Public Works and Government Services  Mr. Speaker, when Public Works and Government Services Canada called for tenders for the refit and overhaul of submarines, the tenders came in at $53 million and $57 million, but when the contract was announced, it had somehow gone to $370 million, $313 million more than the high

House debate  Madam Speaker, I still did not get the answer to my question about the ongoing transitional payment but I think it is just for one year, if I am not mistaken. However, I want to slide into another issue that we talked about before. The October 10, 2007 deal had a 3.5% escalator

House debate  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to follow up today on my question about a $75 million equalization payment that was committed to Nova Scotia. I asked the minister, at the time the payment was promised, if he could table the details of the $75 million agreement. It seemed to be a verb

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, the 2007 United Nations Panel on Global Warming identified the Bay of Fundy as one of only two regions in all of North America most vulnerable to rising sea levels from global warming. In late December, the area near Advocate Harbour, Nova Scotia, suffered the worst

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I vote yea.

Ethics  Mr. Speaker, on September 23, 2007, the RCMP informed the Conservatives that there was no evidence to back up their accusations of theft and embezzlement against me by their official agent. Yet, two weeks later, other Conservatives distributed the same accusations of theft and em

Budget Implementation Act, 2009  Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the member from Newfoundland a question about equalization. I know he is interested in this. His province and my province of Nova Scotia were given the opportunity to have a different equalization formula as an option in the 2007 budget implemen

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I really am honoured to rise today and present this petition. Two nurses in my riding who are very well known and well respected have worked for years and years to point out that there is an anomaly in the Criminal Code of Canada in that there is no criminal offence

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, the chief government whip said that there were prior consultations with all the parties in opposition but I was not given prior notice of this motion. If the whip would like to come over and explain it to me, I would be glad to consider it and give it my approval.

Privilege  Mr. Speaker, I rise on a question of privilege and I hope to be able to present a prima facie case that my privileges as a member of Parliament and even as a Canadian citizen have been breached. I never thought that I would stand in the House and have to defend myself against fa

Equalization Payments  Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance just referred to a transition arrangement with Nova Scotia. I understand this is a verbal agreement for a $75 million payment. I have two questions. Will the minister table the details of this $75 million verbal agreement? Is the transition p

House debate  Mr. Speaker, that did not hurt. I have been looking for that answer for quite a while. The parliamentary secretary clearly understood my question and he gave me the exact right answer, and it is even the one I wanted. I did acknowledge that the government was going to honour the

House debate  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to rise on this issue. I asked a question about what appears to be a conflict between the throne speech and the economic statement, and the piece of legislation that provides for a formula for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland to have a 3.5%

Points of Order  Mr. Speaker, I also rise on a point of order. Yesterday, in question period, I asked the Minister of Finance if Nova Scotia would have an exemption from the cap on equalization outlined in the economic statement. The minister did not answer the question in the House but later in

Equalization Payments  Mr. Speaker, like the throne speech, last week's economic statement said that all increases in equalization payments would be capped at the rate of overall growth in the economy. This totally contradicts the October 10 side deal made with Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador