House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 50% of the vote.
Questions Passed as Orders for Returns January 27th, 2020
With regard to the impact of the Muskrat Falls project on electricity rates in Newfoundland and Labrador: (a) what estimates or projections does the government have regarding electricity rates in Newfoundland and Labrador in (i) 2019, (ii) 2020, (iii) 2021, (iv) 2022; and (b) what specific measures will the government take to reduce electricity rates?
Questions on the Order Paper January 27th, 2020
With regard to government support for the workers in New Brunswick impacted by the closing of the Glencore Smelter in Belledune: what specific measures, if any, is the government taking to support the affected workers?
Questions on the Order Paper January 27th, 2020
With regard to the government’s response to the concern of small communities that they will be unable to meet the government’s wastewater regulations by 2020: (a) will the government fine small communities who are unable to meet the regulations; (b) will the government provide urgent funding to the communities in order to meet these new regulations; and (c) what remedies will be available to small communities that do not have the means to upgrade their facilities in order to meet the regulations?
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply December 12th, 2019
Mr. Speaker, I will just repeat that the solution is not to go after Canadians who are following the rules when they buy and use firearms. What we need to do is go after the people who use firearms illegally and do not obey current laws.
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply December 12th, 2019
Mr. Speaker, again, I will speak for myself here. I will have to look at the tax cuts. Too often with the Liberals, they will propose one thing and then deliver something else.
I have been talking about raising the basic personal exemption since I was head of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, when the Liberals were fighting that idea and refusing to lower taxes on working Canadians. Our side will give any legislation from the government a fair reading. If, in fact, taxes are to be cut, we will likely applaud that. We are going to read the fine print first. One has to read the fine print on any promise when it comes from the Liberals on spending and taxes.
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply December 12th, 2019
Mr. Speaker, I am here today to speak for myself. I can tell members the concerns from my constituents. The technology the hon. member is proposing is unproven. It will drive up the price to produce farmed fish. It will drive up the price that families pay to put food on their table. It will kill Canadian jobs.
If we do not produce farmed fish in the east coast aquaculture, our international competitors will. Investment dollars will go elsewhere, whether it is to Scotland, to Chile or to other parts around this world. This is a growing industry and it is a way to feed the world with safe and affordable farmed seafood.
That is the perspective from Atlantic Canada. We have this technology. It creates many good-paying jobs, not only on the water but also white-collar jobs in the office in rural Canada.
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply December 12th, 2019
Mr. Speaker, today is the first time outside of question period that I rise to speak in this session. I would like to congratulate you on your elevation to the Speaker's chair as our deputy. The mantel carries a heavy burden to be fair-minded and I am sure you will again guide our House to the best of your ability. For that, we all congratulate you.
I have had the privilege of serving in this great House in a previous Parliament. Given that I represent a constituency in Atlantic Canada as a Conservative, members know that there is a gap in my political employment history. It is a rare honour to be elected to Parliament. It is an honour to serve and be sent here by constituents to represent them. For this, I thank the voters of New Brunswick Southwest for sending me back. The one promise I made during the election was to work hard every day to represent the voice of my constituents. It is a task I intend to take seriously and one I will work on every single day.
|I must also thank my amazing wife Kelly Williamson. Many of us know all too well that our spouses make the biggest sacrifice for us to be here. Kelly has been with me through good times and bad. She continues to be my closest confidante and my best friend. My thanks to Kelly. “Je t'aime.”
I would also be negligent today if I did not include in my address my mentor, the hon. Greg Thompson. Greg was elected to Parliament six times. He served with distinction as minister of veterans affairs under the previous Conservative government. Greg passed away on the day before the election was called. It was a difficult moment for many of us at the start of that election campaign.
For those of us who have had the privilege of sitting on either side of the House with him, and for those who might know Greg only through Hansard, I can say this. Everything that was said about Greg is true. Greg did not do anything in half measures. Greg was never afraid to stand up, never afraid to speak out for his constituents. He truly represented the very best of us. My commitment is to follow Greg Thompson's high standard. Perhaps I will not always hit it, but I know at least I will always be on the right path.
In considering today's news, I wish to also acknowledge our Conservative leader. He is a friend, he is a good man and, importantly, he understands Canada.
In the last Parliament, when the federal government failed to appoint a minister for our region's economic development portfolio, when we nearly lost our seat on the Supreme Court, and when 32 Liberal MPs sat quietly, it was the federal Conservative leader and it was all Conservatives who defended those important priorities for Atlantic Canada. As well, it was Conservatives from outside the region who fought for the energy east pipeline more so than New Brunswick Liberal MPs did in the last Parliament.
Failing to stand up for home is why the Liberals lost 40% of their seats in New Brunswick and they nearly lost the majority of them. We will win them next time.
I turn now to the matter at hand, the Speech from the Throne.
In several places, the Speech from the Throne talks about a mandate, yet this is very much a hung Parliament. Canadians gave no party a mandate, except a mandate to try to work together. The Liberals won the most seats, but won fewer votes than the Conservatives. The debate will continue and a wise government will look to work collaboratively with other parties. Let me begin in a spirit of harmony or agreement.
I support the idea of cutting income taxes for Canadians. It is important to make home ownership more affordable for Canadians. It is important that governments' help families get ahead. The idea of providing clean water to indigenous communities is also important. We need to do more to tackle opioid abuse and as well, do more to help people battling mental health issues.
The government also needs to reduce red tape. We also need to work together on the NAFTA file, the free trade file, although on this one the government is getting off on the wrong foot already.
Those are the areas of the throne speech where I think we can find common cause.
Notably, the throne speech was silent on aquaculture and the traditional fisheries. This was a good thing, given the reckless promises made by the Prime Minister during the heat of the recent election.
Unfortunately, there is also a whole host of areas where we are on the wrong path. The ACOA minister continues to be a member from outside of our region. When it comes to scientific research dollars, innovation and R and D funding, the lion's share of that money ends up in areas outside of Atlantic Canada, which has a harmful economic impact on Atlantic Canada and areas outside of central Canada.
On rural Internet, the government is simply moving too slowly and is too focused on the big telecoms for solutions.
The government continues to target law-abiding, responsible firearm owners, not illegal guns and gangs.
Additionally, it has been equally silent on the forestry industry and its inability to get an agreement with the United States. This is important for Canada as well as New Brunswick.
On deficits and rising taxes, all too often the Liberals' focus is elsewhere, and they have not made deficit elimination a priority, which they have promised to do time and time again.
I will discuss the two most pressing areas where we are going to have a challenge.
The first is the carbon tax. Workers at Flakeboard in my riding lost their jobs because of policies brought in by the government which raised energy prices. Marwood, another company, is a builder of wood products, with sales at home in Canada and in New England. It, too, is deeply concerned about the impact of ever-rising energy prices.
As well, the economy is sluggish. We have heard that 71,000 jobs were lots in November, and we are falling behind our international competitors. Last year, real gross domestic product expanded by 1.4% and population grew by 1.5%, which means on a per capita basis, things are shrinking. They getting worse for Canadians and the economy. As a result, wages for working Canadians are not keeping up with the prices on just about everything. I will have more to say on this in the coming weeks and months in my role as the opposition labour critic.
Over these four years, we have seen one constant thing from the government. It has no discipline, and this has led to a decline for the entire country. This is true on the economy, it is true with our international standing, it is true with our institutions and now it is true on national unity. The Liberals are not a serious government. Canadians gave the government a humbling return in this Parliament. Unfortunately, I do not think it is enough to change its direction, so Conservatives will continue to offer a better course for Canada and a way forward.
Privacy December 6th, 2019
Mr. Speaker, U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues to open and review Canada Post mail going to Campobello Island. Campobello is Canadian territory but is only accessible year-round by driving an hour through the state of Maine. The ongoing mail search by U.S. officials is an invasion of our privacy rights. It also challenges Canada's sovereignty. It is unacceptable.
What is the federal government doing to safeguard the privacy rights of Canadians living on Campobello?
Taxation June 2nd, 2015
Mr. Speaker, Winston Churchill once said that:
...for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
His words aptly explain why nations cannot raise taxes to punitive levels and be successful.
States or provinces with excessive tax levels have less dynamic economies, fewer dollars for social programs, and witness the departure of entrepreneurs, workers, and young families to other jurisdictions with lower taxes and more robust economies.
Yet, these real-world lessons are lost in New Brunswick.
Under the Liberal government, my home province has imposed the highest personal income tax rate in North America. Today, the combined rate on top income earners, like doctors and surgeons, is 54.75%.
The federal Liberals would make the situation even worse. If elected, they would hike the top tax rate on personal income to an eye-popping and heart-stopping 58.75%.
Unlike the Liberals, we understand that high taxes hurt growth, kill jobs, and cause economies to slow or even regress.
Our Conservative government will keep taxes low to keep Canada working.
Firearms Regulations May 26th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I do not believe the member is misleading the House, but his data is incorrect. The United States has not ratified this agreement. It has revoked that ratification, that signature.