I posed the following question today (Nov. 28th) in the House of Commons... Let`s be clear, Mr. Speaker. This is a Minister who, rather than fixing the disgraceful record of his government on caring of veterans, chose instead to mislead Canadians about the mental health care they can expect to receive. He has literally run away from veterans and their families, while those who have served our country face a mental health crisis of unprecedented proportions. Mr. Speaker, why are the Conservatives more interested in covering up their shameful treatment of Canada's veterans, than in actually helping them?

I posed the following question today (Nov. 25th) in the House of Commons. Mr. Speaker, Twenty-five years ago, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland was identified as the highest potential marine area for an oil-related environmental accident in Canada. Only last year, a federal tanker safety panel confirmed Placentia Bay was a "high risk" for an oil spill. But now, the Atlantic Pilotage Authority wants tankers to navigate another 20 risky kilometres into the bay before being boarded by a pilot. The danger is clear. What's not clear is why this government is standing by and allowing the risk to increase. Why, Mr. Speaker, why?

I posed the following question in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Mr. Speaker, In order to get a trade deal with Europe, Conservatives bargained away minimum processing requirements that protect fish processing jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador. At the time, Conservatives promised Newfoundland and Labrador compensation - $280 million - to help our fishing industry adjust. The province accepted, but now, two years later, we learn Conservatives aren't following through. So what's the deal? Mr. Speaker, Can the minister clear the air, and confirm that he'll keep the commitment to Newfoundland and Labrador?

I gave the following speech on Monday, Nov. 17, during the New Democratic Party nomination meeting for St. John’s South Mount Pearl at St. Teresa’s Parish Hall in east-end St. John’s. Thank you. Thank you for coming. Thank you for the honour of representing you, of representing St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, and all of Newfoundland and Labrador, as a New Democrat Member of Parliament, in the House of Commons. Thank you. And thank you — for the third time — for the privilege of carrying the New Democratic Party banner in the next federal general election. I let it be known far and wide that the riding of St. John’s South-Mount Pearl is by far the most beautiful, has the most character, of all 308 ridings in   Canada. Other MPs may say that their riding is the most special, the most precious, but we all know that isn’t true. They don’t have the history of The Narrows or the colour of the downtown. They don’t have the little boats of Petty Harbo...

I gave the following 10-minute speech on Bill C-43, the Budget Implementation Act (A Second Act to Implement Certain Provisions of the Budget Tabled in Parliament on Feb. 11, 2014 and Other Measures) on Thursday, Oct. 30th in the House of Commons. Mr. Speaker,                                                                                     This is my first opportunity to speak in this House since the events of last week. I am proud of how this House conducted itself in the wake of such terror, such atrocity, such shocking tragedy. It was good for Canada that we...

I gave the following one-minute statement on Friday, Oct. 10th, in the House of Commons. Mr. Speaker, The Employment Minister is once again using his office for political party purposes. Just before the last election, the NDP obtained Conservative Party plans to campaign in, quote, "very ethnic" ridings, a partisan plan drawn up on ministerial letterhead. Now the minister is spending his days on Twitter, sending out crudely drawn attacks on opposition politicians. But it's not the minister himself firing up Microsoft Paint to put block letters on opposition faces. No, it's his staff who are putting this together. Even the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation has had enough of his antics. And who can forget the very same minister last year tweeting out how he thought it was, quote, a "good thing" that his staff were not unionized. So while the mess he has made of the Temporary Foreign Worker program spirals out of control, the minister and h...

I posed the following question today (Oct. 9th) during Question Period in the House of Commons: Mr. Speaker, News broke today that Canada Post plans to discontinue door-to-door delivery to 29,000 homes in the St. John's/Mount Pearl area next fall. Many of the people in those 29,000 homes are seniors, are people with physical disabilities and mobility issues, they're Canadians who view home-mail delivery as a treasured Canadian service. Mr. Speaker, What does this government have to say to the people of the St. John's/Mount Pearl area who will be directly impacted by this massive cut in service?