House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2019, with 28% of the vote.
Pipeline Safety Act February 26th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his excellent speech.
I was wondering whether the member thinks, as I do, that social licence is also extremely important in efforts to carry out huge energy projects like this one.
We are talking about new rules associated with transporting natural resources and the dangers this involves, but I wonder whether the member could also talk about the importance of social licence for these projects and the fact that we also need to take that into account.
Pipeline Safety Act February 26th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech.
I wonder whether he could provide more details about a measure I would have liked to see in the bill. I am not sure if it is there, which is why I am asking him.
One of the big concerns in Sherbrooke is the fact that when a company is responsible for an oil spill, or a spill involving some other product that is harmful to the environment, the company usually goes bankrupt. It no longer has any resources and can therefore dodge its environmental responsibilities. In the end, taxpayers are the ones who end up covering the cost of repairing the damage.
Does the bill contain any measures for situations where companies can shirk their obligations following an unfortunate spill, no matter where in Canada it occurs?
Pipeline Safety Act February 26th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her speech.
With this type of issue, whether we are talking about a pipeline spill or a tragedy like the one we saw in Lac-Mégantic, my constituents in Sherbrooke often tell me that they are concerned about the company responsible for the spill. When the company goes bankrupt and the government is trying to find money to clean up the mess the company has caused, what happens next?
That is the kind of question I have heard many times from the people of Sherbrooke. Can a company default on its obligation when it is responsible for a spill? We could be talking about a pipeline in the case of the bill we are debating today.
People are wondering whether there is a way to prevent a company from defaulting on its obligations if it is responsible for a spill. I wonder whether the bill we are studying today addresses the concerns of the people of Sherbrooke.
Democratic Reform February 24th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the inevitable has happened. The Conservatives' unfair elections act is being challenged in court.
A majority of experts, citizen groups and even some Conservative politicians have strongly condemned this law, which would deprive some citizens of their right to vote. The Council of Canadians and the Canadian Federation of Students are asking for an injunction, which is the logical consequence of this botched bill.
Why are the Conservatives trying to prevent students from voting in the next election? What are they afraid of?
Business of Supply February 24th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech.
Having participated in National Assembly of Quebec debates for several years, he is certainly familiar with the select committee's work.
Does my colleague think that Parliament, as a legislative assembly, also has a responsibility, as stated in the motion, to strike a committee to study this matter and make recommendations to the government?
Committees do not have the power to draft bills, of course. However, they can make recommendations to the government.
What does he think of legislators making recommendations to the government, particularly with respect to the question the Supreme Court has given us?
Business of Supply February 24th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech, although I did not hear any solutions in there.
He just talked about facts and what has happened elsewhere in the world. He did not talk about a concrete solution for the case before us now.
The Supreme Court just handed down a ruling, and Parliament has a year to respond. However, the member did not mention any solution that he or his government might have in mind to follow up. The decision came down in January 2015. One year brings us to January or February 2016, so we have to get going on this right away.
What kind of solutions does the member envision?
Petitions February 24th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to table a petition signed by over a hundred Sherbrooke residents. They are asking the Government of Canada to use all of the diplomatic resources at its disposal to pressure the Saudi Arabian government to release Saudi blogger Raif Badawi. As we all know, he was jailed and sentenced to a thousand lashes for expressing his opinions on a blog on the Internet in an attempt to kindle political discussions in his country.
The petitioners are asking the government to use everything at its disposal to try to have Mr. Badawi released and bring him back to his wife and three children in Canada.
Science and Technology February 16th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, the minister did not really understand the question.
Stars are not the only things the Mont-Mégantic observatory reveals. It has also revealed the incompetence of the Minister of International Development, who did not foresee the crisis precipitated by his own government two years ago. Rather than blaming scientists, the minister should recognize that his government was the one that changed the funding criteria for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Will the minister get to work immediately to find a definitive solution to the Mont-Mégantic observatory's funding problems?
Consumer Protection February 5th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, for months, motorists in Sherbrooke have been the victims of a gas price-fixing cartel. A group of citizens has filed a class action lawsuit.
However, in addition to facing a powerful lobby, these citizens also have to deal with the lack of co-operation from the Conservatives and the Competition Bureau, who are refusing to disclose all of the wiretapping and evidence.
Why are the Conservatives protecting the so-called gas cartel, which overran Sherbrooke for months and ripped off people across the Eastern Townships?
Petitions February 4th, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, on behalf of 125 of my constituents from Sherbrooke, a petition calling for the release of Raif Badawi. They are calling on the Government of Canada to use its diplomatic tools to put pressure on the Saudi Arabia government to free Raif Badawi and to allow him to join his family in Sherbrooke.