House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 39% of the vote.
International Co-operation March 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, instead of bailing, why do the Conservatives not try to fix it?
The facts are clear. The Conservatives are doing tremendous damage to our international reputation. We are talking about a $350,000 contribution to mitigate drought, climate change and help fight famine. Instead, we have sent a message to the world that Canada is not serious about these issues.
Will the minister do the right thing and reinstate Canada's involvement in this important UN convention?
Retirement Congratulations March 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, every morning we receive a comprehensive package of news clippings, known as Quorum, in our offices. Rarely do we think about the work that goes into preparing such quality products, the early hours and the meticulous attention to detail.
In recent years, Quorum was edited by Trina Costantini-Powell. After 35 years of dedicated service to the Library of Parliament, Trina begins her retirement. It is my great honour to rise and congratulate her on her retirement.
Parliament depends upon the professionalism and hard work of people like Trina who are integral to the functioning of our democracy. We will miss Trina on the Hill, but her volunteer work through St. Anthony church, Italian Week, the Dalhousie Food Cupboard and other endeavours will continue to enrich our community.
I urge all members to join me in thanking all the employees of Parliament for their contributions and in wishing Trina a long and wonderful retirement. Thank you, Trina.
The Budget March 26th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for her presentation and also for her hard work on housing. It is a crisis in this country, and I am so glad we have members like her here raising that issue.
In 2005 something extraordinary happened. In this House, the NDP was able to negotiate a deal with the government of the day to get $4.5 billion that was just going to be thrown into corporate tax cuts, going God knows where, into things like housing. The money stayed for 2006-07. The government actually cut ribbons and made big announcements about using that very money that it voted against.
What we see now is a government that does not seem to have a plan when it comes to national housing. It has announcements, but we do not know how much money is really going to get to people.
My question to my colleague is this: how can we have any faith in the government when it does not come forward with a national housing strategy? All other G7 countries that we work with have national housing strategies. They invest in housing for people and get results.
The Budget March 26th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague's comments on the budget, and one of the challenges we have had with this budget is that there is not enough detail. Looking back to budget 2012, we still have not got the facts. In fact, Kevin Page was just in court trying to get that.
I want to get the member's answer precisely on the numbers when it comes to job training. I would like him to share with us exactly when this job training program would take effect in Ontario and specific dates, and I want to know exactly how much money in this budget would go to Ontario for job training and when that would take effect.
Conflict Minerals Act March 26th, 2013
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-486, An Act respecting corporate practices relating to the extraction, processing, purchase, trade and use of conflict minerals from the Great Lakes Region of Africa.
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to introduce a bill entitled, an act respecting corporate practices relating to the extraction, processing, purchase, trade and use of conflict minerals from the Great Lakes Region of Africa.
The conflict minerals that end up in many products, such as our cellphones and game consoles, are responsible for funding and fuelling a war that has killed more than five million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The war in the Congo is the deadliest conflict since World War II. Rape is widely used as a strategy and a weapon of war.
The bill ensures that minerals used in Canadian products will not benefit armed groups engaged in atrocities. We developed the bill in consultation with industry and civil society. I urge all members to support the bill in Parliament. Let us make Canada a leader in ending rape and war in the Congo.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Canadian Heritage March 25th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, that means events like Canada Day will be under the oversight of ministers in the Conservative government, not an arm's-length institution like the NCC. This is about celebrating Canada, not branding the Conservative government. Have Conservatives even costed this?
The real question here is that as a result of this decision, how much exactly will be cut from the NCC's budget?
Canadian Heritage March 25th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, by moving the National Capital Commission's events to Heritage Canada, our public celebrations are now in the hands of a Conservative minister. That is right, events like Canada Day are a chance for Canadians—
The Budget March 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I was interested in what the member had to say in particular about tax evasion and tax havens. In fact, if we go back to our platform in the last two elections, we had focused on this issue. With regard to the issue of tax evasion and tax havens, we are talking about tens of billions of dollars. We were talking to representatives of the IMF recently in Washington. The member may have heard about the trip to Washington. They were very concerned about this.
The problem is the government has cut the capacity to go after the very people we need to. It has cut staff at CRA. I just spoke with one of the people who goes after these tax cheaters and tax havens and he cannot keep up. He is way behind. He is working hard, but he does not have the resources. How can the government say that it is serious about this when it has taken away the tools to go after tax havens and tax evaders?
Foreign Affairs March 21st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, it is essential that Sri Lanka not be rewarded for its inaction. Unless Sri Lanka complies with the United Nations' calls for an independent investigation, Canada must not participate in the upcoming Commonwealth meetings, and that is a period: no Canadian participation at all.
I have a very simple question for the minister. Would the minister make that clear commitment to Canadians here and now?
Citizenship and Immigration March 20th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that Conservatives have actually damaged our reputation on this. Now, for the second time, Turkey has had to call out a Conservative minister for not telling the truth.
People are being killed by the millions and are being displaced, Canadians are worried about the safety of their family members, yet the minister had the gall to try to blame the Turkish government for Conservative inaction.
Will the minister stand and apologize? Will the Conservatives actually live up to their commitment to save those in Syria now?