House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2015, with 32% of the vote.
Shipbuilding Industry October 20th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, today the NDP shipbuilding critic from Sackville—Eastern Shore, along with myself and all New Democrats, celebrate with the workers of Nova Scotia and British Columbia, but for other workers yesterday's announcement came up $2 billion short. Instead of announcing the full $35 billion in contracts, the government picked winners and losers.
The Prime Minister left major shipyards like Davie vulnerable. Why?
Canadian Wheat Board October 19th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister seems to have forgotten about the law and order government. I just read the law to the Prime Minister. It says that the minister shall not cause to be introduced in Parliament a bill impacting the Wheat Board's mandate unless the producers have voted in favour of these changes. It has not happened.
Why will the Prime Minister not respect our farmers, respect democracy, and respect the law of the land?
Canadian Wheat Board October 19th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, here is what the law says:
The Minister shall not cause to be introduced in Parliament a bill that would exclude any kind, type, class or grade of wheat or barley...unless
(a) the Minister has consulted with the board...; and
(b) the producers of the grain have voted in favour of the exclusion or extension....
That is the law of the land. Why will the Prime Minister not respect the law, respect the producers and keep the Canadian Wheat Board in place?
Canadian Wheat Board October 19th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are ignoring the needs of Prairie farmers by dismantling the Canadian Wheat Board even though that is not what they want. Farmers made it clear: they want to keep the Canadian Wheat Board. But the Conservatives are refusing to listen. They are refusing to accept the results of the referendum on the Canadian Wheat Board.
Why dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board even though that is not what farmers want?
The Economy October 18th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the government is mocking Canadians when it says that 650,000 new jobs have been created since the recession. That is false and the Prime Minister knows it. That is why the unemployment rate is higher now than before the recession. That is why the unemployment rate is rising and the employment rate is declining. The Prime Minister should stop deceiving everyone and tell us the truth.
Where is the job creation plan?
The Economy October 18th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, in the past 10 years, more than 30% of economic gains went to 1% of the population, the wealthiest people. That is the result of the fiscal policies adopted by the Conservatives, and the Liberals before them. The middle class is becoming poorer, fewer people are working, the gap between rich and poor is widening, and profitable big business is receiving billions of dollars in tax cuts.
Is the Prime Minister aware of the inequality he is creating in the country?
The Economy October 18th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, instead of answering the concerns raised by the Occupy movement, the Conservatives are boasting that Canada's level of inequality is better than others, but the very conservative Conference Board has a different take: Canada has the highest increase of inequality of 16 peer nations, including the United States.
Surely the Prime Minister is aware of this. Instead of bragging about its record, where is the plan to reduce inequality in Canada?
The Economy October 17th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, inequality is growing in Canada. The middle class is paying more while the top 1% is earning more. People are fed up. They are occupying Wall Street, they are occupying Bay Street, they are occupying Ottawa, yet the Minister of Finance is dismissing them. “All is good, all is well; move along”, he says.
Why will the Prime Minister not listen to them and cancel his corporate tax cuts?
The Economy October 17th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, that kind of answer is making people mad. The Occupy Wall Street movement is spreading throughout the world and to Canada because people are tired of seeing their leaders give billions of dollars in tax cuts to big business. Even the Governor of the Bank of Canada says that these frustrations are legitimate.
Is the message getting through to the Prime Minister?
Air Canada October 17th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, while the Minister of Labour gets upgrades from Air Canada managers to fly first class, she sides once again with management, picking winners and losers in the labour dispute.
The Conservatives claim that they believe in the free market, but they are happy to take away the rights of workers to market their value freely.
Could the government explain why it is choosing sides and interfering in the bargaining process?