House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 71% of the vote.
Forestry Industry January 29th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, for two years the Conservative government did nothing to help the forestry sector despite closures, layoffs and crises. The only action it took was to scrap the Liberal forestry fund, only to replace it two years later with a smaller fund aimed at covering all industries.
Will the government immediately reinstate the $1.5 billion Liberal forestry fund to help give real hope to forestry workers and their communities?
Questions on the Order Paper December 12th, 2007
Which laboratories, listed by name and location, are considered as non-regulatory laboratories under the mandate of the Independent Panel of Experts on Transferring Federal Non-Regulatory Laboratories to provide advice and options to the President of the Treasury Board on transferring federal non-regulatory laboratories to universities or the private sector?
Wireless Industry December 11th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the minister is sounding a little bit like Alexander Haig.
On Thursday, the Leader of the Opposition asked the Prime Minister, “Has the Prime Minister ever discussed the wireless spectrum with Brian Mulroney?” The Prime Minister refused to answer.
Why did it take two hours for the PMO to answer a simple question? Either the Prime Minister spoke to Mr. Mulroney about wireless or not.
During those two hours, did the Prime Minister's Office speak with Brian Mulroney or his representatives just to get their stories straight?
Wireless Industry December 11th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, we know that Brian Mulroney lobbied the former industry minister and that he arranged a meeting between the minister and Pierre Karl Péladeau.
The Lobbyist Registration Act states that individuals who, for payment, arrange a meeting with a public office holder and any other person in respect to government policy are required to register.
Did the Prime Minister know that Brian Mulroney was never registered as a lobbyist while he was lobbying the government?
Infrastructure December 10th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, across Canada there is a massive infrastructure deficit that is impacting the everyday lives of Canadians.
The Canadian Federation of Municipalities estimates our national infrastructure deficit has reached $123 billion and, of this, $40 billion is for community, recreational, cultural and social infrastructure.
Recreational facilities, many of which were built as memorial projects and centennial projects, need reinvestment or replacement now. The infrastructure deficit has become a significant health and safety issue.
Community projects, such as the East Hants Sportsplex, Glooscap District Arena, Brooklin Fire Hall and Community Centre and the Windsor Curling Club, all deserve investment now. Tax credits for hockey equipment will not matter if there are no rinks for people to actually play hockey in.
The government's responsibility is, first and foremost, to work with municipalities and the provinces to help provide social infrastructure and ensure that these facilities continue to exist.
The Government of Canada needs to provide meaningful support to its communities now.
Wireless Industry December 7th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, on November 9, the Prime Minister called for an end of all dealings between his government, its ministers and Brian Mulroney. We know that Brian Mulroney lobbied the former industry minister.
Was the Prime Minister aware of discussions between his former heritage minister and Brian Mulroney on the wireless spectrum auction?
Wireless Industry December 7th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, there is an insidious and the incestuous collusion between Brian Mulroney and that government, when that government needs to gets its lines from Brian Mulroney's speech writer, Ian MacDonald. The fact is, on November 9, the Prime Minister called for an end—
Wireless Industry December 7th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister refused to answer the simple question, “Has the Prime Minister ever discussed wireless spectrum with Brian Mulroney, yes or no?”
Instead of answering, he quivered and huddled, red-faced, with his Minister of Industry in the House. Miraculously, two hours later, the Prime Minister's Office, not the Prime Minister, but his office, responded.
Who did the Prime Minister's Office speak with in the interim to get its story straight? Did the PMO speak directly or indirectly with Mr. Mulroney or his associates?
Budget and Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2007 December 7th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should reflect on whether the GST is payable on cash transactions of $300,000 to former prime ministers.
Beyond that, we are committed to reducing taxes. We are committed to a fairer approach to reducing, in a broad base way, personal income taxes to actually help Canadian families. With his approach to cutting the GST, a 1% GST cut will give someone buying an $80,000 Cadillac Escalade a great savings of about $800 or so--
Budget and Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2007 December 7th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, we would all like to hear from the Speaker, the best member of Parliament in Canada.
Innovative, forward-thinking governments globally have proven that we can build a competitive economy with dramatic reductions to corporate taxes while investing in social policy.
We only need to look at the Netherlands, Sweden and Ireland. Australia and New Zealand have reduced corporate taxes dramatically. They have reformed their tax system to make their economies magnets for capital and talent and, at the same time, have invested significantly in social policy.
The Scandinavian example is particularly important to help guide us because Scandinavian countries value investments in social policy, in child care, in early learning and in good health care policy, and, at the same time, they saw the need to reduce their corporate tax levels to some of the lowest corporate taxes in the world.
The old globaphobic, socialist, Luddite nonsense that somehow innovative and forward-thinking economic policy is contrary to good social policy is wrong. In fact, we need good, economic policy to afford sound, social investment.