House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 71% of the vote.
Pay Equity February 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the fact that the member shouts and yells from the other end of the House does not change the facts. The fact is that we need a mechanism to ensure we resolve these complaints in an equitable and a quick way.
I was the legal counsel for the Manitoba government in 1986 when we passed that legislation. I understand what that legislation says and I understand what we are doing here today.
I am proud to be a part of a government that puts the interests of women ahead of lawyers.
Pay Equity February 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, what does the member have against women that she would make them wait for 15 years in order to resolve a pay equity complaint? It is a disgrace.
In Manitoba, in Ontario, in Quebec and in fact the Liberal task force in 2004 said that we need a proactive mechanism in order to resolve these complaints quickly. That is what we are doing. We are getting the job done.
Points of Order February 9th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, in a question that was put to me, I answered a question from the member for Outremont. In the preliminary portion of his question, following my answer, he made an unparliamentary statement. I know the Speaker did not have the opportunity to hear that. I would ask the Speaker to review the transcript and make a ruling in respect to the comments made by the member for Outremont.
Pay equity February 9th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, we are introducing proactive pay equity legislation that was first introduced in Manitoba in 1986, followed by Ontario and by the province of Quebec. I note that the Ontario legislation was introduced by a Liberal government, supported by the NDP, led by the member for Toronto Centre.
We believe that women should not have to wait for 15 years in order for these complaints to be resolved.
Budget Implementation Act, 2009 February 9th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I am quite excited about the bill and the speech by the government whip. There are all kinds of initiatives to stimulate the economy and that is very exciting.
There are Liberals who support this budget because they understand the importance of getting this money into the economy. However, I am puzzled that at the same time as we have all these wonderful initiatives in the bill, New Democrat members of Parliament are asking me if I can help support this initiative or that initiative. I say absolutely, let us get the budget bill passed. The Liberals are onside. Yet the NDP members voted against the budget, the same people who asked me if I could support this initiative or that initiative.
Can the chief government whip explain that inconsistency between what NDP members say privately to me and what they do publicly?
Government Performance Reports February 5th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, as part of a comprehensive effort to inform parliamentarians and Canadians of the government's performance, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, on behalf of departments and agencies, 91 performance reports for 2007-2008 and their companion piece, “Canada's Performance”.
Public Service of Canada February 4th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, perhaps I could expand on my other answer and say not only do we value and respect the good work of the RCMP, we respect and value the good work of public servants generally. I have been a public servant for most of my life. I know that they work hard and they do a good job.
It is critical, given our current economic circumstances, that we all contribute to this. I believe that MPs will also be asked to contribute in that fashion.
RCMP February 4th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, we value and respect the good work that the RCMP is doing to keep our communities safe.
It is critical, however, given our current economic circumstances, that we all tighten our belts. Everyone is being asked to do his or her fair share to help manage government expenditures. I might point out that in no way is the RCMP being singled out. Public sector unions and other public sector employees have understood the situation we are in.
Pay Equity January 29th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, what I find incredibly difficult to understand is why that member chooses to stand with her colleagues and insist that women should have to wait 15 years in order for a pay equity complaint to be resolved.
We have brought forward suggestions how this could be done on a proactive basis, much like the Liberal government did in Ontario some time ago, backed by the member for Toronto Centre when he was the head of the NDP.
It seems to have worked in Ontario. Why will they not give that same chance to all of the people in the federal public sector?
RCMP January 29th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I find it ironic coming from a Liberal, the government that cut the funding for recruits and training, the government that cut Depot, in fact closed down Depot in 1998 and never restored the amount of training required.
This government has increased the training of officers to 1,800. At a time when officers were retiring,. the Liberal government not only shut down Depot but refused to hire more officers. We are doing what is necessary for the RCMP.