House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2019, with 34% of the vote.
Employment February 1st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, despite that spin, 225,000 fewer young Canadians are working today than before the recession, 45,000 more are jobless, and 185,000 more have just given up altogether. For young Canadians, there is still a recession.
Will the government stop increasing job-killing EI payroll taxes at the rate of $600 million every year and will it provide specific incentives to hire young Canadians, especially in their first jobs? Will those things be in the budget?
Employment February 1st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, there were major job losses in Canada yesterday with the closure of Best Buy, Future Shop and other retail operations. The sales staff in those stores were largely young people; smart, tech savvy and getting their first job experience. Now, those jobs are gone, hundreds of them.
At a time when youth employment remains at punishing recession-like levels, draining more than $1 billion every year from Canadian incomes, what new initiatives is the government prepared to launch to give some hope and some help to jobless young Canadians?
Fair Rail Freight Service Act February 1st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, in light of this last exchange between the minister and the House leader for the NDP, I wonder if there is the beginning of a consensus on the floor of the House, that we could agree to a fairly short debate at second reading on the bill on the understanding that when the bill does get to the transport committee for hearings, we all agree that every single shipper who wants to be heard on this matter would have the opportunity to present to the committee and get a fair hearing about whether shippers think this legislation is good enough or not.
Fair Rail Freight Service Act February 1st, 2013
Mr. Speaker, in an earlier answer to the member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley, if I heard him correctly, the minister used a phrase to express that the transportation sector is a competitive sector, that there is competition in the transportation industry, presumably between the railways. I would ask the minister, is that not exactly the problem here, that there is no competition? The shippers are captive and it is because of that captive shipper situation that legislation like this is in fact necessary.
Questions Passed as Orders for Returns January 28th, 2013
With regard to defibrillators, within each department, agency and crown corporation of the government: (a) how many units are currently installed and ready for use; (b) how much did each unit cost; (c) who was the supplier for each unit; (d) where exactly is each unit located; (e) how many units are at each location; (f) how many employees at each location are trained to use them; (g) what regulations or policies govern their installation and use in federal facilities and in federally regulated industries; (h) are there any federal rules requiring the installation of defibrillators in airports, Canada Post outlets and RCMP detachments and vehicles; (i) what programs provide incentives and information to encourage their installation and use; (j) are any such programs planned in the future; (k) according to Health Canada, what impact do defibrillators have; and (l) what cost-benefit studies have been done on the installation and use of defibrillators, and what were their results?
PETITIONS December 12th, 2012
The second petition calls upon the government to provide adequate funding for the Indian Head tree farm and the prairie shelterbelt program.
PETITIONS December 12th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I have two sets of petitions to file today, each of them involving thousands of signatures.
In the first case, the petitioners are arguing for the continuation of federal funding for the Motherwell Homestead in Saskatchewan, which is an important historical feature in our province.
Petitions December 11th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the second set of petitions, signed by literally thousands of people all over Saskatchewan, express deep concern about the government's funding cutbacks affecting the Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site.
The petitioners call upon the government to reverse that decision, to maintain the commemorative integrity of the Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site and provide sufficient funding for this historic site, which is so important to the agricultural heritage of Saskatchewan, so that it can be properly maintained.
Petitions December 11th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to file this morning.
The first petition is signed by hundreds of people, particularly aboriginal people, all over Saskatchewan who are objecting to the provisions in Bill C-45 that directly impact upon first nations and aboriginal people.
The petitioners request that the Government of Canada set aside Bill C-45 until due consultation and informed consent is given by those who would be directly impacted by it.
Petitions December 10th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions to file today, about 40 or so, with hundreds of names of people from one end of Saskatchewan to the other, expressing concern about the prairie shelterbelt program and in particular the planned closing of the tree nursery at Indian Head.
The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to maintain appropriate funding so the shelterbelt program can continue and the tree nursery, which began in 1901, can continue its invaluable work to Canadian agriculture.