Larry Miller

[Infrastructure, November 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, Transport Canada has jurisdiction over navigable waterways. The Saugeen River flows through the village of Neustadt, the birthplace of the Honourable John Diefenbaker. It has eroded the riverbank and is moving dangerously close to two sewage lagoons. The local municipality is left holding the bag.

The lagoons are not moving. The river is moving. Does the government want another Kashechewan? Walkerton is downstream. I am sure its residents do not want two lagoons floating past their front doors.

Why will the minister not take responsibility? Will he fix the erosion and will he do it now?

[Petitions, October 31st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition signed by 238 people in my riding who call upon Parliament to enact legislation to basically remove the GST on top of tax when it comes to gasoline.

[Petitions, October 31st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure today to present, on behalf of 51 residents in my riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, a petition that calls upon Parliament to change the Income Tax Act to allow spouses to pay taxes as if the total family income were earned equally.

[National Defence, September 30th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, on July 4 I wrote a letter to the Minister of National Defence informing him that a former employee of the Meaford tank range, in a sworn affidavit, reported that agent orange had been buried there in the late 1960s.

In his reply, just a mere two and a half months later, the minister stated that he had no record of agent orange being buried at Meaford. Of course there are no records. The employee who made the allegations made it very clear that the burial was to be hush-hush.

Will the minister conduct a complete and thorough investigation into these allegations and will he do it now, yes or no?

[Bruce--Grey--Owen Sound, September 29th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, this month across Ontario there are dozens of agricultural fairs and community festivals, and my riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound is no exception. I have attended many of these events, some of which have celebrated their 150th anniversary.

This weekend I will participate in the Meaford scarecrow invasion and family festival. This annual event is celebrating its ninth year, and from mid-September to mid-October attracts thousands of people eager to see the creations which pop up throughout the municipality thanks to hundreds of volunteers, businesses, schools and individuals. I would like to congratulate everyone for making these community events so successful.

I would also like to congratulate the city of Owen Sound for being selected the winner of the 2005 national edition of the communities in bloom. The city was competing with such places as Brandon, Brockville, Grand Prairie and Charlottetown, and was recognized for excelling in all criteria, including landscaping, environmental awareness and community involvement. Congratulations to Owen Sound.

[Gasoline Prices, September 26th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, it is good to be back in Ottawa working for my constituents in the riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound.

Last Wednesday I along with the people in my riding watched prices go from an average of about $1.049 up to as high as $1.72 in about 12 hours and in less than 24 hours later it was back down to a range of 98¢ to $1.02 per litre, where it sits today. The fluctuation was in the range of somewhere near 70¢ per litre.

Would my colleague from British Columbia not call that price gouging in the worst possible way? It is the same thing when we come up with some suggestions about tax cutting. On the one hand my colleague over there seems to indicate that he would like to see something happen to help Canadians but when it comes to any tax cuts the government over there says that it cannot do that and that it will not even consider it. Those were the exact words, I believe, because the oil companies are just going to eat that all up.

Does my colleague not think that indicates that there is something seriously wrong within the industry? We talked about price gouging and I am going to ask the question. Our colleague talked about the NDP. It was gouging us back here for $4.6 billion in the spring. What kind of review or framework policy changes does my colleague think need to happen within the gas and oil industry to actually help the consumer and businessmen across the country?

[Petitions, June 21st, 2005]

Madam Speaker, the final petition I have the great honour to present is on behalf of the health critic, the member for Charleswood St. James—Assiniboia. It calls on the government to secure federal funding targeted specifically to juvenile type 1 diabetes research and to provide $25 million a year for the next five years.

[Petitions, June 21st, 2005]

Madam Speaker, my fourth petition asks that Canadians b e provided with greater access to non-drug preventive and medicinal options. The petitioners support Bill C-420, an act to amend the Food and Drugs Act.

[Petitions, June 21st, 2005]

Madam Speaker, my third petition consists of 45 signatures. It deals with opposition to the Great Lakes water diversion. The petitioners ask that all the people of Canada condemn the annex 2001 agreement between the eight northern states and Ontario and Quebec to stop water diversions and protect the Great Lakes.

[Petitions, June 21st, 2005]

Madam Speaker, my second petition has 60 signatures. It is from a number of seniors in my riding calling on Parliament to change the Income Tax Act. They want it changed to allow spouses to pay taxes as if the total family income were earned equally.