House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 64% of the vote.
Audiotaped Conversations June 8th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I want to follow up on some questions that were asked earlier because I want to cut through a whole bunch of the spin that has been going around here.
The Prime Minister and his agents have claimed that the member for Newton—North Delta was soliciting an offer from them. If that is the case, why did neither the Prime Minister nor any of his agents ever report this to the appropriate authorities?
Access to Information June 8th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, after 12 years I guess we keep on seeking.
Recently, the Information Commissioner commented that the sponsorship scandal would never have happened if the government had had a better Access to Information Act.
Why is the Prime Minister refusing to allow the Information Commissioner to examine all crown corporations, officers of Parliament, foundations and organizations that spend taxpayer money?
Access to Information June 8th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, that is quite a job description, coordinating the effort and overseeing the process.
One part of fixing the democratic deficit is dealing with the government's addiction to secrecy. The Information Commissioner said that the government's discussion paper on access to information, “reveals a government preference for increasing secrecy and weakening oversight”.
With a cloud of scandal over the government, why is the Prime Minister choosing secrecy over transparency. Could he get one of his ministers to answer this?
Democratic Reform June 8th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has had 24 hours to think about the question I asked him yesterday. He has appointed one Minister for Democratic Reform and another Minister for Democratic Renewal.
Could the Prime Minister please explain the difference between the two, and who is responsible for the democratic deficit?
Federal-Provincial Relations June 7th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, we know how the government now intends to keep the budget balanced. It will declare all those promises to be figments of people's imaginations.
Today, in a committee report, three parties in this House have again denounced the fiscal imbalance. The premiers of Quebec, Ontario and other provinces have denounced the fiscal imbalance.
Will the Prime Minister commit to meeting the Council of the Federation to come up with up a viable, long-term solution to this growing national problem?
The Budget June 7th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, I suggest the Prime Minister name a third minister and they might eventually come up with a job description.
The Prime Minister has promised over $26 billion in spending in his attempts to buy votes and cling to power. The last time the Liberals and the NDP formed an alliance and went on this kind of spending spree they damaged the economy for two decades to come.
What evidence is there that Canadians, and for that matter what evidence is there that Liberal voters want NDP fiscal policies?
Democratic Reform June 7th, 2005
Mr. Speaker, according to an article in The Hill Times , the Prime Minister has named one member the Minister for Democratic Reform and another the Minister for Democratic Renewal.
Since there appears to be no agenda in either area, could the Prime Minister explain to the House the difference between the two?
Member for Newton—North Delta June 1st, 2005
Mr. Speaker, this is another story. The Prime Minister said that he would never meet with him. Now he says that he would meet with him under certain conditions.
When the government was courting the member for Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette, the President of the Treasury Board said, “Only the Prime Minister has the authority to make an offer”.
Is not the reason the Prime Minister wanted to meet the member for Newton—North Delta so that he could make him an offer, just as he did in several other cases that we are aware of?
Member for Newton—North Delta June 1st, 2005
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is shifting his story. Now he admits that he did authorize his senior people to engage in discussions.
Yesterday in the House, I repeat, the Prime Minister said, “At no time, however, did I ever say that I would meet with the hon. member”, and yet his health minister is on tape saying, “I talked to the Prime Minister moments ago. He will be happy to talk to you over the phone or in person”.
Why did the Prime Minister not tell the truth in the House of Commons?
Member for Newton—North Delta June 1st, 2005
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister told the House, “At no time...did I ever say that I would meet with the hon. member”, meaning the member for Newton—North Delta, and yet the tapes show the Prime Minister's chief of staff saying quite clearly that the Prime Minister was “prepared to talk to you directly, both by phone and in person”.
Why did the Prime Minister tell the House that he was unwilling to meet the member for Newton--North Delta when clearly he was?