House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
Government Spending September 23rd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, Canadian families are in debt. They are trying to save by cutting their spending, and they expect the government to do the same. But what do they see? A billion dollars spent on the G8 and G20 summits, advertising expenses that have tripled, untendered contracts for fighter aircraft. And now, a $6 billion borrow in order to give a gift to corporations.
How can this government explain all of this waste to ordinary Canadian families?
Firearms Registry September 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the registry helps protect women against domestic violence. The Prime Minister should remind the member for Portage—Lisgar that domestic violence is a crime.
We maintain that the registry is essential to protecting women in the domestic sphere. Why will the Prime Minister not work with the opposition to save the gun registry and improve it for the benefit of all Canadians?
Firearms Registry September 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister prefers to make up opposition policy rather than comment on the opposition's real policy. He makes up all kinds of things.
The Prime Minister is trying to divide Canadians not only on the economy but also on the gun registry. The police are in favour of keeping the registry, as are doctors and victims.
Why is the government determined to divide Canadians on this issue instead of bringing Canadians together?
The Economy September 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance yesterday used an extraordinary phrase to describe the real preoccupations of Canadians. Canadians are concerned with child care, with pensions, with the problem of getting student loans and the Minister of Finance dismissed all of that as warm and fuzzy.
Since when did compassion, decency and a commitment to equality become warm and fuzzy in the country?
The Economy September 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance delivered a wild partisan rant. He hid the truth that lies behind his government's record: waste, mismanagement and tax increases for next summer.
When will the Prime Minister put an end to the politics of division and fear generated by the Minister of Finance?
The Economy September 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, first, the thoughts of everybody on this side of the House, and I am sure the entire House, are for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador as they recover from hurricane Igor.
Yesterday the Minister of Finance delivered a wild partisan rant. I assume the Prime Minister approved this speech, because, after all, he makes the rules. However, what I want to know is whether the Prime Minister understands that this was a classic example of the politics of fear, division, envy and resentment at a time when Canadians need to hear a message of hope and unity.
Government Spending September 21st, 2010
Mr. Speaker, just ask whether the jobs that have come back are worth the jobs we lost. That is number one.
This is a spend and borrow government. It has gotten us into a $54 billion hole. It is about to borrow $6 billion to give breaks to large corporations. The question Canadians are asking is this: how can we trust a spend and borrow government to dig us out of the hole that it dug us into?
Government Spending September 21st, 2010
Mr. Speaker, that does not get us to $130 million, number one, and number two, 94% of Canadians thought that was a total waste of money. It is not just a waste of money, it is a question of priorities. The government's priorities are prisons, planes, and publicity. The priorities of Canadians are education, health care, and retirement security.
How is it that the priorities of this government have gotten so out of touch with the majority of Canadians?
Government Spending September 21st, 2010
Mr. Speaker, this government has signed untendered contracts to buy planes and is spending billions on prisons. It wasted $1 billion on the G8 and G20 summits, and as we heard today, it has tripled its advertising spending to an unheard-of $130 million.
Can the government explain its wasteful spending record to Canadian taxpayers who are struggling to make ends meet?
Government Spending September 20th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the government is talking about jacking up payroll tax, which will cost Canadian jobs.
Everybody wants to keep Canada safe, but if the government is going to bid for $16 billion worth of aircraft, it should at least have a competitive bid that gives regional economic business to all the aerospace industries in Canada. If it is going to spend $13 billion on prisons, the government better have a better argument than the one we heard.
When will the government start listening to the real priorities of Canadians? Canadians make the law, not the Prime Minister.