Megan Leslie

[Democratic Reform, May 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, under the Elections Act, Canadians living abroad for more than five years are prohibited from voting. Working with Canadian ex-pat Gill Frank, I put together a private member's bill to change this. At the same time, Mr. Frank launched a legal suit and he won. The courts struck down the section of the act, saying it was unconstitutional.

Now that this section of the Election Act has been struck down, will the government agree to fast-track my bill to ensure that these changes are made to the Elections Act?

[Canadian Heritage, May 1st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are obviously more interested in helping out their oil lobbyist friends than actually protecting Canadians. Special interests like the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers are buying themselves more than just a little good PR when they donate to the Canadian Museum of History, because for a million dollars they are provided exclusive access to influential audiences and key decision-makers like senators, MPs, cabinet ministers, and their staff.

Does the minister really think that cash for access is appropriate?

[The Environment, May 1st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the report they ordered says that they are not doing anything to regulate fracking. This is the report that the Conservatives ordered.

The parliamentary secretary knows full well that for three years we have been waiting for action and they have done nothing to better regulate fracking. All they have done is pass the buck.

However, the report is clear. It says, “...there is no national plan and no coordination or federal facilitation of...provincial efforts”. Therefore, will the minister and the parliamentary secretary stop dodging and will they actually act to better regulate and keep Canadians safe?

[Public Safety and National Security, April 30th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I just want to clarify, because I believe we are at report stage, and I did not think there were questions and answers during report stage.

[Workers' Memorial Day, April 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, Kyle Hickey died tragically of extensive burns at his Nova Scotia workplace. His mother said quite perfectly, “You go to work and you’re supposed to come home at the end of the day”.

In 1991, the House adopted an NDP private members' bill proclaiming April 28 as a national day of mourning for workers killed or injured on the job. First we mourn the dead, and then we fight for the living.

There is no such thing as a workplace accident. Every workplace death and injury is preventable. Since 2004, the criminal prosecution of employers for workplace injuries and fatalities has been possible. I am proud of the work that Alexa McDonough did in the House to ensure that this was possible, through the passage of the Westray Bill.

However, charges have been laid only once. As politicians, we need to make sure that health and safety laws are enforced and that violations are prosecuted vigorously. Unfortunately, the same Conservatives who talk about being tough on crime are soft on corporations responsible for workplace injuries and deaths.

Enough is enough. It is time for all of us who participate in making laws to commit to doing our part in ensuring that those laws are enforced.

[Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, April 8th, 2014]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-588, an act to amend the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act (Sambro Island Lighthouse).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to introduce my bill for the protection of Sambro Island lighthouse.

Sambro Island lighthouse is found off the coast of Nova Scotia at the mouth of the Halifax Harbour, just off the small, proud fishing community of Sambro. It was the earliest lighthouse built in North America, and it is the oldest continuously working lighthouse in the western hemisphere.

In 2010, the government declared almost 1,000 lighthouses surplus to its needs, meaning that Fisheries and Oceans would no longer have the responsibility to care for any of these lighthouses.

The community wants to protect the Sambro Island lighthouse. It is a piece of our history, our story, and it is an iconic structure for the area.

However, it is not realistic to assume that the community can take on the responsibility of this lighthouse, a lighthouse that is located on an island, in the Atlantic Ocean, a lighthouse that quickly becomes inaccessible due to weather or swells.

My bill would designate the Sambro Island lighthouse as a heritage lighthouse under the Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act, and put the responsibility for this iconic structure where it belongs, with Parks Canada.

I would like to thank the community members of Sambro and Ketch Harbour and area, and the Sambro Island Lighthouse Heritage Society, who have worked so hard to draw attention to the fate of the Sambro Island lighthouse and tried to develop a community solution.

I would also like to recognize the work of Barry MacDonald, who has worked tirelessly to protect our lighthouses across the country and who continues to offer his expertise to our cause.

I hope that all members can recognize the importance of the Sambro Island lighthouse to Canada, to our country, and that they will support the bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Petitions, April 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is about GM alfalfa. The petitioners are asking Parliament to impose a moratorium on the release of genetically modified alfalfa, in order to allow a proper review of the impact on farmers in Canada.

The petitioners and I look forward to the minister's response.

[Petitions, April 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

The first is about the cuts and rail service reductions at VIA Rail. The petitioners feel that rail service is one of the safest, most economical and most environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

They are asking the government to reinstate the daily round-trip VIA Rail passenger service between Montreal and Halifax.

[Democratic Reform, April 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the quote from the President of the Treasury Board was “self-proclaimed expert”. It seems that the only thing the minister is really successful at is undermining the faith of the public in our voting system.

Sheila Fraser pointed out that the government has been suggesting that officers of Parliament are biased against the government and cannot be trusted.

Why are the Conservatives attacking officers of this Parliament?

[Democratic Reform, April 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the President of the Treasury Board recently referred to former auditor general Sheila Fraser as “a self-proclaimed expert” on elections law. He went on to suggest that Ms. Fraser was somehow biased because of her work with Elections Canada.

Does the Minister of State for Democratic Reform agree with the President of the Treasury Board in his attacks on her, and does he think Sheila Fraser is somehow biased?