House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 48% of the vote.
Citizenship and Immigration December 7th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the minister has restructured her department. She has opened up this country to much greater immigration. She is putting more officers into the field. She is working very hard on the question of resettlement. That is the job of the immigration minister, that is what she is doing, and I support her.
Citizenship and Immigration December 7th, 2004
First of all, Mr. Speaker, the hon. member, the minister of immigration, has done a very good job in restructuring the department. She has done a tremendous job in opening up this country to immigration across the country. She is working very hard on resettlement. What the hon. minister is doing is making sure that this is a country that is open to immigrants, unlike many of the countries cited in the hon. member's question.
Citizenship and Immigration December 7th, 2004
Once again, Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition ought to support the role of the independent Ethics Commissioner who reports to Parliament. The minister has referred this matter to the Ethics Commissioner, who is looking into it and will make a full report, at her request.
Citizenship and Immigration December 7th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, very clearly the preamble to the question of the Leader of the Opposition has no basis in fact. I understand that the minister, having learned of this donation, forthwith took the steps that were required. She has notified Elections Canada and she has returned the donation.
Canada-U.S. Relations December 2nd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, we have done a great deal more than that. Not only have the ministers been there, but as a result of an initiative of this government we have opened up a secretariat for parliamentarians to deal with Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives, because that is in fact where a lot of the problems lie in terms of softwood and BSE.
We have done very well with the administration. We must recognize that under the American system of government we have to deal with Congress and the Senate. That is why we have taken the steps that we have.
Citizenship and Immigration December 2nd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I certainly support the minister. The minister has done an enormous amount for immigration. She has fundamentally delved into the structure of the department. She is working with refugees and with settlements.
That is the reason why all of us support her, because she is doing a first-class job for Canadians.
National Defence December 2nd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that an arms race is neither in Canada's interest nor in any other country's interest, which is one of the reasons we have been at the forefront of the fight against nuclear proliferation. I also discussed that with the President, the absolute necessity of stopping nuclear proliferation and of stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. We will continue in that vein because that is a fundamental tenet of Canadian foreign policy. It has been from the beginning and will continue to be.
National Defence December 2nd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I have said in the past, and I repeat here again, I have stated unequivocally that Canada is opposed to the weaponization of space. I stated that to the President of the United States.
National Defence December 2nd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, discussions are ongoing. Discussions were held over the last couple of days. The answer to the question is when it is in the Canadian interest to do so, we will in fact make a decision.
National Defence December 2nd, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I must say I do find it rather ironic that the Leader of the Opposition is raising this issue. The fact is that since he has originally stated his position, he has flip-flopped. First he is for it, then he is against it, then he is thinking about it, then he does not know what he thinks.
The fact is we have been quite consistent. We continue to study it and we will make a decision when it is in Canada's interest.