House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2015, with 36% of the vote.
National Defence May 3rd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General showed that the government did not provide information to the Parliamentary Budget Officer. The deputy minister of National Defence said today that he provided the full costing of the F-35s to the Minister of National Defence, the full $25 billion. Why was that information not passed on to Parliament?
National Defence May 3rd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the official excuse is that it was a typographical error. The Conservatives want us to believe that someone typed the word “definitions” when he or she actually meant to type two words “options analysis”.
Are there any other typographical errors about the F-35s that the government would like to make the House aware of? For example, when it told Parliament that the plane would cost $14.7 billion but cabinet thought the plane would cost $10 billion more, was that just a typing error?
National Defence May 3rd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, last month, the Conservatives changed their parliamentary report on plans and priorities with regard to the F-35. The first version of the report indicated that the purchase of the aircraft had been approved by cabinet; however, a new version, which they changed retroactively, states that cabinet has not approved this purchase.
Why did the Conservatives want Canadians to think that the purchase of this aircraft had been approved and why did they change their story?
National Parks May 2nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, on the campaign the Conservatives actually promised that the cuts would happen through attrition, and a year later they are chopping up jobs and selling off our parks.
Canada's national parks were founded on the principle that the public should have access to public spaces and our heritage sites, but Parks Canada, as we know, confirmed that a new private operator will determine access for Canadians, when we own it.
This is the same minister who also green-lighted the privatization of Jasper National Park.
First our glaciers, and now our hot springs. Which of our national treasures will the minister put up for sale next?
National Parks May 2nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, in last year's election campaign, the Conservatives did not announce a planned attack on our national parks.
Yesterday, they eliminated 1,600 jobs at Parks Canada. Today, we learned that they want to sell some parks and privatize the hot springs in Banff, Jasper and Radium. The discovery of these hot springs more than a century ago led to the creation of our first national park.
Why does the minister want to squander our national heritage?
National Parks May 1st, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the minister is ignoring his own findings. Last year the minister released a report showing that Parks Canada contributes more than $3 billion a year to our economy, and most of that is to small and local businesses.
Canada's national parks bring Canadians together and they draw tourists from around the world. Yet first the Conservatives are gutting the environmental assessment process, and now employee jobs are on the chopping block at Parks Canada.
Has the government calculated the impact of its reckless cuts on the tourism industry for Canada?
National Parks May 1st, 2012
Mr. Speaker, we would like to talk about the consequences of these cuts, because the Conservatives refuse to so.
It was not enough for the Conservatives to eliminate the environmental assessment process; now they are attacking our national parks. Over 1,600 Parks Canada jobs are being cut. This will translate into shorter seasons and restricted access to parks and historic sites.
As an indirect result of these cuts, the regional tourism industry will lose a lot of money.
Why are the Conservatives attacking Canada's most beautiful natural sites?
The Environment April 24th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, yesterday when asked why the government sent meddling overseers to the International Polar Year Conference, the minister said that muzzling scientists was “established practice”, but scientists disagree. A senior Environment Canada expert called the new media guidelines unethical and enormously embarrassing to our country on the world stage.
Will the minister explain how interfering in media access to our scientists fits in with the government's so-called open government approach?
Questions Passed as Orders for Returns April 23rd, 2012
With regard to the government-organized pan-European oil sands advocacy retreat held in London, England, in February 2011: (a) what was the total cost of this event; (b) what was the total spending on (i) hospitality, (ii) accommodations, (iii) travel, including both air and ground transportation, (iv) gifts, (v) meals, (vi) presentation materials; and (c) which officials from departments within the government attended this event, and what was their mandate?
The Environment April 23rd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I am glad to see the Minister of Natural Resources has passed along his speaking notes to the Minister of the Environment.
This week the world is gathering in Montreal for the International Polar Year 2012 Conference. In addition to top scientists from around the world, this year also features government babysitters assigned to follow Environment Canada scientists and record their conversations. Is this 1984 or 2012?
Why is the minister putting a gag order on Canadian scientists?