Canada's Contribution to the Effort to Combat ISIL  Madam Speaker, I will be dividing my time in the debate with the member for Timmins—James Bay. I am happy to rise in the House this afternoon to speak against both the motion and the amendment to that motion. I was encouraged to hear the speeches earlier this afternoon given by my NDP colleagues that I think really put the proper frame on this debate.

Canada's Contribution to the Effort to Combat ISIL  Mr. Speaker, we have heard the past few Conservative speakers defending the Canadian bombing mission, but as the other member across the floor mentioned, there is a long history in this region of bombing missions doing nothing but further destabilizing the area. In fact, most experts would point to the American bombing in Iraq as being one of the key points in the birth of ISIS.

Syrian Refugees  Mr. Speaker, I would first like to wish my son Russell a happy 29th birthday today. On a more serious note, all Canadians have been witness to the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Syria. The devastating images of entire families risking everything to flee the violence have pushed many of us to help.

Forestry Industry  Mr. Speaker, the softwood lumber agreement expired last year, but the government has shown no signs of working to get a new deal. There are thousands of jobs on the line in forestry communities throughout British Columbia and across this country. The clock is ticking on these good, family-supporting jobs, and communities are looking for action.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I want to ask the member opposite about the credibility of the National Energy Board and its really flawed assessment process. The environment commissioner's report recently showed that the NEB does not track compliance in over half of all of the cases studied. I want to know what concrete steps the Liberals will take to ensure that the NEB does its job more than half the time.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, the Liberal government has been talking about restoring the confidence of Canadians in the environmental assessment process around these pipelines. Yesterday, at a hastily called news conference, it announced what it called a new process. However, it will not change anything with the NEB assessment process at all.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, the member opposite took some of the words right out of my mouth with his comments. However, the member for Beauce mentioned zero wealth creation, something about which the previous government knew a lot. It comes down to the fact that there are two sides to government finances, things that will get the government in and out of trouble.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I would like to touch on the infrastructure question. When I was campaigning throughout the riding, I met with almost all the mayors and councillors in the 41 communities.. Infrastructure was at the top of their list at all times. They wanted the infrastructure funding from the federal government to be easier to access for small communities.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I must grudgingly admit that the member's riding of Kootenay—Columbia is almost as beautiful as mine. As I said, the South Okanagan—West Kootenay is an area that is unique in Canada. It is part of the dry interior of British Columbia that is one of the very last ecoregions of Canada that does not have a national park.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise to speak for the first time. I would like to begin by thanking the voters of South Okanagan—West Kootenay for placing their trust in me to speak for them in the chamber. I would especially like to thank the many volunteers who worked hard to elect me as the first MP in the big, beautiful riding of South Okanagan—West Kootenay.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the member what criteria he would use to judge the success of Canada's mission in the Middle East. I think back to George W. Bush's “mission accomplished show” after the American bombardment of Iraq, which did nothing to help the people of Iraq, but served only to severely destabilize the region and essentially give birth to ISIS.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, as this is the first time I have risen in the House I would like to thank the citizens of South Okanagan—West Kootenay for placing their trust in me and putting me here in the chamber. The member talked about the hope in peoples' eyes when he met them on the doorsteps and told them about the income tax cuts the Liberals were planning.