David Christopherson

[Citizenship and Immigration, November 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, last year the government issued almost 400,000 temporary foreign worker permits. Today the Auditor General said that these permits were issued without proper strategic planning, without due diligence, without knowing whether the employer or the job even existed.

What is going on here? Skilled workers in Hamilton Centre are looking for work and the government is bringing in temporary workers for jobs that do not even exist.

When will the Conservatives start doing their job and focus on developing long-term sustainable jobs for Canadian workers?

[November 2nd, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I too appreciate the tone and the reflective nature of the member for Toronto—Danforth's comments. There is always a temptation to rush to over-the-top comments that give us headlines, but on an issue like this, it really is incumbent upon all of us, especially in a minority government, to work together collectively.

Bear in mind the hon. member did say that where criticism is due, or where there are constructive criticisms to be made, that will happen, but to work together collectively, all of us, really is what Canadians expect from us.

My question is this, very briefly. The hon. member mentioned he was chair of the Toronto board of health for six years. In my background, I chaired the Hamilton public health services and social services. I wonder if he could give us a perspective on the pressures they face because the minister was suggesting that somehow they have let people down.

Could he let us know what pressures are facing the local health boards?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, October 5th, 2009]

What is the total amount of government funding, since fiscal year 2004-2005 up to and including the current fiscal year, allocated within the constituency of Hamilton Centre, listing each department or agency, initiative, and amount?

[Harmonized Sales Tax, September 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, when the Conservatives and Liberals bring in the harmonized sales tax, or HST, next July, families across Ontario will be taxed at a higher rate on children's vitamins, on newspapers, even on coffee. That is right. This is a tax on our trip to Tim Hortons. If we want to hire a lawyer to fight the HST, well, that will be taxed, too.

Why is this new tax being foisted on Ontarians? Because the federal Conservatives and provincial Liberals want to shift the tax burden from the wealthiest banks and oil companies to middle-income families, the very people most at risk from the decline in our Ontario industrial economy.

Along with Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath, we are fighting the HST because it would harm Ontario workers and their families.

Ontarians will not take this and neither will we. It is time to stop the HST, stop the attack on the middle class and stop the McGuinty-Harper tax grab.

[Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, June 5th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we have one minister, two agencies, two policies and a lot of lost millions. Canadians do not want to see bonuses paid to managers who lose their money.

Will the minister apply one rule to all his agencies and tell the CPP not to pay bonuses where they are not earned and they are not deserved?

[Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, June 5th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the Royal Canadian Mint has misplaced millions of dollars in gold. Naturally, senior staff bonuses have been suspended until the missing millions are found. CPP lost $24 billion of taxpayer pensions, but the bonuses are flowing like water, a $7 million reward for failure.

Why is it that one crown agency gets it when it comes to Canadians' money, and the other does not?

[Homelessness, June 5th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I recently attended the second annual social justice fair organized by the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board.

Students from as many as 22 Hamilton area schools are watching this live, right now, to see their concerns brought to Parliament.

Here is their message: “On any given night in Hamilton, 399 men, women and children stay in emergency shelters. There are at least 600 homeless or street-involved youth in Hamilton. Youth homelessness is a very serious issue, not only in Hamilton but in our country. There are things being done to help the homeless people in our city, but it is not enough to keep them off the streets. As a school board and as individuals, we find this inadequate. More things need to be done, but they are simply not happening. We need more transitional housing for youth and more mental health services. Fundraising is not enough because it only provides a band-aid solution. It is time for our government to take action”.

I agree with that statement and I congratulate these Hamilton students for sending this important message to Parliament. Now let us see it acted upon.

[Canada Post, June 1st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Globe and Mail reported that Canada Post entered into an untendered contract for air mail services worth more than $100 million. Since the story was published, Canada Post has admitted that this is true. Competing companies say that they could have met the timeline and requirements, wanted to bid on this golden tender and would have liked to have had a fair shot at the work.

Why has the Conservative government chosen to follow the Liberals down the path of lucrative, untendered contracts? Did it not learn anything from the Gomery commission?

[Nuclear Liability and Compensation Act, May 27th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I would ask my colleague to maybe expand on the notion of what would happen in a community. I think we can all imagine. Those of us who are of a certain age can certainly recall Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and other accidents that have happened. The devastation and damage is immediate from the explosions.

My colleague talked about further implications for communities and I would ask her to maybe expand on that. What sort of things are we talking about in a community, not just the hours after a disaster but in the days and weeks after and the ability of citizens to survive and continue their life as they know it in their own homes and in their own neighbourhoods?

[Interparliamentary Delegations, May 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian Parliamentary Delegation to the Election Observation Mission of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Moldova.