Canada's Contribution to the Effort to Combat ISIL  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak to this very important subject. I would like to inform you that I will be sharing my time with my neighbour, the member for Saint Boniface—Saint Vital. I am honoured to speak to this government motion, a motion that is extremely important, because it will broaden, redefine, and improve, which is important, the war against ISIL.

2016 Canadian Junior Curling Champions  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to congratulate a team of young female curlers from Nova Scotia for their gold medal win in the 2016 Canadian Junior Curling Championship, which took place in Stratford, Ontario between January 23 and 30. The Nova Scotia team of Mary Fay, Kristin Clarke, Karlee Burgess, and Janique LeBlanc defeated the British Columbia rink by a score of nine to five.

Canada Labour Code  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his detailed remarks. I would like to raise a few points about his speech. Many provinces, particularly Nova Scotia, clearly indicated that Bill C-377 was a duplication of existing measures. The extra requirements were therefore unnecessary.

Canada Labour Code  Mr. Speaker, it has been quite obvious that for the past government, working with the provinces was a no-no. There was no discussion. Whenever the prime minister or any ministers arrived in any one of the provinces or regions, they did not even let the provincial government know they were in town.

Canada Labour Code  Mr. Speaker, we are focused on making the necessary changes that will allow for a strong relationship between unions and industry, the economy, so that we can ensure improvement and continued growth in this country.

Canada Labour Code  Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised to hear the member across talk about consultation. We all know there was very little, if any, consultation. The Conservatives tried to put the legislation through in a private member's bill. We consulted with all Canadians from one part of the country to the other throughout the campaign.

Canada Labour Code  Mr. Speaker, I am extremely pleased to stand today in support of Bill C-4. Bill C-4 removes many of the barriers and administrative burdens on labour groups that the Conservative government put in place. I would like to begin by saying that unions have played an important role in Canada for a very long time.

Black History Month  Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to recognize the importance of Black History Month in Canada, as well as in my riding of Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook. African Nova Scotians are one of the founding populations of the province, as well as our country. Black loyalists fled the America Revolution to settle in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick between 1782 and 1785.

Income Tax Act  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to ask my colleague a question about his presentation. I was very impressed by all the details he provided about our platform. Over the next four years, our platform will certainly allow Canadians to benefit tremendously from the changes that will be made during this time.

Family Literacy Day  Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in the House today to mark Family Literacy Day. Because of my background in education, I know that many Canadians across the country have a very hard time finding a job or position that pays a decent wage. In Nova Scotia, approximately 38% of the population has problems reading and writing and must take adult literacy courses.

Business of the House  Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleague across the floor for her first official speech in the House. It was an excellent speech, very passionate, very good information, and I thank her for that. I also want to indicate that it is obvious many of the challenges in her area will be fulfilled through our Liberal promises over the next four-year mandate, as many of the issues she addressed we have in the throne speech or have shared throughout the campaign.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, I thank the member for asking the question and congratulate her on her election. I appreciate the question on infrastructure. This government is committed to infrastructure, including social infrastructure, which includes affordable housing and day care centres.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question and congratulate him on his election. I do want to expand somewhat on this project. This is a long-awaited project, at least ten years. It connects a number of regions, which is extremely important. It is a big industrial park in Dartmouth that would facilitate the highway issues.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, I congratulate the member on his election as well. Our government is committed to doubling the investment in infrastructure, from $65 billion to $125 billion over 10 years. As well, the Liberal government has promised to work closely with the provinces and municipal governments to ensure that there will be funding available to them, allowing them to bring projects forward so we can be partners in future infrastructure projects.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your new position, which is a very important one in the House. I would also like to inform you that I will be sharing my time with the member for Winnipeg Centre. I am extremely proud to be the member for the new riding of Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, formerly known as Sackville—Eastern Shore.