Bob Dechert

[Business of Supply, October 16th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I have been listening intently to this debate all day and earlier today you made a ruling that speaking about the budget, which is of great importance to Canadians, was not relevant to this debate. I have listened to that member go on at length about something that was done in another legislature in the province of Ontario many years ago. He was making some kind of spurious allegation about how there is some connection between what was done in some bill in the Ontario legislature some years ago to something else that happened in the province of Ontario, which he knows is not true, and somehow that is relevant to the debate about process that the opposition wants to have today rather than talking about the things that Canadians really care about, which is jobs and economic opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I wish you could perhaps provide some further clarification on your ruling in connection with what we are listening to right now.

[Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, October 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our legislation fully implements Canada's commitments to the convention and is in line with key allies, including Australia and the United Kingdom. The Canadian Forces will make it a policy to prohibit its members from using cluster munitions, including our members serving on exchange with allied armed forces. This legislation preserves Canada's ability to work alongside our allies.

[Foreign Affairs, October 1st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as the member should know by now, Canada's policy is no longer to please every dictator with a vote at the United Nations. We have taken a strong, principled position to promote freedom, human rights and the rule of law and we will continue to do so.

The member may have heard the Minister of Foreign Affairs make his address to the UN General Assembly this morning, where he said:

Our commitment to the United Nations has been tested and is proven. Not in spite of our commitment, but because of our commitment to this body, we cannot and will not participate in endless, fruitless inward-looking exercises.

[Service Canada, October 1st, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as the member should know, the island is currently being serviced by five locations of Service Canada. Islanders can apply for passports at each one of those locations.

[Foreign Affairs, September 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the member was not paying attention when I mentioned earlier that the Prime Minister is meeting with two world leaders in New York today.

The member should probably also know that the Prime Minister received the statesman of the year award last night, which is a great mark of distinction for Canada and one that the member will also know—

[Foreign Affairs, September 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member will know, the Prime Minister will be meeting with two world leaders later today in New York. However, under our government, Canada's policy is no longer to please every dictator with a vote at the United Nations.

We have taken strong, principled positions to promote freedom, human rights and the rule of law. In fact, the Prime Minister has delivered the UN General Assembly speech twice as many times as the two previous prime ministers of Canada.

[International Trade, September 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the suggestion that Canada is not interested in arms trade treaties, cluster munitions treaties, is ridiculous. Canada has set some of the highest global standards on export control of munitions. Canada looks forward to new negotiations on arms trade treaties.

[Children's Rights, September 27th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians can be proud of the efforts our government has taken to protect the rights of children.

We are also committed to the promotion of children's rights around the world, and are proud to have been an active co-sponsor and supporter of resolutions before the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council.

The sad reality is that Syria is a member of this committee. Syria, a country whose rulers are stealing the innocence of an entire generation of its children, is criticizing Canada. Imagine that. This is no doubt to distract from the atrocities that Syrian children are currently facing every day.

[Helping Families in Need Act, September 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the minister on her speech and for bringing forward this important piece of legislation. As a member of Parliament from Mississauga, I have heard from many parents who have critically ill children who have been requesting this kind of support.

I am glad to see that the NDP and the Liberals have decided to support the bill. I have to say the NDP caused us a bit of concern earlier when its members voted against a ways and means motion, but I am glad to see they have made the right decision to support this bill.

Would the minister comment on what she has heard from parents of critically ill children about the need for this bill?

[Republic of the Philippines Independence Day, June 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to mark the 114th anniversary of Philippine independence. In recent years, Canada and the Philippines have developed close ties of co-operation, trade and friendship. Our bilateral relations are continuously strengthened by the over half a million Canadians who trace their roots to the Philippines. Filipino Canadians continue to make valuable contributions to our great country, in all fields of endeavour. I am proud that under our government, the Philippines has become the number one source country for new immigrants to Canada.

For all Canadians, this holiday represents an excellent opportunity to honour the rich history and cultural heritage of the Filipino community and to enjoy celebrations taking place across the country, including in my riding of Mississauga—Erindale.

On behalf of our government, I wish the Filipino community a happy independence day and mabuhay Philippines.