House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 23% of the vote.
Foreign Affairs March 4th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, section 462.33 of the Criminal Code is clear:
The Attorney General may make an application...for a restraint order...in respect of any property...if the judge is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there exists...any property [obtained fraudulently].
What are the Conservatives waiting for to invoke this section of the Criminal Code and the UN Convention against Corruption to freeze the assets of Ben Ali's family?
Foreign Affairs March 4th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, we need to take action now and freeze the assets of the family of former Tunisian dictator Ben Ali, even more so since the Liberals are opposed to passing the new Bill C-61 quickly. The government could, for example, use section 354 and part XII.2 of the Criminal Code, as well as article 54 of the UN Convention against Corruption, to freeze the assets stolen from the people of Tunisia.
Why are the Conservatives protecting Ben Ali's family?
Tax Havens March 3rd, 2011
Mr. Speaker, during the latest World Social Forum in Dakar, Eva Joly, a European MP, stated that tax havens are weapons of mass destruction against the development of poor countries. According to Joly, the detrimental role of tax havens has been known for 10 or 15 years. If we are unable to combat them, it is because they are the crux of strong, converging interests.
Governments are quietly subsidizing multinationals by allowing them to avoid paying taxes. Leaders of poor countries are amassing a fortune through corruption. Political parties are obtaining their funding illegally.
Eight non-governmental organizations on various continents have launched the international campaign “End Tax Haven Secrecy”. The purpose of this campaign is to demand that the G20 leaders introduce concrete measures to put an end to this lack of financial transparency.
The Bloc Québécois welcomes this initiative.
Airport Fees February 18th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, in order to avoid airport fees, more and more tourists from Canada and Quebec are driving to the U.S. to catch flights. According to a survey conducted by the Association des hôteliers du Québec, one-third of vacationers are using this strategy. Billions of dollars in economic spinoffs are being lost by hotel operators, airports and airlines in Quebec and Canada because of the federal government's avarice.
When will this government revise its policy on airport taxes and fees?
Tax Evasion February 17th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, Revenue Canada's report indicates that the criminal economy is depriving the federal treasury of billions of dollars in untaxed income.
In this income tax season, the time when the government requires every taxpayer to do his or her part, how does the government explain the fact that a lack of resources and organizational problems are still hindering a crack down on tax evaders?
Tax Evasion February 17th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are too complacent about fraudsters who are trying to hide their loot. We need only look as far as their reluctance to freeze the Ben Ali family's assets. Moreover, an internal report from Revenue Canada shows that most tax evaders successfully avoid going to prison and that the Conservatives are only going after small-scale fraudsters.
How can this government, which boasts about being tough on crime, turn a blind eye to tax evasion?
Business of Supply February 10th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for the NDP for supporting our motion today. I believe that he has the sensitivity to understand what happened to the people of Forillon who were expropriated. I would like to come back to a point that he raised, which is that the people were compensated for their expropriation.
Being compensated is all well and good, but these people were compensated according to the conditions imposed by the federal government. In addition, we are talking about farms that had been passed down from generation to generation and were part of the family heritage in these rural areas. The government threw 225 families into a state of major social turmoil. That is what we must consider. It is not just a simple matter of property being expropriated and compensation being given in return. Does this not give members further reason to vote in favour of our motion today?
Mortgage Loans February 9th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, let me clarify my question.
The extreme position taken by the banks discourages owners from repaying their mortgages in advance, encourages debt and slows down the housing market. The federal government's legislative mess enables banks to impose outrageous mortgage penalties at their own whim and pleasure. Cleanup is needed in this area.
When will the minister stop protecting the big banks at consumers' expense?
Mortgage Loans February 9th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, in the March 2010 budget, the Conservative government promised to regulate the mortgage penalties imposed on owners trying to renegotiate their loans to take advantage of low interest rates. Nothing has been done since that announcement was made, and mortgage rates are beginning to rise.
What is the government waiting for to limit the penalties imposed on advance payments? What is the government waiting for to call the banks to order?
Post-Secondary Education February 4th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois has expressed what it would like to see in the budget to correct the inequalities experienced by Quebec. I remind members that the Government of Quebec is still calling for over $800 million for post-secondary education. The upcoming budget is the perfect opportunity for the Minister of Finance to show that quality education is important to him.
Does he plan on restoring post-secondary education transfers to Quebec and the provinces to 1994 indexed levels?