Dany Morin

[Air Transportation, June 13th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, for two years I pressured the Conservatives and the people in my region kept up their demands until it was no longer possible for the member from Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean to ignore them. A customs office at Bagotville airport was needed.

Unfortunately, the work is not finished because limited customs services can accommodate only small business planes.

Can the member for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean tell us when the Bagotville airport will finally welcome a real planeload of tourists, or will he continue to oppose the project for another two years?

[First Nations Elections Act, June 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, why are the Conservatives not addressing real issues related to the governance of first nations by providing the Assembly of First Nations with what it has asked for, namely, a simple and effective mechanism whereby the basic governance of a first nation can be exempt from the Indian Act—that title should be changed, by the way—once the first nation in question is ready, willing and able to govern itself and once its members have legitimized the governance reform with a community referendum?

Personally, I think that this would be the decent thing to do in order to stop treating Canada's aboriginal peoples like second-class citizens.

I would like my Conservative colleague to answer my question.

[First Nations Elections Act, June 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, earlier when my Conservative colleague rose on a point of order to ensure that the debate, both the questions and the answers, was on the time allocation motion, I thought he made a good point. I would therefore remind the minister that he should do the same thing and not talk—

[First Nations Elections Act, June 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Conservative minister. Why is his government so incompetent in comparison to all other governments in the history of Canada?

True, the government's toolbox does include the discretion to use time allocation motions, but never in the history of Canada and all the parliaments has a government used a time allocation motion 44 times to silence the opposition. The Conservative member complained and moaned that NDP members opposed his bill and that is why he moved this motion.

However, why were previous Canadian governments, the Progressive Conservatives and the Liberals, more competent in terms of getting their bills passed? The current government is apparently too incompetent to get its bills passed, ostensibly for the good of Canadians.

Why did the other governments in Canada's history not need as many time allocation motions as this government?

[Family Homes on Reserves and Matrimonial Interests or Rights Act, June 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Bill S-2 puts the onus on couples to resolve disputes in court, yet it does not improve access to provincial courts. In addition, it is difficult for the bill to be enforced, in a practical sense, in many first nations communities. It is unrealistic.

Instead of presenting first nations with a bill that is ineffective, will the Conservatives commit to supporting the implementation of remedies within first nations communities that would stem from their own legal traditions?

[Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, June 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is rather incredible for my colleague from Mississauga South to say that opposition members, including NDP members, must stand up in the house for the well-being of the first nations.

She knows, and she mentioned it in her speech, that the Conservative government has only invested $330 million over two years to fix the water supply problem. A study commissioned by the government found that a $5-billion investment over 10 years is needed, including $1.2 billion immediately. Throwing $330 million at the problem is not enough to provide first nations with a safe drinking water supply.

My question is for my Conservative colleague. When will the Conservative government stop treating first nations like second-class citizens?

[Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, June 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I would like my Conservative colleague to explain why his government insists on preventing us from speaking in the House of Commons and why he is in such a rush.

Canadians and members of Parliament, including the former Conservative member for Edmonton—St. Albert, want to be able to debate and want to see more transparency on the part of this government.

Why is this government not being more transparent with Canadians? That is what Canadians want to see.

[Business of Supply, June 5th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, through our motion to cut off funding to the Senate, it is clear that we, the NDP, are trying to do what is best for the taxpayers by saving them $92 million a year.

Can my Conservative colleague tell us why the Liberals are in favour of the status quo and why the Conservatives are still standing behind dishonest senators?

[Business of Supply, June 5th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, yes, I do.

Could you repeat what you said earlier to my Conservative colleague, namely that he must speak about Senate reform, the issue that concerns us, rather than boasting about the Conservative government's record? If that is what he wants to do, he can clearly use other means of communication, such as his Twitter and Facebook accounts or the national news media. However, we are here to discuss a very important issue, that of cutting funding to the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, I would be very grateful if you reminded him of what you said a bit earlier, because he apparently did not understand. You might want to repeat it in the other official language.

[Fair Rail Freight Service Act, May 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to still be awake at this hour, at 12:35 a.m., and to ask my NDP colleague a question.

In her speech, she spoke briefly about the rural reality. In my region, the riding that I represent, forestry, mining, aluminum production and agriculture are very important.

Could she explain to the people of Chicoutimi—Le Fjord who may be watching at this late hour how the NDP's amendments could have improved rail transportation in my riding and across Canada?