House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 80% of the vote.
Petitions October 10th, 2003
Madam Speaker, I am proud to present a petition today on behalf of several Canadians which calls for the reinstatement of the Canadian Airborne Regiment. The petitioners feel that the Canadian Airborne Regiment was wrongly disbanded by the government for the actions of a few when the regiment had in fact behaved in an exemplary fashion. For that reason, the petitioners want the reinstatement of the Canadian Airborne Regiment.
Member for LaSalle--Émard October 10th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, that excuse does not cut it. The former finance minister signed that declaration list, and he is responsible for his signature on that list.
Lansdowne Technologies is a subsidiary company connected to the next Liberal leader. The company is based right here in Ottawa. The purpose of the company is to gain procurement of government contracts. Its clients include Transport Canada, National Defence, Foreign Affairs, Health Canada and Public Works.
Why was it removed from the disclosure list of the new Liberal leader?
Member for LaSalle--Émard October 10th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, Lansdowne Technologies is based right here in Ottawa and received $12 million in Public Works contracts. Yet the next Liberal leader claims he did not know anything about this company, even though it is sitting right here under his nose.
He wants Canadians to trust him, but how is that a company sitting right here in Ottawa, doing millions of dollars of government business, was removed from his declaration of assets?
Agriculture October 9th, 2003
Madam Speaker, Canada's cattle industry has been brought to its knees by the politics of BSE. The elk, deer, sheep and hog industries have been hit hard too, and now the feed grain industry is being dragged down.
Simply put, the government must increase its efforts to open the borders. In the meantime, it must compensate farmers at least enough to keep the industry afloat until the borders are opened.
The Canadian Alliance has focused on this problem since the single case of BSE was discovered. Our leader, along with our agriculture and trade teams, have met with American officials in Washington, D.C. Individual MPs have put a great deal of pressure on American congressmen and senators. We have felt some progress as a result.
We have done what we can. Our farm groups have done what they can. It is crunch time now. Farmers need to hear from the government that the borders will open soon, and that compensation to keep the industry afloat will be forthcoming. It is time for the Liberal silence on this issue to end, now.
Criminal Code September 25th, 2003
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-452, an act to amend the Criminal Code (proceedings under section 258).
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my private member's bill which would make it easier for police officers and Crown prosecutors to make drunk driving charges stick. My bill, an act to amend the Criminal Code (proceedings under section 258), is intended to aid in the prosecution of drunk drivers.
After all that has been talked about, drunk driving is still the leading criminal cause of death in Canada today. Statistics Canada figures state that four Canadians are killed everyday as a result of alcohol related crashes and another 200 are injured. Just as alarming is that although impaired drivers get behind the wheel an estimated 12.5 million times every year, most are never stopped by police.
Even when they are caught, Canada's Criminal Code makes it so difficult to gather evidence against these drivers that many officers just do not bother to lay charges. They do not believe that their work will result in convictions. This has to change. We have to stop the needless waste of lives caused by drunk driving. My bill would help to achieve this.
The bill would increase the time frame within which samples could be taken to determine alcohol levels. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, the bill would allow the courts to use sample results as proof of blood alcohol levels. It would place the burden on the accused to dispute the results--
Privilege September 25th, 2003
That's Liberal thinking. No wonder we can't follow it. That's Liberal thinking.
Privilege September 25th, 2003
I would like to add something.
Supply September 23rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his statements. It is important for farmers to hear what kind of thought is going on at least from this party on this issue.
I would like to ask the member whether in fact this is one of the most difficult issues that he has seen farmers face since he has been a member of Parliament?
I would like to point out what has been truly remarkable when looking at this issue is the support that we have seen right across the country from consumers. They have truly supported our cattlemen in every way that they possibly could, from eating more beef, which is extremely important, to putting pressure on the government saying that this is an important issue.
We know that cattlemen are going through a completely unfair situation which is devastating to them. That kind of support that we have seen is truly remarkable. I would appreciate it if the member could comment on that support.
Government Contracts September 23rd, 2003
Well, Mr. Speaker, the government should get somebody up answering these things who knows something about them.
The minister had no problem with the Royal LePage contract until he found out that a relative of André Ouelett, a former Liberal cabinet minister, had lost out on the contract.
Corruption should be dealt with no matter who is involved.
Why did the minister only see fit to deal with this scandal when he saw that a Liberal friend was on the losing end of this contract?
Government Contracts September 23rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, back to the Royal LePage scandal.
André Ouellet, the president of Canada Post, called the public works minister to inform him of wrongdoing in the tendering of the $1 billion Royal LePage contract. Of course that would have nothing to do with the fact that Ouellet has close family connections to one of the losing bidders. It would have nothing to do with that.
The public works minister keeps bragging about how he has taken control of corruption in his department. Why did it take a call from the president of Canada Post to bring this scandal to light?