Irene Mathyssen

[Ethics, June 9th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, they will say anything.

The Auditor General has issued a dire warning about Senate spending. There are 30 senators implicated, and a whole system of oversight has been declared a failure. After two years of digging through the expenses of current and former senators, Canadians certainly do not need a cooked-up appeals process designed to get senators off the hook. Do the government members not understand that the Auditor General is an independent third-party arbiter? Is it not clear that he is supplying a finding of fact, not opinions, as they do?

[Business of Supply, June 8th, 2015]

They stole them.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, June 8th, 2015]

With regard to benefits available to seniors: (a) what are the most recent estimates, broken down by province of the number of seniors who would meet eligibility requirements for (i) Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits but are not in receipt because they have not applied, (ii) Old Age Security (OAS) benefits but are not in receipt because they have not applied, (iii) Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) but are not in receipt because they have not applied; and (b) what are the annual dollar values, broken down by province of the missing benefits for seniors who meet eligibility requirements for (i) CPP benefits but are not in receipt because they have not applied, (ii) OAS benefits but are not in receipt because they have not applied, (iii) GIS but are not in receipt because they have not applied?

[Petitions, June 8th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from a number of my constituents who are very concerned about the fact that flavoured tobacco products are still being marketed by the tobacco industry. These are candy-like products that attract young people and can certainly cause addiction at a very early age. The petitioners are asking the Parliament of Canada to pass legislation that will remove all flavours from all tobacco products so that children are not led into addiction.

[Ethics, June 8th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister came to Ottawa promising strong rules to improve accountability in the Senate. Now the Conservatives have abandoned any reform.

The Prime Minister appointed Senator Housakos as speaker. The senator then immediately started working with Liberals, behind closed doors, to devise a new system so senators could appeal the Auditor General's findings.

Was the Prime Minister aware when he appointed him that Senator Housakos was making up new rules after learning he was to be named in the Auditor General's report?

[National Order of the Legion of Honour, June 8th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I want recognize a hero today. Because of his service in World War II, London's own Michael Sydorko is now a Knight in the National Order of the Legion of Honour of the Republic of France.

Born in Lac du Bonnet , Manitoba, Michael served with the Lake Superior Regiment 4th Canadian Armoured Division of the Canadian army. The “Lake Sups,” as they came to be known, played a vital role in the liberation of France and the Netherlands from Nazi occupation.

Michael volunteered for duty as a teenager and risked his life for the liberty of others. He has the distinction of being the only Canadian soldier to disarm U.S. General George Patton, who, after relinquishing his arms, complimented Sydorko's pluck by saying he would like to have him in his unit.

The distinction of knighthood is just one of many military honours that Michael has received over the years, and it is France's highest honour. Michael is one of fewer than 40 Canadians to receive it. It is only fitting that he be recognized and honoured in the House today.

[Petitions, June 5th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from citizens who are very concerned about the situation regarding door-to-door delivery.

The petitioners believe that the post office provides an important link in our country and that the lack of delivery will unfairly impact seniors and persons living with mobility issues. There are 8,000 jobs at stake. It will negatively impact small business, charitable organizations and families.

The petitioners ask the government to stop these devastating cuts to our postal services.

[Petitions, June 5th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

The first petition is from the last group of Canadians who were concerned about the tax on feminine hygiene products. I present this petition to let the House know how very determined and how very grateful these Canadians are that the tax is finally gone.

[Ethics, June 5th, 2015]

Oh, the desperate need for a smokescreen, Mr. Speaker.

The Prime Minister's Office has been on the inside of the Senate expense scandal from the beginning. The coverup of the Duffy spending scandal was orchestrated by the PMO. The Conservatives knew full well what their Senate cronies were up to because they were the ones who invited these senators to partisan fundraisers. The Conservative MPs here enabled the corruption of Conservative senators over there.

How can the Prime Minister continue to maintain he is innocent when all the evidence points back to his office?

[Ethics, June 5th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, it is no wonder these Conservatives have to recreate reality.

We are talking about repeated abuse of taxpayer dollars. With Conservative and Liberal senators submitting travel claims that were not really all about Senate business, these expenses were for partisan and personal events, where senators were campaigning on the public dime. Canadians are sick and tired of these appointed party cronies treating the Senate like an election slush fund.

Why are the Conservatives covering up for this dysfunctional institution?