House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 73% of the vote.
International Co-operation March 29th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, aid groups and poor countries are being let down by the Conservative government.
Last year it canned KAIROS. This year, 53 aid organizations in Quebec are getting only 11% of their funding. Now we have just found out that the Development and Peace program of the Catholic church, which helps 20 countries, is getting cut and losing $35 million.
Now that the Conservatives have targeted the Catholics, who are they going to get next?
Service Canada March 2nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, Canada's unemployment rate is rising. Approximately 135,000 employers and over a million employees are using the job bank website. Unfortunately, this site has been shut down and out of service for weeks now. This site is a crucial tool, with more Canadians than ever before looking for work.
Since the minister took over Service Canada, EI wait times are longer, old age security is out of reach, student job centres are being shut down and now the job bank is out of service.
Will the job bank reopen and when?
Polish Canadian Community February 28th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, Cape Breton has an active and vibrant Polish community. The centre of its community is St. Mary's Polish Church in Whitney Pier.
Over 100 years ago, Polish immigrants came to Sydney to work in a new steel plant. They not only worked hard in the plant and raised families, they built a wonderful church and community.
This weekend, I was honoured to attend the church service at St. Mary's. It was a wonderful event highlighting traditional Polish dress and language. After the event, the congregation blessed our buses and we went on a pilgrimage to St. Ninian's Cathedral in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. A church service was held at the cathedral to highlight the Polish community and showcase the importance of St. Mary's Church to the Antigonish diocese.
Today I rise in the House to recognize the great contribution that St. Mary's and the Polish community have given to Cape Breton and all the rest of Canada. May they continue to do so for many years to come.
Pensions February 8th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, there is no fearmongering here. We have real facts.
Cape Breton has one of the highest percentages of seniors in the country. Unfortunately most are below income. They have gone from shock to anger over the Prime Minister's announcement of raising the age of old age security. This weekend I visited the Gillis' in my riding and they are scared. Their disability pensions stop at 65. Without old age security for two years, they will lose everything they have and be forced into welfare.
Seniors like the Gillis' have done so much for our country. Why are the Conservatives throwing them out on the street?
Cape Breton Sporting Events February 7th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, over the past week, two Cape Breton high school teams hosted long-standing sporting events.
The Breton Education Centre in New Waterford hosted the 31st annual Coal Bowl Classic basketball tournament that attracts participants from high schools right across the country. I would like to congratulate Three Oaks Senior High School Axemen from Summerside, P.E.I. for their win over the Corner Brook Titans for the title championship.
Also, Riverview High School in Coxheath hosted the 35th annual Red Cup Showcase hockey tournament featuring high school teams from all over Nova Scotia. The host team, Riverview Redmen from my riding, were the tournament champions for the second year in a row. They had a 2-1 overtime victory over Truro's Cobequid Education Centre Cougars.
Both successful events happened with hard work and dedication from staff, students, parents and volunteers.
I rise today to recognize both the Breton Education Centre and Riverview High School on jobs well done.
Foreign Affairs February 3rd, 2012
Madam Speaker, the Conservatives are way behind in spending for peace building and democracy projects. Last year the Minister of Foreign Affairs approved 85 projects. This year the minister has approved only 23 projects and the rest are sitting on his or the Prime Minister's desk.
When the Conservatives use their partisan and ideological tactics it puts the NGOs and their staff in jeopardy. Most of all, it fails Canada's commitment to help the poor and devastated regions of the world.
The minister should stop playing with people's lives and approve these projects.
Fisheries and Oceans February 2nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, off the shores of Cape Breton there is a healthy and vibrant halibut fishery. However, the tragedy is this: Cape Breton fishers do not have a fair share of this catch.
My question for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is this. Will he sit down, along with his officials, with the Cape Breton fisherman and come up with a fair allocation of this halibut quota?
If he cannot come down to Cape Breton, we are willing to meet him in his home town of Fredericton.
Questions Passed as Orders for Returns January 30th, 2012
What is the date, time, location, and nature of all government business conducted by the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism from July 29 to August 9, 2011, inclusively?
Questions Passed as Orders for Returns January 30th, 2012
With regard to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, for each year since 2006, how many applications for registration under the Indian Act have been approved and how many have been rejected?
Questions Passed as Orders for Returns January 30th, 2012
With regard to the renting of venues or properties for executive retreats or meetings outside of a government department, agency or Crown Corporation’s own offices (i.e., where an expense for rental of rooms is made to an outside party), from 2006 to December 1, 2011, for all government departments, agencies and Crown corporations: (a) what was the total cost of the rental of these venues for each department, agency or Crown corporation; (b) for each department, agency and Crown corporation, how many times were venues or properties contracted for or rented; and (c) in each case, (i) what was the name and location of the venue or property, (ii) what was the reason or purpose of the venue or property rental, (iii) how many people attended the retreat or meeting, (iv) what was the overall cost of the rental of the venue?