House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 59% of the vote.
Foreign Affairs April 29th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague knows full well that we have signed the Wellington declaration and that we are working with the international community to ensure effective control over these kinds of munitions. We are taking action on this side of the House and we are proud of the work being done by our diplomats. I can say that we are, at this time, destroying all the cluster bombs we may have here at home.
Foreign Affairs April 29th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, the diplomats working in my department are very competent. Furthermore, everyone knows that one of Canada's aims is to reduce the devastating human impact of certain types of cluster bombs. We will continue to pursue that objective at the next international meeting, as at past meetings.
Afghanistan April 29th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, the strategy is quite simple. I went to Bucharest with the Prime Minister and my colleague the Minister of National Defence and while we were there we adopted an entire military and political plan for a strategy to provide the Afghans with the development and economic assistance they need. We want to build a viable, reliable and safe state for the Afghans.
That is what we are doing with the help of the opposition. I want to thank the Liberal Party for voting with us in favour of the motion.
Afghanistan April 29th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for his question since Afghanistan is an important issue to our government and to Canadians. What is more, Canadians have to be informed of our actions in Afghanistan.
Tomorrow I will have a meeting. My colleague, the Minister of National Defence also has a meeting with the United Nations special envoy. We will discuss the situation in Afghanistan and I can assure this House that we will soon report back daily, as stipulated in the motion, on our activities in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan April 16th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, here is what we are doing. We are implementing the motion the Liberal Party voted for in this House. The motion reads: “— the ultimate aim of Canadian policy is to leave Afghanistan to Afghans, in a country that is better governed—” That is what we are doing.
Why do we want Afghanistan to be better governed? In order to ensure that schools, roads and infrastructures can be built for the Afghan people.
I would like the Liberal Party to do more than simply vote with us on the motion, but also to help us create good governance in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan April 16th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party claims to speak for human rights. It claims to speak for good governance. It claims to speak against corruption. But in Afghanistan the Liberal Party does not stand up for the Afghan people, does not stand up for good governance.
You know what, Mr. Speaker? On this side of the House, what is good for Canadians is good for Afghans.
Afghanistan April 16th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, instead of indulging in partisan politics, my Bloc Québécois colleague should do what we on this side of the House are doing and help the Afghan people achieve better economic development, good governance, a stable government and improved security in Afghanistan.
But no, the Bloc Québécois is doing what it has always done for the past 18 years: speak out against everything happening here in Canada. The Bloc does not want to help the Afghan people build better lives for themselves.
Afghanistan April 16th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I am a great champion of human rights in Canada and Afghanistan. This party, this government, is fighting for good governance in Afghanistan. We are doing so because of UN resolution 1806, which asks countries and the international community to help improve governance to “combat corruption, in particular at subnational level, and to promote development initiatives at the local level”.
That is what we are doing in Afghanistan. I would like the Bloc Québécois to support us in our efforts to help the Afghan people.
Tibet April 9th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her question. As we know, the situation in Quebec has been very good since Quebeckers elected a Conservative government.
However, we have very huge concerns for human rights in Tibet and China. That is why we continue to urge the Chinese government to engage in a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, to fully respect human rights, to respect peaceful protests, and to show restraint in dealing with the situation in Tibet.
Afghanistan April 9th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, we are putting our principles into practice and into action. That is clear. A motion was passed in the House with the support of our Liberal friends opposite. We are working to implement the motion.
I would like to congratulate the Prime Minister on the success of the Bucharest meeting; it was a huge success. We have the troops we need, and we will soon have the equipment we need to ensure the success of the mission and to end it, as planned, in July 2011.