House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 57% of the vote.
The Budget April 5th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, it tends to confuse the Canadian people.
The Prime Minister's refusal to present this issue as a stand-alone bill as part of a stand-alone commitment to Atlantic Canada is all about showing Atlantic Canadians where they really stand with the Liberal Party.
Why is the Prime Minister preparing to shaft Atlantic Canadians again and why are his Liberal members sitting by, watching the Prime Minister--
The Budget April 5th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is clearly confused. He and the Liberal Party are attempting to renege on a clear commitment to the people of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Prime Minister is refusing to present enough--
Public Safety March 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, in an outrageous demonstration of Liberal values, the Correctional Service of Canada is refusing to publicize photos or information about prison escapees, including convicted murders, because that would be an invasion of their privacy.
To add insult to injury, the government's obsessive coddling of criminals has enabled other government departments to send cheques to escapees living under false names, sending taxpayers' dollars to freewheeling fugitives.
When will the government end this perverse practice of allowing prisoners' privacy rights to trump the safety of Canadians and their cash and catch the crooks and clean up this stupid system?
Public Safety March 24th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, last night Quebeckers were sad because they were going to lose track of the Bougon family for several months. But today they have some consolation: Correctional Services Canada has also lost track of its Bougons and refuses to publish photos of the escapees, who nonetheless continue to receive government cheques.
When will the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness put an end to this ridiculous farce?
Sponsorship Program March 21st, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the only thing the minister knows about is musical chairs.
In addition to the camouflaging of dirty donations, a $50,000 slush fund was created and hidden by Groupaction. The secret slush fund was used to pay political assistants and make contributions to Liberal campaigns, including that of the Prime Minister. Top Liberal organizer, Jacques Corriveau, was paid about $5 million in sponsorship subcontracts as part of a series of Groupaction transactions.
The evidence mounts daily at the Gomery commission that the Liberal Party received kickbacks from ad agencies involved in the sponsorship program.
I ask again, when will the government show some guts and start a government action to recover the money from the Liberal Party of Canada?
Sponsorship Program March 21st, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's favourite shield has no credibility on this or anything else.
Last week Canadians heard that Liberal friendly ad firm Groupaction had funneled $20,000 to the Liberal Party through a personal company of an employee. Now this sneaky Liberal Groupaction was deliberately meant to cover the tracks of this scheme.
The Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport both said that all dirty money would be immediately returned. It is now clear that the Liberal Party did receive dirty money. Eleven advertising agencies are being sued by the federal government.
When, on behalf of taxpayers, will the government sue the Liberal Party of Canada to recover this dirty money?
Terrorism March 9th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, in some cases dithering causes death.
Yesterday the Minister of Transport did not want to explain why a computer system could not be set up in airports to monitor terrorists.
Would the Minister of Transport explain why police agencies have to rely on luck, when a computerized system could ensure the safety of Canadians?
Terrorism March 9th, 2005
We have come to the conclusion, Mr. Speaker, that the gun registry is a colossal failure and does not save lives.
Last week the director of CSIS, Jim Judd, told a Senate committee that the agency was considering recommending outlawing the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist organization in Canada. The United States, Great Britain and Australia have all done so.
Judd says Canada is hesitating because the foreign affairs minister is concerned that listing the Tigers might upset a peace process in Sri Lanka.
Could the Minister of Public Safety tell us what is more important, shutting down a terrorist organization in Canada or offending somebody outside the country? Who makes the final decision, her or the foreign affairs minister?
Canadian Livestock Industry March 8th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I would like to pursue this a little further.
The Deputy Prime Minister is a lawyer and a professor of law. She said in her own presentation here today that the government is prepared to do whatever it takes. The government is taking these great strides. She has listed chapter and verse of these incredible efforts that have been made.
The fact remains that the border is closed to Canadian cattle. That hardship is being felt, as she has pointed out, in a very real way from coast to coast. We are seeing farmers and producers facing the worst crisis, arguably, since the depression. They have had to endure numerous natural disasters in the past but this is continuing to have a fatal human impact on the family farm and producers.
I want to ask again the question that my colleague from Saskatchewan posed. Why is the government not making every effort to have face to face consultations even if it means having cabinet ministers in Washington every week and high ranking Canadian officials there every other day making these submissions and making these points clear? Will the government not join with others in legal actions now if we are talking about doing everything possible; that is pursuing a chapter 20 challenge; invoking sections 7 and 11, health and safety considerations, business fairness considerations; and making the case before the courts simultaneously to the dispute resolution mechanisms that are available under the WTO and NAFTA? Why would the government not go to the wall and pursue this in the courts simultaneously to get the border open?
The minister is famous for talking about a timely fashion. It has been almost two years and the border is still closed.
Terrorism March 8th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, this is really no laughing matter. I am only asking the minister to tell us whether the number of terrorists in Canada is going up or down. Since 9/11, the government clearly has not learned the horrible lessons necessary for prevention.
It took the government years to pass legislation that would enable terrorist checks on passenger lists. Four years after 9/11, the government still does not have an adequate system in place, cross-referencing, checking, sharing information of known terrorists travelling by air.
According to the director, there is a lack of equipment and criteria. This risks lives. Why has the government failed to put in place these important, basic tools necessary--