OTTAWA – Official Opposition House Leader Jay Hill says figures he released yesterday pertaining to legislation debated in the 38th Parliament, clearly demonstrate the Conservative Party has fulfilled its commitment to make this minority parliament a productive one – even amidst fierce political battles in the House of Commons.

“Prime Minister Martin has accused the opposition parties of playing politics, but the statistics clearly demonstrate it is the Liberal Government which has engaged in petty partisan games,” said Hill. “Conservative Members of Parliament judged each piece of government legislation on merit with the result that we supported more Liberal legislation than we opposed. Meanwhile, the Liberal government flatly rejected nearly all of the proposals put forward by the opposition parties. “

Of the 72 government bills put before the House of Commons in the 38th Parliament, the Conservative Party of Canada voted to support, or indicated it will vote to support, 61 percent.

Of the 21 opposition supply day motions introduced by the Conservatives, the NDP and the Bloc Quebecois, and debated in the House of Commons, the Liberals voted to support just 10 percent.

“From the outset of this parliament, the Conservative Party of Canada believed that by acting responsibly we could still accomplish significant work on behalf of Canadians,” continued Hill. “Even when Conservative MPs felt a piece of government legislation fell short, we still supported it if the general intent would offer some improvement to the lives of Canadians,” said Hill.

“On the several occasions that the opposition parties cooperated on the passage of an opposition motion, the Liberal Government failed to take the necessary measures to enact them,” said Hill. “This means that, among others, the victims of hepatitis C tainted blood, farmers, natives, property owners and the families of the Air India bombing victims continue to await action on commitments made to them through a parliamentary vote.”

Hill concluded, “The Prime Minister claims he doesn’t want an election because Parliament has important work to do. Yet he rejects virtually all opposition proposals and, when there is agreement, he openly defies the recorded will of democratically-elected MPs. The democratic deficit has grown to unprecedented proportions thanks to the man who promised to slay it.”

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For more information, please contact:
Jay Hill, M.P. (613) 947-4524 or (250) 787-1194