Rob Anders

[Calgary Stampeders, November 21st, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, let me tell the House why Calgary should receive the Grey Cup this weekend.

Sure, the Montreal Alouettes settled the banks of the St. Lawrence hundreds of years ago, but there is a new, fresh pioneer spirit in the west. Alberta is the most valuable player of all the provinces.

Our Stampeders are cowboys who tackled the national energy program and lived to tell the tale. They huddle in the most conservative, pro-business turf in the country. They have defended a can-do business attitude from the rookie fumbling hands of Stéphane Dion.

At this rodeo, we are going to horn in the Liberal--

[Canadian Wheat Board, June 6th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, this time I want the Liberals to listen. Farmers in Alberta are continually saying that they need and demand marketing freedom.

Yesterday, the chairman of the Canadian Wheat Board, Larry Hill, admitted that the Canadian Wheat Board's own poll, conducted by a Liberal insider, stated that the barley market question was answered: 57% would prefer an open market.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary for the Canadian Wheat Board confirm these numbers?

[Petitions, June 2nd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, human rights in China have not improved as a result of being granted the 2008 Olympic Games. In fact, they have become worse. The continuing crackdown on Tibet by the Chinese government is an egregious violation of human rights.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to request that all Canadian politicians boycott the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.

[Committees of the House, May 28th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs in relation to resetting the bar for veterans health care, veterans independence program and veterans health care review.

The committee is requesting a government response.

[Simon House, May 27th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of the House a wonderful institution in my riding of Calgary West.

Simon House is an addiction treatment centre with one of the best recovery rates in North America. It was founded in 1983 by Brother Bernard Barry.

The Catholic diocese provided two houses to develop safe housing for indigent men. It has helped over 2,400 men with alcoholism, drug addiction and physical and mental disabilities.

In 2007 Simon House was the recipient of the William H. Donner Award for Excellence in Delivery of Social Services, the Donner Canadian Foundation Award for Excellence in the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse, and the Peter F. Drucker Award for Non-Profit Management. The Donner Award is the highest award achievable in Canada for addiction treatment.

Simon House is a privately funded institution that does not receive any government moneys. It relies on donations from corporations and the public.

I express congratulations to Simon House on its 25th anniversary.

[Members of Parliament, May 13th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, recently, the members for Toronto Centre, Willowdale and Vancouver Quadra asked voters to send them to Ottawa to represent their interests in the House of Commons.

Last night, these three Liberal MPs abstained on a matter of confidence on the economy. Even though they were elected just weeks ago, already they are refusing to do their job to stand and vote. Who will stand for Toronto Centre, Willowdale and Vancouver Quadra if not their MPs?

Canadians expect that those to whom they give that privilege will carry out the duties and responsibilities of elected members of Parliament, the simplest of which is the duty and responsibility to vote. It is clear that these Liberal MPs are more interested in scheming to regain power than representing their constituents in the House of Commons.

[Petitions, May 9th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition that has been signed by a number of people in my riding and from across the country.

They draw to the attention of the House that human rights in China have not improved as a result of being granted the 2008 Olympic Games and, in fact, have become worse, and that the continuing crackdown on Tibet by the Chinese government is an egregious violation of human rights.

Therefore, the petitioners call upon Canadian politicians to boycott the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing and that athletes do not attend the opening ceremonies.

I would like to add that I have Tibetans in my riding who have relatives who have disappeared since the arrests and have not been seen since.

[Business of Supply, April 29th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I am answering the question and to that point, I know there is money from the federal Liberal Party, probably from members who are criticizing me today even, that goes to support Liberal candidates in southern Alberta, because God bless southern Alberta, but people there would not elect a Liberal I do not know when. As a result, the federal Liberal Party is so desperate to get candidates in southern Alberta and so desperate to help them out that it sends money and resources to Liberal campaigns in southern Alberta.

All parties in this place take areas of strength and fundraising capability to support areas where they are weaker. The Liberal Party has been weak in Alberta for a very, very long time and will continue to be so. It takes money from places like Quebec or Ontario to try to subsidize campaigns in southern Alberta.

The same is true with regard to the Conservative Party helping out candidates in places that are not as fortunate as in southern Alberta.

[Business of Supply, April 29th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, just to give an example within the Liberal Party, since I think it is wise to shed light on that side of the House as well--

[Business of Supply, April 29th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, it makes perfect sense that if there is a local tag line, it is a local ad, and I am going to get into why.

When designing a TV ad, the question can be raised as to where it was edited. The question can be raised as to where the concepts or the storyboards were done and who did them, et cetera. We could split, slice and dice that so many different ways.

Ultimately what Elections Canada has previously decided is that the tag line is the determiner, and that is indeed what has been accepted as the going practice. I think that is the way we have to look at it, because I know there are federal parties in this place that have had their campaign ads even done outside this country, foreign-made campaign ads, your own party included, Mr. Speaker, and because they have local tags, they are considered local ads.

Opposition members can try to split hairs on this matter, but if there is a local tag line to the ad, it is considered a local ad, and I leave it at that.