House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 38% of the vote.
Citizenship and Immigration November 2nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Dennie claims that his refugee claim in Canada was rejected because the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada did not believe his claim that he was gay. This is false. Mr. Dennie's previous criminal activities were at issue, not his sexual orientation. According to public court documents, Mr. Dennie has been convicted of multiple crimes, including aggravated assault on his wife.
Citizenship and Immigration November 2nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, we have been trying to confirm the facts of these cases with the University of Regina for several days now and the university, despite feeling free to speak to the media, is refusing to co-operate with both the CBSA and the CIC, even to answer simple basic questions. The fact is that Ms. Ordu admitted to CBSA officers that she knew she was working illegally.
I call on the member for Wascana to help us get all of the facts from the University of Regina, instead of standing in the House and being political about an issue that we can work with the ministry on.
New Democratic Party of Canada November 2nd, 2012
Mr. Speaker, a $21 billion carbon tax can be found on page 4 of the NDP platform costing tables. While NDP members complain about mention of this fact, the NDP has been sending a completely false message to Canadian seniors.
David Boese, a local senior on an NDP mailing list in my community, wrote me about a disturbing email signed by the NDP House leader, which led him to believe he would lose $12,000 in OAS payments. Understandably, he expressed anxiety about his personal finances and was relieved to find the truth. Like all Canadians 55 and over, David Boese could live to be a thousand years old and not lose a single penny of OAS money.
It is irresponsible for NDP members to spread falsehoods about government programs to the Canadian seniors who rely on them. Seniors trust messages from elected members of Parliament and by trying to add a zero and then another zero to get to $12,000, the NDP is simply abusing that trust.
Jobs and Growth Act, 2012 October 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I was glad to hear from the member for Ottawa—Orléans, in both his speech and the response he just gave in respect to the $21.5 billion carbon tax that the NDP would like to implement.
I found his speech rather interesting, in the way he intertwined the importance of the national perspective that this economic plan, this strategy, will have on the rest of the country. He intertwined how the benefits were going to impact Ottawa-Orléans. I would like to ask him further how the benefits in the budget are going to impact the people of his community that he represents?
Citizenship and Immigration October 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Richmond Hill for his tremendous contribution to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
Starting today, newly sponsored spouses will have to live with their sponsor for two years or they could lose their status in Canada. This will put a stop to fraudsters leaving their Canadian spouse the moment they receive permanent residence status, leaving them heartbroken and many times in severe financial debt.
One does not just have to ask this side of the House. This has been praised by Canadians Against Immigration Fraud and the Canadian Marriage Fraud Victims' Society.
Citizenship and Immigration October 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, when Canadians speak, we listen, we act and then we implement.
The purpose of our strategy with respect to interim federal health has been to ensure that we no longer pay for eyeglasses or dental work. We pay and ensure the safety of those who are here, but it will not be better and it will not to be superior. It will be equal to that which all Canadians receive.
Citizenship and Immigration October 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been extremely clear on this issue. They do not want illegal immigrants and bogus refugee claimants receiving gold-plated health care benefits that are better than those that Canadian taxpayers and seniors receive.
We have acted and we have listened. We have taken steps to ensure that protected persons and asylum seekers from non-safe countries receive health care coverage that is on the same level as Canadian taxpayers receive through their provincial health care coverage. We care and we want to ensure their health is secure, but it should be no better than what Canadians receive in our country.
The Economy October 26th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, there are now 205,000 people employed in the Niagara region. This is an all-time record for our local job numbers and a sign of a resilient local economy that has created over 21,000 net new jobs since 2008. The last three months have been our best three months ever for local jobs in Niagara.
After years of neglect by previous governments, the economic action plan has built a stronger, more prosperous Niagara with lower taxes on families and small businesses, investments in a new Burgoyne Bridge, the Cairns Health and Bioscience Centre at Brock University, a widened QEW highway and a parking garage and performing arts centre in downtown St. Catharines.
The opposition talks about negativity in this House but it would be nice for more parliamentarians to acknowledge that Canada has managed the recession better than anyone else in the world.
In Niagara, it has meant 205,000 total jobs, 21,000 net new jobs and a more diverse economy. In St. Catharines we are firing on all cylinders and poised for jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.
Citizenship and Immigration October 17th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to provide an update on the bill itself, but I would like to express my disappointment and inform Canadians that yesterday the Liberal Party shamefully voted against the faster removal of foreign criminals act. They voted against ending the loopholes for criminals who come here to this country and delay their deportation, allowing them more time here in Canada to potentially commit more crimes.
The Liberals do not have to listen just to us on this issue. They can listen to police associations and victims' groups. They are the ones who have told us to move forward on this. I hope the Liberals listen to them.
Citizenship and Immigration October 16th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, we have made it very clear that across this country, when it comes to health care, when it comes to treatment, when it comes to understanding what it is to become a Canadian in this country, what it is to become a permanent resident, there is a process that will be followed. Those who fall within the rules, those who fall within being a Canadian, becoming a permanent resident or a refugee under the UN, will receive the health care they deserve; but those who come here to take advantage of our country, to take advantage of our system, to take advantage of our process, that is not what this government is going to support.