This day encourages family reading, which contributes to reinforcing adult literacy skills and encouraging literacy building in both children and adult learners.

On this day, literacy organizations, schools and libraries organize activities that promote family literacy and enable these organizations to build strong links with their communities.

It is important to encourage literacy in all its forms, when we know that 22% of Canadian adults over 16 fall in the lowest level of reading skills.

I would like to point out the work of Groupe Alpha Laval, which has been active for nearly nine years. This organization prevents illiteracy by raising community awareness and organizing literacy activities.

Natural Health ProductsStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

James Lunney Conservative Nanaimo—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-420 is back on the parliamentary agenda. With the help of my colleague from Oshawa, Bill C-420 was reintroduced on October 21, 2004. The second hour of debate will soon be occurring before a second reading vote.

The bill is about natural health product regulation. It is about freedom of choice in personal health care.

Canadians want the government to understand that vitamins, minerals, herbs and amino acids are not drugs. They are what we are made of. They want their natural health products regulated under a food style directorate, not as drugs. That is what Bill C-420 is all about.

Bill C-420 would amend the Food and Drugs Act. It would open the definition of food to include natural health products. It would open the definition of drug and exclude food. It would also scrap antiquated sections 3(1), 3(2) and schedule A that prevent health claims for natural health products, even when they are based on sound science.

Under Bill C-420 we would develop good manufacturing practices, inspections and quality assessments for health claims.

It is time to let natural health products take their place as a foundation for a wellness and disease prevention strategy that can help put Canada on the forefront of real health care reform.

Tsunami ReliefStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Yasmin Ratansi Liberal Don Valley East, ON

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin my comments by recognizing the generosity of the Canadian people in response to the horrific tsunami that swept through southeast Asia on December 26, 2004.

I would also like to recognize the fast response by the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada to work in conjunction with the international community to help the survivors of the tsunami rebuild their shattered lives.

On a personal note, the disaster really hit close to home when I was asked by constituents to help contact their loved ones immediately following the tsunami.

In one instance a group of six young Canadian volunteers for the World University Service of Canada were taken to high ground by local people in the town where their aid project was located.

Although this is but one story of survival in which hundreds of thousands of people have been impacted, I can assure members that this one small act meant the world to the family and friends of the volunteers in my constituency of Don Valley East.

Youth Volunteer AwardStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Beth Phinney Liberal Hamilton Mountain, ON

Mr. Speaker, Matthew Mitterling was recently chosen the Hamilton Spectator Youth Volunteer of the Year for 2004.

Matthew is a typical teenager, involved in various extracurricular school activities at Hillfield-Strathallan School. However this student is anything but typical. He proves that it is possible to change the world, one person at a time. For example, one of his volunteer and fundraising initiatives resulted in a well that provides clean water to a village in Zambia.

There were five other outstanding nominees for the Hamilton Spectator Youth Award, including Brian Hua, Amanda Lammers, Jessica McPhee, Carla Tancredi and Madeline Wilson.

I ask all members to join me in congratulating the recipient of the award, Matthew Mitterling, as well as the other nominees for their achievements and contributions to their community.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of CanadaStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of the House the wonderful work of the 170 Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations across the country.

For over 80 years this national organization has responded to the needs of young people by providing a friend where one is needed. Studies have consistently shown that littles benefit greatly from having an adult role model to look up to and they have a higher than average education success rate.

As a big brother, I can tell the House first-hand of the immense satisfaction of being involved in this amazing organization. My friendship with Matt has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life.

Recently one of the little sisters involved in our local program wrote the following:

My mom died with cancer when I was 9. My Big Sister is one of the most important people in my life. She teaches me things, takes me places and we hang out all the time...I want to grow up and be someone my dad and my Big Sister can be proud of.

I commend Margie Grant, the director of Big Brothers Big Sisters in Pictou, Antigonish, and all the volunteers, participants and spirited supporters who contribute so much to the community and the quality of life of bigs and littles alike.

On February 16 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada will be holding a reception here on Parliament Hill. I urge all members of Parliament to drop by 200 West Block and lend support to their fantastic organization.

SomaliaStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Liberal

Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, the people of war-torn Somalia and the Somalia diaspora greeted with much optimism the recent election of transitional President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and the appointment of Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi

Somalia is a state that has failed its people. This new government provides war-weary Somalis a chance; a chance to move toward peace and stability.

This past week the Somali parliament based in Kenya sent delegations to study security conditions and to examine the possibility of returning to a country that has had no effective central government for more than a decade.

Canadians are directly involved in this process of bringing democracy and civil society to Somalia. For example, 11 members of the Somali parliament are Somali Canadians and Canadian Somalis are in key positions in the Prime Minster's and other ministers' offices.

Canada must provide international leadership by formally recognizing the new transitional government of Somalia, a government which, while facing immense internal challenges, requires our international support.

Windsor-Detroit BorderStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

NDP

Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON

Mr. Speaker, in mid-January the first independent report on what needs to be done to address the Windsor-Detroit border was released.

Traffic expert Sam Schwartz spent one year reviewing how to improve traffic flow at Canada's busiest border and get truck traffic off of Windsor's streets. Indeed, it is home to 42% of Canada's trade and is a monument to Liberal neglect for infrastructure, scandal and process.

The Prime Minister has said that he supports a made-in-Windsor solution. He committed to the people of my city that he absolutely guarantees that a solution will not be imposed. Most recently, however, the Prime Minister has been saying that funding is still “subject to negotiations” and there have been no announcements of timelines for decisions.

Existing delays are costing our economy at least $6 billion annually. Exactly how long will the Liberals wait to make a real commitment to the country's most important trade corridor and respect the citizens who live there?

Albert RedekoppStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Joy Smith Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB

Mr. Speaker, on December 30, Kildonan—St. Paul suffered a tragic loss in the sudden passing of Albert Redekopp. At only 59 years of age, our entire community was shocked by the news.

A graduate of the University of Manitoba's faculty of law, Albert set up his law firm in North Kildonan, specializing in business and commercial law, but Albert also spent many hours helping those less fortunate, never turning away a client who could not afford to pay him.

He would also take time to lead seminars on wills and legal matters at seniors' homes. He was a pillar in our community, a man who was greatly respected. I am proud to have been able to call him a constituent, a landlord and a friend.

If a man's legacy is in the number of lives he has touched, Albert's impact will be felt forever. We will all miss him but his impact on Kildonan—St. Paul will last forever.

Peace of the BravesStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Bloc

Bernard Cleary Bloc Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to acknowledge in this House today the third anniversary of the peace of the braves agreement, signed on February 7, 2002, between the Cree Nation and the Government of Quebec.

The agreement established a new relationship between the Quebec and Cree nations that is based on cooperation, partnership and mutual respect. It implemented structures that allow the Cree to work with Quebeckers in a spirit of cooperation.

The peace of the braves is still the most progressive agreement to date between a government and an aboriginal nation. I hope that by this time next year another peace of the braves agreement will have been reached, this time between the federal government and the Cree Nation.

SaskatchewanStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Gerry Ritz Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party designates ministers responsible for various regions of the country but conveniently denies it when that minister is a failure. A case in point is the finance minister masquerading as minister for Saskatchewan. The minister proclaimed Saskatchewan, with an average per capita income $5,000 below the national average, as a have province. Talk about rose coloured glasses. Waiting times for MRIs, let alone surgeries like hip replacement, are the worst in the country. Our unemployment level is low because our young people leave. Our tax burden and NDP voodoo economics scare away outside investors.

What does the outdated and complex Liberal equalization formula do? It targets our non-renewable resource base with double jeopardy. First, the feds and the NDP tax it into submission and then the formula includes penalties against what Saskatchewan should receive as a payment. The result is depressed economic activity.

With this so-called help from this finance minister, Saskatchewan will always be a have not province.

CaregiversStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Michael John Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Mr. Speaker, the 2004 Speech from the Throne proposed that the federal government consult with Canadians on a variety of measures to support caregivers.

On January 21, I had the pleasure of introducing the Minister of State for Families and Caregivers when he hosted the second in a series of consultation round tables on caregiving in my riding of Dartmouth—Cole Harbour.

This important round table brought together key stakeholders to talk about the challenges and opportunities of caregiving for seniors and persons with disabilities. Family caregivers are the unsung heroes of our health care system, not only providing savings of over $5 billion a year but providing increased opportunity and dignity to their loved ones of all ages.

The Liberal government is continuing to consult with the provinces to address the role of caregivers. We have committed $1 billion over five years and I am proud that we will double the caregiver tax credit to $10,000.

I know first-hand what it is to provide care for a loved one; in my case, my parents at home.

I congratulate the minister of state for his work on behalf of family caregivers. I am pleased he is engaging all stakeholders in real consultations to build on the success of providing support for families who deserve it.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Conservative

Stephen Harper ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, today's story that millions were spent just to borrow planes to get the DART to Asia should remind Canadians of the Prime Minister's 12 years of military underfunding. We can add to this the stories of helicopters crashing, submarines burning, Jeeps rusting, and the latest, sending poorly equipped soldiers on even more dangerous missions.

Given that the government was obviously misleading Canadians about the size of the surplus in the last election, will the Prime Minister today commit to a substantial increase in military funding in the upcoming budget?

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:15 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, it was a great honour for me to be with the Minister of National Defence at the installation of the new chief of the defence staff, General Hillier. At the same time I would like to take this occasion to congratulate General Henault on being named head of the NATO military committee.

The Minister of National Defence has made extensive recommendations as to what has to be done in terms of increasing military spending. We are very open and will continue to protect the--

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Conservative

Stephen Harper ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, since the Prime Minister was so excited about being at the installation of the new chief of the defence staff, I wonder if he actually listened to what the chief of the defence staff had to say about the tendency of running the military on the cheap. He said:

We could probably not give enough resources to the men and women to do all the things we ask them to do. But we can give them too little, and that is what we are now doing.

Will the Prime Minister finally admit that for the past 12 years his government has nearly starved the military to death?

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Toronto Centre Ontario

Liberal

Bill Graham LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, every chief of the defence staff, and it is the chief of the defence staff's job, has always pointed out to governments that the military could use more resources. I am confident that General Hillier will point that out in the interests of obtaining the best resources for the forces.

This government and the Prime Minister have promised to increase the size of the Canadian Forces. We have promised to obtain better equipment for them. We are on track to do that. We will deliver on that promise.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Conservative

Stephen Harper ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, this is not a routine statement. This is a cry for help from the top military man after over a decade of neglect and abuse.

The Liberal chair of the Senate defence committee has described our military as desperate and unable to meet basic international commitments. Let me quote what the senator said:

Are Canadians really content to have a worldwide reputation as freeloaders and people who aren't carrying their share of the burden?

That was Liberal Senator Kenny who said that. Does the Prime Minister agree with his friend Senator Kenny?

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Toronto Centre Ontario

Liberal

Bill Graham LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, again the chairman of the Senate committee has been actively pursuing more resources for the armed forces, and this government has been listening. That is why we promised in the platform to increase the size of our reserves and the size of our standing forces. That is why over the last few years we have promised an additional $7 billion in capital funding for the armed forces.

We are on track. We are turning the corner. We are increasing the size of our army and our armed forces. We are increasing the ability for them to perform the outstanding role they provide around the world as peacekeepers.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Conservative

Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS

Mr. Speaker, in numerous reports Liberal Senator Colin Kenny and the Senate committee on national defence expressed concern about the lack of commitment to our military. They have called for significant increases in the DND budget.

In the 2003 report the senator expressed the sentiment that the current Prime Minister would be a real long shot to rescue the military now. Yesterday in the Charlottetown Guardian he said that the government has done absolutely nothing beyond talk about bolstering the country's faltering military and that the Prime Minister has spent a lot of time globe-trotting rather than getting on with the plan to make Canada a global player again.

Will the government commit to increasing spending for the military in the budget?

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Toronto Centre Ontario

Liberal

Bill Graham LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, clearly the Minister of Finance is considering what is exactly needed in the budget to deal with military and other requirements for the Government of Canada.

I personally am working with the finance minister. We are all working with the finance minister to make sure that the budget will have the right balance in it. The budget will have a balance in it for the Canadian Forces as we move forward to fulfill the Prime Minister's objective of making sure that we are capable of helping in a world which needs Canada's help.

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Conservative

Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS

Mr. Speaker, those words ring hollow.

Senator Kenny also criticized the government's plan to increase the size of the Canadian Forces by 5,000 troops. He said that this will do little to alleviate the challenges that they face and the government must either start seriously investing in defence or not bother going to NATO, G-8 or UN meetings because we have nothing to offer.

The new chief of the defence staff, General Hillier, made an honest plea for the government to increase military spending if it is to keep its commitments. Again, will the government shake off this growing reputation for trying to maintain a defence strategy on the cheap, stop the dithering and commit to increased spending today?

National DefenceOral Question Period

2:20 p.m.

Toronto Centre Ontario

Liberal

Bill Graham LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, I applaud and appreciate some of the help I am getting from the opposition benches about the need for defence spending. I can assure members opposite that the Prime Minister and the finance minister are working together for the right balance in the budget for this country as we go forward with our proper forces.

I will be going to NATO tomorrow and I will be there on Wednesday. I want to assure the hon. member, if he is concerned, NATO is extremely grateful for our help in Afghanistan. It is looking for more help from Canada, but members opposite should not worry. We are not unappreciated by our NATO and other allies. We are greatly appreciated for the role that Canada plays in the world.

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Bloc

Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier, QC

Mr. Speaker, the government has relied too heavily on the good faith of major polluters with regard to reaching our Kyoto objectives. This was a serious mistake. As proof, the president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, Mark Nantais, is talking about some kind of agreement with Ottawa—if possible. He adds that his industry does not feel bound in any way by the implementation of Kyoto in ten days' time.

Since the voluntary approach has failed, why does the Prime Minister not immediately start cracking down on car manufacturers that refuse to do their part in cutting greenhouse emissions?

The EnvironmentOral Question Period

2:25 p.m.

Saint-Laurent—Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Stéphane Dion LiberalMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, I do not know where the leader of the Bloc came up with the information that they are refusing to do their part. We are currently negotiating with the auto industry. Naturally, we prefer to have an agreement with the industry so that it will do its part in terms of Kyoto. These negotiations have not concluded. I do not see why the hon. member is already concluding that they are a failure.