House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 18% of the vote.
Helping Families In Need Act September 27th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I really appreciated my colleague's speech.
He started his speech talking about employment insurance. The Conservatives broke their promise. They said that they would finance this fund with money that did not come from the employment insurance fund, but that is what they will be doing.
In light of all the cuts being made by the Conservatives, what does my colleague think about their attitude?
Helping Families In Need Act September 27th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, fewer than 50% of unemployed persons receive benefits. We support this bill, but we believe that a number of provisions could be amended.
Are the Conservatives attempting to cover up what they are really trying to do when it comes to employment insurance, and that is cut benefits for the unemployed left, right and centre? I would like my Liberal colleague to speak to this issue.
Employment Insurance September 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the minister does not seem to understand, so we will explain what does not work.
The mayor of Saint-Siméon, in Charlevoix, wrote to the Prime Minister. He spoke about “a serious threat to the survival of our small rural communities”, communities that depend on seasonal industries. How did the minister respond to this mayor, who is afraid that 40% of his residents will move out of the region? With indifference.
Will the minister finally listen to reason and reconsider, or is she washing her hands of the matter to the detriment of our regions?
Business of Supply September 25th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, members may recall that both Conservative and Liberal governments have, in the past, taken money out of the employment insurance fund and spent it in ways that did not benefit workers even though that money belongs to workers. Members may also recall certain tax credits.
On paper, the motion looks fine, but can we really trust the Liberals to put words into action?
Business of Supply September 25th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, my colleague did a good job expressing the reality of some regions across Canada.
I just put the question to our Conservative colleagues, but they seemed to avoid the subject. I really have the impression that they are unaware of the reality of our rural regions or that they are writing off certain regions.
The seasonal industry is an industry that benefits the economy of the entire country, and there are places where it is all they have left.
I would like my colleague to make a few comments about that.
Business of Supply September 25th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the hon. Conservative member that there are regions in Quebec and in Canada, some of which are in my riding, where seasonal industry contributes to the economy and is often the last industry that is keeping the regions alive.
For example, in Charlevoix and the Haute-Côte-Nord, people will just have to choose between going away and going hungry. Whatever they choose, there will less money in the region. That is going to create a vicious circle and cause a dynamic economy to go into decline, forcing people to leave the region.
Do the Conservatives understand this reality?
Business of Supply September 25th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I must also thank the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party for expressing just how much Canadians want a different government in Canada. They want a New Democrat government.
There is a back-and-forth going on here: “it is the Conservatives' fault”, “it is the Liberals' fault”, “we did that because the Conservatives left a deficit”, or “no, it was the Liberals”. “My dad is stronger than your dad.”
Governments have long used various ways to take money that belonged to workers, and today is no different because of poor decisions made by the Conservative Party. Currently, in Charlevoix, on the upper north shore, and in many other regions of Canada and Quebec, people are relying on seasonal industry because it is the last industry left for them. They will unfortunately have to make a choice.
Allow me to paraphrase a mayor in Charlevoix who wrote a letter to the Prime Minister: their choice is going away or going hungry. In either case, less money will circulate in the regions. These will be dark years for those regions. Why has the government forgotten the regions?
CANADA-PANAMA ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY ACT June 19th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member from the Liberal Party talked about the problems that free trade with some countries might pose.
I would like to know if he agrees with us. The Conservatives are giving us the impression that they are putting the blinders on and closing their eyes as soon as we talk about free trade. That way, they cannot see the possibility of tax evasion and violations of human and workers' rights.
Does the hon. member agree with us that we have to make sure not to sign free trade agreements at any cost, and that we have to look at what is happening in foreign countries?
Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act June 11th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, if the sole purpose of the government is to spend money, what is our purpose? What purpose does the government serve? What is the point of adding more members of Parliament?
Employment Insurance May 31st, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives strutted around during the last election campaign shouting out "our region in power" from every rooftop. It was all for show, a sham. Not surprisingly, Quebeckers rejected them. By axing employment insurance, they are not creating any jobs. All they are doing is sabotaging the efforts of the people of Charlevoix, the upper north shore and other regions of Quebec that rely on seasonal industries.
Why do the Conservatives stick with their out-of-touch ideology rather than help people in the regions?