As New Democratic critic for Post-Secondary Education, I gave the following one-minute statement in the House of Commons on Thursday (May 30). Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The average student debt in this country — in terms of federal and provincial loans — stands at $28,000. This is how Canadians are expected to begin their careers. I say expected,  because if the debt isn't bad enough — the unemployment rate for young Canadians is 14.5 per cent, more than double — double — other age groups. This is the first generation of young Canadians not to live as well as their parents — pensions and benefits, for example, are under constant attack.  Canadians students have much to talk about and they'll get the chance to do that this week during the annual general meeting of the Canadian Federation of Students, Canada's oldest and largest student organization.  On behalf of New Democrats, I welcome student representatives from across the country and say YOUR fight — fo...

As New Democrat critic for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, I posed the following question today (May 29th) in the House of Commons. Atlantic Canadians want economic development - instead, ACOA is becoming a home for Conservative mismanagement and ethical breaches. Yesterday, Conservatives had the audacity to claim they didn't rig the ACOA hiring process. But the report clearly stated, "decisions in the hiring process were based on Mr. MacAdam's circumstances as a minister's staff member." And then the Defence Minister's chief of staff interfered, and changed the report. So let's try again, Mr. Speaker. What consequences did the minister's chief of staff face for this attempted cover-up?

  I gave the following speech Tuesday (May 28th) in the House of Commons. Mr. Speaker, I stand in opposition to the bill, the short title of which is the “Canadian museum of history act." The bill would amend the Museums Act to create a new crown corporation called the “Canadian museum of history," which would replace the Canadian Museum of Civilization. The bill also sets out the purpose of the new Canadian museum of history. In other words, the Canadian Museum of Civilization would be refocused and rebranded. That is a scary thought, the thought of any Conservative rebranding initiative is frightening. When I heard about this legislation, my first thought was that the Conservatives planned to put a big a blue C on the side of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, representing the Conservative action plan or, as more and more Canadians like to call it, the Conservative inaction plan. However, that is another speech. Maybe the Conservatives woul...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 28, 2013    MINISTER MACKAY’S VERY OWN PATRONAGE AND COVER-UP SCANDAL OTTAWA – As Prime Minister Stephen Harper continues to be embroiled in the Senate expense scandal, which has already forced his Chief of Staff and two senior Senators to resign, the Conservative Defence Minister has some explaining of his own to do, said Ryan Cleary (St. John’s South—Mount Pearl), NDP critic for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). “It's like the Defence Minister is trying to keep up with his boss with his very own patronage scandal and cover-up,” said Cleary.  “ACOA’s rules were rigged to hire the Minister’s political aide – when caught, his Chief of Staff stepped in to whitewash a report to cover up this interference.” The Chronicle-Herald has revealed that Minister MacKay’s Chief of Staff ordered a report by the Public Service Commission be amended to delete any reference to “outside influence” in the hiring of this Minis...

I gave the following speech on Monday (May 27th) in the House of Commons.  Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier . I stand in support of Bill C-54 , an act to amend the Criminal Code and the National Defence Act in relation to mental disorder. The bill's short title is the “Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act." To be more specific, New Democrats support the bill so that it can be further studied in committee. It merits further study. Cutting to the chase, this bill amends the legislative framework applicable to mental disorder in the Criminal Code and the National Defence Act. It amends the legislation to specify that the safety of the public is the paramount consideration in the decision-making process. I repeat, because this is key, that public safety must be paramount in the decision-making process. The bill also creates a mechanism by which Canadians who are found not criminally responsib...

I posed the following question today (May 28th) in the House of Commons. The Defence Minister is trying to keep up with his boss with his very own patronage scandal and coverup. ACOA's rules were rigged - they were rigged, Mr. Speaker - to hire the Defence Minister's political aide. That's clear. These agencies are supposed to help with crucial regional economic development. Instead, ACOA has become a home for Conservative partisan abuses. Mr. Speaker, Where is the accountability? And what consequences did the minister's chief of staff face for this attempted coverup?

I posed the following question today (May 24th) in the House of Commons. The patronage scandals don't end at social secuity - not by a long shot, Mr. Speaker. We now know that senior officials with ACOA rigged hiring rules - they rigged the rules, Mr. Speaker - so friends and political staff of the now Minister of Defence could get work. That in itself is reprehensible. But the fact that the minister is washing her hands of the matter is worse. Canadians deserve answers. How about an answer to this question, Mr. Speaker: Has the minister investigated why ACOA staff bent the rules for Conservative insiders? Why did they break the rules in the first place?