House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 23% of the vote.
Genome Canada January 30th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of State (Science and Technology) said yesterday that Genome Canada had the funds it needs to carry out its mandate. Yet according to that organization's president, there is still a shortfall, varying between $60 million and $160 million, that will affect calls for tenders for new projects.
Can the minister confirm today that the budget's silence does not signal a definitive cut to this organization's funding?
The Budget January 29th, 2009
Madam Speaker, it was very interesting to hear my colleague speak about his grandfather, who hoped he would do something because he was paying too much tax. That tells me that his grandfather has some money because he pays taxes.
Seniors are also mentioned in the budget. Some seniors do not pay taxes. Therefore, the $1,000 credit that would save $150 only applies to a certain segment of society, to certain individuals. Seniors who are not as well off, those who receive the guaranteed income supplement and live below the poverty line, have asked the Bloc Québécois for an increase of $110 in the guaranteed income supplement to help them. There is nothing. People living below the poverty line have been left behind.
What does the member have to say about that?
Economic and Fiscal Statement December 2nd, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe that a parliamentary secretary could rise in this House, and rant and rave about all the other parties. Yet the Conservatives are the architects of their own misfortunes. Who decided to make the vote on the economic statement a vote of confidence? It was them, not us. From that point on, they reap what they have sown. This is what they have sown, and here we are.
During the previous Parliament, we heard the Conservatives question the relevance of the Bloc Québécois every day. Now they understand why the Bloc Québécois is here in this House. I will give three good reasons. First of all, the Conservatives did not win a majority in this House because the Bloc was here. Second, the only political party to present a plan to stimulate the economy was again the Bloc Québécois. And third, as he was saying, yes, the Bloc Québécois supported the coalition, because we believe that we will be poorly served by a Conservative government.
Economic and Fiscal Statement December 2nd, 2008
Mr. Speaker, the member asked on what page the opposition stated its intention to form a coalition government. I will tell him: on the same page as the one where the Conservatives delivered their economic statement.
The Conservatives say that they were elected on October 14 with a clear mandate to address the economic crisis. What have they done about it? They delivered an economic statement that includes absolutely nothing to help the economy.
The member asked, on which page did we talk about a coalition? On the page where they did nothing, the page where other political parties felt obliged to condemn certain things and talk about other things that could be done, and done well. It looks to me like the thing they do best is sit on their hands. They are welcome to keep doing that, and I hope they do so for a long time.
Economic and Fiscal Statement December 2nd, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I have listened to the speech by the hon. member across the way. He needs to understand that he is not here to analyze the coalition's economic statement but rather the economic statement from the party in power. So let him not change the focus to the other side; his party's statement is the one we are looking at, not the others'. Let him start with his own.
Economic and Fiscal Statement December 2nd, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak to the same point. We are still debating the economic statement. If the party in power wishes to talk about the economic statement and what it intends to do in coming days, we are totally prepared to listen. However, saying that the opposition parties will not have any economic statement, and to descend into petty politics about that, is quite another thing. Let the government party deal with the policy in their economic statement and then we will be able to talk about what the other parties will be able to do. It is not, however, the time and the place here in this House today for us to state what needs doing and how it will be done. Let them focus on what they need to do, and we will listen.
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply November 25th, 2008
Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague for her amazing, and amazingly accurate, speech on the manufacturing sector.
I would like to know my colleague's take on the outline of the supplementary estimates the government wants to submit to the House for approval. What does she think of the additional $331 million it has found for Canada's military mission to Afghanistan, and the extra $261 million for salary adjustments, again for the Canadian armed forces? A bit more than half a billion has been found for National Defence services, but nothing for manufacturing and forest industry policies.
I would like to know what my colleague thinks about this money that has been found, and the fact that there is nothing for the manufacturing sector.
Criminal Code May 14th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak again here today on the subject of Bill C-384 introduced by my hon. colleague from Châteauguay—Saint-Constant.
It is important to reflect carefully on this bill. I spoke about it nearly a month ago. Since then, we have had time to reflect on it. Personally, since I knew I would be speaking to it again a few weeks later, I took the time to think about other arguments to try to convince the members of this House to vote in favour of Bill C-384.
First of all, I still wonder why it took until 2008 for Bill C-384 to be introduced. Why did it take so long? Why did no one think about this issue before and try to establish measures to deal with people who write graffiti on schools and other locations? It is now being proposed that these institutions be covered by the legislation.
It is important that all members of the House of Commons take the time to read the bill. By doing so, they will be able to get a complete picture, without having any anti-Semitic ideas or other notions. That is important.
Indeed, people from various communities have legitimately asked to be able to keep their premises clean, whether they be places of prayer or schools. Furthermore, they have asked to be able to preserve their culture without being stared at inappropriately by people who could resort to all kinds of ploys to mock their way of thinking or expressing themselves.
Previously, only two types of institutions were covered: places of worship and cemeteries. Now, many others are also included. I mentioned schools, but this would also include daycare centres, colleges, universities, community centres, playgrounds, sports centres and any other place occupied by identifiable groups. It is important to protect them. Bill C-384, introduced by my colleague, is so very important.
We claim to be a host country and to want to welcome all these groups. However, there is no protection for these identifiable places I have just mentioned. This bill will provide adequate protection for these places under the Criminal Code. Thus, these groups will be able to practice their religion or carry out their activities in recreation centres without having to hide or be identified with one group or another. In this way we prevent them from being discredited by either saying or writing anything.
We assume that the members of this House will do everything it takes to make this bill a piece of legislation allowing these people to go about their usual activities.
Although we are discussing bill C-384, I would like to digress for a moment.
My party asked for an emergency debate on the price of gasoline. I would like parliamentarians to be aware of the escalating cost of gasoline. The Bloc Québécois should be allowed this emergency debate so that we can have a straightforward and honest discussion. Voters would realize that some members of this House are not keen to discuss the price of gasoline, to propose measures to curtail increases, to keep oil companies in line and to regulate prices to a greater extent.
Good luck to the member for Châteauguay—Saint-Constant with her bill and may it be passed and become law.
Manufacturing Industry April 30th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, the government has told us that its economic policy is based on respecting market forces. However, its decisions show otherwise. By not respecting Kyoto, by giving tax incentives to oil companies, the government is directing market forces in favour of the oil companies.
Will the Minister of Finance admit that the government favours economic laissez-faire only for the manufacturing industry?
Manufacturing Industry April 30th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, Quebec and Ontario manufacturing industries have been hard hit by the economic slowdown. The turmoil is not over. The European Union is looking ever more seriously at imposing a carbon tax on goods imported from countries that did not sign the Kyoto protocol or that do not respect its rules, such as Canada under the Conservative government.
Will the minister admit that his government, by favouring the oil industry and not respecting Kyoto, is harming Quebec and Ontario manufacturing industries?