Thomas Mulcair

[Indigenous Affairs, February 24th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, another first nations community in northern Ontario has just declared a state of emergency, not because of a weather disaster or because of any accident but because of the everyday reality there that is simply unacceptable in our country.

One woman died, as her husband held her hand, and the community's nursing station ran out of the oxygen that could have saved her life. Two four-year-olds died of fever because of strep throat and an epidemic of suicides has hit children as young as 10 years old. The regional chief talks of discrimination and institutional racism in the health care system. He is right.

What is the government doing about it?

[Employment Insurance, February 23rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals were very critical of the EI reform when they were in opposition. Now that he is in power, the Prime Minister is content to give evasive answers and spew the usual empty rhetoric.

Only roughly one-third of the workers who lose their jobs qualify for EI, and the benefit period is far too short to find another job. The Prime Minister must understand that urgent action is needed now.

Will the government extend the EI benefits period, yes or no? We would like a clear answer for once.

[Employment Insurance, February 23rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has nothing to offer struggling Canadians but empty rhetoric.

As unemployment goes up and the number of Canadians receiving EI benefits actually does down, Canadians are demanding action to help families pay the bills and to put food on the table.

Yet again, the government's response is empty platitudes rather than commitments to action.

Will the Prime Minister take immediate action to create a universal threshold of 360 hours and to extend EI benefits, yes or no?

[Air Canada, February 23rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, when 2,600 aerospace jobs were threatened under the Conservative government, the Liberal leader protested with the workers about how dishonest and unfair it all was.

Now in government, he is abandoning those same Canadian workers, and there is no deal and no guarantee for any future jobs.

Will the Prime Minister commit to meeting with these workers in Montreal, in Mississauga, and in Winnipeg, to explain why he has changed his mind and why he no longer supports their rights?

[Air Canada, February 23rd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister claimed that Air Canada had a maintenance agreement for the C Series aircraft here in Canada. His minister even said that Air Canada “will build a centre of excellence for...maintenance.” However, there is no such agreement, and no clear commitment to build such a centre.

On exactly what authority can a Prime Minister relieve Air Canada of its legal obligations, which are very clear under the terms of a piece of Canadian legislation that is still in force? Why is he not enforcing the law?

[Employment Insurance, February 22nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, only 36% of workers who lose their jobs will have access to employment insurance.

The Liberal government is abandoning thousands of workers and their families. One thing is certain, those families will not be able to pay their rent, or their bills, or buy groceries with the Prime Minister's empty rhetoric.

Will the Liberals create a universal 360-hour eligibility threshold for employment insurance, or not?

[Employment Insurance, February 22nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister, today, announced growing deficits but refused to say whether struggling Canadians will get the help they were promised.

Families in Alberta and Saskatchewan are being hit hard by rising job losses; but while unemployment is going up, the number of Canadians receiving unemployment insurance is actually going down. This is a broken system, and families are paying the price.

Alberta is asking the federal government to act quickly by lowering the threshold for eligibility and by extending benefits.

Will the Prime Minister listen and act, yes or no?

[Air Canada, February 22nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, so much for his principles. We are talking about 2,600 good jobs at Aveos. They had to go to court twice to protect those jobs, and they won both times.

The Air Canada Public Participation Act, the law, is crystal clear. Maintenance jobs have to stay in Montreal, Mississauga, and Winnipeg.

In 2012, the Liberal leader agreed. He stood by the workers, even rallied with them here on Parliament Hill. However, today he wants to take away their rights.

Does the Prime Minister only support workers when the Conservatives are in power?

[Air Canada, February 22nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, 2,600 Aveos workers feel betrayed.

When the Prime Minister was in opposition in 2012, he was by their side armed with a megaphone and chanting “So-so-so-solidarity!” He said:

It is such a shame that we have to demonstrate to ask the government...to obey the law.

He even lamented the broken promises. Now that he is in power, he wants to take away those same workers' rights vis-à-vis Air Canada.

What changed for the Prime Minister?

[Canada's Contribution to the Effort to Combat ISIL, February 17th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about a stubborn refusal to call things by their name. The only way to honour our military commitment, at any level, is to be clear and honest.

This is a combat mission. My colleague just said that success involves nothing less than eradication. This involves putting Canadian soldiers on the front lines for several years.

When the troops come under heavy fire from the enemy, when they respond with their weapons and seek targets for air strikes while they are on the front lines, that is called a combat mission. The Liberals' refusal to clearly admit what is obvious to all Canadians says a lot about their ability to continue to hide the truth, just like the Conservative government. That is shameful.