House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
The Budget March 26th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, instead of lowering taxes for the less fortunate, the government is increasing them. Instead of creating child care spaces in order to provide a true choice to Canadian families, the government has created none. Instead of helping families who work in order to make ends meet, this government is making minimal investments and claiming victory.
In a time of enormous surpluses, why is this government passing up the chance to help Canada's least fortunate families succeed?
The Budget March 26th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the government's budget last week left millions of Canadians in the dust. They are our urban poor, aboriginal Canadians living on reserves, and Canadian families living paycheque to paycheque trying to keep their heads above water.
For these Canadians, it was little or nothing. Why does the government keep putting its own interests ahead of the interests of Canadians? Why has it forgotten the very meaning of fairness?
Privilege March 22nd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the point is very simple. Any member of this House is committed to the defence of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I have taught human rights, I have promoted human rights, I have defended human rights. I ask the minister to stop taking remarks entirely out of context and withdraw the remarks that he has made.
Privilege March 22nd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a question of privilege and it relates to remarks made by the government House leader during question period in which allegations were made in respect of torture. This is an unfounded, baseless allegation.
If the Speaker would allow me, I would like to quote one sentence from a book of mine on this subject which makes my views perfectly clear. As I wrote in 2004 in The Lesser Evil:
Torture should remain anathema to a liberal democracy and should never be regulated, countenanced, or covertly accepted in a war on terror.
I ask the government House leader to withdraw his comments.
Afghanistan March 22nd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, yesterday and again today, the government asked the Canadian people to make a ridiculous choice by telling them that anyone who believes prisoners of war should be treated according to international law does not support our troops. That is a ridiculous choice.
Does the Prime Minister believe that the Geneva Convention is optional? Does he think that our treatment of prisoners can differ according to what we think of them? Why is he tolerating an incompetent defence minister and when will he replace him?
Afghanistan March 22nd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, members on that side of the House do not seem to understand they have no monopoly on patriotism, no monopoly on support for the military, and no monopoly on support for our troops in Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister is blinded by ambition and Canada is hobbled by his arrogance. By putting into question Canada's duty to uphold the Geneva Convention, the Prime Minister has jeopardized our international reputation.
When will the Prime Minister put Canada's interests ahead of his own?
Afghanistan March 22nd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, yesterday in the House we once again saw that the Prime Minister will say anything and do anything to win his never ending election campaign. It is clear that this is a Prime Minister who thinks that no attack is beneath him, no shot is too cheap, and no smear is too unbecoming.
If the Prime Minister really cared about the troops, really cared about human rights, and really cared about the success of the Afghan mission, he would replace his incompetent minister.
Will the Prime Minister stop putting election politics before everything else and replace the Minister of National Defence immediately?
The Budget March 21st, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I will try again in French. On Monday, the Minister of Finance announced rather arrogantly that the bickering between the provincial and federal governments was over. It is not over at all.
Why did the government not know that half of the provinces would reject its budget? Why did this government drive the provinces apart, rather than bring them together?
The Budget March 21st, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the government believes there are two classes of Canadians. There are those who might vote for the Conservative Party and there are those who do not count.
A prime minister is supposed to unite and not divide, and a federal government is supposed to act on behalf of all Canadians, so why is it that the people of Saskatchewan, B.C., New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador are wondering today, “Why don't we count?”
Why did the government introduce a budget that so obviously divides the country?
The Budget March 20th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, there is no money this coming year. It has been back ended and the minister well knows that.
Tomorrow's jobs require action right now. Canada has to stay competitive in the global economy, but this government is only planning for the next election.
How can Canada become a global economic leader with such a timid government?