House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
International Cooperation March 23rd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister keeps changing his story on maternal health and family planning at the forthcoming G8 summit. First, he said no to family planning. Then he said yes, maybe. Nobody actually knows where the government is. Now is the time for clarity.
Will the Prime Minister support the Liberal motion now before the House, which reaffirms the Canadian position maintained over the last 25 years, yes or no?
Rights & Democracy March 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the government has shown nothing but contempt for independent organizations such as Rights & Democracy. It has made a mess of this organization by trying to gag employees. Now it is showing contempt for the parliamentary committee.
Will the Prime Minister assure us that his latest flip-flop will be the last, and that the government will cooperate with the committee so that we can work together to set things right at this important Canadian organization?
Rights & Democracy March 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, it is nice to be welcomed back but I did not miss a thing. I heard about the government's flip-flops in every town all week.
The government has made a total mess of a great institution, Rights & Democracy. It has intervened. It has undermined its political independence. It has appointed a hyper-partisan president. Now it goes on to blame the staff.
Will the Prime Minister work with us in good faith to repair the damage done? Will he guarantee that he will not use this crisis, which is of his own making, in order to eliminate Rights & Democracy altogether?
Rights & Democracy March 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I did not miss a thing.
Mr. Speaker, the government has created a scandal at Rights & Democracy. Last week, it prevented Suzanne Trépanier, Rémy Beauregard's widow, from testifying before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. Now we learn that the government has changed its mind once again.
Can the Prime Minister and the government confirm that Ms. Trépanier—as well as the organization's former presidents, former employees and dissenting directors—will be allowed to testify?
Rights & Democracy March 22nd, 2010
Mr. Speaker--
Afghanistan March 11th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, that does not change anything. The Prime Minister did everything in his power to hide the truth regarding Afghan detainees. He abused his power.
He shut down Parliament in order to avoid crucial questions on this matter. Now he is hiding behind Justice Iacobucci.
Why does he refuse to call a public inquiry? Why does he refuse to tell Canadians the truth?
Afghanistan March 11th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the core of this issue is, and always has been, the conduct of the government and the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister has done everything to prevent Canadians from getting to the bottom of this matter. The government boycotted the Afghanistan committee, censored documents, intimidated public servants, smeared Richard Colvin, shut down Parliament, and now is using Justice Iacobucci to buy some time. None of it has worked.
The question that Canadians want to know is this. What are the Prime Minister's specific grounds for refusing a public inquiry?
Afghanistan March 11th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the detainee issue is about fundamental issues regarding Canadian democracy. It is about the respect for human rights, our international obligations under the Geneva Convention, and ministerial responsibility to fulfill those obligations.
We on this side of the House have called for months for a full public inquiry about the Afghan mission, going right back to the beginning in 2001, and no new information will change this party's position on that issue.
I ask the Prime Minister once again. Will he do the right thing and allow Justice Iacobucci to lead a full public inquiry?
Haiti March 11th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, on January 12, catastrophe struck Haiti. Family ties and compassion have created a deep bond between our countries.
Canadians followed their hearts and showed true generosity in helping a country that has had more than its fair share of catastrophes. It is still difficult to comprehend the scope of the disaster. The grief felt at the loss of family, diplomats, humanitarian workers and Canadian police officers working with the UN in Haiti is still raw.
We will not forget those who were lost, especially Serge Marcil, who was our colleague and our friend.
We promise to follow their example of solidarity with Haiti and its people. The Canadians who were lost represented the best of ourselves.
Resumption of debate on Address in Reply March 11th, 2010
Madam Speaker, I listened with attention and with respect to the Prime Minister. There are certain elements of what he said with which all parties would associate themselves: the pride that we feel in our Olympic success; the pride we feel in the work of our soldiers in Afghanistan and Haiti; and places around the world.
I want to ask the Prime Minister a question of the following order. Could he outline which elements of the throne speech justified shutting down Parliament? He spoke of the necessity of having democratic debate and seemed to ignore that we have to have a place to have democratic debate, namely, this House. Our reading of the 6,000 word Speech from the Throne is that there is nothing new in this. There is nothing that could conceivably justify the prorogation of Parliament.
Would the Prime Minister agree to support our amendment to the address in reply?