Mark Eyking

[Co-op Week, October 30th, 2013]

Mr. speaker, Reverend Moses Coady started the co-operative movement many years ago during the depression in Cape Breton. This effort helped rural communities across the Maritimes to improve their economic and social circumstances.

Mr. Coady led a movement that spread across Canada and around the world. Today, co-operatives in Cape Breton are thriving.

Two weeks ago, our co-operatives' advocate, the member for Ottawa—Vanier, travelled around my riding in celebrating Co-op Week. My colleague accompanied me to credit unions, co-op grocery stores, the United Farmers Co-op country store, the Bras d'Or Farmers Vegetable Co-op, and the Victoria Fisheries Co-op in Neil's Harbour.

There are 9,000 co-ops across the country, with 14 in Cape Breton.

As rural Canada continues to struggle with economic hardships and out-migration, the co-operative movement, with more assistance from the federal government, could help them prosper.

I support my colleague's efforts to create a special parliamentary committee to determine the needs of Canada's co-operatives so we can help build on this model for many years to come.

[Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 2, October 24th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, we are starting to learn a bit more about what is in the minds of the Conservatives in the budget. With regard to infrastructure, in the budget in the spring they mentioned all these billions of dollars that were going to be spent over 10 years. That said, in Cape Breton we have the CBRM, the municipality, and it puts forward a report with all the infrastructure needs it has. It is all costed and includes timelines.

With great fanfare, we are hearing some announcements on infrastructure, such as the Toronto subway. When can a place like Cape Breton, or CBRM, sit down with the federal government and get some commitment for the infrastructure dollars it needs for the upcoming year? When are the other areas going to get what they need from this infrastructure budget?

[Craft Sector in Cape Breton, June 13th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Carol Beaton from Cape Breton.

Her contribution to the growth of the craft sector of our island cannot be overstated. She has been contributing to the growth of this industry for well over a decade. Her work ethic and success are truly inspiring.

Carol has spent many years as the executive director of the Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, and under her guidance the centre has grown tremendously.

In her time as director, the centre has expanded from two employees to ten employees. She brought the funds together to construct a 14,000 square foot building to allow artists to showcase and sell their work year round.

More than 78,000 people have visited this new centre since its opening in 2007. Carol's efforts have ensured the craft sector is a significant contributor to Cape Breton's economic and cultural infrastructure.

I urge all members to join me in congratulating Carol Beaton for her great work and wishing her all the best in her retirement.

[Employment Insurance, June 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Crystal MacKinnon is a widow with two small children. She has worked on her uncle's boat for 20 years. She gets up at 4 o'clock in the morning, baits and sets the traps. This past winter she was cut off EI and forced to go to a local food bank. The intimidating appeal process has denied her again.

The government is chasing people out of seasonal industries like the fisheries, from Atlantic Canada, northern Cape Breton and Quebec.

Why is the government attacking our most vulnerable citizens?

[Main Estimates 2013-14, June 5th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the member talked about a gridlock that would happen here with people getting paid. Anybody who has seen what has happened in the United States over the last winter could see what might happen if we had that gridlock.

We would have hoped that there would have been some sort of motion coming from the NDP or the PMO on how it deals with picking senators, and then perhaps we could have had a better debate here.

My question for the member is on what changes he thinks should be made with respect to the Prime Minister's power on selecting senators.

[Main Estimates 2013-14, June 5th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the hon. member for Winnipeg. He mentioned Nova Scotia.The Premier of Nova Scotia is NDP, and I am sure that the Premier of Nova Scotia will not agree with the motion put forward tonight. Nova Scotians will want to look at it, assess it and ensure that there is equal representation right across the country, especially for the small province of Nova Scotia.

Why have the member and his leader not talked to some of the NDP premiers about what they think about the Senate?

[New Waterford Centennial, June 4th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as the member of Parliament representing the community of New Waterford, it gives me great pleasure to rise today and congratulate the town on its centennial year.

This past weekend I was pleased to attend an event honouring some of the town's seniors who have contributed greatly to their community. Over the last 100 years, New Waterford has faced some challenges. It was once one of the busiest coal-mining communities and home to No. 16 colliery, one of the biggest and best coal mines in Canada, which was shut down in 1963.

New Waterford is home to many great traditions from the Coal Dust Days to Davis Day to the Coal Bowl Classic basketball tournament, just to name a few. It is the residents' strong sense of pride for their community that attracts visitors, local and away, year after year to New Waterford.

I say congratulations to all of the volunteers and organizations who have worked so tirelessly to make a difference and to make the centennial celebrations possible.

I look forward to taking part in the festivities throughout this summer and invite my colleagues, especially the member for Charlottetown and his wife Kathleen, to these festivals.

[Petitions, May 27th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition submitted by hundreds of constituents from my riding. The petitioners are concerned about the changes at Canada Post outlets in Cape Breton.

Following the downsizing of our customer service counter in North Sydney, the removal of our sorting centre and the relocating of overnight services to Halifax centre, the petitioners call on the government to reverse this decision and consult with the public before implementing any changes to Canada postal services.

[Infrastructure, May 10th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, now that the build Canada fund's true infrastructure numbers have been crunched, municipalities are concerned, because $1.5 billion has been cut. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is faced with a huge obligation for waste water and other infrastructure needs.

Mayor Clarke and council have come up with their money on the table. The province is on side with its portion. When will the Conservatives come to the table with their share of infrastructure money for CBRM?

[Business of Supply, May 9th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I would remind the House that it was not $1 billion, it was not $1 million, but at the end of the day it was in the thousands, and that was rectified.

However, my question is on what this $3 billion, when it is spread out, could do for health care. Right now we are seeing many of the hospitals having to charge more and more for parking to pay their bills. How could that money, which could be allocated to health care, help people who cannot afford to pay for parking when they visit their loved ones when they are sick?