Rod Bruinooge

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 7th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, on June 11, 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper extended an apology to the victims of the residential school era. He asked for forgiveness--

[Committees of the House, June 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I understand the opposition wants to import the foreign U.S. committee system that is used as a political weapon to bully, intimidate and humiliate opponents by expecting junior employees to come before committee to account for their ministers.

Could the government House leader please tell the House how the government is responding to these tactics?

[Liberation of the Netherlands, May 10th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian veterans travelled to the Netherlands last week to commemorate their role in the country's liberation during the second world war. Our veterans were treated like royalty and honoured by Dutch citizens, both young and old.

It is clear to see that the Dutch do not take their freedom for granted. Even after 65 years, they continue to honour the memory of the thousands who lost their lives fighting oppression. They continue to celebrate the veterans who are still alive today.

I can certainly understand their appreciation. My father and his family were in Holland during World War II. My father used to tell me stories of when Canadians liberated him and his family and their country. There were celebrations in the streets, just like there were last week.

I look forward to Princess Margriet's official visit to Canada tomorrow, which will highlight the historic ties and the continued co-operation between our two countries.

As the years go by and the war moves further into our past, we must never grow indifferent to the cost of freedom.

[An Act to Prevent Coercion of Pregnant Women to Abort (Roxanne's Law), April 14th, 2010]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-510, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (coercion).

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honour to introduce this private member's bill. This bill would be known as Roxanne's law and it is based on the untimely death of Roxanne Fernando.

Roxanne Fernando was coerced into having an abortion but she did not go through with it. In the end, her boyfriend decided to kill her for not going through with it.

This bill would protect vulnerable pregnant women. I hope everyone in the House can support it.

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

[Business of Supply, March 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I listened quite closely to the intervention of the House leader for the New Democratic Party's. I appreciate the background she brings to this debate.

As a politician, we are always seeking consensus. She references family planning and I know family planning can be defined in many ways. I know some regions in the world unfortunately define that phrase differently from the philosophy that she probably has. When I speak about this, I am referring to the Republic of China in relation to its one child policy, which unfortunately sometimes leads young women who find themselves pregnant a second time to be, as reported, coerced into abortions.

I am sure she does not agree with those international viewpoints and I am sure there is consensus between us on that point.

[Business of Supply, March 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I have a quick question for the doctor. I know it has been indicated that the foreign policy she is suggesting would be based on the status quo relative to abortion in Canada. Are there any exclusions from that status quo that she would insert in the foreign policy, such as a provision of gender selection abortion?

[Business of Supply, March 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, in his last answer to a question I posed, the member suggested that we should leave it to the professionals. I am assuming he means the Canadian Medical Association.

Does he and the Liberal Party agree with the Canadian Medical Association's viewpoint on gestational limits, and is that included in his foreign policy proposal?

[Business of Supply, March 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the member opposite's delivery and his obvious understanding of so many of the elements he spoke of. Clearly, as a medical doctor, he has a lot of insight into this important debate. I would like to offer a few questions for him.

As he heard recently, even today, this policy is not going to include abortion. However, he recommended that it should include abortion. Earlier during oral questions, his leader also indicated that this foreign policy should be based on the status quo that we have in Canada.

Are there any exclusions from the status quo in Canada that should be made to our foreign policy, perhaps in regard to gender selection abortions? If there is a law in Canada against that already, then of course the practice would be excluded.

Are there any other things that he can think of that should excluded from Canada's foreign policy?

[Business of Supply, March 23rd, 2010]

Madam Speaker, I agree that our country should achieve the said 0.7% of GDP. Would the member expand on one part of her speech? She referred to existing pregnancy interruption legislation in Canada. I would appreciate it if she could perhaps give some examples of that.

[Justice, December 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, drug production and drug trafficking is without a doubt the most significant source of illicit money for organized crime groups. Despite this, yesterday Liberal senators voted to gut our drug bill that aims to disrupt gangs.

Liberal amendments would not only weaken the bill, they would create a two-tier justice system, with aboriginals on the losing end. Exempting aboriginals from jail time would make them a target for drug dealers who know they will be back on the street sooner than non-aboriginals.

Police organizations from across this country have begun speaking out about the Liberal Senate amendments and the damage that would cause to our streets.

Would the Minister of Justice state why this is an important bill for Canadians?