House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 80% of the vote.
Petitions September 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today.
The petitioners note that section 223 of the Criminal Code is from 400-year-old British common law and stipulates that a child only becomes a human being once he or she proceeds from the womb. The petitioners say that advances in medical science say otherwise. One petition calls for the House to support Motion No. 312 and the other calls for the change in section 223 to reflect the reality of the new science.
Petitions September 24th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today. In both petitions, the petitioners note that section 223 of the Criminal Code, from 400-year-old British law, stipulates that a child only becomes a human being once he or she proceeds from the womb.
In one of the petitions, the petitioners call on Parliament to support Motion No. 312 and to have debate on that issue.
In the other petition, the petitioners call on Parliament to change that section so there is no discrimination against any person by not considering them to be a human being.
The Environment September 20th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has been hiding from answering the following straightforward question: Would the NDP impose a carbon tax? The answer he is so afraid to say out loud is that, yes, it would impose a carbon tax. The proof is simple as it says it right in the party platform. It reads in black and white that the NDP would generate $21 billion from this carbon tax.
I ask the leader of the NDP to finally come clean and admit it. The NDP want a carbon tax, a tax that would raise the price on everything, including gas, electricity and groceries.
It is clear to me that Canadians do not want any part of the NDP's carbon tax scheme, and who can blame them?
Our government will continue with its low tax plan for jobs and growth.
Petitions September 20th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, in the third petition, the petitioners call on Parliament to enact legislation that would limit abortion to the greatest extent possible.
Petitions September 20th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to table.
In two petitions the petitioners note that section 223 of the Criminal Code is 400 years old, is from British common law, and that it is time to have a discussion to change that. In one petition the petitioners call for a debate on the issue; in the other, they call for Parliament to change the definition.
Petitions September 19th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions.
In two of them, constituents note that section 223 of the Criminal Code comes from 400-year-old British common law and the child only becomes a human being once he or she proceeds from the womb. The petitioners call on Parliament to have a discussion on that.
In the other one, the petitioners call on Parliament to amend section 223 of the Criminal Code to reflect current science.
Mr. Speaker, in the other petition, the petitioners call on the House to speedily enact legislation that restricts abortion to the greatest extent possible.
Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal September 19th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, over the next two weekends, I will have the great privilege of hosting ceremonies to honour 30 constituents of Vegreville—Wainwright by awarding them with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. This commemorative medal is a way for Canadians to honour Her Majesty as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne as Queen of Canada and to recognize a select group of hard-working Canadians who have made and continue to make extraordinary contributions to our communities.
It is a difficult job indeed to narrow 140 extremely worthy nominations down to just 30 recipients. These are all people who have volunteered a lifetime of dedication and hard work to improving their communities and the lives of their families, neighbours, friends and often complete strangers. These outstanding citizens are truly the foundation upon which our remarkable country Canada has been built community by community.
I am thankful to them for a job well done.
Canada-Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act June 19th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his excellent presentation.
I want my colleague to try to square this for me. The NDP is a party that claims to be for workers, yet it does so much that kills jobs, quite frankly. As an example, it is against the expansion of the oil sands. It is against almost every major natural resources project developed in this country. It is against the pipeline to the west coast, which would add $30 a barrel, probably, to the price of oil. It is also against free trade, yet these things all create a lot of jobs. In fact, the free trade agreements, I think, together created about 30% of all the jobs in Canada. However, it wants to kill those jobs.
I would like the member to comment upon the importance of free trade agreements and jobs.
Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act June 12th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague for having content in his speech, because we have heard the opposition members talk a lot about how thick and big this bill is, and I ask my colleague to comment on this. Why is it that if there is not enough time for debate, the opposition members are taking a huge percentage of their total time talking about how big this bill is instead of talking about content?
Also, I believe it was the member for Burnaby—New Westminster who spoke for enough time to allow 50 of his party's members to speak to the bill. Then the members complain that there is not enough debate time, in spite of the fact that we have had the most debate time ever on a budget implementation bill. I would like my colleague to comment on that.
Points of Order June 4th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order to correct the record from a question that I asked a few minutes ago in question period.
I meant to state that today 10 ministers reinforced for Canadians the economic benefits that would come from developing our immense natural resources in a responsible fashion. Instead I said that today 10 provincial ministers reinforced for Canadians, which was incorrect.