House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2008, with 34% of the vote.
Royal Roads Military College December 12th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, this is a question for the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
In my riding personnel at Royal Roads military college have received their termination notices. At St. Jean, Quebec, the government offered a deal to postpone closure of CMR, are committed to making it a post-secondary institution.
Why is the government giving preferential treatment to CMR? Will the government give the same deal to postpone closure of Royal Roads as it has just given CMR?
Petitions December 7th, 1994
The last two petitions I will put together. They are from constituents of Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca.
The petitioners request that Parliament not amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.
I concur with these two petitions.
Petitions December 7th, 1994
The next petition relates to enacting legislation providing for a referendum of the people binding upon Parliament to accept or reject two official languages, English and French, for the government and people of Canada. The acceptance or rejection of the proposed amendments would be determined by number one, a majority vote of the total votes cast in the whole of Canada together with two, a majority vote in a majority of provinces with the territories being given the status of one province. I concur with this petition.
Petitions December 7th, 1994
The second petition is from people in my riding of Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. They request that Parliament ensure that the present provisions in the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously, and that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia, which I would like to say I do not concur with.
Petitions December 7th, 1994
Madam Speaker, I would like to put forth the following petitions. The first petition is from people in my riding of Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca requesting that Parliament refuse to accept the justice minister's anti-firearms proposals. They insist that he bring forth legislation to convict and punish criminals rather than persecute the innocent. I concur with that.
Health Care December 2nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, we used to have the best health care system but tragically we do not any more. I hope no one in the House has to find that out.
Private clinics exist in Alberta, Ontario and the rest of the country. Why is the government threatening only Alberta for this by cutting transfer payments and not Ontario?
Health Care December 2nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Acting Minister of Health.
The Reform Party is committed to ensuring that every Canadian citizen receive essential health care services in a timely fashion regardless of income. The presence of private medical clinics would allow this by decreasing waiting lists and decreasing pressure on the public system.
Why is the government exercising the archaic Canada Health Act and threatening to penalize Alberta for trying to provide better health care for all of its citizens?
Gun Control December 2nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice has indicated his desire to enact stringent gun control measures that will primarily affect law-abiding citizens and will do little to address the criminal use of guns.
I fully support several measures which call for increased penalties for the trafficking of illegal weapons and certainty of sentencing for weapons offences. However, I caution the Minister of Justice to bear in mind that of all homicides committed between 1961 and 1990, less than 1 per cent were committed with legally owned handguns. As a result the registration of all firearms will be of little value in attempting to reduce crime and it will be the law-abiding citizens who will bear the brunt of this legislation.
The reality is we have a serious crime problem, not a serious gun problem. The principle of the protection of life and property of every Canadian citizen must be the number one priority when considering all legislation pertaining to our criminal justice system. I trust the Minister of Justice will bear this in mind.
Royal Roads Military College December 1st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
Royal Roads Military College is a superb educational facility with a long history on Vancouver Island. Sadly it is falling apart. Much of the faculty and staff have already received their termination notices and the civilian employees are going to close it down in order to get an expeditious move on the decision.
I would like the minister to please tell us exactly what the stumbling blocks are to an agreement and what steps the minister is prepared to organize to make sure there is a speedy resolution to this ongoing problem.
Transportation December 1st, 1994
Mr. Speaker, southern Vancouver Island is the fastest growing region in Canada. Currently we face a major transportation problem with the only arterial highway in and out of Victoria choked most of the time.
However, there is a solution available in the existing Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway. We must put in place measures to ensure its viability as an effective and efficient mover of goods, services and people. It is currently owned by Canadian Pacific and operated in a grossly inefficient fashion by VIA Rail.
I encourage the Minister of Transport to convene a meeting of members of the federal government, the provincial government and Canadian Pacific to address this pressing issue. This is not an issue of politics but of public necessity. To allow this railway to be abandoned will be a gross travesty to the taxpayers as ultimately money will need to be spent to provide an alternative form of transportation to southern Vancouver Island.