House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 33% of the vote.
Petitions February 5th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I also have a petition that deals with safeguarding VIA Rail service in eastern Canada. It has been signed by over 24,000 people, and I represent only a small portion of those people.
We could lose all VIA Rail service in eastern Canada. This is only the beginning. There will be other kinds of pressure. The government should pay attention.
Rail Transportation February 3rd, 2014
Mr. Speaker, VIA Rail service in the Gaspé has been suspended for six months now.
CN's announcement that it is going to abandon a section of rail line in New Brunswick will turn the temporary suspension into a permanent closure. Both the Quebec and New Brunswick governments have spoken out in support of our rail system.
What about the Conservative government?
Transparency of Payments Made by Mining, Oil and Gas Corporations to Foreign Governments Act January 31st, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I listened attentively to the speech and I agree with the member for Scarborough—Guildwood that the Conservative government seems to want to bring forward poisoned chalices to industry all the time. When industry asks for help, the government should be there at the plate, offering the help it needs.
The people on this side of the House are proposing reasonable regulation to be able to support our industries so that they can go forward and develop their industries, secure in the knowledge of the respectful reputation they have around the world.
This is an industry in which, around the world, there have always been some difficulties. Many countries have seen a lot of difficulties with mineral extraction and oil extraction. In many countries, the companies that are involved in this are involved in very dubious and very questionable practices.
We want to make sure that companies in this country have the full support of the Canadian people because we know they are transparent and they will be acting honourably. This bill could go a long way to that, and it absolutely deserves support so we can debate it at second reading.
When the Liberals were in power for 13 years, they could have brought this forward when they formed a majority. I do not know why they did not. Why are we asking now, in a private members' bill, which as the member suggested, is probably going to be defeated by the government, whether the Liberals are serious about this bill? If we go back to the last time this member brought a very similar bill forward in the last Parliament in Bill C-300, we see it was defeated in large numbers because there was an absence of Liberal members in the House to vote in favour of it.
Are the Liberals actually supporting this bill?
Combating Counterfeit Products Act January 31st, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the speech by my colleague on the government side.
This is definitely a step in the right direction, and we are always delighted when the government goes in the right direction, but there are still not enough resources. This government seems to have a great deal of difficulty understanding that resources are needed to make improvements. Every time the government takes a step forward, it insists on taking a step backwards. For example, when it passes one regulation, it abolishes another. This government seems to go in opposite directions at the same time.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Communities says that the required resources will be available to implement what is being proposed by Bill C-8 today. Even the union is wondering where these resources will come from. Exactly what resources is he talking about?
Combating Counterfeit Products Act January 31st, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank our colleague for his presentation because he has provided some interesting information.
Counterfeit goods can seem authentic and have the right logo, but we do not always know which country they come from. That is the case for Coke cans, for example.
With this bill, there will be fewer officers at the borders. Does my colleague believe that we have the resources we need to properly protect Canada's borders? Has the bill been sufficiently improved?
Combating Counterfeit Products Act January 31st, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for such an interesting speech. The discussions in committee really helped improve this bill. The governing party even put forward amendments to its own bill, which goes to show that there were improvements to be made.
Since over 1,000 Canada border services employees have been fired, it will be difficult to implement these changes. There are fewer and fewer border guards, who are Canada's first line of defence.
How can this bill be implemented if there are not enough people to do it?
Ukraine January 27th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank our colleague for his speech. It was interesting. He talked about how his family took in refugees from Czechoslovakia, now the Czech Republic, in the 1960s.
I would like to say that my family did the same. We took in Czechoslovakian refugees in 1968. I do not think those particular refugees were worried about not having access to medical care, unlike refugees today, who no longer have access to medical care thanks to changes made by the Conservative government. That is a big problem for refugees today. At least in the 1960s, we treated refugees a little better.
The United States announced that it was revoking the visas of individuals linked to violence in Ukraine against people in favour of a European democratic movement.
Why has the Canadian government not done the same as the Americans by banning visas to Ukrainians linked to the violence going on now?
Ukraine January 27th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I truly appreciate my hon. colleague's speeches today in the House.
Indeed, I think Canada has an important role to play in this crisis. We need to assert Canada's power, since after all, we are a G8 country. I think we need to exercise Canada's full authority, especially when it comes to protecting the democratic rights of people in a western country.
The question I would like to ask my colleague concerns the possibility that Canada intervene more directly with its partners—specifically the United Nations, which has not yet been called upon. We do not have a direct role to play with the European Union. However, we have an important role to play in the G8 and with many non-governmental organizations.
What sort of interventions might Canada propose to put even more pressure on the Ukrainian government? Apart from that, how can we participate alongside our partners?
Ukraine January 27th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I thank the parliamentary secretary for his speech, which was quite interesting.
I have a question for him about non-governmental organizations. They have quite an important role to play in supporting democratic forces in Ukraine. Are we doing enough to help them? What, specifically, are we doing to help? Have they asked the Government of Canada to help them out? Where are we at on the issue of non-governmental organizations?
Rail Transportation January 27th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, given the Conservatives' spotty memory, I think we should remind them about what is happening today.
The Conservatives have no plan whatsoever when it comes to the rail system and rail safety. Freight transportation is far from safe, and all of eastern Canada is about to lose its VIA Rail passenger service. Gaspé has already lost this service. Now, CN's plans to abandon a rail line in New Brunswick will leave thousands of people without service.
Will the minister explain to Quebeckers and eastern Canadians why they do not have the right to safe and reliable passenger rail service?