House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
The Economy October 5th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, this House is not going to get the facts about Canada's economic situation from the government or the minister. Here is a thought.
The Conservatives proposed the creation of a Parliamentary Budget Officer and then they shackled him. The question is, will they unshackle the Parliamentary Budget Officer? Will they provide him with the resources he needs and open the country's books so that Canadians can finally get the truth about the nation's finances?
The Economy October 5th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I believe that the minister is still in the yellow submarine with his Prime Minister.
Every time that the government gives Canadians an update about the budget the facts speak for themselves: things are going from bad to worse. The government is now telling us that we will have a $56 billion deficit. That is not what we voted for.
How long will we have a deficit? Will the Prime Minister and the government admit that we already have a structural deficit?
The Economy October 5th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, even before the recession hit, the government had spent its way through a $13 billion surplus left by the previous Liberal government, and over the past six months it has changed its fiscal projections no less than three times, each time painting a worse picture. Now we are told to brace for a $56 billion deficit and future deficits stretching until who knows when.
With recovery stalling and unemployment rising, will the government finally admit to Canadians that it has taken this country back into a structural deficit?
Member for Westmount—Ville-Marie October 5th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 25th anniversary of the first space flight by a Canadian astronaut.
In the years since that first flight, we have created the Canadian Space Agency, deployed the Canadarm and helped build the international space station. We have sent eight astronauts into space on fifteen missions.
Today, 25 years after his first mission, we honour the first Canadian astronaut. We recognize his three trips to space, his six hundred and seventy-seven hours as a payload and mission specialist and his service as president of the Canadian Space Agency.
He is a Canadian hero and we in the House are privileged to count him as a colleague.
To the member for Westmount—Ville-Marie, congratulations, my friend. We are proud of you.
Government Policies October 1st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I am glad that side of the House is convinced of the proposition. We certainly are not.
That is a government that uses every opportunity to treat its adversaries as enemies, every opportunity to sow division for partisan gains, and every opportunity to use public money to spread untruths.
How can Canadians continue to have confidence in that government?
Government Policies October 1st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, Canadians want a government that will focus on their needs, give them hope and help them build for the future and yet we have a government—
Government Policies October 1st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve better. They want a government that reflects their values, the values of mutual help and compassion.
They want a government that understands the words “compromise”, “collaboration”, “cooperation” and “respect”.
They want a government that unites Canadians instead of dividing them.
Why has this government so abused Canadians' trust?
Government Policies October 1st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, Canada has a government that does not believe in government, that is not protecting today's jobs, that is not creating the jobs of tomorrow, that does not protect technologies made in Canada, that does not protect the health of the most vulnerable and that does not protect our health care system when it is attacked in the United States.
When will this government admit that its ideology is to weaken the Government of Canada's ability to protect Canadians?
Business of Supply October 1st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I wish to convey my respect for the work done my hon. colleagues from Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine and Dartmouth—Cole Harbour on the employment insurance file.
We have worked in good faith, tried to find a solution and tried to make this Parliament work. Given the unprecedented unemployment crisis, we asked ourselves some questions and worked together to come up with some solutions.
Unfortunately, we learned that the government waited eight weeks before it called a single meeting. Then, when we wanted to talk reasonably, they presented us with bogus figures.
Little by little, it became absolutely impossible to work with this government. That is one of the main reasons why it became impossible to make this House work in a constructive way, and that is also one of the reasons why we no longer have confidence in this party to lead the House.
Business of Supply October 1st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, one of the last, most amusing forms of desperation that we witness time and again on the other side of the House is that when the Conservatives are in a hole, they blame the previous Liberal government, which has not been in office for four years. Instead of focusing honestly and addressing the shortcomings of their government in respect of H1N1, they attempt to shift blame into the past.
That is a pattern of evading responsibility that Canadians are thoroughly tired of. That is one of the reasons why we cannot continue to support a government that, instead of offering us a plan, offers us excuses and an alibi.