Megan Leslie

[The Environment, June 18th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, Enbridge's oil spill response plan is obviously deficient. That is really not surprising considering the Conservative government's laissez-faire attitude toward pipeline safety.

The National Energy Board admits there has been an increased trend in the number and severity of incidents in recent years. Yet the Conservatives are ramming through the budget bill that would repeal the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and would allow cabinet to overrule expert advice on pipeline safety.

Why is the minister willing to put Canadians at risk?

[Bill C-38, June 15th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it was the Conservative finance minister who admitted he had not read the bill. It is really outrageous.

The courts have already pointed out a major flaw in the government's Trojan Horse. The Federal Court has ruled that the Conservative plan to cancel backlogged applications from skilled workers is in violation of the law.

The NDP had warned the Conservatives. The courts are now ordering them to stop.

Will the Conservatives change the law or will they treat the courts as sworn enemies?

[Bill C-38, June 15th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, if the minister is so proud of these changes, why did he not run on them?

Yesterday the Minister of Finance admitted that he had not read the whole bill. He could not answer basic questions about how the bill had anything to do with the budget. Then the minister acknowledged that the bill had mistakes and yet he still voted down any opposition attempt to fix those mistakes. It is a shameful lack of accountability.

When will the Conservatives drop the stubbornness and agree to fix their flawed budget bill?

[Bill C-38, June 15th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, in under 24 hours, the Conservatives voted to scrap the Environmental Assessment Act, end fish habitat protection and sabotage the National Energy Board.

The NDP proudly opposed those measures. Yesterday, despite his arrogance, the Minister of Finance was also unable to explain the link between assisted human reproduction measures and the budget.

Do the Conservatives realize that Bill C-38 will weaken our laws and our economy?

[The Environment, June 11th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as the Parliamentary Secretary knows, we only get one chance to do these projects right. Future generations are going to pay for today's mistakes. Instead of allowing a study of the bill, the Conservatives have rammed through sweeping changes to environmental protection. In one clause Conservatives create an entirely new Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Now cabinet gets to overrule decisions from the National Energy Board. Politicians will decide, so there is no need for science or research or evidence.

Will the Conservatives stop their power grab and work with us to find a reasonable compromise?

[The Environment, June 11th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, this budget bill will allow mining and pipeline projects to move forward without proper consultation. The Conservatives are reducing the right to participate in environmental assessments, limiting that privilege to those directly affected. The minister refuses to clarify what that means.

Who is affected when a pipeline starts leaking? Is it just those who share the minister's opinion?

[Employment Insurance, June 7th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, Atlantic Canadians, the premiers and seasonal businesses all know that the Conservatives are targeting them. What is most troubling to the premiers is the secrecy around these changes. Consultation does not mean having a chat with a Conservative backbencher. It requires communication with premiers, with employers and with workers. Even New Brunswick's Progressive Conservative premier said there are a lot of concerns because “there is a void of information”.

Why do they not do the reasonable thing? Why do they not do the common-sense thing and put these changes on hold and have real consultations for EI?

[Employment Insurance, June 7th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it is not for the regions, because the Atlantic premiers met yesterday. Not surprisingly, the Conservative attacks on EI were at the top of their agenda. These premiers understand how critical employment insurance is to the economy. They know Conservative EI restrictions will hurt these industries and force workers out of their communities.

Lobster does not grow in a tank in the seafood section. The next time Conservatives sit down to their lobster dinner, will they take even a moment to think about the workers, the employees, the employers and the communities that they are targeting?

[Employment Insurance, June 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, punishing out-of-work Canadians is not the same thing as helping them. Right now, only 40% of unemployed Canadians even qualify for employment insurance. These changes would mean that even fewer Canadians would qualify. More young people are going to leave their communities. Our businesses are going to be undercut and our communities are going to suffer.

Why are the Conservatives refusing to hear from the very people who would be forced to take low wages and work outside their fields? Why will the minister not stop hiding from Canadians, and when will she actually talk to the people who will be affected?

[Employment Insurance, June 6th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, no one is buying the idea that muzzled Conservative MPs are a substitute for genuine public consultation. The minister did not even bother to consult with premiers.

Today, Atlantic Canadian premiers are meeting in P.E.I., and the Conservatives' reckless proposed changes to EI are at the top of their agenda. Communities across Atlantic Canada rely on seasonal business and some of these communities are already struggling.

Will the minister now agree to be accountable and work with the premiers before she makes these changes to EI?