House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
Afghanistan November 30th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, when will the government apologize for using a Canadian destroyer as a backdrop for party political propaganda?
At no time have we ever attacked the integrity of the Canadian armed forces. The issue is the conduct of the government. The issue is whether the Conservatives are telling Canadians the truth. The issue is whether they have covered up allegations of torture for 18 months. It is time to hear the truth from that side of the House instead of these baseless attacks.
Afghanistan November 30th, 2009
Mr. Speaker--
Afghanistan November 30th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, at no time has this party attacked our troops or our men in the field. It is the government we are attacking. It is the government's conduct.
For 18 months the Conservatives knew about allegations of torture and did nothing. Then they sought to smear a distinguished public servant. Even now they are not telling the truth and they are hiding behind our soldiers. When will they start telling Canadians the truth?
Afghanistan November 30th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, evidence of torture has now been given to a journalist and to former army officers. This is a disinformation campaign. The government reveals its secrets to those it chooses but hides the truth from Canadians.
When will the government stop hiding the truth? When will it give the evidence to the parliamentary committee and to Canadians?
Afghanistan November 25th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, between January 2006 and May 2007, the government knew that torture was occurring in Afghan jails. It knew that it was transferring Afghans to those very jails, but the Prime Minister claims that no one transferred by Canadians was ever tortured.
How can he be so categorical when the government did nothing to investigate for 18 months? What kind of Canadian government does nothing to prevent torture?
Afghanistan November 25th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, reports of torture reached the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's own national security adviser.
For 18 months, the government knew about torture in Afghan jails. For 18 months, it did not investigate. For 18 months, it did not stop it, and it has covered it up ever since. Why?
Afghanistan November 25th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, reports of torture reached the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's national security advisor. For 18 months, the Conservatives did nothing. They instead tried to hide the information. The moment of truth has arrived.
When will the Prime Minister turn this evidence over to Parliament? When will he tell the truth?
Afghanistan November 24th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, we cannot have relevant testimony without documents. The government documents on torture constitute extremely important evidence. Yesterday the Minister of National Defence promised to hand them over. Today he is retreating into secrecy.
Why is the government refusing to let the parliamentary committee get to the bottom of this affair? Why is the government so afraid of what will be found in those crucial documents?
Afghanistan November 24th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the credible allegations were made and no action was taken.
The question is whether the government will now make available to the parliamentary inquiry the documents that it needs in order to get to the bottom of this affair. Why is it, if the government is so sure that no detainee transferred by Canada was ever abused in an Afghan jail, it will not supply the documentary evidence to prove its case before a parliamentary committee?
Afghanistan November 24th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, between January 2006 and May 2007 there was a cascade of reports about torture in Afghan jails, especially from reputable Canadian officials like Richard Colvin. It defies belief that this information never reached the Prime Minister. How can anyone believe that the Prime Minister did not himself know about torture in Afghan jails and the risk that detainees transferred there would be tortured, and if that is so, how can he possibly justify his failure to act for those crucial 18 months?