House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2015, with 31% of the vote.
Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act May 27th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, in response to a question from one of my colleagues earlier, the member's colleague suggested that the provinces were consulted. I would be very curious to know, first of all, what sort of consultation took place. Furthermore, were the provinces that were supposedly consulted aware that they would be the ones to bear the brunt of the costs associated with this bill, and did they agree to that?
Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act May 27th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, given that it is focusing in part on victims in this bill, does the government intend to bring forward new programs to provide further assistance for victims?
Committees of the House May 27th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present to the House, in both official languages, the New Democratic Party of Canada's supplementary opinion concerning the study on economic opportunities for young apprentices recently conducted by the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons With Disabilities.
The NDP supports the report, but feels that its recommendations should better represent all the testimony heard by the committee. It could for example suggest that the government make improvements to the employment insurance program for apprentices or that it work more closely with the provinces and territories, first nations, unions and the underemployed, rather than turning this report into a promotional platform for the 2013 budget.
Government Appointments May 27th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, over half of the people who have been appointed to the Social Security Tribunal are defeated Conservative candidates and party cronies.
Today, the Conservatives refused to debate the issue of patronage appointments in committee. I thought that the backbench members cared about freedom of expression, but now I see that they care about freedom of expression for themselves, and not for others.
The tribunal will not be fair, credible, impartial and independent if the Conservatives stack it with cronies who help boost their campaign coffers.
Will they put an end to these appointments?
Securities May 23rd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, during question period, I spoke about a report prepared by the Popular Travelling Commission on the Right to Housing, which states that more than a quarter of a million households in Quebec have critical housing needs.
Today, I am seeking the unanimous consent of the House to table this report in both official languages, for everyone's benefit and to allow my colleagues in the House of Commons to examine Quebec's troubling housing situation so that we can all work together to fix it.
Government Appointments May 23rd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the prerequisite for being a member of the new Social Security Tribunal is having close ties to the Conservative Party.
History is repeating itself. The Conservatives used to appoint their cronies to the Board of Referees. In return, they illegally filled the party coffers. Now, the same wheeling and dealing is happening with the Social Security Tribunal.
The tribunal will make decisions that affect employment insurance, old age security and pensions.
Will the minister commit to enforcing the rules and ensuring that the Social Security Tribunal is independent?
Government Appointments May 23rd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, it seems that the prerequisite for—
Housing May 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, FRAPRU recently released a report prepared by a committee of 14 experts who consulted 200 organizations and over 100 individuals. According to this report, a quarter of a million households in Quebec have critical housing needs.
Will the minister agree to have this report tabled in the House? Will she consider its recommendations and will she finally renew operating agreements with social housing providers? I have repeatedly asked this question—could I get an actual answer this time?
Government Appointments May 21st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives claim that they want to avoid political donations that contravene the rules, but their solution is to appoint their defeated candidates to positions that they are in no way qualified to hold. Those who are appointed simply say that the appointments are rewards.
Just like the former Conservative organizer in Quebec, another defeated Conservative candidate, Dominique Bellemare, was recently given a spot on the Social Security Tribunal as a consolation prize.
Since they are unable to stop handing out partisan appointments, will the Conservatives apply the ethics rules and force those they put in place to stop these political donations?
Employment May 7th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, not a single member of the NDP asked for a Canadian to lose his job; that is what the Conservatives are doing.
Last May, the memo to the minister stated, “...employers are hiring temporary foreign workers in the same occupation and location as Canadians who are collecting EI”. She ignored this memo, ignored the warnings and ignored unemployed Canadians.
Why does it always take a media scandal for Conservatives to fix the messes they create?