Irene Mathyssen

[Democratic Reform, February 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the minister is apparently having trouble understanding what the word “causal” means.

Let us see if he can better explain his bizarre comment about fake voter ID. Could the Minister of Democratic Reform table actual examples of the use of fake voter IDs? We are looking for real examples here, not ones performed for a satirical news show. Does the minister have any?

[Democratic Reform, February 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of State for Democratic Reform keeps making the bizarre claim that Elections Canada's efforts to engage voters have actually caused voter turnout to decline, yet he has failed to provide a single shred of evidence to defend this outlandish claim.

Will the minister now table proof, real proof, of the causal link he claims exists between Elections Canada's voter information programs and declining voter turnout?

[Petitions, February 26th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from concerned Londoners who want the Canada Post plan for reduced services to be rejected by the government. They want the government to ensure that the 6,000 to 8,000 jobs that would be lost are preserved. They want the government to fulfill its promise to protect consumers and to explore other options to update the crown corporation's business plan.

[Petitions, February 26th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions. The first is from concerned Londoners in response to a terrible tragedy in London, Ontario, regarding a family. These petitioners want the Government of Canada, and particularly the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, to make sure that offices are properly staffed so that wait times can be reduced and to ensure that immigration officers consider all factors in regard to an individual's application for status, including humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

[Business of Supply, February 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting when one comes to this place and discovers what happens in the backrooms, in the recesses of this place. When we first heard about voter fraud, robocalls, and all of those things, the promise was made to bring forward legislation that would change the reality of elections and make them more fair and honest. I naively expected that there would be something to prohibit robocalls and to make sure that Elections Canada has the personnel and financing to get to the bottom of what happened. I do not see it in the bill.

I would like to ask my hon. colleague what he thinks is going on. Why do we not see real and genuine reform of the elections act?

[Canada Post, February 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the member is confused. We do not need the Canada Post implementation plan. Now senior citizens in Kanata, Winnipeg, and Calgary are learning that they also will be among the first to lose home mail delivery. Can the minister explain to them why all other G7 governments can provide mail delivery for their seniors and small businesses but Conservatives cannot?

[Northwest Territories Devolution Act, February 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his contribution to this debate.

In five years, there is going to be a review on the changes to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act.

Would the member's party be in favour of transferring more authority to the Northwest Territories in this case?

[Petitions, February 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from the community of London. As members may know, there was a recent tragedy in London involving a family of three. The petitioners who have contacted me are still in mourning over this terrible loss.

The petitioners ask that the Government of Canada looks at improving staffing levels in government ministries like Citizenship and Immigration Canada, to make sure that applications can be processed in a timely manner. They also ask that immigration officials consider all factors regarding individual applications for status, including humanitarian and compassionate grounds.

Ultimately, this is a Canada with humanitarian and compassionate beliefs. This is an important petition.

[The Budget, February 13th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, the so-called $5 million is sleight of hand; $5 million was cut, and the Conservatives put $5 million in. That is not really an increase.

In terms of the so-called expanded sites of service, the reality is that Conservatives have been talking over and over again about 600 Service Canada sites, but they do not have veterans' applications on their website and they do not know how to manage what is really unique to veterans; so this is not an increase of service.

In terms of job grants, it is a matching grant. The province has to kick in, and the employer has to kick in. If they do not, there is no job grant. I am not impressed. I stick by what I said. This is a do-nothing budget. It does not help my constituents.

[The Budget, February 13th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, while I have heard concerns voiced by the Province of Ontario, I have to say that I would feel much better if the Province of Ontario managed its funds more wisely. I cannot say that I am particularly impressed with the big corporate tax cuts that the Province of Ontario has given away over the last little while at the expense of the people of Ontario.

However, when we talk about transfers, I think we should talk about what is happening to all the provinces and the fact that the government will transfer $37 billion less to the provinces for health care. Health care is absolutely the centre of our democracy. It allows Canadians to access services, and the provinces will receive less. It is a very important service, not properly funded.