House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 64% of the vote.
Foreign Affairs November 5th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, it is completely acceptable that we would get the facts from other countries but we should be getting the facts from our own government of its role in this case.
Consular officials visited Mr. Arar in New York and Syria, yet somehow the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Solicitor General all refused to accept any responsibility. What is the government hiding? Why does the government refuse to disclose all of the facts of its role in this case?
Foreign Affairs November 5th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, watching the Liberal caucus goings-on this morning, I thought the Prime Minister might not have a seat but I am glad to see he has found a place to put himself. However, I do have a serious question.
Maher Arar was imprisoned and tortured in a Syrian prison. Canadian officials may have been involved in his deportation. Yesterday in an all party committee of the House, members of all parties basically unanimously demanded that the government hold a public inquiry into this situation.
Why is the government refusing to have a public inquiry to lay to rest some of these allegations?
Prime Minister of Canada November 4th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I wish the Prime Minister would have been so non-committal about being Prime Minister 10 years ago. It might have saved us all a lot of trouble.
Finally, the time has come for the new Liberal leader to pay back the Prime Minister. The new Liberal leader said he would review all the government decisions, even the bills that are part of the Prime Minister's legacy.
Which bills would the Prime Minister like to see passed by both Houses before he leaves for the United Nations?
Prime Minister of Canada November 4th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, that is the kind of sharp and clear answer we have come to expect over the past years.
Let me bring it a little more up to date. When I got here the Prime Minister was going to fight another election, then he was going to go, but not for 18 months. Then last week his caucus voted that he was going to stay. Let me try to get a little more up to date. In a week or so, after the break in November, will the House be back here doing the nation's business?
Prime Minister of Canada November 4th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I see the Prime Minister is back in the House today and it makes me think of a song:
Start spreading the news,
He's leaving today,
He wants to be a part of it,
New York, New York.
My question for the Prime Minister is, if he thinks he can make it there, I gather he thinks he can make it anywhere, but will he be here until February?
The Economy November 3rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I guess the message from the finance minister is that the government overtaxes so much it has an unlimited amount of funds for boondoggles and mismanagement.
The new Liberal leader is committing to investing funds. However, today's financial update proves that these funds will not be available.
Was the new Liberal leader informed or consulted with regard to the financial update? Does he know that his piggy bank is not as full as he thought?
The Economy November 3rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I can understand why the finance minister would want to be cautious about his new leader's spending promises. We have seen this script before, a new leader hits the campaign trail and makes all kinds of promises, and then he gets elected and promptly says there is no money for his promises.
This is a new twist. Is the finance minister telling the new Liberal leader there is no money for his promises even before he takes office?
The Economy November 3rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully today to the fiscal update from the finance minister. He tried to minimize the government's fiscal surpluses. In fact, he says now there may not even be the money for health care.
Yet his new leader has been going around the country making spending promises, by our total somewhere in the neighbourhood of $30 billion. Could the finance minister tell the House, or better, tell the new Liberal leader where the money for his promises is going to come from?
National Defence October 30th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, after two of our soldiers died in inadequate equipment, the Prime Minister should be embarrassed to make that kind of statement.
Another embarrassment for the Prime Minister has been the World Economic Forum's declaration that one of our greatest problems is favouritism in the decisions made by government representatives.
Will the Prime Minister finally admit that the ethics deficit is harming our country?
National Defence October 30th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, I do not say that our soldiers may be facing heavier combat than the President of the United States, directly, but we have our Sea Kings grounded, two-thirds of the Hercules aircraft grounded, tanks and Iltis jeeps that are worn out, and inadequate replacements.
Can the Prime Minister explain why it took him only one day to get new Challenger jets for himself when he wanted them but after 10 years our military people do not have the helicopters they need?