House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 71% of the vote.
The Economy June 4th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal trade critic has more expertise on trade policy than the whole Conservative front bench.
Canada's economic growth is now slower than it is in the U.S., the U.K., and Australia, and our job rate has stalled below pre-2008 levels. There is an opportunity, though, to improve growth—
Canada-Honduras Economic Growth and Prosperity Act June 3rd, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to my colleague speaking about the Canada-Honduras trade agreement. She spoke at length of the drug trade and the pernicious effects of the drug trade on Honduran society. She also spoke of human rights abuses in Hondurans. One of the greatest drivers of human rights abuse in Honduras is the illicit drug trade.
First, I would like her to explain to us how limiting legitimate economic trade and opportunity for the people of Honduras helps them. The reality is that the isolation of the Honduran people from legitimate, rules-based trade would only drive more of them into the drug trade, which is the greatest perpetrator of human rights abuses in Honduras.
Second, we already have a trade relationship with Honduras. How would the addition of rules around that trade agreement make the situation worse?
Third, the NDP supports the free trade agreement with Jordan—
Annapolis Valley PepsiCo Frito-Lay Potato Chip Plant May 27th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of once again touring the PepsiCo Frito-Lay Annapolis Valley chip plant in New Minas, Nova Scotia.
This plant was started in 1954 as Acadian Foods, and it currently produces Lay's chips, Ruffles, Hickory Sticks, and my all-time favourite, the spicy Kurkure Masala Munch. It was actually developed in India, but Kurkure Masala Munch, produced in New Minas, Nova Scotia, at the Frito-Lay plant, appeals to Canadians craving these spicy snacks in multicultural communities in large Canadian cities, which proves that multiculturalism creates jobs in small-town and rural Canada.
While plant ownership has changed throughout the years, producing a quality product has been a constant. Plant modernization, new export markets, its 150 loyal and dedicated employees, and a strong management team have brought the operation to its 60th anniversary of chip-making this month. I salute the management and workers at the New Minas plant for their achievement. Plant manager Greg Wagner, PepsiCo Foods Canada president Marc Guay, and PepsiCo's New Minas employees should be proud of their success and good jobs in the Annapolis Valley.
Employment May 26th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the number of long-term unemployed Canadians has more than doubled since 2008. It is so bad that 39% of jobless Canadians have stopped looking for work altogether. Will the Conservatives listen to these Canadians who are giving up hope of ever finding a job? Will they listen to BMO economist, Doug Porter, who says, “That headline jobless rate doesn't necessarily capture how weak the jobless picture really is”.
Will the Conservatives face reality and provide Canadians with a real jobs plan, not just Conservative talking points?
Business of Supply May 14th, 2014
Mr. Chair, the minister continues to attack his predecessor's and his government's decisions to loosen mortgage rules in Canada. They introduced, for the first time ever, 40-year mortgages, with no down payment.
We as Liberals are actually quite happy that he has gone back to a Liberal policy of 25-year amortizations after realizing that what they did was reckless and has created, potentially, a housing bubble in Canada, if we look at what The Economist magazine and Paul Krugman and others are saying about the Canadian housing market.
Does the minister agree with The Economist magazine's recent assessment of Canada when it cites the IMF projecting that growth will be 2.3% this year, behind Britain and the United States? Our employment rate is still below pre-crisis levels. We rank fifth in the G7 for job creation since 2008, only ahead of Italy and the U.S. The Economist is saying that Canada's post-crisis glow is dimming.
Does the minister not realize that, in fact, the status quo is not working? A lot of Canadians are falling behind, and we are falling behind our peers in the G7.
Business of Supply May 14th, 2014
Mr. Chair, the minister agrees with reducing the amortization from 40 years and getting rid of 40-year mortgages with no down payment, which must mean that he disagreed with his government's decision to actually introduce 40-year mortgages with no down payment in budget 2006, which created, by the first half of 2008, half the mortgages issued in Canada being 40-year mortgages.
Speaking of housing bubbles, we really need good data. CIBC's deputy chief economist, Ben Tal, issued a report recently saying that we need better data on the Canadian housing market and that we need to increase funding for Statistics Canada to get that type of data for Canadian consumers and investors.
Does the minister agree that we need better information communicated to Canadian investors and homeowners?
Business of Supply May 14th, 2014
Mr. Chair, does the minister feel it was good public policy for his government to tighten mortgage rules, shorten mortgage amortization limits, and eliminate 40-year mortgages with no down payment?
Business of Supply May 14th, 2014
Mr. Chair, last summer we saw some of the worst summer job numbers for Canadian youth in 40 years.
At the same time, in fact about a year ago, the government was running economic action plan ads during the playoffs that cost about $100,000 for a 30-second ad to advertise a program that did not even exist, the job skills program.
Does the minister feel that it makes sense to spend $100,000 advertising a program that does not exist, or would it make more sense to create 32 summer jobs for students who are desperately in need of them?
Business of Supply May 14th, 2014
Mr. Chair, let me help the minister. He seems out of touch with the realities faced by young Canadians and their parents.
The reality is that the Canadian economy has lost about 260,000 jobs for young Canadians since 2008. That is one of the reasons why Canadian parents are worried about their children's future.
TD Bank estimates it is a $22-billion cost to the Canadian economy, the sustained youth underemployment and unemployment. CIBC economics is using the term “lost generation” of Canadian youth.
Does the minister recognize that some economists are linking the growth in the number of low-skilled temporary foreign workers under the Conservatives with higher youth unemployment in Canada and wage suppression for Canadian youth?
Business of Supply May 14th, 2014
I should say two years after the election.
Mr. Chair, 57% of Canadians believe the next generation will be worse off than they are today. Why does the minister believe that is the case? Why do Canadians believe that?