Electronic Commerce Protection Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, the hon. member for Elmwood—Transcona, for this important point, which comes down to some fundamental political questions. With the increased use of the Internet in our society by Canadians, this is a really big issue. There has been a lot of noise around moving ahead on this by both the Conservative government and the previous Liberal government, and in fact nothing has been done.

Electronic Commerce Protection Act  Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to stand in the House today and speak to Bill C-27, a bill that looks at providing new prohibitions and enforcement measures as well as changes to existing laws regarding spam. As one of the youngest members in the House, this is a bill that I feel very strongly about.

Employment Insurance Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking and congratulating my colleague, the member for Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, for the work that she has done to bring forward this bill. It is something that we in the NDP are so proud to bring forward and to show leadership on behalf of so many Canadians who are living in such a difficult situation during these times.

Electronic Commerce Protection Act  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his very detailed remarks on the matter before the House today. Before I ask my question, I would like to say a little bit about myself. I am one of the youngest members here. I belong to a generation of people who use the Internet constantly, not just in our professional lives, but in our daily lives to stay in touch with friends through email or Facebook.

Canadian Red Cross  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Canadian Red Cross as it celebrates 100 years of service. This organization is renowned for dealing with crucial issues to women in our society: health care, violence and sexual exploitation. I would like to highlight one project in particular, implemented by the Canadian Red Cross, called ENLACE, in Nicaragua.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, if the member had heard what I had said in French, I noted that first nations did not pay taxes on reserve. However, when first nations people go to urban centres like Thompson, which is my hometown, they do. My research is just fine. We also need to realize that the realities that first nations face in terms of challenges and being unable to pay for goods and services in urban communities, because they face 90% rates of unemployment or because they are among the poorest people in Canada, is something we need to recognize.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, with respect to governance and first nations, one of the principles that needs to guide the future decisions in that area is consultation. I know it is a popular word used by many but practised by few. Whether it is post-secondary education funds, treaty land entitlement, health or employment, consultations with first nations needs to be at the forefront of the way we move forward.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, my colleague raised the reality faced by low income Canadians. Canada is one of the best countries in the world in which to live. The extent to which Canadians face rates of poverty is shameful. Time and time again we have heard that as the economy gets worse, these people will suffer the most.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for the compliment. I think that it would be great if we had more opportunities to discuss motions in French. I will work on that. This is what I think about why the government is doing these things. I would really like to know why it has made a number of these decisions about harmonization and equalization.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to address the Bloc Québécois' motion today. My party, the New Democratic Party, intends to support this motion. We agree in principle with a number of points in this motion. First, the provinces should be compensated fairly, regardless of the issue involved.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for drawing attention to a serious lack of sensitivity and recognition of the extremely difficult situation many Canadians face. It is incumbent on all of us as members to touch base with the people that we represent. When we talk about Canadians, there is no doubt that many of them live in the ridings represented by Conservative members.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, my colleague brings up an excellent point. The issue of student debt, which it seems only New Democrats raise in the House, is truly alarming. A few months ago, we understood that the student debt in Canada had increased over $13 billion on the backs of current and former students.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I would like to share my time with my colleague from Windsor West. I would like to begin by applauding my colleague from Sudbury and the work of the New Democrats in the House in bringing forward such an important proposition and calling for the introduction of a credit card accountability, responsibility and disclosure act.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation  Mr. Speaker, Canadians from coast to coast to coast do not buy this kind of rhetoric. The government's ideological attack on the CBC and Canadian voices has hit us hard in Manitoba. A vital link that connects us in northern Manitoba will be broken as CBC is planning to cut our program and station, North Country.

International Conference on Afghanistan in The Hague  Madam Chair, I approach this very important debate from numerous directions, including as a young Canadian. Most of the soldiers who have given the highest of sacrifices in this effort have been around my age. Certainly, as a result, my generation is very much affected. My generation of Canadians is also a generation that has grown up with the value of diplomacy and the commitment to development that we have learned in our education system and society.