House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
Points of Order April 22nd, 2009
Madam Speaker, when you look at the recording, you will see that he was pointing right at the leader of the Bloc Québécois, the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie. It was perfectly clear to those of us on this side of the House. We eagerly await your decision.
Points of Order April 22nd, 2009
Madam Speaker, I would like to inform the House that, during the first vote, the one on the Bloc Québécois' opposition motion concerning the gun registry, the Conservative member for Essex made an inappropriate gesture, and I would like to ask you to take action. When the member for Essex stood to vote against the Bloc Québécois motion—as is his right—he made an inappropriate gesture: he imitated a handgun, a revolver, using his thumb and index finger. Many Bloc Québécois members saw him quite clearly. Consequently, I would ask the member for Essex to apologize for making that inappropriate gesture. Given that the vote was on the subject of whether to maintain the firearms registry, it was totally unacceptable.
Business of Supply April 21st, 2009
Madam Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and I believe you would find unanimous consent for the following motion:
That, at the conclusion of today's debate on the opposition motion in the name of the member for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, all questions necessary to dispose of the motion be deemed put and a recorded division deemed requested and deferred until Wednesday, April 22, 2009, at 3:00 p.m.; and that the deferred recorded divisions on the second reading stage of Bill C-268 in the name of the member for Kildonan—St. Paul, Bill C-300 in the name of the member for Scarborough—Guildwood, and Bill C-291 in the name of the member for Jeanne-Le Ber, currently scheduled before the time provided for private members business on Wednesday, April 22, instead occur immediately following the vote on the Bloc Quebecois opposition motion on the same day.
Rail Transportation April 20th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, given that everyone in Quebec is asking the minister to take action, it will not be a problem and he will take action. Is that what we are to understand?
Important municipal and environmental players are very pleased that the Obama administration realizes that green transportation will have a greater role to play than motor vehicles in future economic development.
When will this government show the same type of leadership and long-term vision by demonstrating a similar interest in high-speed trains?
Rail Transportation April 20th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, last Thursday President Obama presented a plan for the construction of 10 new high-speed rail networks, one of which could directly link Montreal to the United States. In the meanwhile, the Conservative government, rather than taking action, is reiterating that it is currently undertaking feasibility studies of the Quebec City-Windsor corridor even though it has been examining the project since 1992.
Will the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities promise today that his government will support President Obama's project in order to link Quebec City and Montreal to the future American network?
Goods and Services Tax April 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, that is the problem. The government is coming up with all kinds of excuses for not compensating Quebec, and it is using the crisis as an excuse to force its model on the province. This government is in such a bad position and so vindictive that it has resorted to using tax policy for partisan purposes. Unbelievable.
Does the Minister of Finance deny that he is using fiscal weapons to impose his Ontario-style vision on Quebec?
Goods and Services Tax April 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance wrote to his Quebec counterpart to say that he was pleased Quebec is considering the possibility of joining the harmonized sales tax club. Reading between the lines, the government wants to impose the Ontario model and put an end to Quebec administering the federal GST, which the province has been doing quite well since 1991.
Why does the Minister of Finance want to fix something that is not broken and impose the Ontario model on Quebec? Is that what open federalism means for the Conservatives—taking advantage of the crisis to force Quebec into the mould?
Point of Order March 31st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the hon. member's remarks, but I should point out to him and to the House that such expressions are part of the vernacular in Quebec.
I refer to page 522 of Marleau and Montpetit, under the heading “Rules of Order and Decorum”, and nowhere do I find the expression “token Quebecker” mentioned in the definition of unparliamentary remarks.
I submit this very respectfully.
Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act March 30th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, on the same point of order, I would remind my hon. colleague that it was a member of his own party who made the comment, the hon. member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine and Liberal Party deputy House leader.
Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act March 30th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois members will vote against this motion.