House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 60% of the vote.
Arts and Culture October 30th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, when I hear answers like that, I feel sorry for the Conservatives. I do. They just do not get it. Our culture is what makes us sing, dance, laugh and sometimes cry.
Try to imagine one day in our lives without culture, without books, without music, without poetry. Try to imagine that, just one day in our lives. It is impossible. It proves one point: culture needs more support, not more cuts. Why can the Conservatives not get it?
Arts and Culture October 30th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, every time the Conservatives cut cultural funding, they attack our quality of life and our identity. First, they cut programs supporting theatre, dance and opera. Now they are cutting funding for music. What will they cut next?
In contrast, this week, the Liberal Party committed to doubling funding for the Canada Council for the Arts. Two parties, two completely different visions. It is often said that ignorance breeds suspicion and rejection of that which is not understood.
Is ignorance the reason that they are once again attacking culture?
Infrastructure October 23rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives promised a public appointments commission but it is not happening. They said that they would at least follow existing rules and guidelines but that is not happening either.
Because they are in such trouble and because I am a nice guy, I will give them a chance today to answer this very simple question truthfully. Why were board members of the bridge corporation invited to Senator Housakos' fundraiser? Why would they be there?
Infrastructure October 23rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, listening to the Conservatives, we tell ourselves the world is really small and full of coincidences. Leo Housakos, for example, worked for BPR and was then appointed senator. Through all that, he organized little fundraisers. Then, one evening, at one of his little cocktail parties, who should be there? Why, his colleagues from BPR and the directors of the Federal Bridge Corporation. Strangely enough, shortly thereafter, who gets the bridge corporation contract? Why, BPR.
Does the minister agree that this is quite a coincidence?
Infrastructure October 22nd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, it is quite clear that we are talking about influence peddling and certainly about partisan use of taxpayers' money, because, as we now know, Senator Housakos was a member of the board of the engineering firm BPR. Today, he is one of the Prime Minister's most important organizers in Quebec.
My second question is just as simple. How many sole-source contracts has BPR received from the federal government since the Conservatives came to power?
Infrastructure October 22nd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, it would seem the Conservatives have something to hide about the Champlain Bridge contract.
Usually, information on a website is not changed from one day to the next unless there is a good reason to do so.
My question is very simple. Did the Prime Minister's spokesperson, Dimitri Soudas, have anything to do with the changes to Senator Housakos' website?
Government Advertising October 8th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the government is having a great time with taxpayers' money. It is on a partisan advertising spending spree and the bill is going not to the Conservative Party but to Canadian taxpayers.
Government advertising has to be objective and informative, but that is not so here. On the contrary, they have spent tens of millions of dollars to toot their own horn for no apparent reason.
Using Canadians' money to try to win them over is not only immoral, it is illegal. Are they aware of that?
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis October 7th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, today is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis awareness day here on the Hill.
Today is ALS awareness day here on the Hill. ALS is a terrible disease, as members in the House know all too well.
Many people are still not very familiar with this disease and have not experienced the pain of watching the life of one of their loved ones being turned upside down by such a diagnosis.
Like all serious diseases, a lot more research must be done on ALS to keep hope alive. We need to know that one day we will overcome that frightening diagnosis.
In order to advance research, money is needed. To get that money, the general public has to be aware of the impact of this disease. That is why I invite all my colleagues to wear a cornflower and join us on Parliament Hill this evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Together we can make a difference.
Tobacco Products October 2nd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, they have defended the interests of tobacco companies instead of those of our children and young teens.
The executive director of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada, Cynthia Callard, stated that the Conservatives tried to water down the legislation simply to please cigarette manufacturers.
The only reason they are backing down now is because we have forced them to, not out of conviction.
Knowing the devastating effects of tobacco, is it normal en 2009 to have to fight the government in order to protect our children's health?
Tobacco Products October 2nd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, after Philip Morris threatened to shut down its facilities in Quebec City, the Conservatives proposed an amendment to allow flavoured cigarettes targeting young people to be manufactured. The Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and the member for Beauce have advocated for the manufacturer, in the name of protecting the freedom of choice of adult smokers, they argued.
Why is protecting the freedom of choice of those adult smokers more important to them than protecting our children's health?