House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 54% of the vote.
Petitions April 24th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present a petition from a large number of residents in my riding of Westmount—Ville-Marie who ask that the post office known as the Montreal Victoria post office be allowed to remain open. It is extremely important to the community from an economic and a social perspective.
I am therefore asking the government to reconsider its decision to close that post office.
UNICEF Report Card on Children April 24th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I am sad to report that UNICEF's report card released on April 10 places Canada 17th out of 29 for overall well-being, but drops Canada to 24th when it comes to children.
On material well-being, 14% of Canadian children live below the poverty line, ranking us 21st. Most disturbing is Canada's 27th rank on health and safety, due mostly to the overall immunization rate, at 28th; and infant mortality rate, at 22nd.
Our childhood obesity rates have increased, putting Canada in 27th place.
We are in 21st place on childhood bullying and 29th place on cannabis use.
Canadian children excel on tests in the areas of reading, mathematics and scientific knowledge, but we rank 24th on participation in secondary education.
These results are completely unacceptable. The government can and absolutely must do better for our children.
Taxation April 19th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I loved the damage control on hockey helmets on Friday morning, after clearly forgetting about it.
The Conservatives have increased the taxes on Canadian consumers by over $300 million a year: paints and varnishes, shampoos, deodorant, tricycles, kitchenware, tableware, ballpoint pens, toothbrushes. I could go on forever. There are 1,300 items.
When will the government give Canadian families a break and cancel these tax increases on those products?
Taxation April 19th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the government just announced a tax hike on consumer goods to the tune of over $300 million a year at a time when the economy is fragile, household debt is at an all-time high, the unemployment rate is up and salaries are stagnant. This is the worst time to be raising taxes on almost 1,300 products that Canadians need in their everyday lives.
When will the government wake up? When will it give Canadian families a break and cancel these tax increases?
Taxation April 18th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the Conservative tax on baby cribs, tricycles, blankets and everything is affecting almost 1,300 household items that most Canadians need. Now, at a time of record debt level, high unemployment and stagnant wages, the worst possible thing one can do is increase taxes. When is the government going to realize it, and when is it going to cancel those tax increases on hard-working Canadians?
Taxation April 18th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives just increased taxes on Canadians by over $300 million a year. Let us be clear. The exporting countries will not be the ones paying these taxes. This money will come out of Canadians' pockets. For example, the cost of shampoo, dishwasher detergent and even deodorant will go up by 3.5%.
When will the government cancel these tax increases?
Taxation April 18th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, last fall the Minister of Finance went into a bicycle shop to announce and promote measures related to his omnibus budget bill. However, this spring in his budget he announced increases to the bicycle import taxes that would affect that very same shop owner. The Conservatives say this is not a tax, but yesterday the shop owner said this is going to hurt his business.
Does the government accuse this hard-working shop owner of lying?
Privilege April 17th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order to bring to your attention a correction required in the written record of Hansard on Monday, during the debate on the NDP opposition motion. After the member for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo spoke, I had the opportunity to ask her a question, which was, essentially, how the government would deal with the more than $100 billion it has added to the national debt.
Unfortunately, in the written record of Hansard, it says $100 million. Now, $100 million is a lot of money, but it is still 1,000 times less than the debt the government has added in the past seven years. I wanted everyone to know that the figure is over $100 billion.
Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada April 15th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome our new leader and a new era for the Liberal Party of Canada. Over 100,000 Canadians participated in the largest leadership vote in the history of our country.
During the campaign, our new leader spoke abut the need to find a new way of doing things. We have to set aside politics that pit the regions against one another, as well as the politics of fear and envy. Instead, we must think about Canada's overall long-term interests.
I crossed our country over the last five months and saw for myself the hope our new leader is helping to foster. I met Canadians who are not cynical but who believe that we can, and must, build a country that creates opportunities for everyone to succeed, a country full of promise.
I have never been more optimistic about the future of the Liberal Party and our country. I have the great pleasure, together with the whole caucus and all Canadians, to welcome our new leader.
Business of Supply April 15th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, whilst I sympathize with my hon. colleague when she talks about some of the tax increases that the NDP want to talk about, I would sure like to hear about what she and her government plan to do for the over $100 million they have added to the national debt since they came to power. That, to me, is very much more pertinent at this time.
When is a tax not a tax? When is a premium increase for employment insurance, which is a payroll tax, not as tax? When is adding tariffs to over 1,000 items to generate about $300 million not a tax?
I would like to know what the government calls the tax and how it supposedly, that low-tax government, refuses to recognize that payroll taxes and tariff increases are not taxes.