House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2015, with 40% of the vote.
Finance March 6th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, when the Minister of Finance referred to the C.D. Howe Institute report on financial accountability, it was obvious that he had not read the entire report. The institute says that improvements still need to be made in financial reporting.
The Conservatives may well have tabled the main estimates, but when will they release the plans and priorities and stop hiding the truth about Canada's finances?
The Budget March 5th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, that's not good enough. Talking about transparency alone is not good enough. The Conservatives have simply failed to be the transparent and accountable government that they promised Canadians seven years ago.
This week we heard from former senior officials from the Minister of Finance's own department who said that the Conservatives have also failed to uphold the integrity and credibility of the budget process. Is this who Canadians are supposed to trust their tax dollars with?
When will the Conservatives stop hiding behind empty promises and start actually listening to Canadians?
The Budget March 5th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the former civil servants who said that the Conservatives have been chipping away at the credibility of the budget process year after year were non-partisan. That is an insult to Parliament and a disgraceful way to act.
There is less economic and fiscal information in the Conservatives' current budget than there was 25 years ago.
It is not surprising that Kevin Page had to take the government to court to get information.
What happened to the Conservatives' big ideas about transparency?
Parliamentary Budget Officer March 4th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, while Conservatives defend Senate entitlements, it is the NDP that is looking after Canadians taxpayers.
The deputy leader of the government in the Senate claims that Page is overstepping his mandate when he helps MPs with fiscal oversight. Kevin Page's legal case is all about ensuring fiscal accountability, but the Senate is threatening to shut the Parliamentary Budget Officer down.
What will the government do to stand up for taxpayers and stop this undemocratic charade, and will the government call off its senators?
Parliamentary Budget Officer March 4th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, partisan appointments do nothing more than reward party cronies at Canadians' expense. In exchange, these cronies must be at the government's beck and call.
The Prime Minister is using his Senate to put a stop to the legal proceedings initiated by Kevin Page.
The Senate, which is not accountable to anyone, does not want Kevin Page to get the documents he needs to do his job.
Why are the Conservatives using the Senate to strong-arm Kevin Page?
The Budget February 27th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, for a refreshing change, let us look at the facts. Conservatives are cutting services that Canadians rely on and spending more on the Senate. Infrastructure spending is down almost 25% while our communities face crumbling roads and bridges. While the rest of the world invests in rail, Conservatives are cutting VIA Rail in half.
Will the next budget be more of the same: more money for Senate cronies, more money for well-connected friends, and less for the services and safety programs that Canadians rely on?
The Budget February 27th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, they are making cuts to food safety but increasing the Senate's budget. They are cutting $1 billion from the infrastructure budget but increasing the propaganda budget. Not to mention that VIA Rail's budget is being slashed in half.
More money for party friends and propaganda, less money for services for Canadians. Are the estimates a taste of what is to come in the next budget?
The Budget February 26th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we will see if get any accountability on that this year.
Let us continue with the estimates: $1.1 billion cut from infrastructure; Transport Canada cut almost 30%. However, at the same time, the unaccountable, unelected Senate actually increased.
The senior bureaucrat to the President of the Treasury Board is now saying she should have the right to vet PBO reports.
Why are Conservatives trying to seize power over the PBO? Why are they hiding from real fiscal accountability?
The Budget February 26th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Conservatives presented the cuts that will be in the next budget . VIA Rail will be cut by $290 million, Infrastructure Canada will be cut by $1.8 billion and the Canada Revenue Agency will have its budget cut at a time when basic tax services for Canadians are being slashed.
Which organization will see a budget increase? The Senate, of course.
Why are they giving more to their friends, who are under investigation, and cutting services provided to honest Canadians?
The Budget February 25th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives' last budget failed to tackle the serious economic challenges facing us, it failed to create jobs, and it failed to bring in a long-term skills training strategy. Instead, Conservatives rewarded their well-connected friends and attacked essential services like health care and old age security, and there will always be millions for their unaccountable senators.
When will the government change direction and stop pretending that giving away billions to profitable corporations is somehow a real job creation program?