House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2015, with 82% of the vote.
Afghanistan December 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, yesterday when General Natynczyk honourably stepped forward to correct the record he said, “If this is the information I'm finding out this morning at 9:00 on the 9th of December, what else is there...?”
The general recognizes that something is not right. Why will the government not follow the general's lead and appoint a public inquiry rather than stonewalling and censoring everything in sight?
Afghanistan December 9th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, ask Mr. Colvin who is being political. Our public servants do not just deserve the respect of their political masters. They need it to do their jobs effectively. If they do not have that respect and trust, they cannot serve Canadians to the best of their abilities.
Why do the Conservatives not follow the honourable example of General Natynczyk and tell Canadians the truth?
Afghanistan December 9th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, every time a courageous official stands up and reveals a truth, the government goes on the attack. A growing list of former ambassadors are outraged at the smears the government has launched against respected public servant Richard Colvin. That list may hit 50 diplomats by day's end. Today, the Chief of the Defence Staff himself corroborated Mr. Colvin's testimony.
Enough is enough. When is this charade going to end? When will we get a shred of truth from that dishonourable government?
Afghanistan December 8th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, either the Conservatives believe the eyewitness accounts of our soldiers on the ground or they do not. It is as simple as that.
In 2007-08 two senior Canadian officers further corroborated the accounts of the soldier and the medic under oath in court. Detailed notes show the name of the Canadian platoon that captured the Afghan before he was handed over and beaten. There are even photos.
The Conservatives not only refuse to release this information but they deny it exists. Why will they not come clean? Why will they not believe our soldiers?
Afghanistan December 8th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, in June 2006 a Canadian soldier found an Afghan detainee with blood running down his face. He recorded in his field diary that he “assumed positive control of the individual and removed him”.
Photographs and medical examinations, which the government refuses to release publicly, corroborate the eye witness account. Other notes show clearly the abuse. The detainee was “a person in custody detained by Canadian troops”.
Why are the Conservatives attempting to discredit these two front line Canadian soldiers? Why are they calling them liars?
Graduation Congratulations December 7th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour a young man from my riding of Random—Burin—St. George's, who did post-secondary education in the United States and finished at the top of his class.
Brandon Organ is from the small fishing community of Isle aux Morts, which has a population of 813. He completed a bachelor of science and a doctorate of chiropractic at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.
Brandon finished at the top of his class of 143, with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. He was chosen as class valedictorian after an impressive stay at the college that saw him on the dean's list every year. As well, Brandon has served as president of the Honour's Society.
Brandon is testament to the fact that even the smallest of school systems can produce impressive scholars. He has made his family, friends and home town proud. Brandon intends to return to Newfoundland to work as a chiropractor.
I ask all members to join me in applauding this young man and wishing him all the best in the future.
Afghanistan December 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, it would appear that the minister thinks this is justified because it is happening everywhere else in the world.
On June 2, 2006, the Red Cross warned Canadian officials that there was a lack of judicial safeguards and that “all kinds of things are going on” in prisons where detainees had been transferred by Canadians.
Soon afterwards Red Cross officials met with senior Canadian officials on the issue of torture, both in Ottawa and Geneva.
Why will the Conservatives not tell Canadians who was at those meetings and what they discussed with the Red Cross?
Afghanistan December 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, in late May 2006, the Canadian deputy commander of the reconstruction team in Kandahar met with the Red Cross.
At this meeting not only was the deputy commander told that his officials did not answer phone calls from the Red Cross, but also that Afghans were not reported captured for up to 60 days, and the Red Cross added that “a lot can happen in two months”, including beatings, whippings with cables, electrocution.
We now know full well what could have gone on in those two months. Why did the government ignore these clear warnings from senior officials in the field?
Afghanistan December 2nd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, detainees are being beaten with cables, electrocuted and having their fingernails and toenails pulled out. These are all reports from the government's own officials, not just Richard Colvin.
Is the minister in such denial that he cannot even hear what his own officials are telling him? Or did the Conservatives simply request that our former ambassador pre-censor the documents so that they did not have to worry about them?
Aboriginal Affairs November 26th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, in March 2008, the Federation of Newfoundland Indians and this government signed an agreement to establish a non-reserve Mi’kmaq band in the province.
The deadline to register is November 30. Twenty thousand Mi’kmaqs submitted their applications and, to date, less than half of these applications have been processed. Eleven thousand Mi’kmaq are still waiting. With the deadline just three days away, it is obvious that all of the applications will not get done.
Will the Minister of Indian Affairs agree, in fairness, to have the deadline extended?