House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 39% of the vote.
Canada–Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act May 28th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask this member the same question that I asked the previous speaker. Is there any free trade deal that Canada is currently involved in that the member and her party are happy with? If so, I would like to know about it. If not, what would the NDP do if it had the opportunity?
Finally, are there countries that the NDP would not have a free trade deal with that are democracies?
Canada–Panama Economic Growth and Prosperity Act May 28th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I have three quick questions for the member.
The member says that the NDP is not opposed to free trade agreements. I wonder if he could share with the House a free trade agreement that the NDP has supported.
I also wonder if he can tell us how the NDP feels about the regional free trade agreement and NAFTA.
Finally, could the member share with the House, if the NDP were ever to form government, whether it would take Canada out of these free trade agreements with which it disagrees?
Transport Canada May 14th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, of course, railway safety is a priority. We take great measures and make investments to improve the rail throughout the country and we will continue to do so. We want all Canadians to be safe. However, I will point out that walking along the rail is very dangerous. It is amazing how many people are unnecessarily killed or maimed by walking on a railway. We also need to work on railway education.
The Budget March 30th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, in fact, that member is wrong. Many MPs from the cities are Conservatives, but many are not.
What we are undertaking is a review of the building Canada fund to see what went well, what needs to be improved and what needs to be done. That will occur over the next two years.
In the interim, $10 billion is going to be invested in cities and infrastructure. This is an historic amount. No other government has put in so much.
Aviation Safety March 30th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, this member's rhetoric is really alarming and disappointing. It is beneath members of Parliament to suggest that any of us do not take the safety of Canadians as our first priority.
The savings will be of a nature that will not affect the safety of the airlines, and will respect taxpayers' money. The situation at Aveos is unfortunate. I feel for the families. However, we have a legal opinion that Air Canada is within its legal rights. Moreover, Air Canada said yesterday at committee that it wants to be able to hire many of those Aveos employees to continue to do the maintenance.
Canada Post Corporation March 28th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to universal, effective and economically viable postal services for all Canadians. That is why we introduced the Canadian postal service charter and we are protecting all rural post offices from closure.
Canada Post is experiencing changes as the economy changes. Decisions have been made in some urban centres to realign post office hours, times and locations. However, may I say that they are working very hard and Canadians have never had better postal service than they do today.
Rail Transportation December 15th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that VIA Rail provides excellent service from coast to coast. Certainly during the holiday season and the summer, I would encourage people to book their VIA Rail trip and enjoy this great country.
In regard to the member's riding, VIA Rail service between Victoria and Courtenay is also paralleled by bus service and road service so people can get from point A to point B.
We are continuing to reflect on the infrastructure requirements.
Canada Post Corporation December 15th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the fact is that our government is committed to high quality, universal and affordable postal service. Canada Post is proposing to move the post office in the member's riding about two kilometres away to a new outlet. This is due to structural issues with the current outlet. However, there is still a postal outlet within 235 metres of the outlet that is going to be reconstructed.
It is very reasonable and there will be no job losses, unlike what the member suggested.
Have a merry Christmas.
Rural Airports December 9th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to ensuring that taxpayers have the best value for their money. We want to ensure that government assets are used for the benefit of Canadians. If they do not benefit Canadians, the government will allow the assets to go to other people who will act for the benefit of Canadians.
The member should understand that the government should not own everything. If this member wanted it, the government would own all of the businesses and all the land in the entire country. That is wrong.
Rural Airports December 9th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, as announced in budget 2009, a review of corporate assets is being led by the greatest Minister of Finance in the world in collaboration with other fantastic ministers who are looking at various assets, including within the Department of Transport. Our government is committed to using hard-earned tax dollars in a way that is prudent and responsible.
That member should support the government.