Ralph Goodale

[Medical Isotopes, June 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the minister cannot give the numbers and clearly she cannot tell the truth either.

The Conservatives have had two isotope crises in 18 months. The Prime Minister said that they were working on the problem since—

[Medical Isotopes, June 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, let us be clear: two isotopes crisis in 18 months under the Conservatives, and none under the Liberals.

The minister claims to have assurances from the Dutch, the Belgians, the Australians and the South Africans to provide extra supplies of isotopes. Just exactly what is Canada's shortfall in isotopes today? How many, exactly? What will it be in two weeks? Next month? Does the minister have an absolute guarantee that all that isotope shortage in Canada will be replenished—

[Medical Isotopes, June 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the facts are clear. The breakdowns have occurred on her watch, not our watch.

The Minister of Natural Resources thinks the Minister of Health is incompetent. She said so. This makes both ministers dysfunctional in the midst of a national emergency. The Minister of Natural Resources tearfully apologized to her colleague, but it is not the feelings of the Minister of Health that are at issue. The pain and suffering of cancer patients is the issue, 5,000 of them every day.

Will the minister apologize to them and will she compensate the provinces for all of their extra expenses because of her incompetence?

[Medical Isotopes, June 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, again these are the words of the Minister of Natural Resources: “It's sexy. Radioactive leaks. Cancer. When we win on this, we get all the credit. I'm ready to roll the dice on this”. The Prime Minister has embraced his minister with no sanctions whatsoever, so the Prime Minister now owns those words.

Will he tell cancer patients waiting in the queue for the tests they cannot get today in Saskatchewan just exactly what is sexy about their pain and their anguish?

[National Philanthropy Day Act, June 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. It may well be that what the hon. gentleman is asking for in terms of unanimous consent can be given and the matter can be proceeded with. However, in the absence of the normal type of consultation, it cannot be sprung on the House without notice. We are happy to look at it. We are happy to give consent. Maybe that can be done later today. However, the normal consultation needs to take place.

[Minister of Natural Resources, June 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, could the Minister of Natural Resources be just a bit more forthcoming?

First, do the secret documents, which she lost at CTV, reveal commercially confidential information about dealings between the Darlington nuclear plant and the Ontario government? Second, when did she first know the documents were missing? Third, where they merely a staffer's documents or were they her own documents, personally as minister?

[Automotive Industry, June 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the lack of normal commercial credit remains the crux of Canada's recession. Successful auto dealers in Saskatchewan report that Canadian chartered banks will not do business with them because they are selling GM or Chrysler vehicles. Billions of tax dollars are now at risk in those two firms.

Does the minister find it acceptable that a dealer with 30 years of successful experience, operating multiple outlets across western Canada with $6 million in profit last year and no debt, cannot get an operating loan from a Canadian bank if that dealer sells GM or Chrysler?

[War Veterans Allowance Act, June 1st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, if I could refer back to an item that was dealt with moments ago, the introduction by the Minister of Veterans Affairs of the legislation pertaining to veterans' allowances, which he referred to in question period and which achieved a very warm reception from the House, I wonder if I could simply have clarification from the minister.

I take it that bill is in a condition where it could be proceeded with expeditiously. Would he consider this a candidate to go to the House leaders' meeting tomorrow to see if there is a way that we can bring that bill to a speedy conclusion in the House and expedite the parliamentary process to get it done.

[Points of Order, May 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, in the interest of laying this issue to rest, I wonder if the parliamentary secretary would not more unequivocally follow the example set not only by former governor Mitt Romney in the United States, but also by Senator John McCain, both of whom on various occasions used those expressions. When it came to their attention that they were inappropriate, they withdrew and they apologized.

Will the parliamentary secretary do the same?

[Points of Order, May 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order arising from question period.

On at least two occasions in question period, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister used the expression “tar baby”. In addition to being a pejorative term, which might well prove to be unparliamentary, the parliamentary secretary might consider that there are many authorities in this country and in many others that consider the term racist.

While he may want to make his views known in strong and extreme terms, he also might want to take this occasion to withdraw that expression to make it absolutely clear that he was not implying any racist connections.