Chris's Posts

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to rise yet again to speak to Bill C-47, a Bill that, in an Orwellian turn-of-phrase, is entitled Sustaining Canada’s Economic Recovery Act.

Nothing would make me happier than to report to this House that people in my hometown of Hamilton were actually experiencing an economic recovery. Then we, too, could take joy in a bill that claims to be sustaining that recovery.

Hamilton groups angry about death of climate bill

Hamilton Spectator

A coalition of Hamilton environmental groups is denouncing Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Conservative majority Senate for killing a climate control bill earlier this week.

Around 40 members of the Hamilton 350 Committee staged a noontime rally outside the federal building in downtown Hamilton today demanding Canada do more to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions in advance of a major global conference on climate change in Cancun Mexico later this month.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time this afternoon with the member for Windsor West.

It will not surprise members that I am speaking in opposition to the Conservatives' budget implementation bill at third reading. We in the NDP moved 62 amendments to the government's budget that would have immeasurably improved the bill by taking out the most contentious sections and allowing them to be dealt with in stand-alone bills.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the Conservative everything-but-the-kitchen-sink budget is yet another giant step away from the promise of transparency that these supposed reformists rode in on.

This Trojan horse is stuffed with all sorts of measures the government does not have the courage to present to Canadians as stand-alone bills. It is an abuse of power taken straight from the Liberal playbook, and it is an abuse of the trust of Canadians.

If the government has nothing to hide, why is it burying so many nefarious initiatives in one omnibus bill?

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today and join my NDP colleagues in speaking against Bill C-20, the nuclear liability and compensation act. In fact, we are the only party in this House that refuses to give the government a blank cheque on this inadequate reform to the limits of nuclear liability.