Susan Kadis

[Criminal Code, May 17th, 2006]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-301, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (blood alcohol).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table a private member's bill that is long overdue in Canada.

MADD Canada estimates that just under four Canadians are killed each day and just under 190 Canadians are injured each day due to crashes involving alcohol or drugs. Approximately 75,000 Canadians are impacted by impaired drivers annually, and there are an estimated 12.5 million trips of impaired driving each year in Canada.

As such, this private member's bill calls on the government to amend the Criminal Code to reduce the legal limit of alcohol permitted in the blood while operating a motor vehicle from 80 milligrams or 0.08% to 50 milligrams, or 0.05%.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Canadian Environmental Protection Act, May 10th, 2006]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-274, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (Schedule 1).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to introduce this private member's bill. This bill calls on the government to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to add brominated flame retardants and polybrominated diphenyl ether to the list of toxic substances.

Recent studies have identified that these chemicals commonly used as flame retardants have been found in our house dust and in breast milk. Europe has already taken steps to ban these dangerous chemicals. Here in Canada, studies have been completed which highlight the high level of this chemical presently in our environment. It is time to ban these products to protect the health of Canadians.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Hazardous Products Act, May 10th, 2006]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-273, An Act to amend the Hazardous Products Act (products made with dog or cat fur).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to introduce this private member's bill. This bill calls on the government to amend the Hazardous Products Act by adding all products made in whole or in part of dog or cat fur. While banned in countries around the globe, including the United States, dog and cat fur can be imported, exported and legally sold in Canada without any identifying labels. This practice is unacceptable to Canadians.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[State Immunity Act, May 10th, 2006]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-272, An Act to amend the State Immunity Act and the Criminal Code (terrorist activity).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in the House to introduce this private member's bill. This bill calls for the amending of the State Immunity Act. This bill, which is long overdue in Canada, would permit any person who has suffered loss or damage as a result of terrorist activity to be legally capable of suing the person or state responsible.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Israel, May 3rd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate Israel's Independence Day and this is a joyous occasion. However, 58 years later, shockingly, world regimes are still calling for its annihilation. In fact, the President of Iran has repeatedly called for Israel to be wiped off the map. Only yesterday, the government said its first target would be Israel if it is attacked.

As free and democratic nations, we cannot afford to make the same mistakes the world made during the Holocaust. Collectively, we must condemn these egregious threats and isolate any leader that fans the flames of hate and stands for the annihilation of another state.

[Petitions, April 26th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I am tabling is signed by many of my constituents who are calling upon the Prime Minister to honour the early learning and child care agreements today.

[Petitions, April 26th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I am tabling two petitions today on behalf of my constituents. I am presenting the first petition on behalf of many of my constituents who are urging the Government of Canada to take immediate and decisive action to prevent the atrocities occurring in Sudan. The petitioners ask the government to take the necessary steps to intervene and ensure that the United Nations and countries around the world respond in a way that will put an immediate stop to the loss of life and crimes against humanity occurring in the Darfur region and beyond.

[Infrastructure, April 26th, 2006]

With all due respect, Mr. Speaker, the Conservative proposal would deliver $3 billion less in infrastructure over the next five years. I know when it comes to transparency, the Prime Minister thinks less is more, but why is the government trying to convince Canadians that when it comes to public funding of infrastructure in their cities and communities, that somehow less is more?

[Infrastructure, April 26th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's cities and communities are anxious about the upcoming budget since there was absolutely no mention by the government of public infrastructure in the throne speech. The finance minister has already said he will honour the $5 billion the previous government committed to strategic infrastructure.

Why will the finance minister not honour the previous government's commitment to renew all other existing federal infrastructure programs in the upcoming budget?

[Holocaust Remembrance Day, April 25th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, today is Holocaust Remembrance Day and at a ceremony this afternoon I will lay a wreath in tribute to the millions of Jews and others who were systematically killed during the Holocaust by the Nazi death machine.

As citizens of Canada and the world, we must do all we can to ensure that never again really means never again. Nowhere is this goal more pressing than in Darfur. Many organizations have worked to keep this tragic issue in the public eye. I am participating in the all party Save Darfur Coalition to call for immediate action in this region. I am also wearing a green ribbon provided by the Canadian Jewish Congress National Darfur Committee to bring greater awareness to the plight suffered by the people of Sudan's Darfur region.

On the day that we remember the horrific suffering and losses associated with the Holocaust, we must never forget those who are suffering in Darfur. The lessons and the legacy of the Holocaust require no less from all of us.