer in a position to determine what is in the best interest of young Noah. The young boy must immediately be returned to his family. Noah's family needs the government's help to put an end to this charade.
Why have the Conservative government and the hon. member been refusing for two years to help the family and bring young Noah back to Canada?
Foreign Affairs April 15th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, for two years, Noah Kirkman has been held in the United States by a county judge who refuses to send this 12-year-old boy back to his family here in Canada. Calgary Child Services has not declared Mr. Kirkman, Mrs. Kirkman or Noah's grandparents, for that matter, unfit to look after him. For two years, Noah has been bounced back and forth between several foster parents and schools, yet this outrageous judicial detention of a Canadian citizen continues. This case flies in the face of the Hague Convention on returning children to their countries of origin. Can the minister explain when he is prepared to act and how long this travesty will continue?
Questions Passed as Orders for Returns April 15th, 2010
With regard to the provision of consular affairs, for the fiscal years 2005-2006 to 2008-2009: (a) what are all foreign missions operated by the government; and (b) what is the number of staff members tasked with the provision of consular services in each mission?
Income Tax Act March 24th, 2010
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-500, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (deductibility of RESP contributions).
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the House for allowing me to reintroduce a bill that two years ago passed this House and went to the Senate.
The bill is a reintroduction of the tax deductibility of RESPs, registered education savings plans. The contributions would give young people an opportunity to get access to and acquire higher education.
I want to thank my hon. colleague for Mississauga South for graciously accepting to second the motion. It is significant that he also supports the bill, given his background both in terms of finance as well as accounting. I am very pleased to receive his support.
In the last decade, the average yearly tuition for an undergraduate degree almost doubled, and the average debt load upon completion is now in excess of $20,000. With projections indicating that the cost of an undergraduate degree will reach $100,000 in the near future, families need assistance to help save money for post-secondary education. I am pleased to reintroduce this bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Questions on the Order Paper December 3rd, 2009
With regard to the Economic Action Plan advertising campaign: (a) what is the total cost to the government of the GO Train advertisements which are wrapped around the outside of GO Trains in Ontario; (b) what contractors were used to produce and purchase this advertising; and (c) was the contract sole sourced or was there an open bidding process for the creative and ad purchasing contract?
Petitions December 2nd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of literally hundreds of constituents from the riding of Pickering—Scarborough East and even some outside of that area. They are calling on the government to finally acknowledge that the high price of fuel is damaging the Canadian economy.
They wish and petition Parliament to reinstate the office of petroleum price information, which was abolished by the government in 2006. Very similar to the U.S. energy information administration, it would report weekly on the Canadian energy supply, demand, inventory and storage picture.
They would also like to begin hearings in the energy sector to determine how the government can foster competition, provide transparency to the energy market, and eliminate the monopolistic efficiency defence clause of the Competition Act.
Questions on the Order Paper November 27th, 2009
With regard to the government’s handling of the Omar Khadr and Abousfian Abdelrazik cases, for each case: (b) what is the breakdown of all outside consultants hired for any purpose, including public relations, and the value of the associated contracts?
Child Protection Act (Online Sexual Exploitation) November 26th, 2009
Absolutely, Madam Speaker. I agree wholeheartedly with the member for Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe.
He has raised a point which I had not considered until now, the question of hierarchy of harms.
We all agree that there is child exploitation. Child exploitation is the destruction of human life, whether we like it or not. If the Criminal Code is not able to reflect that, or this legislation is not consistent with the opprobrium that Parliament and the Criminal Code hold against those who exploit children, that also would have to be a decent recommendation or amendment that the party should, on behalf of our critic, propose at committee.
I am not on committee. I am simply trying to provide some guidance with the latest of information which I think parliamentarians from all parties are going to have to look at more intensely.
I say these things because I think it is anticipating where we ought to be and it will put Canada back where it must be.
Yes, some Internet service providers have been helpful, some have not. Some have charged. Some have obstructed. Some continue to use issues of privacy, I think, indiscreetly. I agree with my colleague that optimal legislation would also include the ability to have a reasonable expectation of conviction, a reasonable expectation of stopping the practice in Canada. As well, what I think is the maximum of importance of this legislation is to give enforcement agencies the resources they need. If agencies in this country are creating true centres of cybercrime prevention that are in fact protecting Canadians and the international community, we have to be backing them with resources by Parliament, and not leave it to the private sector to, shamefully, do what we as parliamentarians want our government to do.