Debates of March 12th, 2009

Diabetes

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Mr. Speaker, diabetes affects far too many lives and is a major health concern in many aboriginal communities. However, there are rays of hope. People are literally on the move against diabetes, raising awareness and money to combat this epidemic.

In southern Labrador, Métis elder Guy Poole created “Liz's Walk” in memory of his wife who lost her life to complications in 2004. Over the past three years, Guy has walked the southern Labrador road from Cartwright to L'Anse au Clair.

Farther north, Michel Andrew, or Giant as he is known, began his own cross-Labrador walk between the Innu communities of Sheshatshiu and Natuashish on February 11. En route, the 27 year old Innu man received a hero's welcome as he passed through the Inuit communities of Postville and Hopedale. His fundraising and awareness walk has attracted hundreds of followers who are monitoring his progress online.

Inspirational efforts like these give us hope that diabetes can indeed be beaten.

Forestry Industry

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we all recognize that the forestry industry is in crisis. However, we should also know that this is a market crisis. Today, forestry sector representatives appeared before the Subcommittee on Canadian Industrial Sectors and acknowledged this fact. We were reminded of the importance of the softwood lumber agreement to this industry and the positive effect of the measures included by our government in the economic action plan.

Our approach is clear: we are protecting the forestry industry, the communities and, above all, the workers. While the Bloc members are just playing partisan politics, our government is implementing concrete measures that are recognized by the sector. The Bloc members should be in “solution” mode and not “destruction” mode. On this side of the House, we are taking real action.

Marc-André Thibault

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Marc-André Thibault, who is a resident of Vaudreuil-Soulanges and music teacher at Cité des jeunes high school. As a teacher, he has two great passions: helping young people succeed and music.

For the past 20 years, he has been directing choirs and organizing music camps and exchanges with European musical groups. Currently, he is putting together a fourth album with his students. He believes that music plays an important role in educating young people and building their confidence by teaching them what it means to succeed through hard work and responsibility.

On behalf of the citizens of Vaudreuil-Soulanges and my Bloc Québécois colleagues, I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Marc-André Thibault, who was named “person of the week” by La Presse and Radio-Canada.

Bravo, Marc-André.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB]

Mr. Speaker, an article in yesterday's Edmonton Journal raises serious concerns about past comments made by the current Liberal leader.

It quotes his book Blood and Belonging, in which he states, “Ukrainian independence conjures up images of embroidered peasant shirts, the nasal whine of ethnic instruments”. The Liberal leader goes on to say, “My difficulty in taking Ukraine (its sovereignty) seriously goes deeper...I'm also what Ukrainians call a Great Russian, and there is a trace of old Russian disdain for these 'little Russians'.”

These offensive statements are unacceptable for a man who wishes to lead our country. The Liberal leader's 36—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. member for Madawaska—Restigouche.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

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

Mr. Speaker, on March 7, I had the opportunity to attend the Entrepreneurial Adventure banquet at Dalhousie. The Open for Business centre put on a conference for Restigouche high school students. The purpose of the conference was to have participants take on the challenge of becoming student entrepreneurs for the summer. During the conference, 40 students got a chance to learn the basics of entrepreneurship and develop their entrepreneurial spirit.

I would like to congratulate the participants, who demonstrated their leadership abilities, as well as all of the entrepreneurs who went out of their way to work with these future leaders. I would also like to salute the Open for Business centre for its work. The centre's services contribute to developing an entrepreneurial spirit in the region and encourage people to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career choice.

Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, last November, a terrible slaughter occurred in Mumbai. Among the more than 170 people slain by religious fanatics were Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg. The Holtzbergs were a devout couple, with a young son. They ran Nariman House, an outreach centre devoted to the spirit of charity and the love of learning found at Judaism's core.

Our colleague, the hon. Minister of Immigration, visited Nariman Chabad House after this infamous attack. In his words, “I marvelled that of the 20 million in Mumbai the killers meticulous and deliberately sought out this one man and his family”.

Their murder was a senseless and brutal affront to the values of all civilized peoples.

I am sure I speak for all members of the House in expressing condolences to the Chabad Lubavitch family that is gathering in Ottawa this week and to all who mourn the deaths of Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg. Together, we must work to protect freedom of religion in order to secure tolerance and genuine peace for all of the people of the world.

Canadian Federation of Chabad Lubavitch

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in paying tribute to the Canadian Federation of Chabad Lubavitch and its delegation of 100 representatives who are here with us today on Parliament Hill.

The Chabad-Lubavitch movement provides the largest network of Jewish educational and social service institutions across the globe.

Founded by the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, out of the ashes of the Holocaust, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement has been a catalyst for Jewish revival around the world. Today, it is synonymous with wisdom and kindness, offering nourishment for the body, food for the mind and soul and non-judgmental advisers always willing to listen.

In the tradition of classical Jewish scholarship, it teaches understanding of the Creator and the purpose of Creation and the unique mission of each one of us in caring for others.

I conclude by expressing our deep sorrow at the recent tragedy in Mumbai where a Chabad centre was singled out in an act of terrorism, in which Rabbi Gavriel and his wife Rivka Holtzberg were brutally killed.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal leader has no plan for Canada's economy. That is why he is supports a job-killing carbon tax. He says he would consider increasing the GST.

The Liberal leader said he would cancel the $1,200 universal child care benefit offered by the Conservative government, saying it was a waste of money, to let parents decide how their children are cared for.

Canadians have a clear choice to make between a real plan that reduces taxes for families, helps those hardest hit and invests in roads, bridges and other infrastructure, and a Liberal leader with no plan and no economic experience, but with the misguided intention—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The member for Saint-Maurice—Champlain.

Mumbai Attacks

[Jean-Yves Laforest, Bloc, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on November 26, 2008, a series of horrific attacks took place in Mumbai, India, leaving 172 people dead and more than 300 injured. We remember that the terrorists who attacked the Chabad centre in Mumbai savagely assassinated Rabbi Gavriel Holzberg and his wife, Rivka Holzberg.

To commemorate this sad event, 100 rabbis representing the Canadian Federation of Chabad Lubavitch are on Parliament Hill today. I commend this group's values of peace, goodness and justice and the work it does both internationally and in Quebec.

I condemn these unwarranted attacks against innocent people. No cause or claim can justify such attacks against civilians. I would like to remind this House that the Bloc Québécois has always condemned violence and that there are other ways to defend and realize political visions.

Search and Rescue

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Mr. Speaker, we pray that potentially tragic news received today may still be turned to triumph.

A more than serious situation is currently unfolding at sea in the north Atlantic, as 17 souls are believed to be struggling for their very lives in icy and turbulent waters.

At 9 a.m. this morning, a marine distress call was received from an offshore helicopter ferrying crews to the floating Sea Rose platform working the White Rose field 315 kilometres at sea. At this hour, there is hope, prayer and unstoppable resolve to use every available resource, every asset available to us to save these souls. That, and that alone, must command us now.

We are fearless and tearless until each and every man is brought home and accounted for.

As mariners, we are strengthened by the knowledge that one member of the 18-man crew has been found safe and has been returned home. Where there is one, there may be others.

I am assured that every resource, every available asset has been deployed for this rescue.

Let the House offer to the families of those in peril at this hour our very prayer. We are with them this day.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

[Rodney Weston, Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to read a quote from the International Monetary Fund report regarding the fiscal action taken by this Conservative government. It states, “the authorities responded proactively to the crisis. The IMF supports a strong fiscal package announced in January, which was large, timely, and well targeted”.

Implementation of our plan is now the key challenge. Why does the leader of the Liberal Party want to stand in the way of Canada's economic recovery? While the Conservative government has listened to Canadians and has come up with a plan, the Liberal leader is too busy listening to the poor judgment of Warren Kinsella, and has no plan.

Canadians have two options: the Conservative plan of cutting taxes, providing help for those hardest hit, investing in roads, bridges and other infrastructure; or a Liberal approach, led by a leader that has no plan, no economic experience and a not so hidden agenda to impose—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. Leader of the Opposition on oral questions.

Employment Insurance

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Senate hearings discovered that eligibility for EI benefits was backdated two weeks prior to royal assent of the budget. This morning Liberal senators unanimously agreed to vote immediate passage of the budget. That way Canadians will be eligible for the help they need as early as March 1.

Will the Prime Minister instruct his Conservative senators to do the same so that Bill C-10 can get royal assent and Canadians in need of enhanced EI get the help they need right now?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, while I look forward to answering that question, let me just tell the House that I spoke with Premier Williams earlier today regarding the tragic accident that has occurred off Newfoundland. The House will know that one survivor has been brought to St. John's. I can assure the House that intensive search operations continue to be under way for the other passengers of that helicopter.

I know all of us in the chamber want to share our thoughts and prayers with the families who are anxiously awaiting word on their loved ones.

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, could I ask the Prime Minister again whether he is prepared to instruct the Conservative senators to vote speedy passage of Bill C-10 so that enhanced EI will be available?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

I am unclear as to why this is amusing.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order. I think we have the question. The right hon. Prime Minister may want to answer.

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, even the Leader of the Opposition found the humour in that question.

Conservative senators have not been the problem. The problem has been the Liberal Party and the Liberal leader, who were told that every delay in the Senate would delay the delivery of important employment insurance benefits.

I hope the leader of the Liberal Party will use this as a lesson that he would be well-advised, rather than to just be a critic, to act constructively in dealing with this economic crisis.

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, how did we get here? There are only two possibilities: either the government did not know that it had backdated EI eligibility in this way, in which case it was incompetent; or the government knew, kept it quiet so the Senate would go away into recess, and then hoped it could play political games on the backs of the unemployed for two weeks.

Which is it, incompetence or heartless political gamesmanship?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the gamesmanship is that the leader of the Liberal Party continues to want to cash in on bad economic news while not offering this country any constructive suggestions. He and his party were playing a game in the Senate with this bill. They should not have done that. I am glad they are not doing it any longer, but I hope they make a vow not to do this kind of thing again.

The Economy

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the TD Bank, the Bank of Montreal and the IMF all say that the Prime Minister's forecasts are incorrect. The government said it would create 190,000 jobs with its stimulus plan. It left that goal out of its progress report. New statistics on job losses will be released tomorrow.

Is the Prime Minister determined to stick with his economic forecasts?