House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
Political Financing March 8th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, this is not how the system works. The Prime Minister does not make the rules. The House makes the rules.
Today the House is discussing a case of electoral fraud involving many members of the government's inner circle.
Those responsible for this fraud still hold positions within the government; but they have been charged with fraud, for heaven's sake!
Why are they still in office?
Government Accountability March 8th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, it is not up to the Prime Minister to decide whether his response was sufficient. It is up to us to decide whether such was the case.
Last week the House ordered the government to produce important documents relating to the F-35 and relating to megaprisons. These involve the expenditure of billions of dollars of public money. A decent government would have complied, but the Conservative government is not a decent government. It is a government with contempt for democracy and a flagrant abuse of power. When is this pattern going to stop?
Government Accountability March 8th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the government is facing a litany of scandals: misleading the House, committing electoral fraud and many more.
Yesterday, the government ignored a clear order from the House to produce important documents. The government's refusal demonstrates its disdain for democracy.
Does the Prime Minister realize that he is once again in contempt of Parliament?
Political Financing March 2nd, 2011
Mr. Speaker, this in and out scandal is more than forged invoices. It is more than police raids on Conservative Party headquarters and it is more than just the clique around the Prime Minister facing jail time. This is fundamentally a question about the public character of the Prime Minister, his lust to win at any cost and at any price.
Will he admit that he encouraged his party to break the law, defraud the Canadian taxpayer, and will he have the decency to stand in the House and finally tell Canadians the truth?
Political Financing March 2nd, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Federal Court of Appeal judges agree with Elections Canada and the crown attorney: the Conservatives violated the Canada Elections Act. They have been accused of fraud, and members of the Prime Minister's inner circle may have to serve time in prison. To claim that this is simply a difference of opinion on an administrative matter is an insult to the intelligence of this House and Canadians.
When will the Prime Minister stop defending the indefensible?
Pakistan March 2nd, 2011
Mr. Speaker, before I ask the normal round of questions, I want to ask the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to join the member for Don Valley West to express the shock, outrage, and anger of this side of the House at the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, a friend of Canada and a passionate defender of religious freedom in Pakistan.
Government Accountability March 1st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, we cannot judge the budget without the necessary documents. That is how we show respect for the House of Commons.
The Prime Minister withholds documents. He defends friends charged with illegal activity. He shuts down Parliament when it gets in his way. He keeps a minister in cabinet who does not tell the House the truth and will not even let her get up and defend herself in the House of Commons. All of this is an abuse of power. It is an abuse of democracy.
The Prime Minister goes around the world preaching democracy overseas. When will he defend and practice democracy--
Government Accountability March 1st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, we are not getting any answers to clear questions and it is absolutely not true that we did the same thing. Only the Conservative Party is being accused of fraud, not us.
On another note, yesterday the House voted clearly to force the government to provide the necessary documents for assessing its upcoming budget.
Will the Prime Minister obey the House and produce these documents by Monday, or will he continue to show contempt for the House?
Political Financing March 1st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, these replies are completely ridiculous. This is not an administrative question. This is not an accounting dispute. This is a matter of an abuse of power.
Let me read something that the Prime Minister said when he created the office of the public prosecutor. He said:
Bend the rules, you will be punished; break the law, you will be charged; abuse the public trust, you will go to prison.
These are the Prime Minister's own words. Does he not understand that these words apply to him? Does he think he is above the law? Who does he think he is?
Political Financing March 1st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, this is not an administrative matter; it is a matter of illegal activity. Four members of the Prime Minister's inner circle have been charged with violating the Canada Elections Act. The public prosecutor clearly says that evidence of illegal activity is voluminous.
Can the Prime Minister assure us that, at the next election in Canada, there will not be another in and out scam?