House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 30% of the vote.
Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act June 6th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the member is talking about referencing provincial laws right across the country. My question is very straightforward. What that means is effectively placing on the province a lot of the responsibility for the monitoring, enforcement and so on. It is a form of downloading. I wonder if the member would like to comment on how much this would cost the provinces.
The Senate June 4th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, while the unaccountable Senate has been embroiled in ugly scandals, Conservatives and Liberals continue to defend the entitlements of their unelected caucus mates. The Prime Minister once called the Senate a “relic of the 19th century”. Indeed, it hearkens back to a time when lords watched over us commoners, when women could not vote, when penicillin was not around. While the rest of our society has evolved, the Senate has not.
For 150 years, Liberals and Conservatives failed to get Senate spending under control, and failed to bring in accountability. The time has come to turn off the taps to this vestigial organ. Tomorrow, this House will have an opportunity to do just that. Therefore, we urge the Conservatives and Liberals to stop defending perks for their partisan senators, and join New Democrats in the 21st century. The time has come to roll up the red carpet on the unelected upper chamber, to end the gravy train and to abolish the Senate.
Business of Supply May 9th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I listened intently when the member was talking about illegal guns in Toronto. I read a statistic the other day that 70% of those guns come through the United States. Of course, border security money goes missing and is spent on other things. I wonder if she would like to comment on the $45 million, give or take a couple of dollars, that the President of the Treasury Board used from border infrastructure money in his riding, when it could have been used to patrol the border and stop some of those illegal guns.
Business of Supply May 9th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I am getting to my question.
My accounting comes to a little bit over $45 million. I wonder if the member would say whether or not he is concerned that $45 million of public safety money was spent—
Business of Supply May 9th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to my colleague's comments, and I have to say before I begin my question that I know this member from the public safety committee. I know him to be diligent and I know he is very concerned about how money is spent, so I know he would be concerned about the accounting behind this particular issue.
My office spent a number of days and weeks trying to find out exactly how public safety money was spent. In this particular case, it was money from the border infrastructure fund that the President of the Treasury Board used on some projects in his riding during the G8 summit. By the way, none was spent in my riding, and no one showed up at my door either.
My final accounting, and there might even be more, is all listed, and with the unanimous consent of the House I would be happy to table my findings today.
Veterans Affairs May 7th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, it seems the new Conservative hobby is trolling the Internet, hunting down quotes the PMO boys can twist around and use to play partisan politics with Canada's veterans. Conservatives launched make-believe attacks on the opposition to distract from their mismanagement of Veterans Affairs. Conservatives dragged disabled veterans through the courts over pension clawbacks. They made the appeals process for benefits a nightmare. They shortchanged the last post fund to the point of embarrassment; and then there are the Conservative privacy violations: Sean Bruyea, Sylvain Chartrand and so many others had their most private information callously breached.
Canadian veterans deserve better than a minister focused on using them to score cheap political points. Fortunately, veterans can always trust the NDP to stand up for them and their families. We will stand up for their privacy; we will stand up for their rights; and we will stand up for their dignity. New Democrats will always give veterans and their families the respect and support they so richly deserve.
Combating Terrorism Act April 23rd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to my colleague's remarks. I found a parallel to what he was talking about with the Senate and the current government in a majority situation. The point on Bill S-7 is that the government can act just like senators. The Conservatives do not care when they have a majority situation at committee. When we put forward 18 amendments to the bill, they were all voted down and ignored. In fact, expert testimony was ignored.
I have a quote I would like the member from Winnipeg to talk about. Mr. Paul Calarco, who is a member of the National Criminal Justice Section of the Canadian Bar Association, says:
There is no question that the prevention of terrorist action is vital to preserving our society. This requires effective legislation, but also legislation that respects the traditions of our democracy. Unfortunately, this bill fails to achieve either goal.
Would my friend like to comment on that, perhaps even referencing the Senate again?
Taxation April 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of State for Finance likes outdoor taxes. He is a fly fisherman. He knows that if there are fewer people on the rivers, he might actually catch a fish or two. He also knows that exploring Canada's outdoor beauty from a tent is a national tradition to be proud of, yet once again, in budget 2013, these Conservatives are secretly raising taxes on air mattresses, backpacks and even matches. What is next? Will it be a tax on outhouses, another crappy Conservative tax?
Why are Conservatives making it harder for Canadians to enjoy the outdoors?
Taxation April 18th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, Canada's fishermen do not deserve another tax. It is wrong.
Budget 2013 will make life more expensive for fishermen and outfitters in Thunder Bay, Rainy River and right across Canada. The Conservatives are quietly increasing tariffs on $50 million worth of fishing gear, including rods, reels and fishing line. “Look, Dad. Look what I caught. It's a Conservative bass tax.”
Why did no one on the government side raise the concerns of fishermen and outfitters about raising taxes on the equipment they count on? Why are the Conservatives casting out fishermen hook, line and sinker?
Business of Supply April 15th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I know that the hon. member was listening very closely to the previous speaker and the last question that came from the other side. There is a logic there that I would like the member to comment on.
He said that these tariffs are really punishment for those countries that are not negotiating very well with free trade, and an attempt to give them a little push to move forward. As a result of that, Canadians are paying higher prices for all sorts of things.
I wonder if the member would like to make a comment about the idea of using rising tariffs to force countries into trade agreements, with the end result that things cost more for Canadians.