Harold Albrecht

[The Budget, February 12th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, repeatedly throughout my colleague's speech, she inaccurately referred to this as the “do-nothing budget”.

I have not had the chance to read all of the 400 pages in this budget, but as the chair of the environment committee, I did quickly go to the section on the environment to see what initiatives our government is proposing in this budget. I do not have time to read anywhere near all of them, but I am going to read a few of them.

The budget would protect Canada's national parks by providing over $390 million to make improvements to highways, bridges, and dams located in our national parks. It would support conservation by investing an additional $15 million in recreational fisheries conservation partnerships. It would support projects that would support the conservation of recreational fishing habitats.

I could go on and on about environmental initiatives, but I know that my colleague is very supportive of unions, so I have a question for her. I would like to give her a quote from Canada's Building Trades Unions, which said, “After years of being a mere add-on to post-secondary education, apprenticeship is being noticed by our federal government”. It went on to say, “The way apprentices are being treated has changed and they are now, thanks to measures introduced in the 2014 budget, treated more like their colleagues in college and university training”.

I would like to ask my hon. colleague if she would support the unions in their call for the support that we are giving to the trade unions by giving support to apprenticeship training, which is one of the most lacking areas of training in our country. If we are interested in improving the lot of middle-class Canadians, why would she not support this budget?

[Petitions, February 12th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a number of petitions from residents of Waterloo region in southwestern Ontario. These petitioners are calling on members of Parliament to condemn discrimination against females that is occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.

[Petitions, February 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present two separate petitions, both from the area of my riding, Kitchener—Conestoga, as well as from the surrounding area.

The petitioners are calling on Parliament to condemn the discrimination against females that is occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.

[Committees of the House, February 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, entitled “Terrestrial Habitat Conservation in Canada”.

The committee requests that the government table a comprehensive report to this report.

[Coldest Night of the Year Walk, January 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, every night an estimated 30,000 Canadians are without a place to sleep, facing not only hunger, loneliness, and the cold but also a loss of hope, the oxygen of the human spirit. It is for this reason that on February 22, Darlene and I will be participating in a 10 kilometre Coldest Night of the Year walk.

Walks in 64 cities across Canada give us the opportunity to experience a hint of the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness. Since 2011, $2.4 million has been raised to help some of Canada's most vulnerable citizens. In Kitchener-Waterloo, donations go to Ray of Hope, an organization that works with at-risk youth, equipping them to make responsible decisions and enabling them to make a positive contribution to their communities.

Providing hope to vulnerable Canadians does make a difference. I invite and encourage every Canadian to be part of this event. Visit www.coldestnightoftheyear.org to join or support a local walk.

[Petitions, January 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present two petitions from constituents of my riding and the surrounding area of Kitchener-Waterloo.

The petitioners ask members of Parliament to condemn discrimination against females that is occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.

[Health, December 4th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, today in Canada more than 4,500 people are waiting for organ transplants. However, the needs of many of these patients will never be met because only a fraction of Canadians are registered donors.

As members of the House will know, during the difficult days following the death of my wife, Betty, I drew strength from my faith and from the fact that five people received the gift of life through her gift of donated organs.

Life is the most precious gift one can give. With Christmas approaching, can the Minister of Health inform this House on the steps being taken to encourage Canadians to give the gift of life through organ donations?

[Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 2, December 3rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I heard a rhetorical question in my colleague's remarks when she asked how many of the jobs that have been created are part time. There was an implication that most of the jobs that have been created are somehow part time. I would like to remind my colleague that Canada has created over one million net new jobs, 90% of them are full-time jobs and 85% are in the private sector.

It is important that, when we are sharing information in this House with Canadians who may be watching, we get the information accurate. I would like to confirm the fact that 90% of these jobs are full-time jobs and 85% are in the private sector.

I would like to ask my colleague why she would be opposed to the government's record of job creation.

[Committees of the House, December 2nd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development in relation to the supplementary estimates (B), 2013-14, votes 1b, 5b, 10b and 20b under Environment.

[Collateral Damage Project, November 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge and thank a great Canadian who is visiting Ottawa today, Scott Chisholm.

Scott is the founder of the Collateral Damage Project, training the front line to deal with suicidal behaviours.

I have often said in this House that preventing suicide requires an entire community. I am proud of the work that Scott has done in training teachers, nurses, and members of first nations to recognize and treat suicidal ideation.

While society still struggles to talk about suicide and mental health, Scott is one of thousands of Canadian heroes struggling to protect the most vulnerable.

One of the hidden costs of suicide is the damage to survivors. Their pain is often beyond their ability to express; they suffer in silence. The Collateral Damage Project shatters that barrier with positive stories of how those who have struggled with the loss of loved ones to suicide have channelled their pain into something positive.

Canadians struggling with suicidal thoughts or coping with its aftermath should visit the Collateral Damage Project, at www.leftbehindbysuicide.org.

Do not lose hope.