Debates of Nov. 27th, 2008

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply

[An. hon. member]

Two hundred pages long.

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

A book of 200 pages, Madam Speaker, on how to thwart democracy in Parliament and committees.

The Conservatives cannot do that now so they are trying to thwart democracy in the Senate. The Conservative Party senators are holding up the Senate. They are holding up democracy. They are holding up progress for people in this time of need.

[Mario Silva, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Madam Speaker, I congratulate my hon. colleague for his fine work and for being re-elected in the great riding of Yukon.

All of us realize there is a serious challenge going on. The question is how will the government react, and what will be its response. We are certainly waiting with great anticipation for the comments from the Minister of Finance later on today.

We know the government's record. It does not want to cooperate. Any indication from what I have been hearing as of late, is that it has again taken a very hostile attitude toward this Parliament. The Conservative government does not want to cooperate with members of Parliament.

This is the third minority Parliament in a row. We have a responsibility and a duty to work together. Unfortunately the government once again is taking an ideological bent, a reformist bent, in attacking the different parties instead of working together.

Canada is facing a crisis. We have to address that crisis. We cannot do it if the Conservative government is bashing the opposition instead of getting the opposition to work together so we can address the serious crisis facing our country.

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Speaker, congratulations on your appointment. I will be sharing my time today with the hon. member for Wild Rose, my seatmate.

It is a privilege of the highest order to be in this chamber today and to participate in the debate on our government's Speech from the Throne. It is with great humility I express how thankful and honoured I am to serve the constituents of the great Kenora riding as their member of Parliament.

I thank the hundreds of volunteers from across the riding, many friends, old classmates, hockey teammates and other volunteers who came from other parts of the country to help elect a Conservative member of Parliament from the Kenora district for the first time in more than 90 years.

I also make honourable mention of Leo Bernier, the last great Conservative to serve the Kenora riding as a member of the legislative assembly in Ontario. He has become a friend and mentor and provides counsel for me to be an effective representative in Kenora.

As the oldest of eight children, I want to thank my loving family for their unconditional support, especially my parents, David and Dorothy Rickford, who taught me about the importance of serving one's community. In addition to raising a big family, participating in various church and civic activities, my parents opened our home to hundreds of foster children over the span of 30 years. I thank mom and dad for inspiring me. They are extraordinary example of dedication and sacrifice. I am proud to be here on their behalf today, as well.

I thank my great-grandfather, William Rickford, a World War I veteran, now deceased, my grandfather, Reverand Stanley Hugh Kenyon, and my uncle, Ron Rickford, both of whom are veterans of World War II and are alive and well today. In fact, I wish to thank all the brave men and women who have served, or who are serving, our country in the Canadian armed forces.

My grandfather was a Saskatchewan farm boy who turned 20 in 1939. He volunteered to serve in the army and spent the next four and a half years fighting overseas. After the war, he pastored churches throughout Canada and in other parts of the world.

Recently I had the distinct pleasure to be in this honourable chamber with my family to present him a letter from the Prime Minister recognizing his lifetime of dedication to his family, outstanding service to his community and the sacrifice he made for his country in time of war. Listening to him as he read this letter aloud to us, adorned in medals he had earned, was one of the proudest moments I have ever experienced as a Canadian.

Like so many others before and after him, our brave soldiers serve unselfishly in the interests of peace, security and freedom from our great country and represent, in my respectful view, the single biggest reason why I and my esteemed colleagues stand in this chamber today.

With respect to the Speech from the Throne, there has been a lot of thoughtful discussion to this point. In short order, I would prefer to emphasize a number of its key components, which I believe will dramatically improve the lives of my constituents.

It bears mentioning that until the past two and a half years, the constituents of my riding, in fact, most of northwestern Ontario, have felt that they have been taken for granted. The results of the last federal election fairly reflect this. The Liberals were pushed out of just about every electoral district in northwestern Ontario.

For starters, putting money into the pockets of lawyers rather than forestry workers by engaging in a protracted softwood lumber dispute with the United States, played a significant role in setting the forestry sector back more than a decade and translated into the closure of mills, big mills like Abitibi-Consolidated in Kenora and other mills in Ignis and Hudson. The protracted softwood lumber dispute and anti-American rhetoric used by the Liberals and the NDP in the past for political gains added nothing to fostering positive relationships, which we must have with the United States, our friends, our largest trading partner and one of the greatest sources of tourism, of particular importance for Kenora.

Moving forward, I cannot understate the importance of developing infrastructure in my riding to help forestry, mining, tourism, small business and the overall sustainability of our communities. Programs like FedNor and specific support for traditional industries like forestry, mining, workers in transition, support for new housing, education and maintaining important transfer payments for health and social spending by the provinces are but a few of the myriad examples that the Speech from the Throne addresses for the benefit of my riding.

It is refreshing and progressive to see forestry mentioned within the rubric of the environment, industry and manufacturing, something I am not sure the other parties completely understand, since their comments to this point about forestry reflect a backward and incomplete understanding of the exciting future for the sector. For example, the use of forestry residuals such as sawdust, bark, trim and shavings and secondary biomass could be one way of producing alternative fuel sources that are renewable. Our government is committed to further research of cleaner energy sources.

The Speech from the Throne deals extensively with the need to invest in research, innovation and marketing for things like Canadian pulp and wood products to markets beyond North America to ensure the long-term viability of a dynamic, value-added forestry sector. Fortunately the government has taken a comprehensive view of how to deal effectively with regions in Canada, like my riding, that are in transition and depend upon key sectors such as forestry and mining as their economic drivers.

The Speech from the Throne demonstrates that this government gets it. It understands the pressures on the communities in my riding, especially during this time of global economic uncertainty.

The community development trust supports a wide variety of initiatives such as job training and skills development, community transition plans that foster real community-based economic development, encouraging skilled trades and apprenticeships to ensure throughout my riding that people are competitive in a modern economy, supporting first nations in these regards as well as ensuring that they too have access to skills, training and apprenticeships in order to assist them to participate in economic development initiatives such as the new value-added forestry initiatives on the horizon in which first nations communities in my riding will have an equity stake.

The building Canada plan marks the beginning of unprecedented commitments to much needed infrastructure in the communities in my riding, the kind of infrastructure that focuses on development, that creates jobs and stimulates our riding's capacity to economically diversify. Within the traditional industries, it is relied upon and gives hope that we will be open for business in other areas of manufacturing.

I can assure the constituents of my riding that I will be fighting for key priorities in the building Canada plan, such as the twinning of the highway from Kenora to the Manitoba border, the completion of the waste water treatment plan in Dryden and substantial improvements to the Red Lake Airport, one of the busiest airports in our country.

The Speech from the Throne serves to further reduce the cost pressures on Canadian business and encourages companies to invest in new machinery and equipment. This is particularly important to us in northwestern Ontario. We appreciate the tax relief provided by the government through broad-based tax reductions for business, a temporary accelerated writeoff for investments in machinery and equipment, such as the heavy machinery that is relied upon by the mining and forestry sectors in my riding, and improving the flexibility of and strengthening access to capital through Export Development Canada and Business Development Bank of Canada to help manufacturers in my riding meet the challenge of being globally competitive.

This government will set an objective that aims for 90% of Canada's electricity to be provided by non-emitting sources like Hydro by the year 2020. Folks in Ear Falls, Lac Seul First Nation, Pickle Lake and Mishkeegogamang will no doubt benefit from this sort of commitment in the future. As I previously mentioned, the government's commitment to supporting the development of cleaner energy sources may also include raw biomass for forestry residuals.

The Speech from the Throne ensures that provinces receive generous transfer payments for health care and social programs upon which folks in ridings such as mine depend.

There are a number of other examples, but I want to close by saying, while fortunately the Kenora riding is not as affected by higher levels of major crime, we appreciate that the government recognizes the need to be assured that we are safe in our homes and communities. The government will take action against crime, including stiffer penalties for gun crimes. At the same time, not criminalizing law-abiding firearm owners is a key issue for the constituents of my riding and we want to see the long gun registry dismantled. Many constituents in my riding, in fact, throughout northwestern Ontario, safely and lawfully, for sport, hunting and sustenance, want to protect their long-standing traditional ways of—

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

Questions and comments, the hon. member for Mississauga South.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Madam Speaker, I congratulate the member on his maiden speech. I knew his predecessor, Mr. Roger Valley, very well and I know he worked very hard on behalf of the people of the north, a very excellent member of Parliament.

The member is a new member and it is important that he spend the time to talk about hope for all Canadians, including those in his own riding. However, the reality is we are faced with a severe economic crisis, the full impact of which has not been felt yet. We need to give hope to Canadians.

I thought the member would like to comment on what he saw in terms of a plan on whether we should invest now in areas where maybe we have the best opportunity to create jobs and to provide the lead. Will he make a commitment to the House that he will continue to support the necessary social and income supports for Canadians who are unable to help themselves?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Speaker, I congratulate the hon. member on his re-election.

“Advantage Canada”, building Canada and the community development trust reassure us all that the government is committed to supporting communities, particularly communities in my riding. I am confident, moving forward, we will continue to support programs that are responsible and responsive to communities throughout my riding. Over two dozen communities in my riding are isolated and not accessible by road. The government is committed to supporting those programs and moving forward. I have every bit of confidence that we will be there for them.

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Madam Speaker, in none of the speeches I heard this morning from the Conservatives was there any indication of urgency, nor was there mention of a contingency plan to face the major crisis we are experiencing.

Since 2002, 400,000 jobs have been lost, including 150,000 in Quebec. Workers are losing their jobs and their homes, and are then faced with insecurity when it comes to their pension plans. They no longer know what they will have at the end of this crisis, and the government is showing no sense of urgency.

The throne speech implicitly mentions the crisis, but will the government do something to protect retirees and those who will eventually be retiring? Will it protect pension plans as other countries have done?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am confident in assuring the House that our government is well prepared to address all the problems and challenges that people are facing across Canada.

I have plenty of confidence in the Speech from the Throne that it has addressed substantively for the benefit of Canadians living in large metropolitan cities and remote communities and isolated in all regards.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Madam Speaker, I welcome the member as a new member just like myself.

My question for him is about his moving tribute to the veterans who were in his families, his father and his grandfather. I found that noble and moving.

However, I recognize that in the Speech from the Throne there is no mention of veterans or the care of veterans, either veterans from the first or second world war or new veterans coming home from Afghanistan. It is of great concern to me that the Speech from the Throne simply fails to mention the service which is ongoing and the care which is needed, both in veterans' facilities and for their families upon their return home.

Is that a concern for the member as well?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Madam Speaker, actually it was my grandfather and my great-grandfather, but nonetheless I can assure the member that veterans, including my grandfather, know our government is there for them and will be here for them. We continue to make an investment in veterans from all wars in the rich past of Canada's military history.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

We are resuming debate. The hon. member for Wild Rose will undoubtedly begin and have time left over after question period.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Wild Rose, AB]

Madam Speaker, first I would like to thank the hon. member for Kenora for agreeing to split his time with me. After 91 years of Liberal representation in that riding, we are very excited to have a such a great member in the House of Commons. Thanks are due to the people of Kenora for sending him here. We are very fortunate and feel very lucky to have him as a member of our caucus, and I know the people of Kenora will be very fortunate to have him as their representative.

I could not stand here in the House without thanking my constituents in Wild Rose, from the hundreds of volunteers who worked hard on my campaign to the thousands of people who marked an “X” beside my name on the ballot. I am truly honoured and humbled by the trust and confidence they have placed in me to be their representative. To receive the largest majority in the history of our great riding was a true honour.

In the fall of 2007, when I was running for the Conservative Party's nomination, the pastor of my church back home in Airdrie, Sandy Isfeld, happened to be here in Ottawa. He stood here on Parliament Hill and prayed for me, my family and my campaign. He told me afterwards that the moment he said “Amen”, the bell in the Peace Tower rang. Every time I see the Peace Tower, it will be a reminder to me that I would not be here without the support and prayers of so many people back home in my constituency of Wild Rose.

I pledge to the constituents of Wild Rose that I will honour that support by working faithfully to represent them and their interests here in this place.

I am sure anyone in the House would tell us that the people who make the biggest sacrifice to allow us to be here and to serve our constituents in this way are our families. I can truly say that my wife Tara and my son Quinn, and all the rest of my family back home, are the most supportive family anyone could wish for. I love them and I thank them.

I also want to thank someone who is no longer with us: my grandfather, Mel Richards. He helped to shape the person I am today. He taught me a lot about life, about making hard decisions, about doing what is right, and about always standing up for what I believe in. He was also the person who first introduced me to my predecessor, Myron Thompson, back in 1992, when Myron was first seeking election. Myron told me recently that when I got involved with his campaign in 1993, my grandfather told him that when he retired, I would be the person who would take his place. I do not know how serious my grandfather actually was about that statement at the time, but I can say to my grandpa, wherever he is today, “Here I am, Grandpa”.

Wild Rose is one of the most diverse ridings in Canada. We have some of the best farmland in the entire country, so agriculture is an important part of our economy. Our economy is also heavily driven by oil and gas, tourism, and forestry. We have a number of towns and cities in our riding. They are among the fastest-growing municipalities in our entire country. They include places like Cochrane and my home town of Airdrie.

There are affordable housing issues in places like Canmore and elsewhere. Of course, I am extremely fortunate that my riding is home to what I believe is the most beautiful area in the entire country, Banff National Park, and also includes many of our winter sports facilities and Winter Olympics athletes. We are very proud of that.

The people of Wild Rose expect a government that does more than just talk about what needs to be done. They expect a government that will take action, and this Conservative government will deliver.

Of course the biggest issue we face right now in Canada is the economy. We are in a time of global economic instability, and ensuring that Canada is well positioned to endure and to come out of these tough times stronger than ever before is without a doubt the main priority of the government.

However, please allow me to spend the next few minutes talking about some of the other important measures contained in the throne speech, measures that I know the people of Wild Rose will be very excited about.

As I knocked on doors and visited people throughout Wild Rose in the last election, the issue raised most frequently was crime and the need to get tough on crime. The safety and security of Canadians is our utmost priority. Our government will take tough action against crime so that justice is served quickly and Canadians can feel safe in their homes and communities. Serious offences will meet with serious penalties.

The people of Wild Rose expect a government that does more than talk about getting tough on crime. They expect a government that gets things done, and our Conservative government will deliver.

People in Wild Rose have long called for the abolishment of the long guns registry. Under this Conservative government, gun laws will be focused on ending smuggling and on implementing stronger penalties for gun crimes, not on criminalizing law-abiding firearms owners. We will get rid of the wasteful and ineffective long guns registry. The people of Wild Rose expect a government that does more than just talk about abolishing the gun registry. They expect a government that gets things done, and this Conservative government will deliver.

The issue that first grabbed my attention 20 years ago at the age of 14, the issue that got me involved in politics, was the need for Senate reform. We will continue with our agenda of Senate reform by reintroducing legislation for the election of senators with terms limited to eight years. The people of Wild Rose expect a government that does more than talk about Senate reform. They expect a government that gets things done, and this Conservative government will deliver.

When we talk about the tough economic times we are facing right now, we have to remember those who grow our food, our farmers. Weather conditions, BSE and other factors have forced them to endure tough times for a number of years already. Our government is strongly committed to providing marketing freedom for farmers, ensuring that the wishes of western Canadian farmers are respected and giving them the freedom to market their grain either on the open market or through the Canadian Wheat Board. The people of Wild Rose expect a government that does more than just talk about marketing freedom for farmers. They expect a government that gets things done.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

The hon. member will have three minutes when the debate resumes.

Quebec Nation

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Madam Speaker, “the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada”. Two years ago today, the House of Commons unanimously passed this motion, a motion that the Bloc Québécois opposed until the last minute, but one that was fiercely defended by Conservative members from Quebec and across Canada.

It was a gesture of recognition and reconciliation that serves to remind us all that Quebeckers were integral to the founding of Canada and have played an important role in its development—with a distinct language and culture—while making an especially rich contribution to our progress and collective heritage.

Like Canada as whole, Quebec faces a number of challenges, particularly on the economic front. The people of Quebec know that within a strong and united Canada, and with open federalism, we will get through this crisis.

Ukraine

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Madam Speaker, this past Saturday in my riding of Parkdale—High Park, thousands of people lined Bloor Street in a candlelight memorial marking the 75th anniversary of Holodomor, the famine genocide of Ukraine's rural population in 1932 and 1933.

This deliberate famine, perpetrated by the Soviet regime of Joseph Stalin, starved millions to death in an attempt to destroy the aspirations of Ukrainian nationalists for a free and independent Ukraine. These families suffered the most terrible of fates, forced to experience the particular horror of being deprived of food in a land of plenty. Even more inhumane was the quiet violence of restraining families from feeding their own children.

The brutality of this tragedy visited upon the Ukrainian people is nearly impossible for us to comprehend, but we must try. It is tempting to turn away, but the only way to show respect to the 10 million lives lost and to the survivors, many of whom live in Canada today, is to pay attention, to remember, and to tell the story. We are required to compel the memory of the famine genocide forward and to work harder to guarantee--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. member for Compton—Stanstead.

Speech from the Throne

[France Bonsant, Bloc, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the people of Compton—Stanstead are very disappointed in the government's throne speech.

In my riding, agricultural producers in the Coaticook region are still concerned about whether the supply management system will be protected. Workers in the Haut-Saint-François forestry and manufacturing sectors have once again been ignored when it comes to help for older workers or employment insurance reform. Students at both of Sherbrooke's universities are still waiting for the fiscal imbalance to be resolved and for the $820 million towards education. There was nothing in the throne speech for people without adequate housing, those living near the border, or environmentalists either.

In short, even with a political lieutenant from the Eastern Townships, the government has overlooked our region's interests. Instead, the Conservatives have proven that only the Bloc members have our people's interests at heart.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Niki Ashton, NDP, Churchill, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tremendous work being done by young aboriginal leaders in first nations across my riding of Churchill. These young leaders point to the need for young people to be heard. They speak of the hardships they face: high rates of suicide, an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, and tremendous abuse.

These leaders, such as Saul Harper, Bobby Monias, Frankie Manoakeesick, Derek Flett, Darcy Linklater, Allison McDougall, John Mason and Dion Lamb, are working for change. While they work in their communities, we need the federal government to listen to their concerns and act on them. We need the government to invest in healthy alternatives for young people by building schools, increasing funding and education programming, providing support for recreation and supporting youth initiatives.

The commitment of these young people ought to be an inspiration to all of us and a call for action for all of us as well.

National 4-H Month

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

Mr. Speaker, November is National 4-H Month.

For 95 years, 4-H members and leaders from across Canada have shown their pride, spirit and enthusiasm for agriculture, skills development and leadership.

Originally, 4-H focused on farming related activities but today this outstanding organization provides young people with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed not only in agriculture but also in life.

While having fun and making new friends, the skills and values mastered during the 4-H program are key to the development of confident young people.

4-H has provided thousands of young Canadians, like me and many of my rural colleagues, with an opportunity to learn and grow through personal competition and challenges.

A survey showed that involvement in 4-H creates better civic leaders now and into the future.

Each year, 10,000 dedicated 4-H leaders from across Canada volunteer their time to instruct, mentor and help about 28,000 young people become responsible, confident citizens.

The Government of Canada is proud to be a long-standing supporter of 4-H and its programs for our young people.

I congratulate all 4-H members and their leaders for their great work.

2008 Business of the Year Award

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate Beaulieu Plumbing & Mechanical of Edmundston on being named 2008 Business of the Year by the Conseil économique du Nouveau-Brunswick. The Business of the Year award in the category of sales over $5 million went to Carole and Gaétan Beaulieu and their two children, Justin and Josée.

Founded in 1984, Beaulieu Plumbing & Mechanical originally had four employees and operated out of a room in the Beaulieu family's home. Today, the company employs 90 people and serves the whole of New Brunswick and occasionally Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

This provincial recognition pays tribute to the drive and determination of Beaulieu Plumbing & Mechanical's founders. The Beaulieu family can be proud of its economic contribution to the riding of Madawaska—Restigouche and the entire province of New Brunswick.

I am happy to celebrate the success of business people in my province and to recognize the Beaulieu family's contribution to our community. Thank you and congratulations.

Automotive Industry

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a global credit crunch, beginning in the U.S., has created a serious cyclical problem for global automakers. For the Detroit 3, this adds to the serious structural problems they were already facing.

This government takes seriously its responsibilities to workers and their families, the communities that rely on this industry and the Canadian taxpayers.

Building on our auto action plan and the auto innovation fund, with first funding in Windsor to reopen the Ford Essex Engine Plant, our government has worked in bipartisan fashion with the Government of Ontario, approaching industry and U.S. officials, exploring options for support during this current crisis. Our auto caucus has also extended an invitation to meet with the CAW who must be part of the solution.

It is important to note that the Detroit 3 have yet to define their ask to this government, to present a detailed plan to complete their restructuring and explain how government support would be applied. When industry fulfills these, we will do our due diligence.

In tough economic times, we are acting responsibly for the auto industry.

Member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a new Bloc Québécois colleague and an old friend, the member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles. This weekend, friends and colleagues will celebrate, during an evening of tribute in Quebec City, his work with the Canadian Auto Workers, where he was the Quebec Director for 13 years.

Throughout his union career, he was involved in many different labour negotiations. In 1995, during the long lockout that saw 500 Kenworth employees on the streets, he played a major role in the re-opening of the plant, renamed Paccar.

A convinced and convincing unionist, he made a name for himself as a progressive militant engaged in defending the aspirations of Quebec workers. He was just as committed to the fight for greater social justice as he was for Quebec sovereignty. The Bloc Québécois is proud of the addition of the member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles to its grass roots and parliamentary team.

Bravo!

The Economy

[Leon Benoit, Conservative, Vegreville—Wainwright, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is remarkable that when this government took office almost three years ago it acted so quickly and effectively to prepare Canada for a possible downturn in the economy.

The United Kingdom just lowered its GST and President-elect Obama just promised to lower personal income taxes. We did both more than two years ago.

Many countries are just now lowering corporate taxes to encourage business and create jobs. We did that two years ago, with further reductions over the next four years.

Many countries are just now planning new infrastructure spending, which we started two years ago, with more stimulus already budgeted for years to come.

The opposition parties have just now recognized that there is a problem with the economy but this government has already been ahead of the game, cutting taxes and stimulating the economy. Canadians will continue to reap the rewards of this foresight and good government.

We did not receive a single thanks from any opposition members of Parliament.

Red Cross Young Humanitarian Award

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to inform the House of an award received by a young woman in my riding.

Heather O'Reilly of Clarenville was presented with the Red Cross Young Humanitarian Award for Newfoundland and Labrador, the Red Cross' highest provincial honour.

At 26 years old, Heather has done more than most people twice her age to reach out to others and make a difference in their lives. Heather, who is a second year medical student at Memorial University of Newfoundland, has done two volunteer stints abroad. Her first was to Guyana, South America in 2002 through Youth Challenge International which is an organization she was introduced to while attending Queen's University and participating in Queen's medical outreach program. It was through this organization that she able to spend a summer and volunteer in Bethany, a small village in Guyana where she helped to educate the local people in health and wellness.

It was her experience in Guyana and her first look at world inequalities that inspired her to set up MUNHOPE in 2004 of which she is executive director.

In 2007, Heather volunteered in the medical clinic of a refugee settlement called CHOGO in Tanzania.

MUNHOPE returned to Tanzania in 2008 and Heather is planning a third trip in 2009. To quote Heather, “To not only know about the inequalities in the world--