Thomas Mulcair

[Ethics, October 26th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the question is obvious. If the Prime Minister believes in his own rules, why does he say nothing when his ministers break them?

Let us be clear. We are not talking about spaghetti dinners in a church basement. That is not what this is about. We are talking about selling preferential access to ministers to the wealthiest Canadians.

If he does not feel like enforcing his own fundraising rules, will he give the Ethics Commissioner the power to do so in his place?

[Ethics, October 26th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, we do know that there is political fundraising that may currently be legal but is also clearly unethical.

On November 27, 2015, the Prime Minister recognized this when he instituted new ethics rules for members of his cabinet, and he boasted about that. These rules clearly prohibit “preferential access to government, or appearance of preferential access” for political donors.

If the Prime Minister is indeed serious about setting the bar higher, why does he not do as the Ethics Commissioner has suggested and put his rules into law?

[Muslim Communities, October 26th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, hate crimes targeting Muslim Canadians have tragically become more frequent in recent years. Each time we hear of another, it weighs heavily on our hearts.

We know that Canada is fundamentally a country of peace.

We celebrate diversity and differences. That is part of who we are. However, we must protect these values. The sparks of hatred must be put out. History has taught us that we cannot stand idly by.

We need to fight against hatred targeting any group of people because of their religion, ethnicity, language, or sexual orientation.

We must actively fight hate perpetrated against the Muslim community, and denounce, in this House, lslamophobia in all of its forms.

On behalf of all New Democrats, I offer my support to the Sept-Îles Muslim community and remind all Muslim communities across Canada that we are here for them.

[Indigenous Affairs, October 25th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, hunger strikers and their supporters travelled all the way from Labrador to bring concerns about Muskrat Falls to the Prime Minister here in Ottawa. All they got in return was a flippant, insulting comment from a Liberal backbencher that shows how out of the touch the government really is when it comes to the realities in Labrador. These are fundamental issues of indigenous rights and health.

What is the Prime Minister doing, specifically, to address the concerns raised by Inuit and Innu about the poisoning of their fishery with methyl mercury? What is he doing?

[Indigenous Affairs, October 25th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the situation in Muskrat Falls is getting worse by the day. This government promised a new nation-to-nation relationship with indigenous peoples.

In the words of the Prime Minister, “No relationship is more important to me and to Canada than the one with Indigenous Peoples.”

What happened to those fine words? Will the Prime Minister finally take action on this file and protect the health of the indigenous peoples who depend on these fisheries?

[Ethics, October 25th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, last week his defence was that he is not as bad as the Conservatives. This week it is that he is not as bad as Trump.

The Prime Minister knows that, given its checkered past, his government's ethical conduct must be irreproachable. Giving privileged access to people who can write $1,500 cheques to fill Liberal Party coffers is not irreproachable ethical conduct.

Will the Prime Minister be sincere in his efforts to serve the public interest and put an end to his government's practice of giving rich people access to ministers?

[Ethics, October 25th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has given clear directives forbidding the sort of cash for access fundraising that a number of ministers have been caught participating in, but last week when we raised the problem, the Prime Minister refused to admit anything was wrong or to return the money.

Today we found out why. The Prime Minister has his own sketchy fundraisers on the go. Canadians are wondering, has the Prime Minister lifted his ban on “pay for play” permanently or is it just as long as he is doing it?

[Democratic Reform, October 19th, 2016]

Here is the problem, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the Prime Minister said that while he liked the idea of getting rid of our unfair first past the post system, now that he has been able to get elected using that very system, it might not be so bad after all.

Canadians have been clear that in 2019, every vote should count. A year ago, the Prime Minister said he agreed with them. Instead of inventing excuses and backing away from his solemn promise to Canadians, will he work with us in good faith to deliver the fair proportional electoral system voters deserve?

[Democratic Reform, October 19th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, did he just say “deputy” instead of “member”? We are starting to see the root of the problem.

A year ago, the Prime Minister made a formal commitment to put an end to the current voting system, which creates false majorities.

My question is simple. Will the Prime Minister keep his promise to make the 2015 election the last election under our old, unfair voting system, yes or no?

[Health, October 19th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, #realchange.

The provinces believed they had a new partner who was ready to listen to them on issues such as health and the environment. Instead, they are on the receiving end of threats and ultimatums. After health ministers met yesterday, it was clear that the parties have reached an impasse on health care funding.

Will the Prime Minister meet with the premiers for good-faith discussions about health care, yes or no?