Marlene Jennings

[The Budget, January 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, our party is putting the Conservative government on probation.

Only months ago it failed Canadians by playing partisan political games with its economic statement.

We will hold the government to account for its broken promises to Canadians.

The budget contains a few positive measures that the Conservatives adopted under pressure from the Liberals. We are concerned about certain aspects, however, and we will hold the government accountable on those issues. We are putting this government on probation.

The budget contains no new child care spaces, no substantive environmental initiatives and it lacks any credible plan for getting us out of the Conservative $85 billion deficit.

Canadians want a government that listens, that shows them it has learned from its mistakes and that it is capable of reaching across party lines. The stakes for Canadians are just too high for the government to act otherwise.

[The Economy, January 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this government is the master when it comes to partisan politics.

The Minister of Finance, as well as his parliamentary secretary, is used to dodging these types of questions. When he was at Queen's Park, he hid a $6 billion deficit. It took years to get things back on track.

Today, how can we believe him, and his government, when it comes to the numbers in his budget for fiscal year 2008-09?

[The Economy, January 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the announcements increased; the money out the door did not.

Exactly two months ago the Conservative government promised to balance its books, this fiscal year, not next year, 2008-09 and each of the four following years, surpluses all the way. That is what the Conservatives promised.

Now they admit that next year they will be in the red by some $34 billion and then by another $30 billion the year after. What about this year, 2008-09? They promised a surplus of close to a billion dollars.

Will they tell us whether they are already hiding a hidden deficit for 2008-09?

[Points of Order, December 2nd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, during oral question period, the Prime Minister stated in this House that there were no Canadian flags in the room at the press conference and signing of the agreement between the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, the leader of the New Democratic Party and the leader of the Bloc Québécois.

The Prime Minister knows very well that there were two Canadian flags, along with the flags of every province and territory. In my opinion, he misled this House and Canadians, and I call on him to withdraw his remarks.

[The Economy, December 1st, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives invent a plan which does not exist. Now they are trying to invent a plan for the opposition. It will not work.

We cannot have confidence in the Conservative Prime Minister.

He said, “No deficit”. We have a deficit. He said he had a plan. Six weeks later: no plan. Even worse, he is concealing the truth about his mismanagement of public finances.

How can Canadians believe this Prime Minister?

[The Economy, December 1st, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, faced with the worst economic crisis in generations, the Prime Minister is hiding the truth from Canadians. Instead of coming up with a real plan to help Canadians, the Prime Minister is fudging the numbers and announcing a fire sale of government assets.

When will the Prime Minister understand that economic recovery begins with giving us the straight goods?

[Business of the House, November 27th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the government what its plan is regarding the business of the House for the time remaining until we recess on December 12.

I would also like to know when the government intends to introduce its ways and means motion.

Finally, I would like to know, if the government has not already officially designated the opposition days between now and the adjournment on December 12, when it intends to officially designate those opposition days.

[Seniors, November 24th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, allow me to give the member an introductory course in finances. When seniors roll their RRSPs into RRIFs, they have to pay taxes. To pay these taxes, seniors have to sell off their investments when the markets are at rock bottom. In their letter to the banks, the Conservatives did not make any suggestions about how this problem could be fixed. They would have gotten better results writing to Santa Claus.

Do the Conservatives not realize that by refusing to act, they are wiping out our seniors' savings?

[Seniors, November 24th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are refusing to grant a grace period to seniors who have to roll their RRSPs into RRIFs. The Conservatives are forcing our seniors to sell their assets at the worst possible time, when the markets have already collapsed.

Is this how the Prime Minister plans to uncover the “great buying opportunities” he mentioned during the election campaign?

[Petitions, November 20th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, if my first bill is ever passed by this House, the name of my riding will be Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine—Dorval.

I am pleased to table this petition in the House. It is signed by residents of the areas surrounding Montreal-Trudeau airport, who wish to draw the attention of the House of Commons, Parliament, the assembly and the federal Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities to the following:

The noise and pollution from the increasing number of night flights, which are exacerbating an already difficult situation, are having a negative impact on the quality of life of the residents of Dorval, Lachine, Pointe-Claire, Cartierville-Saint-Laurent and other municipalities and districts in the western part of the island of Montreal. The petitioners ask for an immediate cessation of arrivals and departures to and from Montreal-Trudeau airport between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., with the exception of those required for the following reasons: medical emergency, delays for reasons beyond the control of the carrier, poor atmospheric conditions, and flights directly linked to Canadian military operations.

I believe that the residents of areas surrounding the airport are right, and ask this House to support them.