Ryan Cleary

[Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, May 1st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, what will it take for the minister to finally get the message? Her attacks on Atlantic Canadians are hurting our outports, hurting our communities, and the news only gets worst for the east. The latest victim of Conservative cuts to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is a regional development agency in Cape Breton that is two decades old. First, it had to lay off half its staff. Now its doors have been shut for good.

The Conservatives are slashing front-line agencies that foster development. How does that help grow Atlantic Canada's economy?

[Employment Insurance, May 1st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is not just unemployed young people who are being shut out by this Conservative government. All four Atlantic provinces have stood as one and said no to Conservative EI cuts. They have said no to forcing workers to take a 30% wage cut. They have said no to Conservative contempt for seasonal industries. They have said no to policies that treat unemployed workers like criminals.

When will the Conservatives listen to the premiers and stop their attacks on Atlantic Canada?

[Ethics, April 25th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, more of the same doublespeak from Ottawa Conservatives, the worst type of Conservatives. Not only is the disgraced former minister, Peter Penashue, pitting the good people of Bishop's Falls against Labradorians and holding the Sir Robert Bond Bridge hostage, he even has the audacity to brag about it. Worse, no one in the government has distanced themselves one iota from this despicable, divisive behaviour.

Is there really no one on that side who will renounce this contemptuous behaviour and attempt to divide the people of my province?

[Navigable Waters Protection Act, April 25th, 2013]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-500, An Act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (ocean watersheds).

Mr. Speaker, this bill is designed to protect Labrador watersheds. Changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act mean only a handful of the millions of lakes and rivers in Canada will now be protected, none in Labrador. No rivers or lakes in Labrador will be protected, which means projects that could affect navigation and projects that could affect habitat and passage of fish can proceed without the permit that once would have been required.

Newfoundland and Labrador has more than 60% of North America's best Atlantic salmon rivers, with some rivers having annual runs of up to 30,000 fish, but that is nothing compared to the salmon runs of decades ago. Labrador's commercial salmon fishery has been shut down since the early 1990s because of low salmon returns, and now the Conservatives are going to put what is left of our salmon in further jeopardy.

The Conservative government should be ashamed of itself. Its management of the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery has been a disgrace, and this is yet another slap in the face.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Navigable Waters Protection Act, April 22nd, 2013]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-494, An Act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Main River and Bay du Nord River).

Mr. Speaker, my private member's bill would amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act to restore protection of the Main and the Bay du Nord Rivers on the island of Newfoundland. The Main River, on the great Northern Peninsula, became the first river in Newfoundland and Labrador to be designated in the Canadian heritage rivers system. The Bay du Nord River, in the Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve, was the second river designated.

This bill is designed to reverse negligent Conservative changes to the Navigable Waters Protection Act. Thanks to the Conservatives, our heritage rivers and the right of the public to have guaranteed access to them is no longer enshrined in legislation. That is not good enough.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Government Appointments, March 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives continue to make up stories. They fail to take responsibility. We now learn that senior ACOA officials fixed a hiring process so a political aide to the Minister of National Defence could get a job for which he was not qualified. He was hired because he was “a minister's staff member”. It is blatant patronage, yet the minister fails to take responsibility.

Why did Conservatives break their promise to fight patronage? Why are they putting their government's partisan interests ahead of the interests of Atlantic Canadians?

[Mining Industry, March 26th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats will always oppose budgets that hurt Newfoundland and Labrador, like this budget. Tucked away on the corner of page 151 of the budget, we learned that the accelerated capital cost allowance is being cut for the mining sector. This decision comes as a blow to Labrador companies just at a time when they are discovering new mineral wealth in iron ore and rare earth minerals.

Why are Conservatives pouring cold water over Labrador's mining industry just as it is gaining momentum?

[The Budget, March 25th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the first part of the hon. member's question was whether or not I live in an alternate universe. I have to say that my feet are firmly planted in Newfoundland and Labrador. Even when I am here, I am still there.

He mentioned a couple of groups that support a ferry increase. I have to say to the hon. member, I do not know what universe you are in but you are not in this one. The price of the Marine Atlantic ferry will increase on April 1 by 4%. Therefore, when people or goods and services come across on that ferry service, it will cost more. When you pay more for goods and services for transportation, that cost is eventually passed on to the consumer. Therefore, everyone will pay more. Everyone will have a tax increase.

The fact that the prices will increase was not addressed in the Conservative budget. We live on an island—

[The Budget, March 25th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, in terms of the issues in my riding of St. John's South—Mount Pearl, the number one issue is seniors and how seniors on fixed incomes deal with the rising cost of rent and the rising cost of living.

Seniors and people who are nearing retirement age are worried about raising the age of eligibility for OAS to 67 from 65. They are worried about how they would pay the bills and their rent once they retire. That is a real concern. The New Democrats share the thought that the age of eligibility for OAS should not be raised to 67 from 65. We see that it is included in this budget. It is not something that seniors want to see or that we want to see.

[Byelection in Labrador, March 25th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the votes are in and I am proud to report that Labrador New Democrats have chosen Harry Borlase to represent them in the upcoming byelection.

Harry was raised in Goose Bay. He is expert in polar law. Best of all, he has never had to resign due to massive election law violations.

New Democrats believe it is up to Labradorians to exercise their democratic choice, but we also believe in letting the rule of law run its course.

That is why Peter Penashue, after resigning in disgrace, should bow out of this campaign until Elections Canada and possibly the RCMP complete their investigations into the dozens of illegal campaign donations he accepted.

While the Conservatives field a self-admitted lawbreaker and a divided Liberal Party squabbles over its candidate, New Democrats are proud to offer a positive alternative whom Labradorians can trust, and a candidate who will put Labrador first.