Thomas Mulcair

[Democratic Reform, February 8th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, the only problem is that this particular letter was well hidden. The minister herself had to unveil it once it was clear that the Prime Minister had broken his promise.

The Prime Minister said just a few weeks ago, “I've heard loudly and clearly that Canadians want a better system of...choosing our governments”. It sounds like consensus to me. He also said, “I make promises because I believe in them”. It is more like he makes promises when they help him win an election.

Will the Prime Minister apologize to Canadians for so blatantly misleading them?

[Democratic Reform, February 8th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, we know that the Minister of Democratic Institutions was informed of the government's decision to break its promise just one day before she was forced to announce it.

The Prime Minister did not make the announcement himself. He hid behind his new minister. He refused to take responsibility for his deceit.

I have a very specific question for the Prime Minister: When exactly did he decide to break his promise?

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, February 8th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, if he is very concerned, why is he not doing anything?

A Canadian family was recently stopped at the United States border. These Canadian citizens, residents of Brossard, just happen to be Muslim. They were questioned on their religion and their opinion of Donald Trump before being told that they could not enter the United States.

Trump's decisions are affecting Canadians now.

Why will the Prime Minister not stand up to defend them?

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, February 8th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, last weekend, 22 refugees crossed the border from the United States seeking safety in Canada. Some walked 12 kilometres in -20° weather. Under the safe third country agreement, any refugee who sets foot in the U.S. is blocked from coming to Canada and is therefore forced to resort to these extreme measures.

Can the Prime Minister explain why he is defending this agreement with the U.S. when he knows that it is causing further harm to vulnerable refugees?

[Pensions, February 7th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister's panel recommended an increase to the retirement age. When asked about this proposal, the Liberal finance minister would not rule it out. Instead, he said, “we'll take that into consideration”. Therefore, the government is considering forcing seniors to work longer.

I do not remember seeing that in the Liberal election platform. Will the Prime Minister stand up and dismiss this recommendation, and will he tell his finance minister that raising the retirement age is out of the question?

[Pensions, February 7th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, the billionaire class and those hoping to join the billionaire class.

Yesterday, the Minister of Finance's economic advisory panel suggested increasing the retirement age.

When the minister was asked about this recommendation, he said that the government would, and I quote, “take that into consideration”. Increasing the retirement age when seniors are already suffering is a bad idea.

Can the Prime Minister reject this recommendation and confirm that Canada will not increase the retirement age?

[Ethics, February 7th, 2017]

Sorry, Mr. Speaker, but knowing a billionaire for a long time does not excuse the Prime Minister of breaking the law.

The Prime Minister can do what he wants to try to distract us and blame others, but the fact remains that this is the first time the Ethics Commissioner has decided to investigate a sitting Prime Minister.

What message does it send to Canadians when the Prime Minister breaks the law and does not think he should face the consequences?

[Ethics, February 7th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister broke the law on conflict of interest during his exclusive vacation for him and a few friends. When the Prime Minister was forced to admit this fact, he said, “we don't see an issue on that”.

My question for the Prime Minister is this. Has he personally met with the Ethics Commissioner, and what excuse did he provide her for breaking the law?

[Democratic Reform, February 1st, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, when 90% of people are in favour of a more proportional system, I think we can begin to call that a consensus.

The Prime Minister made this promise hundreds of times during the election. He wrote it in his party's platform. He put it in his very first throne speech. The government promised it 1,813 times since it got elected. That is the real number.

How can Canadians trust anything the Prime Minister has to say after he has so blatantly and intentionally betrayed his own word?

[Democratic Reform, February 1st, 2017]

Cyber-attacks? What about attacks on truth, Mr. Speaker?

The Prime Minister is always bemoaning the fact that cynicism is the biggest problem in politics today. Promising democratic reform to get elected and then breaking that promise once in office is crass cynicism.

Is he not ashamed of himself?