House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 50% of the vote.
Ethics February 4th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the president and executive vice-president of AVR Radio made donations to the New Democratic Party. After that, one of the NDP heritage critics wrote a letter supportive of the AVR application to the CRTC, and so did the NDP aboriginal affairs critic. In fact, even the NDP ethics critic wrote a letter in support of the AVR Radio application.
The NDP ethics critic stands there throwing stones and his glass house lies shattered in ruins around him.
Ethics February 4th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, as I said, all parliamentarians are traditionally expected to maintain a residence in their home region as well as in the national capital region.
The Senate is doing a review of its rules to ensure that they are correct and are being followed properly.
Ethics February 4th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, it is expected that all parliamentarians have a place of residence in both the region that they represent and the national capital region. The Senate is reviewing these rules in order to ensure that they are appropriate and respected.
Succession to the Throne Act, 2013 February 4th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties and if you seek it, I believe you shall find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:
That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practices of this House, Bill C-53, An Act to assent to alterations in the law touching the Succession to the Throne shall be deemed to have been read a second time and referred to a Committee of the Whole, deemed considered in Committee of the Whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at the report stage and deemed read a third time and passed.
Ethics February 1st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I read letters from the member for Timmins—James Bay, the party's ethics critic and the party's heritage critic, supporting an application from AVR Radio. They did this after the executive vice-president and the president of AVR Radio made financial contributions to the NDP. I do not believe these executives from AVR Radio live in either of their constituencies. Perhaps the member should examine those questions.
Privilege January 31st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I was listening closely. I do not know a lot about the circumstances, but I expect the government will want to come back with further submissions.
I will observe that I did not hear any aspect of the duties or responsibilities of a member of Parliament that were in any way blocked so that his abilities to perform them were impaired in any particular way, which I think is fundamental to raising a point of privilege like this.
Business of the House January 31st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, let me wish you and all hon. members a happy new year.
I believe that 2013 will be a very productive year in the House of Commons.
The House has been a productive place in the last 200 sitting days. Between the election and today, Parliament has seen three-quarters of the government's legislation pass through at least one of the two chambers, and in fact a majority of the bills we have introduced have made it all the way to entering the statute books. I do look forward to seeing the government add to this record of accomplishment.
On the question of Bill C-32, I will again offer to my friend that we could pass that bill right now, at all stages, if the NDP is agreeable. I believe that would be a reasonable course of action.
Today, of course, we are debating an opposition day motion for the New Democratic Party. Tomorrow and Monday will see us start to consider second reading of Bill C-52, the fair rail freight service act. If we have time, we will go back to the second reading debate on Bill C-48, the technical tax amendments act, 2012. Wednesday will see us finish third reading of Bill C-43, the faster removal of foreign criminals act. Tuesday and Thursday shall be the second and third allotted days. I understand that both of those days will go to the official opposition. Then, if we have not previously finished Bill C-52 and Bill C-48, we will return to them next Friday.
Finally, there have been consultations among the parties respecting a take note debate on the situation in Mali. I am pleased to move:
That a take-note debate on the subject of the conflict in Mali take place, pursuant to Standing Order 53.1, on Tuesday, February 5, 2013.
Ethics January 31st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the other day I read a letter from the hon. member for Timmins—James Bay supporting AVR radio.
It might be interesting to note that the president and executive vice-president of AVR actually made donations to the NDP in 2011. His letter of May 18, 2012, went to the CRTC.
He stands as the ethics czar for the NDP and his main argument is that the NDP should be held to a lower standard of ethics than the Conservative MPs. Perhaps that is what Mary Dawson is talking about.
Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act January 30th, 2013
moved:
That, in relation to Bill C-43, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, not more than one further sitting day shall be allotted to the consideration of the report stage and one sitting shall be allotted to the third reading stage of the said bill and, fifteen minutes before the expiry of the time provided for government business on the day allotted to the consideration of the report stage and on the day allotted to the third reading stage of the said bill, any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted, if required for the purpose of this order, and in turn every question necessary for the disposal of the stage of the bill then under consideration shall be put forthwith and successively without further debate or amendment.
Ethics January 30th, 2013
The NDP members are very proud, apparently, of writing to the CRTC as MPs and telling it how to do its job, something they are very critical of Conservative MPs for doing.
Here is another letter, May 18, 2012: “I am writing to express my deep support for Aboriginal Voice Radio (AVR) and to strongly encourage the Commission to grant their request for licence renewal at the June 19th hearing. ...Sincerely... M.P. Timmins—James Bay.”