House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 46% of the vote.
Petitions June 19th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I also have a petition that has been signed by tens of thousands of Canadians.
It points out that Canada is the only nation in the western world, and is in the company of China and North Korea, without any laws restricting abortion, and that Canada's Supreme Court has said it is Parliament's responsibility to enact abortion legislation. They therefore call upon the House of Commons to speedily enact legislation that restricts abortion to the greatest extent possible.
Committees of the House June 19th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development in relation to its study to provide recommendations regarding the development of a national conservation plan.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act June 18th, 2012
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for her good work and her commitment to improving the environmental assessment process.
I just want to ask my colleague about the opposition's inconsistencies by voting against our budgets and our funding for environmental improvement, yet lambasting the government. Is there a problem with the consistency of what it is saying and doing?
Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act June 18th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the member from beautiful Fort McMurray to expand on some of the changes that have happened in the oil sands that are largely because our government committed to a cleaner, more environmentally friendly development of our natural resources. Could he enlighten us on what has been happening over the last four or five years? Have there been any dramatic changes in the oil sands?
Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act June 18th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member across the way has just brought up this point of order, but in fact he constantly heckles, and I am having great difficulty hearing my own colleague. I would ask that he respect the parliamentary procedures of the House.
Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act June 18th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to my colleague across the way. A number of times she has insinuated that the changes regarding the environment in Bill C-38 are going to be harmful to the environment, when in fact they will be helpful to improve the environment.
Regarding the assessments, there was a legislative review of the Environmental Assessment Act in the previous fall session. A number of recommended changes came from that study. Those changes are now part of Bill C-38, and they are good changes. Those changes make environmental assessments much more effective. There were a lot of inefficiencies before.
Why would the member oppose improving the environment and mislead this Parliament and Canadians by trying to make Canadians think it is going to be harmful, when in fact it will actually be very good for the environment?
Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act June 14th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I was here for the vote; I was here before the vote; I was here when you called the vote. Maybe the member was sleeping when I was here.
Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act June 11th, 2012
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for her insightful and very interesting discussion.
I want to ask her if she has been to the oil sands and if not, whether she is planning on going to the oil sands.
I think that if every member here were to actually go out and visit things, they would get a different perspective. We often speak in ignorance. I just want to know, has she actually been to the oil sands to see them first-hand?
The second part of my question is this. Why is the NDP actually filibustering and trying to keep the government from moving forward and doing positive things for the environment? That is exactly what the parliamentary secretary wanted to do. Indeed, we want to create that wonderful balance so that we have jobs and a healthy environment.
Petitions June 11th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present a petition from a number of constituents in beautiful Langley.
The petitioners state that Canada's 400-year-old definition of a human being is that a child does not become a human being until the moment of complete birth, contrary to 21st century medical evidence. They also state that Parliament has a solemn duty to reject any law that says that some human beings are not human.
Therefore, the petitioners call upon the House of Commons to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human by amending section 223 of the Criminal Code in such a way as to reflect 21st century medical evidence.
Business of Supply June 5th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, we all know in the House it was 13 long years that the previous Liberal government did absolutely nothing and created a huge environmental mess. I want to thank the parliamentary secretary for her hard work in getting things done on the environment.
Environment Canada science was recently audited by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development. I understand the commissioner had very positive comments to make about the department's science management. Could the parliamentary secretary elaborate on that?