House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 30% of the vote.
National Defence February 16th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives will do whatever it takes to win an election.
In 2007, they promised an investment of $300 million and 550 new soldiers for the Bagotville base. No new infrastructure has been announced to date, and the first 250 soldiers who were supposed to arrive on the base by the end of 2014 have not yet arrived.
When will the new Minister of National Defence honour the Conservatives' election promises and release the infrastructure funding for 2 Wing?
Canada Post February 6th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, for the second time in two years, Canada Post has announced that the post office in Chicoutimi-Nord will be closing. This post office provides an essential service, and is the second most profitable post office in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. However, the words “essential” and “profitable” do not mean much to the Conservatives.
From 2001 to 2006, the Liberals shut down 50 post offices, while the Conservatives shut down 100 from 2012 to 2013. Can we put an end to this race to the bottom, and can we save our post office in Chicoutimi-Nord?
Victims Bill of Rights Act February 4th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I thank my New Democrat colleague for his excellent speech.
Something is bothering me about today's debate. The Conservatives accuse us of not being on the victims' side. I find that very offensive, since the NDP has always supported victims' rights. Obviously, being the victim of a crime is a terrible thing. My thoughts go out to victims and their families, who go through very tough times and sometimes even struggle to make it through.
I also know that my New Democrat colleague has spoken a number of times in the House on behalf of the families of victims, lobbying the government to pass bills that protect victims. Unfortunately his own bill was rejected by the Conservatives.
Could my colleague talk more about the Conservatives' doublespeak? They choose the type of assistance they want to give victims, yet refuse to implement good solutions suggested by the New Democrat opposition.
Victims Bill of Rights Act February 4th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I heard my colleague make reference to passing a bill that is not watered down. I noticed something when I read the bill. Bill C-32 states that victims may have access to a complaints mechanism, but it does not set out a specific amount for that and no compensation amount is mentioned.
In fact, I wonder how the complaints process will be effective and could satisfy the requests made by the victims.
Victims Bill of Rights Act February 4th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, my question is for my Conservative colleague. Of course, the current government cannot remain in power for decades on end.
Once the next government is in place, when he and his colleagues are in opposition, and the government, regardless of which party is in power, moves time allocation motions, gag orders, will he applaud that government for using them repeatedly, when it is not his own party?
Citizen Voting Act February 3rd, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I listened to my Conservative colleague's speech.
I still have to wonder why the government did not consider the bill introduced by my colleague from Halifax. This bill would have fixed a lot of the problems we are discussing today. If my Conservative colleague had listened to the comments and questions from Liberal and New Democrat members, she surely would have seen that we think the bill creates more problems than it fixes, while the bill introduced by my colleague from Halifax would fix a number of problems, in my opinion.
Has the member read Bill C-575, introduced by my colleague from Halifax?
Citizen Voting Act February 3rd, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the NDP has long been defending Canadians' right to vote, whether they live in Canada or abroad.
In February 2014, my colleague from Halifax took the initiative and introduced Bill C-575 in order to extend the right to vote to all Canadians living abroad.
Does the Liberal member agree with the NDP that Canadian citizens living abroad should have the right to vote?
Business of Supply January 29th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, fortunately, ridicule has never killed anyone.
My Conservative colleague opposite said that his party and his government have good relationships with the provincial and territorial governments based on respect. I really doubt it, especially since the Conservatives decided to impose new health transfer provisions on the provinces and territories. I was absolutely appalled when I read the transcript of the ministers' meeting in the media.
I would like to give my colleague an opportunity to convince me of the respect his party has for the provinces. During that meeting, when negotiations were taking place—I hope it was a negotiation—on the new health transfer provisions, what concessions did the federal government make? Did it make any concessions, or did it simply impose its will on the provinces?
Business of Supply January 29th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I thank my Liberal colleague for his speech and for the motion before us. I will support the initiative because I believe that the Prime Minister of Canada should meet the other first ministers at least once a year. We think twice a year would be better, but we know that, as the Liberals see it, once is an improvement.
I would like to ask my Liberal colleague a question. Naturally, these meetings are about respect. The goal is for people to get along, show mutual respect and help each other. However, I find it a bit hypocritical of the Liberals to try to restore their image by setting up this kind of annual meeting because, in the past, they themselves cut provincial health and social transfers, and that is what got them in trouble. We are still dealing with the negative consequences of that.
I would like my Liberal colleague to comment on that inconsistency: pushing for greater respect for the premiers even though they themselves cut health and social transfers in the past.
Business of Supply January 27th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I listened closely to my NDP colleague's speech. I hope that the many unemployed people in his riding will be able to find jobs soon.
At noon today, the member for Outremont announced a measure to create jobs and help small and medium-sized businesses across the country, whether it be in Chicoutimi or Newfoundland. This new measure would reduce the small-business tax rate from 11% to 9%. These businesses are responsible for most of the job creation in Canada.
Does my colleague believe that measures like this one can really help start and grow small businesses so that the people of his province will not have to look for work elsewhere and will be able to live in Newfoundland?