Joe Comartin

[Anti-terrorism Act, April 26th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, following 9/11, Parliament implemented the Anti-terrorism Act but subjected the law's most controversial sections to a five year sunset clause. Since 2007, the government has tried three times to reinstate the most draconian aspects of that law and now it has announced a fourth attempt.

Among many other opponents, this time it also faces opposition from the former director of CSIS, Reid Morden, who said that it was needless and that it crosses the line between state security and individual rights.

Why will the government not drop this useless and dangerous bill?

[Ethics, April 15th, 2010]

It is that government, Mr. Speaker, that threw the former minister out of the cabinet and threw her out of its caucus. That was their responsibility and their responsibility is to tell us why.

Not since the former Liberal Prime Minister had his fleet of ships under the flag of a foreign land has a member of this House been implicated in a scheme to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. That is an insult to all taxpayers in this country and all citizens of this country.

Why can the Prime Minister not stand in his place and tell us this is an unethical practice, one that he will condemn under any circumstances?

[Ethics, April 15th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the government's culture of secrecy is well established. The new independent member learned her lesson so well in cabinet that she apparently decided to hide her money in Belize.

If these allegations are true, if the former Conservative minister did evade taxes, that is a very serious crime. That tarnishes not only the government, but all members in the House.

My question is simple: can the Prime Minister tell the House if he is aware of his former minister's tax evasion activities?

[Poland, April 12th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tragic event on Saturday, which saw the president of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, and 95 other passengers die in a plane crash near Smolensk, Russia. The group had been on its way to a memorial service in remembrance of the massacre of Polish military officers by Soviet secret police 70 years ago in the Katyn forest.

Over the last century, the Polish people have suffered from a long list of tragedies, including the Nazi invasion in 1939, the deportation and murder of Jews from the Warsaw ghetto, the Katyn massacre, and the loss of independence under the Soviet Union. Adding to that list was Saturday's dreadful plane crash, which not only claimed the life of the president, but also the lives of many family members of the victims of the Katyn massacre as well as a cross-section of Poland's political, military, business and religious leadership.

It is my hope and belief that with this most recent tragedy, the strength and character of the Polish people will sustain them through the difficult days and weeks ahead as it has so many times in the past.

On behalf of my constituents, my party and all Canadians, I offer my deepest condolences to the people of Poland and the worldwide Polonia.

[Points of Order, April 1st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, this is the first we have heard that the government's objection would be raised this morning. We are in no position to respond at this time.

I would ask that you hold any decision until we can respond, which will probably be after the break.

[Privilege, March 31st, 2010]

Just briefly, Mr. Speaker, I know my colleague from Saint-Jean wants to address this, but like the other members from the Bloc and the Liberal Party, would like to do it at a later time.

[Petitions, March 31st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from about 250 of my constituents and other members from the city of Windsor in the county of Essex.

The petitioners call upon the government to recognize that there is a crisis in pensions in Canada and they are asking the government to institute policies that would double the Canada pension plan, increase by at least 15% the old age pension, and provide for a pension insurance scheme for the private pensions that are in difficulty in Canada.

[Code of Conduct, March 19th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the new security measures in airports, and the new Conservative tax that accompanies them, do not upset only ordinary passengers. We have all heard about the Minister of State for the Status of Women's boots in Charlottetown. Now there is the story about the bottle of tequila belonging to the Minister of Veterans Affairs at the Ottawa airport. We are in Ottawa, not Mexico. The rule is clear: 100 millimetres is the maximum.

Will the Prime Minister force his ministers to follow a code of conduct so that they act with dignity at Canadian airports?

[Code of Conduct, March 19th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, time and time again the Conservatives say one thing and do another.

They call for extreme sentencing for drug charges but then suddenly fall silent when it is one of their own. They tightened airport security but do not think it should apply to them. Beyond the boot throwing or the attempt at booze smuggling, cabinet ministers have verbally abused the airport security personnel who work hard at their difficult jobs.

When will the Prime Minister finally impose a code of conduct that is enforceable against his cabinet ministers?

[Sébastien's Law (Protecting the Public from Violent Young Offenders), March 19th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, a simple answer to that question is simply look in the mirror. Every morning he should look in the mirror and think of all the news stories his party has put out.

We can do a survey today and Canadians will say that the crime rate is anywhere from 100% to 1,000% greater than it is. That political party has created this scene for our country.