Debates of Feb. 13th, 2009

Mount Pearl Sports Alliance

[Siobhan Coady, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Mr. Speaker, it is with pride that I rise today to recognize the outstanding work of the Mount Pearl Sports Alliance. The Mount Pearl Sports Alliance is a model of community sports development. It is a partnership of sports organizations that work together in consultation and coordination, maximizing resources and improving sporting opportunities in the vibrant community of Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Recently the Mount Pearl Sports Alliance honoured those with the highest achievement in sport. The criteria for selection involved not only individuals and teams that excel, but also recognized service to organizations. I would like to recognize: Adam Keating, Kelly Whitelaw, Pearlgate Girls Bantam Bowling Team, Janet Maher, Eddie Hynes, Darren Reid, Stephanie Dyer and Chris Bishop.

I want to congratulate the award winners and the Mount Pearl Sports Alliance for their good work in promoting sports and active living.

Félix Leclerc Félins Provincial Basketball Tournament

[Nicolas Dufour, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the 10th edition of the Félix Leclerc Félins provincial basketball tournament was held from February 6 to 8. Over 120 high school teams participated in the tournament, the largest of its kind in Quebec.

All told, some 1,700 athletes aged 12 to 17 played 202 basketball games. It was an excellent opportunity for them to show off their athletic prowess and share their passion for basketball.

The tournament was also an excellent opportunity for the city of Repentigny because it generated half a million dollars in profits.

On behalf of myself and my Bloc Québécois colleagues, I would like to congratulate all of the students who participated in the tournament. I would also like to congratulate Alain Doyon, who oversaw the tournament, all the members of the organizing committee, and the 350 volunteers for their participation.

Outremont Rail Yard

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Outremont rail yard is a site with tremendous development potential. One precondition is cleaning up the site, since it has serious environmental liabilities.

The former Liberal member of Parliament for Outremont had promised $25 million for that, but never kept his promise. The Conservative government is promising money for infrastructure, but that money is conditional and, above all, partisan.

Citizens groups are worried because their social objectives and quality of life could be compromised if harmonious, sustainable development is not ensured. The City of Montreal, the Université de Montréal and more importantly the public have been waiting for years and deserve to see some action.

The Conservative government must therefore recognize the historic role of the federal government in such a rail site and use some of the money earmarked for infrastructure to finally develop this exceptional site in a way that is socially acceptable.

The Budget

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians re-elected our Conservative government to stand up for Canada during the current global economic turmoil.

Budget 2009 delivers an economic action plan that provides a multi-year approach to stimulate our economy and protect Canadian jobs. We are acting to provide targeted and temporary measures that will build on Canada's long-term strengths and help hard-working Canadian families through the short-term challenges. Our government is delivering access to financing, taking action to stimulate the housing market, building infrastructure to create jobs sooner rather than later, and providing extra support for communities and business.

In my riding we will be taking advantage of the recreational infrastructure program in Canada. This program helps communities build new facilities or upgrade existing ones. Arenas, swimming pools, basketball and tennis courts and soccer fields are examples of recreational facilities that could qualify for 50% funding from the government.

Let us keep building Canada.

The Economy

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, plant closures and layoffs have been happening almost daily and Canadians are losing their jobs. A recent survey showed that half of all Canadians are worried about losing their jobs.

In my riding, Formulated Coatings Ltd. laid off 60 workers two weeks ago when it announced bankruptcy. Also, the Chrysler assembly plant just announced a second temporary shutdown in two weeks.

Every day more and more businesses are declaring bankruptcy. More than 129,000 jobs were lost in January alone. We are sure there are more to come. We have heard nothing from the Prime Minister, who seems to me missing in action during the worst recession in decades.

Why is the Prime Minister and the government silent on the issue when they should be providing Canadians with immediate action to put an end to Canadian job losses?

Heart Month

[Andrew Saxton, Conservative, North Vancouver, BC]

Mr. Speaker, when we flip our calendars to February, our thoughts turn to matters of the heart. While romance is in the air, we also need to pay attention to our heart health.

February is Heart Month in Canada. It is a time to reduce our risk of heart disease, Canada's leading cause of death. About 40,000 people experience cardiac arrest or a heart attack each year in Canada. Some of the contributing factors that one should be aware of include a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity.

For the past three years I have served as a director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. and Yukon. During this time I have learned that in many cases heart disease can be prevented. Being physically active, following a healthy diet, and eliminating tobacco use can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.

Mr. Speaker, put your heart into it; who knows, one day the life you save might just be your own.

International Childhood Cancer Day

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

Mr. Speaker, February 15 will mark International Childhood Cancer Day and so I would like to mention a few facts about this illness.

The most common cancers in children and adolescents are leukemia, lymphoma and tumours of the central nervous system, and they are different from those that affect adults. Cancer is the leading cause of death in children between the ages of 0 and 14. This year in Quebec 230 children in this age group will contract cancer. Sadly, 40 will die as a result.

Although a great deal of progress has been made, the fight is not over yet. Therefore, I invite my colleagues to salute the volunteers, doctors and other health professionals in their communities devoted to working with children suffering from cancer.

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to congratulate the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics on its appointment of nine additional distinguished research chairs.

The new chairs include: Yakir Aharonov of Chapman University; Nima Arkani-Hamed of the Institute for Advanced Study; Neta Bahcall of Princeton University; Juan Ignacio Cirac of the Max Planck Institute; Gia Dvali of CERN and NYU; Subir Sachdev of Harvard University; Ashoke Sen of the Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Leonard Susskind of Stanford University; and Xiao-Gang Wen of MIT. This teams joins Stephen Hawking at the institute.

This government is proud of its commitment to the Perimeter Institute as it continues to strive to be a world-class facility and retain world-class talent.

Human Rights

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in recent days, letters from students of Mr. Mitchell Bubulj's grade 11 genocide and crimes against humanity class at Silverthorn Collegiate Institute have been arriving at my office. These students are part of a groundbreaking course studying genocide, established by the Toronto District School Board.

The students are profoundly moved by the horror and scale of man's inhumanity toward other human beings: the Holocaust, the Holodomor, Rwanda, and today Darfur.

Braden Page wrote, “every month 5,000 lives are lost in Darfur”. Alicia Rogers noted, “the genocide in Darfur in relation to Ontario...would be like wiping out all of Toronto...so please help”.

The Toronto District School Board is to be congratulated for establishing this course. Mr. Bubulj is to be congratulated for implementing it at Silverthorn.

We often repeat the phrase “never again”. High school students from Toronto are asking their members of Parliament, when will we mean it?

British Columbia

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the government has delivered tangible benefits for British Columbia.

B.C. was the first province to sign an infrastructure agreement with the federal government. This will help deliver B.C.'s share of the $18 billion over two years to help build roads and bridges and fund the Evergreen transit line that will serve Burnaby and the tricities, growing communities that will benefit for decades from this investment.

B.C.'s Conservative MPs fought hard to deliver for our province and I am proud of what we have accomplished. We have met the downturn in the forest industry with billions of dollars toward hard-hit communities across Canada. Much of this will be directed toward communities in British Columbia. The people of the forest sector will benefit from our expanded EI program.

Our record has been made in B.C. front and centre. The residents of B.C. recognize that by re-electing Conservatives and decreasing Liberals and New Democrats, they are getting true representation in Ottawa.

The few remaining Liberal MPs have been demoted by their new leader.

Xstrata Layoffs

[Glenn Thibeault, NDP, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last Monday my constituents were victims to this economic downturn when foreign-owned mining company Xstrata announced the layoff of 686 workers.

The government had an agreement with the company that there would be no layoffs for three years, and they broke it. The government claimed Xstrata would invest millions in Sudbury. We now know this money was already committed.

While the government tries to save face, the New Democrats and I are calling for real action for those who have lost their jobs. My party is behind the 686 laid-off workers. We have been standing in the House all week to hold the government accountable, to stand up for my constituents who have lost their jobs and their security.

Next Tuesday, New Democrat leader Jack Layton will be in my riding to listen to the concerns--

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, order. The hon. member has 15 seconds left and he should refrain from using proper names.

[Glenn Thibeault, NDP, Sudbury, ON]

Mr. Speaker, next Tuesday, our leader will be in my riding to listen to the concerns of the nearly 700 workers and their families who are now facing this economic crisis without a paycheque.

It is now time for solutions and that is exactly what the community will be addressing Tuesday night in my town.

Bloc Québécois

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, one wonders how the Bloc can claim to be the supreme defender of Quebec's interests when, in all the years it has spent in Ottawa, it has never been able to give Quebec a single cent. The Bloc has aligned itself both with the father of the clarity bill and with extremists. It is hard to know what it stands for.

It is becoming clear that what the Bloc wants, above all, is just plain confrontation. Yet Quebeckers do not want confrontation. The men and women of Quebec have always sought consensus. By advocating confrontation, the Bloc is going against Quebeckers' values.

The Bloc's latest achievement is to try to make Canadians believe Quebeckers are bitter and vindictive. The Bloc is tarnishing Quebec's reputation by making fear and hatred its favourite topics.

International Year of Astronomy

[Paule Brunelle, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on January 15, UNESCO launched the International Year of Astronomy. This year marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first observations using a telescope.

With the theme “The Universe, Yours to Discover”, UNESCO hopes to make this year a real opportunity for all people to learn more about the latest astronomical discoveries and inventions, as well as about the universe and our place in it.

Quebec has long shown an interest in astronomy, and this is reflected in such facilities as the Montreal Planetarium, the ASTROLab in Mont-Mégantic, the astronomy observatory at the CÉGEP de Trois-Rivières and the Club d'astronomie le ciel étoilé in Saint-Pierre-de-la-Rivière-du-Sud.

I hope that Quebeckers will take advantage of this year of astronomy to discover the wonders of our universe.

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Alan Tonks, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it should not be necessary to remind this House and Canadians that the United States is our largest trading partner and our closest ally. The visit of President Obama underscores the importance he places on our bilateral relationship.

President Obama has acted swiftly to bring about a stimulus package to get Americans working and the economy flowing. The government is challenged to work with the United States administration as it sets its course. As the United States announces unprecedented spending on economic stimulus, the government must ensure that Canada's interests are protected and advanced.

From energy to the environment, border issues to the automotive and forestry sectors, Canada and the United States share the opportunity to show the world the difference between vision and division as we engage global recession, climate change and desperate world poverty.

We should begin by working constructively to prevent American protectionism and stimulate the trade that has and must continue to flow across our borders.

Justice

[Ray Boughen, Conservative, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the influence of organized crime and gangs in our society continues to grow at an alarming rate. Criminal gangs disrupt our society and represent a real threat to the safety and well-being of all Canadians.

I am pleased to report that, yesterday, our law enforcement agencies struck a huge blow to organized crime and gang activities in Montreal. This massive effort was the result of more than three years of investigation as part of Operation Axe. I would like to commend all those officers involved and congratulate them for their great work.

Under this Prime Minister and this Conservative government, we have made significant investments to support law enforcement. We are now giving them the tools they need to take action and shut down these gangs.

We promised to get tough on crime and we are making good on that promise.

Airline Crash

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, a tragic plane crash occurred last night near Buffalo.

Fifty people were killed.

We all express our sincere sympathies to their families and loved ones.

The Buffalo airport is frequently used by Canadians just across the border. Could the government inform the House whether any Canadians were involved in last night's tragic accident? What do we know at this point?

I would like him to respond in both official languages.

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, clearly, we as well are extremely saddened by the loss of life and want to extend our deepest sympathies to the families that are involved.

Representatives from the Consulate General in Buffalo, as a matter of fact, are at the crash site and remain in contact with local and airline authorities. Canadians are advised to consult local news reports for the latest information. To be specific, we do not have any proof as yet as to whether or not Canadians are involved.

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, in less than a week President Obama will make his first foreign visit and we are very glad it will be to Canada. However, Canadians are anxious to know what is on the agenda. What will the Prime Minister raise with the new President? Canadians do have a right to know that.

We are suffering through the worst recession since the 1930s. Just this week we have had devastating reports about job losses, bankruptcies, housing drops, and now a trade deficit. Out of all of that carnage, what will the Prime Minister say to the President to help fight U.S. protectionism and save Canadian jobs?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we are extremely pleased that the President has made Canada his first international destination. Quite obviously, the discussions on the agenda will be on the economy. As we know, the Prime Minister travelled to Washington in November and met with G20 leaders. He went to the APEC meeting as well. There again the economy was top of discussion and we expect that will be the subject of discussion.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, hopefully the Prime Minister will learn about empathy from President Obama.

When people are seriously worried about their jobs and their family livelihoods, they need to know that their leaders really care, that their government is stepping up to the plate to help them with some enthusiasm. It is all about building confidence. President Obama obviously gets it, and it shows.

When will the Prime Minister rid himself of ideological millstones and embrace, with conviction, a vigorous role for government in recharging our economy and restoring Canadian confidence?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, as has been stated on numerous occasions in the House not only by myself but as well as other members of the cabinet, this government has taken action. We have taken action not only through budget 2009, the one that we are looking at now, but also through budget 2008.

This government is dedicated to getting this country back in shape, making sure that the action program that we put forward will come to full fruition and be able to help Canada, as well as the other countries, come out of this situation. I hope that we can count on the opposition's support.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to come back to this important question. On January 18, the minister himself publicly announced that he was working with his American counterpart to set the agenda.

The event takes place in almost a week, and we are not sitting next week. Transparency will be important. I do not know if he has secrets, but can he give us the specific agenda for President Obama and the Prime Minister?

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, anyone who is following the news, no matter what is happening around the planet, knows that the main concern, the top priority, is stimulating the economy.

Obviously, out of all the of the topics that will be discussed between the President and the Prime Minister, the economy will undoubtedly be the most important.