House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 56% of the vote.
Questions on the Order Paper January 26th, 2015
With regard to Public Works and the temporary flagpole erected between West Block of Parliament and the central lawn: (a) what is the date on which the temporary flagpole was initially installed; (b) on what dates was it relocated; (c) who carried out each relocation; and (d) what have been the costs associated with each relocation?
Citizenship and Immigration December 9th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, today the United Nations asked countries to commit to taking 100,000 more refugees from Syria, not Iraq, and Canada's commitment was zero. Nothing at all beyond the pathetic 1,300 that we have already committed to.
My question is why has the government reneged on the long-standing commitment of Liberal and Progressive Conservative governments to provide refuge to the oppressed of the world?
Veterans November 28th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, we can clearly see how much this matters to the government. The veterans affairs minister has not answered a single question, not one, all week. Once they got caught trying to deliberately mislead veterans, the Conservatives deleted the website announcing the program and the minister's office went silent.
How can Canadians and veterans trust anything the government says when it clearly will say anything to try and stop the damage?
Veterans November 28th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, in its own press release, the government spoke of “providing an additional investment of approximately $200 million over the next six years”, when, in fact, the investment is over 50 years.
We know the government is ashamed of this paltry $200 million over 50 years attempt to mislead the veterans. Why else would the website announcing the program have disappeared from the Internet? How can the government explain these actions?
Veterans November 28th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, in response to the Auditor General's scathing report, the Conservatives tried to mislead veterans and their families. They said that the $200 million that they promised for veterans would be spent over a period of six years. However, we now know that the money will be spent over a period of 50 years. Fifty years. How can the government defend such subterfuge?
Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act November 27th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, this has been a remarkable show of co-operation, which is relatively rare in the House.
I understand that all parties are in total agreement that this is a good bill, and we wish to pass it. As a consequence, I do not think I have to wax too long on something on which we all agree.
However, I also like the amendment that manslaughter would be included except in cases where the person does not go to jail, which is relatively rare. I think that is a good liberal compromise, shall we say?
Sometimes when something so self-evident is presented, one wonders why we had not done it decades ago, because for decades in this country, we have been rewarding people who kill their wife or husband by giving them old age security. One wonders why some previous Liberal or Conservative government did not fix that many years ago. Even an NDP MP could have presented a private member's bill. It did not happen, but in any event, it is happening now and I think all of us are pleased with that.
I think that is really all that one has to say.
Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act November 27th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, as has been said, all parties support the bill, including the Liberal Party. We are certainly in favour of it.
Just to follow-up the last question regarding retroactivity, if someone is already in prison for having murdered his wife, his future benefits would be taken away, but is the member also saying that after having received those benefits for, let us say, 10 years, he will be obliged to repay that money? What if he does not have the money? How would that work?
The Budget November 21st, 2014
Mr. Speaker, Kevin Page, a former senior Department of Finance official, said that he “disagree[s] vehemently with the Minister of Finance statement that Finance does not examine every new expenditure.”
He went on to say, “They have to. It would be fiscally irresponsible not to.”
Can the government explain why it killed Canada's long-standing policy to examine every new government expenditure?
Citizenship and Immigration November 20th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, immigration officials have confirmed that within the government's existing plans there is space for more than 10,000 additional government-assisted refugees over the next three years.
At a minimum, and I know Jean Chrétien would want to do more, will the minister use his existing spaces to admit 10,000 new Syrian refugees over the next three years, while also creating new spaces for refugees from other countries?
Questions Passed as Orders for Returns November 17th, 2014
With regard to the government’s processing of immigration applications: what is the total average cost to government and time required to complete a single application for (i) federal skilled worker, (ii) federal skilled trades, (iii) Canadian Experience Class, (iv) Quebec-selected skilled workers, (v) Provincial Nominee Program, (vi) start-up visa, (vii) self-employed people, (viii) live-in caregivers, (ix) spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, or dependent children sponsorship, (x) parent and grandparents sponsorship, (xi) inland asylum claimant, (xii) government-sponsored refugee, (xiii) privately sponsored refugee, (xiv) temporary resident visa, (xv) parents and grandparents super visa?