House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 33% of the vote.
Employment Insurance November 30th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, it is not enough to tell unemployed people that they just need to find jobs. For every vacant job in Canada, there are more than five people out of work. By not renewing the pilot project to extend EI benefits, the government has left seasonal workers without an income for nearly two months.
These workers did not ask to work seasonally, but the lobster fishery is seasonal.
Does the government not understand the importance of seasonal industries to our economy? Why not support them?
Committees of the House November 29th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member on the other side of the House, because a number of the programs he has announced are worthwhile. The members are to be congratulated for the work they do. A number of programs are worthwhile and will help to improve Canadians’ health
However, I have a concern relating to the funding of health insurance across Canada. I would like to come back to the fact that it is unquestionably the Liberal Party that really emptied the health insurance coffers in Canada, in an extreme way. The Liberals really have to be called out for jeopardizing Canadians’ health.
I would like to ask my colleague a question about the funding formula proposed, the 6% formula. In fact, that formula was not proposed; it was imposed on the provinces. There was no consultation. They decided that was how it would be and they imposed the 6% formula, full stop.
That is a bad way to manage health insurance and funding, particularly for some regions, because funding will depend on the province’s economic product.
Why were the provinces not consulted? Why was a formula imposed on them?
Committees of the House November 29th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, although I thank the member for getting up and speaking to the motion, I wonder if she actually read any of the documentation. She criticized the New Democrats for not standing up to principles of health care. Yet, we have a minority report right in the document. I invite her to actually read it. It would help in her discourse in the House if she spent some time doing that.
I also wonder if the Liberals could teach us any lessons on cuts to health care, the massive cuts that happened in the 1990s leaving the provinces scrambling for financing. Could the member describe those cuts, what impact they had on health care and how we are still digging ourselves out of the hole that the Liberal Party created for all of us?
Fisheries and Oceans November 27th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, lobster fishers in eastern Canada and Quebec are concerned about further cuts to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
In January, DFO will stop distributing tags and logbooks. These tools are critical to discouraging illegal fishing and protecting the lobster industry.
This is the latest in a series of attacks on fishers and their families. It follows on the heels of fleet separation, cuts to the employment insurance system and all kinds of changes to the Fisheries Act.
Why do the Conservatives want to encourage illegal lobster fishing?
First Nations Financial Transparency Act November 23rd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I was listening intently to my hon. colleague's discourse. First of all I want to congratulate him for all the great work he does in his riding. I do not think his constituents have ever had such a good representative in Parliament.
I was particularly interested in his comments on the lack of housing in first nation communities, the deplorable lack of housing in fact. Could he go further down that road and just explain to me how the lack of housing contradicts what the bill is trying to do? There is incredible poverty in first nation communities. With respect to women whose relationships break up, where exactly are they supposed to go if first nation communities are missing 85,000 homes?
Parks Canada November 23rd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I am sorry but we do not have an increase of 50% of the trails in our parks. We will have 0% available this winter. The Forillon Park is terribly important to the people in my riding. The sacrifice of those who were expropriated must not be in vain. The answer we just received seems to show that the parliamentary secretary does not really understand the issue. Does she even know what an emphyteutic lease is?
Parks Canada November 23rd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives definitely have a habit of going back on their word and forgetting their past promises. By closing the winter trails in Forillon National Park and leaving buildings to fall into disrepair, they are disrespecting the sacrifice of the people whose land was expropriated and failing to comply with the emphyteutic agreement that created the park, as well as the June 2010 management plan.
Will the Conservatives fulfill their obligations under the terms of the emphyteutic lease and the management plan?
Employment Insurance November 21st, 2012
Mr. Speaker, after having their way with employment insurance all over Canada, the Conservatives are continuing to wreak havoc on the Gaspé.
They have decided to eliminate winter maintenance and security services in the magnificent Forillon Park.
No more cross-country skiing, no more snowshoeing, no more winter activities, and no more tourist revenue.
The song says “my country is the winter”, not “my country is shutting down for the winter”, as the Conservatives would like.
Why do the Conservatives want to make the Gaspé shut down for the winter?
Helping Families in Need Act November 19th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I would like to once again commend my colleague for the excellent work that she is doing in her riding of LaSalle—Émard. Her constituents surely have not had such a good representative in a very long time.
There are many challenges associated with employment insurance. Once again, I object to the fact that the government failed to consult Canadians on the changes that it made to employment insurance. We could have been on our way to fixing the major problems with the Canadian economy with a tool as strong as employment insurance.
However, once again, the Conservatives have turned away from the road that we should be taking and are starting with small steps. Six thousand claimants will benefit from the bill before us, and that is something. The health of Canadian families is very important.
Meanwhile, the other 870,000 unemployed workers who are not eligible for employment insurance benefits are asking for our help. They want us to be there for them. The government is simply not meeting their needs. I urge the government to go to regions such as mine that have seasonal economies and see how doing away with the spring gap pilot project will have an extremely detrimental effect not only on families and their children but also on the Canadian economy in general. This is no way to manage a country.
Helping Families in Need Act November 19th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague for the excellent work she is doing in her riding.
To answer her question, it is certain that the Conservatives could have done much more. I want to point out again that one of the current government's main problems is its lack of consultation. Parliamentary committees and witnesses bring up issues with bills. But the Conservatives often do not listen. Communities, mayors and reeves send comments to ministers, but these ministers rarely listen.
I think that one of the major problems is that the government is working in the dark. Naturally, some bills are poorly written and do not adequately address needs. The government does not take the time to listen to the public. I am very disappointed in this government for not taking the time to listen.
As for the women who want to return to work and could lose their jobs, that is a real shame. The Conservatives must absolutely do more by consulting the public and asking what it could change. Employment insurance should address the needs of Canadians.