James Moore

[Remembrance Week, November 2nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, throughout Canadian history, Canadians have been on the front lines fighting for freedom and democracy. The sacrifices and bravery shown by Canadians is legendary, and we will never forget or take for granted the gift of liberty that they have given to us. Far too many have given the greatest gift of all, the gift of an unfinished life.

Remembrance Week is very important to this country. It is when we take a moment to honour those Canadians who have served and who are currently serving in the name of freedom, peace and democracy throughout the world. Fifty-nine of my constituents are currently serving Canada abroad, and I am very proud of their service, as are all members of the House.

As the annual parade passes by, we see the stalwart veterans marching straight and dignified.

We will never forget.

[Defence Construction Canada, October 31st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I wish to table in this House two copies of Defence Construction Canada's 2006-07 annual report.

[Government Contracts, October 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, we appreciate the report from the Auditor General.

The Auditor General made four very specific recommendations in her report today. In fact, we have actually already implemented all four of her recommendations. We are creating clarity between departments on contracting. We have updated contracting procedures and training. We have doubled funding on these new procedures. We have updated the government's security policy.

When it comes to protecting taxpayers' dollars and national security, we are getting the job done.

[Public Works and Government Services, October 25th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the accusation or claim that he makes about 31 buildings is entirely false. In fact, he just contradicted his own press release yesterday when he had a different number in his press release.

When the Liberals were in government they were in favour of this idea but when they became the opposition they were opposed to it. A month ago, before he was the critic for public works, he was against it. Now he says that he is in favour of it.

Those members do not know what side of the issue they are on or what their position is. When they were in government they were on one side and now in opposition they have been on a couple. That is why for a long time we have been standing up for Canadians and they can sit there for a long time.

[Public Works and Government Services, October 25th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the question, all of Canada's first nations with regard to the sale were consulted, the Musqueam in Vancouver and the Algonquin here in Ontario. Everybody was consulted.

However, I have my hon. colleague's position on this very issue. His press release has exactly nine paragraphs and, in those nine paragraphs, he manages to make a serious factual error in every one of them; a triple hat trick. Well done. Even the final paragraph, which has only five words in it, is factually wrong.

This real estate sale is in the best interests of taxpayers. As a matter of fact, when the Liberals were in government, in Public Works, we could count the number of good ideas they had on one thumb. This was one of them. He used to be in favour of it. Now we are actually implementing it and it is good for taxpayers.

[Violent Crime, October 25th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, in my time in Parliament, no issue has been raised more frequently by my constituents than the issue of crime.

Constituents in Anmore and Belcarra have raised the problem of marijuana grow-ops and the need for action.

In Port Moody, gun crimes have shaken our sense of public safety. A neighbour in my building was shot in the head this summer. A neighbour across the street was struck in the face with a stray bullet from a drug deal gone bad, and a women, escaping an abusive spouse, was shot in the back on a sidewalk.

In Coquitlam, property crime has caused doors to be double locked and tension between neighbours. In Port Coquitlam, a 32-year-old constituent of mine was walking her dog this weekend and was tackled and assaulted by a man with a knife.

Crime is a serious and growing problem in my community. The quality of life of our constituents is the most important responsibility we have as members of Parliament to safeguard.

Our Conservative government is taking the steps necessary to help remedy the problem. We are hiring more police officers, holding criminals accountable, tackling gun crimes with mandatory jail time, criminalizing street racing, fighting auto theft and property crime, and protecting our kids from sexual predators.

I say to my constituents that I have heard their calls for action to fight crime and our Conservative government is getting the job done.

[Petitions, October 24th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to present this petition.

When I was first elected almost seven years ago now, I raised the issue of the government toughening the laws with regard to date rape drugs. I have a petition that was put together by several constituents and folks in Abbotsford who were inspired by their own tragedy to spread the word and cause that all governments should do everything they can to protect women from the cowards who use date rape drugs to abuse women.

If I had to guess, I would say that this petition has somewhere between 750 and 1,000 names on it. It calls upon the government to increase penalties, have date rape drugs treated more seriously in our Criminal Code and to take a number of specific actions against those who use date rape drugs.

Our government has taken action on a number of these things but we can never do enough to protect society from those who would do us harm through a number of means, not the least of which is, frankly, the gutless cowards who use date rape drugs.

[Public Works and Government Services, October 24th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as usual, NDP math is a moving science, but the reality is that this is a great deal for taxpayers.

My colleague does not have to take my word for it. In the Globe and Mail, Stan Krawitz, who is a real estate expert in this country said, "I believe the process was fair and competitive, and their timing was excellent”.

This is good for Canadians. We will go ahead and do it. We will ignore the bad advice of the NDP as we always do, because the NDP's advice is always bad for Canada.

[Public Works and Government Services, October 24th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question since it allows me an opportunity to inform the House that next week the government will receive a cheque of $1.4 billion that will allow it to reinvest into priorities for Canadians.

But I am interested to hear what the member from Timmins—James Bay has to say because in June he said, “I would advise the government to sell the building and move workers to Timmins”.

He was opposed to it, then he was in favour of it when it might benefit his riding. Now he is against it again. We do not know what side he is on but we know he is going to be in this corner of the House of Commons for a long time.

[Public Works and Government Services, October 22nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague has raised the issue of keeping promises and accountability. The government is keeping its word to Canadian taxpayers and getting value for everything that we purchase.

We are cutting taxes for Canadians. We are paying down our debt. We are standing up for farmers. We are standing up for families.

When it comes to respecting taxpayer dollars, from the beginning to the end, this government understands the needs of taxpayers and the needs of families. We are getting the job done.

As the Prime Minister has said on this file, we are listening to the Auditor General, we are respecting tax dollars and we are following the appropriate line. If my hon. colleague does not understand that, I am not surprised.