House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 43% of the vote.
Privacy April 24th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, as I have already indicated, and as the Prime Minister has indicated, many of these breaches occurred many years ago, in some cases a decade ago.
We take these breaches very seriously. That is why we have created whole systems, including to protect the privacy of our veterans, for example, but we have made it mandatory across all government departments that they must report and must act to ensure that privacy breaches do not occur in the future.
Privacy April 24th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the majority of these breaches happened years ago, and they resulted in measures to ensure that the privacy of Canadians is protected.
We have acted on a number of fronts, for instance, the veterans privacy action plan to protect the information of Canada's veterans. We have made it mandatory to report any transgressions in the department. We take these issues seriously, a lot more seriously than the previous government.
Government Services April 16th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, what that left-wing think tank has done, and the NDP, is combined what were temporary positions and assumed that we are reducing full-time positions, like the 8,000 census takers for the 2011 census.
The fact is there are 19,200 positions being reduced. Of course, we are doing so on behalf of the taxpayer because we believe that we can deliver excellent quality services to Canadians for less at a more sustainable cost to the taxpayer. That is why this government is in office: because we care about the taxpayer, we care about Canadians, we care about services, and we are not going to have a $21 billion carbon tax.
Plans and Priorities March 28th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, on behalf of 93 departments and agencies, the reports on plans and priorities for 2013-14.
Ethics March 27th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, as I already explained, this matter was referred to the ethics commissioner by us. We are following the rules that were duly passed by Parliament.
However, on the other side of the House, that party, the NDP caucus, had a $300,000 payment by the unions, contrary to our laws, contrary to the finances act. That is its record. I will put our record against its record any day of the week.
Ethics March 27th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, in fact, that is exactly what happened. It was this caucus, this party, this government that actually created the Federal Accountability Act back in 2006. We are the ones who created the restrictions on lobbying. We wanted to ensure there was more transparency and accountability. That is exactly what we did.
Members of our caucus reported this matter to the commissioner. We are acting by our own rules. I wish the opposition would do the same thing.
Infrastructure March 26th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the advertising budget which, of course, supports our obligation to communicate with the Canadian public on issues of national importance, including how the budget might affect them, is down by 46% since 2009-10. We are acting responsibly but still communicating with the public.
Of course, the last full year of the Liberal government, the Liberals spent over $20 million more than we did.
Government Advertising March 25th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, in fact, our advertising budget has declined by 46% since 2009-10. We are being responsible with taxpayer money, despite the fact that we have an obligation to communicate with Canadians.
The last full year of the Liberal government, it had an advertising budget more than $20 million higher than our budget for the same purposes. The hon. member should think before he asks those kinds of questions.
Regional Development March 25th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I will put our northern Ontario caucus against the NDP's northern Ontario caucus any day of the week.
We are there for northern Ontarians. We are there for more jobs and opportunity. We are there for more natural resource development. We are there to help our first nations. We are there to help our young people. We have been there since day one.
Those members' leader goes to Washington, talks down the Canadian economy, talks down our resource sector. That is their record, and they will pay for it.
Regional Development March 25th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, FedNor has a proven track record investing in northern Ontario communities. Whether it comes to Internet broadband, whether it comes to new jobs and new opportunities for our young people, whether it comes to tourism, whether it comes to, as I mentioned, resource development, that track record has been before the House. Every time, the party on the other side of the House voted against that and voted against the interests of northern Ontario.