Canada's Contribution to the Effort to Combat ISIL  Mr. Speaker, we all agree on the need to eliminate ISIL, which for all of us is the equivalent of removing evil. We also agree on the need to increase humanitarian aid. However, what resonated with my constituents in Kootenay—Columbia during the election was that in order to deal

Canada's Contribution to the Effort to Combat ISIL  Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his well-stated support for our Armed Forces, and I thank the Liberal government for bringing this question to the floor. Can the hon. member explain why his party believes that bombing works, given the examples we have from the region that

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to present a petition on behalf of the constituents of Kootenay—Columbia concerning proportional representation. There are over 700 signatures from Nelson, Cranbrook, Salmo, Golden, and Creston. An important point is that this petition is for true

Parks Canada  Mr. Speaker, the NDP supports giving all Canadians the opportunity to enjoy our natural and cultural heritage. We welcome the promise of free admission to our national parks in 2017. However, user fees are also a major source of revenue, and Canadians are worried about the seriou

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, the people of the Kootenay—Columbia riding sent me here to help build a better Canada, and I want to thank them for that opportunity. Two days ago in our opposition day, the NDP put forward a motion to move Canada forward on the important issue of pay equity for wom

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, it is such a pleasure to see my Conservative colleagues supporting public servants through section (c) of this motion. This certainly was not the case when they were in government. In my riding of Kootenay—Columbia, I know a number of federal public servants who liv

Income Tax Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for a very clear explanation of what the bill includes. As part of his speech, though, the hon. member talked about consulting with students, many of whom make less than $45,000 a year. I would ask the hon. member how this bill would benefit t

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, one of the things the hon. member mentioned was infrastructure, which is very important to municipalities. As a former mayor, I wonder if the hon. member would join with me in encouraging the minister responsible for infrastructure to change the formula, as municip

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, my colleague gave an excellent maiden speech in the House. As the proud NDP critic for national parks, we all know the value of national parks from a tourism and an ecological perspective, I am very happy to hear the Liberal government is planning to restore $25 mill

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his excellent speech. I have to agree with much of what he said. As the former mayor of Cranbrook in British Columbia, I would like to talk a little about infrastructure. In 2014, the Conservative government announced its build Canada program

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, one of the most important things I heard over and over again in my riding during the campaign was the need to repeal Bill C-51. Quite frankly, I spoke with a number of long-time Liberals in my riding who were changing their vote this time around because of the Liber

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, as I said, national parks are extremely important to both our economy and the environment. I am very fortunate to have four national parks in my riding of Kootenay—Columbia. We need to make sure we are putting more attention and financing into it. They have really b

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my colleague, the member for Saskatoon West. I will start by sincerely thanking the great people of Kootenay—Columbia for giving me the honour of representing them in Canada's 42nd Parliament. It is a responsibility that I take very se