House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
Veterans Affairs April 21st, 2010
Mr. Speaker, our veterans can go to Ste. Anne's Hospital near Montreal to receive the care they need.
However, not all veterans are eligible. Certain criteria must be met. In general, people prefer to go to hospitals near their homes.
We are doing everything we can to help our veterans, but we have to follow the rules.
Employment Insurance April 21st, 2010
Mr. Speaker, as members of Parliament, we are obviously aware of the challenges facing our constituents. The payment of employment insurance premiums is shared by employers and employees, and we try to offer as many benefits as possible to help people. As a general rule, someone who is ill is eligible for employment insurance for a period of 15 weeks. In general, the average is about nine weeks. However, we understand the situation and are still very much aware of it.
Employment Insurance April 21st, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I am surprised by this question.
Not only did we implement our economic action plan, which helped workers across the country, but we also implemented eight different measures to support workers who were losing their jobs, including work sharing, measures for self-employed workers, and five additional weeks of employment insurance benefits.
We introduced all of these measures, and every single time the Bloc voted against them.
Veterans Affairs April 19th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, we have various programs to help veterans who become homeless.
We work with organizations that identify those with this need. When these people are identified, we help them.
Veterans affairs April 19th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, there are two parts to the question. First of all, when injured veterans return home, they receive a lump sum payment, the amount of which depends on the injury. Then, if they join a rehabilitation program, they receive 75% of their salary until they find a suitable civilian job.
It would take time to go into detail about food banks, so I will simply say that we are following the situation closely. When people are not receiving the services they need, we help them find our programs that will benefit them.
Veterans affairs April 19th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, we owe a lot to our veterans who risked their lives. Programs have been implemented since the new veterans charter was passed. This charter received a broad consensus across the country and among the military and veterans.
I would like to remind the NDP leader that we are now focusing on reintegrating people into civilian life and our programs take that particular factor into consideration.
Questions on the Order Paper April 15th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, in the 2006-2007 fiscal year, 101,267 clients received VIP benefits of $286.7 million. Of this amount $156.5 million was for housekeeping and $42.1 million for grounds maintenance. In fiscal year 2007-2008 there were 103,119 clients who received a total of $303.2 million with $170.3 million for housekeeping and $46.2 million for grounds maintenance. In fiscal year 2008-2009, 106,076 clients received a total of $320 million of which $179.7 was for housekeeping and $48.9 million for grounds maintenance.
In fiscal year 2009-2010, as of February 28, there were 105,816 VIP clients with expenditures of $307.4 million of which $175.4 million was for housekeeping and $44.9 million was for grounds maintenance.
Agriculture April 13th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, in the Speech from the Throne, the government made its position on supply management very clear. We support farmers and we intend to defend supply management both in the discussions with the European Union and in the negotiation of free trade agreements.
Employment Insurance April 12th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, as everyone knows, a few days ago the Bloc members absolutely insisted that we renew the transitional measures. I replied to the Bloc Québécois that some government ministers are also from Quebec and we were analyzing this matter very carefully.
I am pleased to inform the House that we confirmed Friday that the transitional employment insurance measures, which will be good for the regions, will be available in Madawaska—Charlotte, as well as the Lower St. Lawrence and North Shore regions of Quebec.
Employment Insurance April 1st, 2010
Mr. Speaker, when we froze premiums for two years at $1.73 per $100 of earnings, the Bloc again stood up and voted against that measure at a time when the unemployed needed it the most: during the global economic crisis.
I want to remind the hon. member that if we had accepted the Bloc's proposal, a person receiving the full amount of employment insurance would have received $914. Our additional five weeks gave $2,285 to the unemployed, or $1,371 more than what the Bloc proposed.