House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 41% of the vote.
Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act June 14th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, first I would like to congratulate the Minister of Industry and the Minister of State for Finance, who arrived while we were voting. The member for Mississauga South did the same thing and she voted. I am therefore asking that her vote be withdrawn.
Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act June 14th, 2012
Madam Speaker, this is unacceptable. I made no such gesture, and I do not want the entire opposition being accused of such a thing. People need to take responsibility for their actions; I had nothing to do with this.
Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act June 14th, 2012
Madam Speaker, it is 12:50 p.m., and we are already through 50% of the votes. I would seek the unanimous consent of the House to propose a motion, seconded by the hon. member for Ottawa—Vanier, to salute and thank all House of Commons staff, who are doing a fantastic job helping us get through this.
Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act June 14th, 2012
Madam Speaker, it is 7:25 a.m. The lobster processors have been at work for an hour already. We know that once this bill passes, they will no longer have employment insurance. Our thoughts go out to the seasonal workers.
Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act June 14th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, we have two official languages in Canada. I really like translation, but I will ask the question in French. I have been in this House for 15 years and this is the first time I have seen someone from the government go see to the Speaker during a vote. That is unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, I want to know what that person said to you, because it was beginning to look like instructions.
Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act June 14th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I heard a lot of applause, but I did not hear my name.
I voted in favour of the amendment. Was my vote recorded?
Privilege June 13th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for this House and for the Chair. I started by simply saying that I have a huge amount of respect for you and I think you do an outstanding job.
However, that is why I was wondering, because I am very sure that you are not influenced. That is why I said that since the official opposition had given its opinion, standard practice is to allow my colleague a full chance to express himself. This is not a filibuster. As it is a question of privilege, the member for Winnipeg North should have the right to express himself.
With all due respect, I just wanted to share some of my 15 years of experience—that is not nothing—because I have seen all kinds of things. I know that the member for Winnipeg North is acting in good faith. We should give him the time to fully express his opinion because that is the point of a question of privilege.
Privilege June 13th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I have too much respect for you to say that you are easily influenced. However, it seems to me that the tone changed after the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons whispered in your ear.
As an MP, I think that if the official opposition has the right to raise a point of order, the Liberal Party of Canada has the right to respond appropriately. I find that attitude unacceptable. The member for Winnipeg North is in the right in this case. We are all equal. When we have something to say, we rise. The question of privilege is important because it applies to all members. I would not want anyone to have fewer rights than anyone else just because someone whispered in someone else's ear.
The official opposition had the right to raise its point of order in the appropriate way, and this is not about holding up a stopwatch and timing five, six or seven minutes. If the member can raise a point of order, he is fully within his rights to do so. We have to be careful not to provoke anyone. Even if they have a serious cough, they have to last the night. They should be careful and look after themselves right away.
The Liberal Party has as much right as any other party to express all its points of view. This is not a question of 5, 10 or 15 minutes. They all have the right to express their views, and so do we, because we belong to a party in the House, too.
Privilege June 13th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I have had the privilege of sitting in this House for the past 15 years. I truly hope that your ruling will not set a dangerous precedent.
Some members deliver their speeches off the cuff. Other members read their speeches.
There is sometimes an impression that when members read their texts, we can measure their time better and there is a beginning and an end. Just because my colleague is speaking off the cuff does not mean that he should be cut off.
It would be more judicious and more respectful to pay attention and to allow my colleague to express his point of view. I do not wish to give the impression that, here, in this cradle of democracy, a member can be cut off, especially when it is a point of privilege and not a point of order. When a question of privilege is raised, members should be allowed enough time to fully express their points of view.
Points of Order June 13th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, all I am asking is that since that word is unparliamentary it should now be on the list, so that any time we hear it the Speaker will have to stand up and put the member in order.