House of Commons Hansard #120 of the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was workers.
Monte Solberg ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Social Development
Mr. Speaker, I say to my excitable friend that the government announced $270 million in December for the homelessness partnering strategy, and $1.4 billion are in the budget for a housing trust for affordable housing.
We have moved forward on all kinds of initiatives designed to help the most vulnerable in our country, and what do we get? The NDP and the Liberals voted against it. They say one thing, but they act completely different.
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Mr. Speaker, I think it is fair to say that while we do not always agree, I have enjoyed a positive, professional relationship with my colleague, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance. Therefore, I would not want to see her get in trouble for misleading the House in terms of a statement she made in question period on the subject of CARP, which is an organization of some 400,000 seniors.
She said that CARP supported the government's position. The fact is I have been speaking to CARP representatives in the last few days. They have said that they have never had such a deluge of phone calls, emails or faxes from their membership, which has been extraordinarily damaged by this policy. Indeed, I have in my hand a press release of today from CARP, the title of which is, “The Liberal 'Ten Percent Solution': A Step in the Right Direction, according to CARP”, which proves that CARP does not support the government.
Therefore, I offer my hon. colleague the opportunity to withdraw her statement before she is accused of misleading the House.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
I am not sure this is a point of order, but the hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.
Diane Ablonczy ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, as I told the House, CARP came out in support of the government's tax fairness plan, and I stand by that statement.
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of Canadian Parliamentary Delegation of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association regarding its meeting of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development in London, United Kingdom, January 18 and 19, on its participation to the first part of the 2007 ordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, held in Strasbourg, France, January 22-26, 2007.
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake, MB
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing order 108(2) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, respecting the barley plebiscite.
I also make note that there is a dissenting report from the Conservative members of the Committee.
Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with DisabilitiesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Dean Allison Conservative Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, or as we like to refer to it, Bill C-36, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act, as was agreed upon on Tuesday, February 27.
Brian Pallister Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 14th report of the Standing Committee on Finance entitled “Taxing Income Trusts: Reconcilable or Irreconcilable Differences?”.
I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Finance on the topic of identity theft.
Art Hanger Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
In accordance with the order of reference of Wednesday, November 1, 2006, your committee has considered Bill C-299, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act and the Competition Act (personal information obtained by fraud) and agreed, on Thursday, February 22, to report it with amendments.
I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights concerning the importance of ethnocultural communities and the prevention of crime, reintegration of offenders and the growth of safer communities.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on International Trade in relation to the order in council appointment of Eric D. Siegel to the position of President of Export Development Canada.
Guy Lauzon Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.
Navdeep Bains Liberal Mississauga—Brampton South, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill S-214, An Act respecting a National Blood Donor Week.
Mr. Speaker, the World Health Organization has declared June 14 as World Blood Donor Day. One hundred and ninety-two countries and 181 Red Cross Societies have agreed to support World Blood Donor Day each year. There is no greater gift of life than donating blood.
It is my pleasure to move Bill S-214, An Act respecting a National Blood Donor Week annually during the week of June 14.
(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)
Jim Peterson Liberal Willowdale, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to table today signed by people from the GTA, including the great riding of Willowdale.
The first petition, signed by 44 petitioners, is to raise the age of consent from 14 to 16 years.
Jim Peterson Liberal Willowdale, ON
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is to amend the Canada Health Act to include therapies for children with autism and to establish more teaching facilities that deal in those therapies.
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition, signed by hundreds of people in my riding of Richmond—Arthabaska, asking Parliament to intervene and reverse the decision to axe $55.4 million from the budget of the summer career placements program over two years, and instead to increase the budget.
The summer career placements program enables many organizations, which would otherwise not have the means to do so, to offer work experiences to youth and to continue their activities during the summer months.
This program provides young people with the opportunity to establish a network in their region of origin, which is a recognized means of fighting the exodus of youth.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by more than 550 constituents who call upon the Government of Canada, the Prime Minister and the housing minister to ensure that the partners for the access and identification project, PAID, which provides critical assistance to homeless persons, and individuals and families at risk of homelessness in obtaining and replacing identification documents, retain its funding and that the government extend the federal homelessness funding for another five years.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, in federal criminal law now an unborn child is not recognized as the victim with respect to violent crime.
When Olivia Talbot of Edmonton was shot and killed in November 2005, her 27-week old unborn son, Lane Jr., also died, but because he had no legal protection and there is no legal protection for unborn children in the law today, no charge was laid in regard to that death.
Therefore, the petitioners are calling upon Parliament to enact legislation that would recognize unborn children as separate victims when they are injured or killed during the commission of an offence against their mothers.
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to present in this House, a petition signed by at least 200 people who are asking the members of this chamber, from all parties, to vote in favour of the anti-scab legislation, Bill C-257. The purpose of this bill is to prohibit employers under the Canada Labour Code from hiring replacement workers to perform the duties of employees who are on strike or locked out. These 200 signatures are in addition to thousands of others already presented to Parliament.
Joy Smith Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, I have the names of approximately 500 people on a petition that calls on the govenment to stop the trafficking of women and children for sexual exploitation here in Canada and across international borders.
The petitioners call upon the government to continue its work to combat the trafficking of persons.
Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present on behalf of 42 people from the city of Toronto calling on Parliament to lift the visa requirements for people coming from the Republic of Poland.
Poland joined the European Union in 2004. Canada and Poland are both active members of NATO. Poland is using biometric and secure passport identification. Lifting the visa requirements would increase family visitation, tourism, cultural exchanges and trade missions.
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I also have a petition to present today from the Canadian Polish Congress, Hamilton Branch.
As a result of the Republic of Poland now being a successful member of the European Union since 2004 and given that Poland is an active participant in NATO, the petitioners are asking and I am pleading with the House to please consider lifting the issue of visas for those coming in from Poland.
Given the relationship that Poland has with this country and with the world, it is borderline insulting that we are asking Canadians to have their relatives use visas. This needs to be changed.
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, I take pleasure in tabling a petition expressing concern about the unbalanced counter-insurgency mission in southern Afghanistan.
The petitioners state unequivocal support for the brave men and women serving in the Canadian armed forces but call upon the government to begin the withdrawal of troops from the counter-insurgency mission in southern Afghanistan.
Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table another petition stating strong opposition to the government's decision to force the privatization of federal public sector jobs at the Highlands Links Golf Course in my province.
Citizens, not just in Cape Breton but across Nova Scotia, are deeply concerned about job losses and the loss to the local economy which will inevitably result from such action.
The petitioners call upon the government to put the funding and management in place to keep this course in the public domain for future use and for future public sector workers.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from 145 signatories who ask the Government of Canada to work to eradicate elder abuse.
The petitioners request that the Government of Canada change legislation at the federal level requiring governments to have an elder abuse protection agency established, to mandate physicians to report elder abuse wherever they see it, to establish regular inspections to ensure standards are being met in retirement and nursing homes and that those who disclose this information are protected and need not fear the risk of their jobs.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a further petition to present to the House today.
This petition is from residents of the city of Toronto who wish to draw attention to the reality that as of March 31, 2007, available funding for the federal homelessness initiative will be drastically reduced and dire consequences for homeless individuals and families across Canada will ensue.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to approve funding and announce it before the end of this month to maintain federal homelessness funding for the next five years at the same level, adjusted for inflation, and for the extension of the program into other municipalities and rural areas so that the homeless will not be put at risk.