House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2019, with 36% of the vote.
Food Safety October 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I was at that same meeting. I do not know whether this member was paying attention, but what the minister was saying is that Canada's food safety system is a superior food safety system, not as rated by us. This is the conclusion of a report on OECD countries. The minister spoke about additional resources that he gave the CFIA: 700 net new inspectors; hundreds of millions of dollars in new funding for the CFIA, all of which this member and her party have voted against.
Agriculture and Agri-Food October 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, as I just said, our government was elected by farmers on a platform to modernize the grain sector in Canada and to keep our economy strong. These changes will eliminate about $20 million in unnecessary costs in the grain handling system, costs that are ultimately borne by the farmers.
I will read a quote from Doug Robertson, the president of the Western Barley Growers Association. He said, “This announcement is a very positive one in the evolution of our grain system in Canada.”
Agriculture and Agri-Food October 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, it is clear to me that the member does not understand the challenges facing farmers.
Our government was elected by farmers on a platform to modernize the grain sector in Canada and to keep our economy strong. We have brought in marketing freedom. The next step is to renew the Grain Commission, something that has not been done in 40 years. These changes would eliminate about $20 million in unnecessary costs in the grain handling system, costs that are ultimately borne by the farmers.
The member must stand up for farmers.
Food Safety October 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, what is clear is that the CFIA acted appropriately and responsibly with respect to XL. What is also clear is that the member is not conversant with what is in Bill S-11.
We have a superior food safety system. This has been recognized in a report on OECD countries.
Bill S-11 takes our superior system and makes it better. The member is asking about the authorities that the CFIA has. If he would only read Bill S-11, he would see where we are headed.
Food Safety October 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member and the House that the CFIA acted immediately to contain the products beginning on September 4, and has been acting ever since.
The CFIA notified the minister that it will be reissuing a licence to this facility once the minister is assured that all product leaving this facility will be safe.
As a last comment, every time we have attempted to give the CFIA more resources, like new inspectors or additional funding, this member and his party have voted against these measures.
Food Safety October 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, Canadian consumers are our first priority when it comes to food safety.
The CFIA has notified the Minister of Agriculture that it will be reissuing the licence to this facility. Our government will continue to provide the CFIA with the resources it needs to ensure that safe food comes out of that plant.
The safe food for Canadians act is an important tool to strengthen our food safety system. I encourage this member and his colleagues to vote in favour of the bill when it comes back to the House.
Youth Criminal Justice October 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned about crime, especially crime committed by serious repeat and violent offenders. Canadians in Ottawa are particularly concerned about the release of a repeat young offender who abducted and sexually assaulted an 11-year-old girl.
This is precisely why our government has introduced and passed the Safe Streets and Communities Act. I am happy to say that our government's improvements to the Canada's youth criminal justice system came into effect this week.
The coming into force of the violent and repeat young offenders provision represents an important step forward in strengthening our youth criminal justice system. Through balanced and responsible changes, we are helping to ensure that Canadians will be protected from violent and repeat young offenders.
We remain committed to ensuring that young offenders will be held fully accountable for their actions and the safety and security of law-abiding Canadians will be given full consideration at sentencing.
Our government will continue standing up for victims by putting their rights first.
Combating Terrorism Act October 22nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I would ask that the vote be deferred until tomorrow at the end of government orders.
Safe Food for Canadians Act October 22nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, in his recent speeches on the issue of food safety in the House there have been inaccuracies that have had to be corrected. I too hope that the opposition will not play partisan politics with Bill S-11, an important food safety bill before the House that will be moving to committee.
However, I want to follow up on a comment the member made during his speech and in earlier speeches too. He said that the CFIA currently has all the powers it needs and he asked why it did not do more. Sylvain Charlebois is the associate dean of the University of Guelph's College of Management and Economics, a university that is, of course, in this member's riding. Mr. Charlebois recognizes that the CFIA does not have all the powers that it needs today and says: “The CFIA...does not have the authority to compel the speedy delivery of information from industry during an outbreak”. What Mr. Charlebois said seems to be contradicting what this member just said. Could the member clarify for the House who is right?
Safe Food for Canadians Act October 22nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, my colleague spoke about the bill being started in the Senate. I would like to explain to the House that it is concurrent activity. Once the House returns after the summer, we have legislation to deal with in the House but the Senate does not. We started the bill in the Senate so that it could be sent to the House of Commons and we could use Senate time most effectively when it did not have other parliamentary bills to deal with upon its return after the summer.
My colleague knows that Bill S-11 is not a partisan bill. It is a bill that deals with food safety and about giving more regulatory authorities to the CFIA to help inspectors do their jobs effectively and efficiently. I am glad that my colleague has committed to passing this bill expeditiously. What I would like to ask is what types of things he likes in Bill S-11.