- Member of Parliament
- NDP
- Timmins—James Bay
- Ontario
- Voting Attendance: 60%
- Expenses Last Quarter: $134,227.44
- Government Page
- Feb/26/24 2:15:33 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we are on the 12th anniversary of Parliament's passing the “Shannen's Dream” motion, named in honour of the young Cree leader Shannen Koostachin, who stood up to challenge the systemic denial of rights for indigenous children. Shannen had never seen a real school. Children in Attawapiskat were being educated in squalid and dangerous conditions.
The government knew this. It just did not give a damn.
Thirteen-year-old Shannen launched the largest youth-driven civil rights movement in Canadian history. Shannen never lived long enough to see the beautiful school that was built because of her work. She died in a horrific car accident at 15.
Following her death, youth, activists and educators from across Canada launched “Shannen's Dream” to end the systemic underfunding of first nations schools. We have so much farther to go. Children in Eabametoong have no school right now. Children in Kashechewan have no proper gym.
Shannen reminded us that the greatest resource in this country is not oil or diamonds; it is in the potential of this young generation. We thank her. The fight for justice continues.
191 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jan/30/24 3:15:16 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is another winter, and another tragic fire in Treaty 9. Children at Eabametoong First Nation have no school because it burned in a fire, and there was no fire service. Last winter, Peawanuck lost a beautiful 10-year-old child to a fire, and the government's response was, “We'll buy you a truck, but we're not going to pay for the fire hall.” How does one do fire safety at -45°C without a fire hall?
Will the minister stop nickel-and-diming the people of Treaty 9 and commit to, for all the communities, properly funded fire halls and vehicles, and for the children of Eabametoong, a new school? Every child deserves safety and a comfy school.
127 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/15/23 3:13:07 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, after ignoring 20 non-compliance orders from the Human Rights Tribunal and spending $10 million fighting first nations kids in court, the government has a new scheme. It is simply ignoring its obligation to pay the therapists who are providing first nations children services under Jordan's principle. The minister's policies are in direct defiance of the rights tribunal ruling and are threatening to put child therapists into bankruptcy. We are talking about the most fragile children in the country.
Why is the government so determined to deny first nations children access to the Jordan's principle services to which they are entitled?
106 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Madam Speaker, I am really glad to know that my hon. colleague has a son. I do not know what that has to do with stopping me from talking about the failure of the Conservative leadership to deal with disinformation, falsehoods, paranoia and conspiracy.
I would think it would be in the interests of all our children if, as parliamentarians, we act like adults. Obviously that has not been happening with Bill C-11. I am going to be here all week. I sit and listen to disinformation and falsehoods every day, but I think it is really important that we are clear when we call it out.
108 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Madam Speaker, we have certainly thought about this issue, and we have been working across the board to make sure children everywhere are entitled to this. We know that only one-third of Quebeckers actually have private dental coverage. They are left woefully behind in this area. If we actually have a program that works, we will make sure every child in this country, followed by every senior and by families who have a right to it, are able to obtain it, whether it is in Abitibi or in Crowsnest Pass.
91 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/31/22 2:15:29 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to an extraordinary youth leader, the late Shannen Koostachin of Attawapiskat First Nation, who died 12 years ago tonight in a terrible highway accident in northern Ontario. Shannen was only 15 at the time, but in her short life, she launched the largest youth-driven children's rights movement in Canadian history.
Shannen had never seen a real school. Children on her reserve were being educated in deplorable conditions, but Shannen stood up and challenged the negligence of the Canadian state. “School should be a time of dreams,” she said. She said that very child deserves the right to go to a safe and comfy school.
Shannen never lived long enough to see the beautiful Shannen’s dream school in Attawapiskat, but since her death, youth from across Canada have carried on the Shannen’s Dream campaign for equal education rights. Shannen has been recognized as one the 150 most important women in Canadian history. That is a powerful legacy for a girl who just wanted to go to a real school.
On this anniversary, we remember and miss you, Shannen. I miss you, but we know your spirit lives on.
202 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/17/22 1:52:36 p.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, I really appreciate that my hon. colleague put on the record once again the issue that the Conservatives continue to misrepresent, which is that they believe our children do not need a future as long as they get cheap—
42 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/17/22 11:37:00 a.m.
- Watch
Madam Speaker, I listened to my colleague with great amusement. I have great respect for him. It was getting kind of out there, but that is okay. He has a job to do.
I would like to ask him about some work we did together while he was committee chair trying to get accountability on the Kielburger brothers because this issue has been brought back up in the public media. I am very concerned about the fact that, in 10 months of trying to get the basic financial information of how many corporations there are, who had the finances and who owned what, we could not get a single clear picture. This was a parliamentary committee and what was obstructing us the whole time was their chief financial officer, Victor Li. We kept being told that he was off sick some place, but they had nobody else to replace them.
The hon. member was the chair of that committee, and this was the frustration he faced. This is a children's charity. Children's charities should have pretty clear books. Why were we not able to get basic answers from their chief financial officer, Victor Li, and the rest of that group?
202 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
