House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 20% of the vote.
Minister of Public Works and Government Services October 24th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister tried to convince us that the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Michael Fortier—who still has not run for office—is useful.
Why did the Minister of Public Works and Government Services prevent his departmental staff from testifying before a House committee this morning?
Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act October 20th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I apologize to my colleague.
It seems there are not enough members in the House to proceed.
May we please have a quorum call?
The Environment October 20th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, on May 25, 2006, the newspaper Le Soleil reported that, as a result of a meeting with her provincial counterpart, the Minister of the Environment said she was open to putting some money towards Quebec's action plan for climate change. Yesterday, however, the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and political lieutenant in Quebec, said otherwise.
Why will the Minister of the Environment not keep her promise to Quebeckers?
The Environment October 20th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities confirmed yesterday that Quebec would not receive any of the $328 million it had asked for to help finance its action plan on climate change. He then indicated that, instead, the Conservatives were going to hand over $240 million for public transit. Minister Claude Béchard challenged this, saying that this had already been announced in 2005 by the previous government and it was therefore not a new announcement, but one that had been around for several years.
Why is the minister trying to deceive Quebeckers this way?
Forest Industry October 6th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, this government will not help the people who depend on the forest industry by swinging its chainsaw and slashing indiscriminately. The previous government's strategy involved allocating $1.5 billion to communities that depend heavily on the forest industry, as well as loans and repayable contributions. Even with that $1.5 billion, the government was running a surplus.
When will forestry communities begin to see some of this money? The minister must tell us.
Forest Industry October 6th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, our sawmills are shutting down on a daily basis, but this government continues to pat itself on the back for its softwood lumber agreement with the United States.
Because of sawmill closures in the upper Gatineau region, lumber from there will soon be sent to Abitibi. In Abitibi, even companies such as Tembec are announcing closures and layoffs. What is the government doing about this?
Is the Forest Industry Competitiveness Strategy put forward by the former government also going to be axed by the president of the Treasury Board?
Public Works and Government Services October 5th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, this government must answer for its actions.
What other useful programs must this government cut in order to clean up the mess created by the Minister of Public Works? Furthermore, why is the Minister of Public Works not in this House to tell us about his management practices?
Will thePrime Minister finally call a by-election in Repentigny? Will the Prime Minister finally order Senator Fortier to get himself elected as soon as possible, so that he can come here and account for his poor management of public money?
Public Works and Government Services October 5th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Public Works blundered badly. He was in such a hurry to have his new military toys that, when purchasing the C-17s and the Chinook helicopters, for the modest sum of $9 billion, he used the wrong procurement process. By purchasing country to country, instead of commercially, he managed to hand over nearly $1 billion in commission to his Republican friends in Washington.
Will the Minister of Public Works acknowledge his responsibility in this matter, or is he too busy trying to get himself elected in Repentigny?
Petitions September 25th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table a petition in this House signed by petitioners asking Parliament to re-open the debate on marriage and to repeal or amend the Civil Marriage Act.
Public Works and Government Services September 22nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, on June 15, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services announced that the matter of leasing or buying Minto Developments' JDS Uniphase building would be moved “to a new competitive process”.
Public Works chose to use the advance contract award notice process, which, according to the Auditor General, is not a competitive process.Given that the parliamentary secretary misled the House, why has the Prime Minister not demanded his resignation?