House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 46% of the vote.
Natural Resources February 19th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that we had a point of order. The government whip stood on a point of order and then others tried to interrupt, calling a point of order on a point of order. Procedurally, my understanding is that a member has to ask to speak on a point of order after the person makes the point of order. I am kind of perplexed as to why members would disrespect the rules of the House and why they hate British Columbia.
Anti-Terrorism Act, 2015 February 19th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to my colleague and I appreciate his comments.
The NDP has asked for more time to debate the issue of Bill C-51, a very important piece of legislation to make sure Canadians are safe, yet the NDP moves concurrence motions and uses delay tactics such as slow voting. I think a number of people were probably not able to take part in this debate because of the delays by the NDP.
Would the member agree that there are unreasonable and illogical delays from the NDP?
Petitions February 18th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the other petition I have highlights, sadly, that Bryan McCron, a 49-year-old single dad, was tragically killed by a drunk driver. The drunk driver was driving while his license was suspended. After serving seven months in prison, the drunk driver was released back into the community right near the victim's family.
Families for Justice is a group of Canadians who have lost loved ones killed by an impaired driver. It believes that Canada's laws for impaired driving are much too lenient.
The petitioners want the crime called vehicular homicide, which it is. Over 12,000 Canadians are killed every year by a drunk driver. They also want mandatory sentencing from the government.
Petitions February 18th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present two petitions to the House today.
The first petition highlights that Canada is the only western nation along with China and North Korea that has no restrictions whatsoever on abortion. The petitioners call upon the House of Commons to speedily enact legislation that would restrict abortion to the greatest extent possible.
Petitions February 16th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition that sadly informs the House that 22-year-old Kassandra Kaulius was tragically killed by a drunk driver who chose to drive while impaired. Kassandra's family was devastated.
Families for Justice is a group of Canadians who have also lost loved ones to impaired drivers. They believe that Canada's impaired driving laws are much too lenient. They want the crime to be called what it is: vehicular homicide. It is the number one cause of criminal death in Canada. Over 1,200 Canadians are killed every year by drunk drivers.
Families for Justice is also calling for mandatory sentencing for vehicular homicide and for this Parliament to support Bill C-652, Kassandra's law.
Petitions February 2nd, 2015
Mr. Speaker, this petition highlights the fact that CBC did a documentary revealing that parents were going to ultrasound clinics to determine the sex of an unborn child. If it was a girl, the pregnancy was being ended. “It's a girl” is the deadliest description in Canada. Ninety-two per cent of Canadians believe that sex selection is wrong and should be made illegal. Right now, over 200 million girls are missing in the world.
Criminal Code February 2nd, 2015
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-652, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (vehicular homicide).
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to introduce Kassandra's law on behalf of Canadians who have had a loved one killed by an impaired or drunk driver. I want to thank the member for Winnipeg South Centre for her important support on this issue and for her hard work.
One thousand Canadians are killed every year by people who chose to drive while they were drunk or impaired, instead of taking a bus or a taxi. Impaired driving is the number one cause of criminal death in Canada every year. Families and friends are devastated, and their lives are torn apart when this happens.
In 2011, 22-year-old Kassandra Kaulius was tragically killed by a drunk driver. Her family joined others who have also lost loved ones to impaired drivers in creating an organization called Families for Justice. Nearly 90,000 Canadians have signed petitions calling for changes to the Criminal Code.
Kassandra's law would do one thing that Families for Justice and tens of thousands of Canadians are calling for, which is to call this terrible crime what it really is: vehicular homicide.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Petitions January 28th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the second petition I am honoured to present highlights that 92% of Canadians believe that sex selection should be made illegal.
The U.K. Parliament is dealing with this issue and there is a bill to make it illegal. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada vehemently opposes sex selection.
The petitioners call on Parliament to condemn the practice of discrimination against girls through sex selection.
Petitions January 28th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the first petition I am honoured to present sadly highlights that 22-year-old Kassandra Kaulius was killed by a drunk driver.
Families for Justice, a group of people who have also lost loved ones to impaired driving, believes that the current impaired driving laws are much too lenient. It is calling for new mandatory minimum sentencing for people who have been convicted of impaired driving causing death. It also wants the Criminal Code to be changed to redefine the offence to what it is, vehicular homicide.
Foreign Affairs January 26th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the serious situation in Ukraine is escalating. Russian-backed rebels in Mariupol fired rockets that killed 30 innocent Ukrainians. This escalation of hostilities has resulted in a mounting civilian death toll and has exacerbated an already-dire humanitarian crisis in eastern Ukraine. Russia continues not to fulfill its commitment outlined in the Minsk agreement.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence please comment on this serious situation in Ukraine?