Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, allegations of sexual misconduct by our country’s top general were shared with the Privy Council Office, which advises and briefs the Prime Minister on just about everything. We know from news reports that the Privy Council Office received information regarding the allegation of sexual misconduct against General Vance back in March of 2018. On what date did the PCO brief the Prime Min…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, military justice expert retired Colonel Michel Drapeau told the committee that the defence minister had a duty to investigate serious allegations of sexual misconduct as soon as he learned of them. He said, “The minister had fundamentally two duties. One was to investigate. He had the tools to do so.” The other was to share the results of his investigation with PCO. Canadia…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the defence minister's refusal to answer straightforward questions is looking more and more like a cover-up. Our brave women and men in uniform are losing confidence in the minister. Sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces should never be covered up, and the defence minister had a duty to investigate. His failure to investigate these allegations calls into question his ability …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present a petition on behalf of over 700 Canadians who recognize that Falun Gong practitioners have been unfairly targeted and persecuted by the Communist Party of China. The petitioners recognize that for over 21 years Falun Gong practitioners have been political prisoners, have been tortured and, horrifically, have had their organs harvested for sale on…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, one of the things we missed in 2020 was the excitement of taking our kids and grandkids to rural community fairs and enjoying the midway rides and amusements when carnivals visited towns. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has left these travelling amusement and carnival businesses without revenue since September 2019. My constituent, Jennifer Mills, wrote extensively to Liberal min…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, these are serious complaints against General Vance. They were brought directly to the defence minister's attention by the defence ombudsman, and he had a responsibility to follow up after he reported it. The minister has a duty to every serving member in uniform. Yesterday, the Prime Minister said that all investigations are taken seriously regardless of rank or position. Now, did the…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today on behalf of over 500 of my constituents, who are gravely concerned about the operation of a racetrack that was set up last summer at the St. Andrews Airport. The St. Andrews Airport used to be owned by the federal government and still falls under federal jurisdiction. The petitioners have complained multiple times to the Municipality of St. An…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Armed Forces has launched an investigation into the serious allegations of sexual misconduct by former chief of the defence staff, General Vance. We know from news reports that the defence minister was made aware of these allegations back in 2018 by the defence ombudsman and that he then referred it to the Privy Council Office. When did the defence minister first brief th…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, troubling allegations have surfaced regarding the former chief of the defence staff. The women and men in our Canadian Armed Forces are the best in the world, and they should never be subjected to sexual misconduct of any kind. Canadians, especially those in uniform, expect the highest standards from those in the chain of command. Did any government officials, including the defence om…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, Manitoba farmers, ranchers, first nations, cottage owners and municipalities are all stuck in limbo because of Liberal dithering and inaction. Despite repeated calls from the Province of Manitoba, the Liberal government refuses to sign the joint agreement for the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin outlet channels project. For the last five years, Liberals promised to fund the channel, …
Read full speech →