Debates of May 13th, 2009

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Timmins—James Bay.

[Members sang the national anthem]

National Nursing Week

[Patrick Brown, Conservative, Barrie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this week is National Nursing Week. Nurses all over Canada are vital professionals and nursing associations will be celebrating the achievements of their colleagues through various events and activities.

Let me take this opportunity to commend nurses around Canada for their public service, their tireless work and their role on the front line of the health care system protecting Canadians, particularly the 54,000 nurses in my home province of Ontario.

This past Monday, led by long-term emergency room nurse, Kimberley Sweeney, I visited the Royal Victoria Hospital to meet and hear concerns of our nurses. As I handed out Timbits to the nurses who finished their 12 hour night shift, it is difficult not to admire these caring, compassionate Canadians who deal, on a daily basis, with packed waiting rooms of patients and, despite that, never flinch an eye.

Our nurses in Barrie are top notch and it makes me so proud to know that the nurses in our country have such integrity and are keeping our health care system functioning so well.

Taste of Asia Festival

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome to Ottawa today the coordinators of the Taste of Asia Festival to be held in the town of Markham, Ontario June 26 to 29 of this year.

This year, 2009, marks the seventh anniversary of the Taste of Asia Festival and I have been very pleased over the years to lend my support and encouragement to this wonderful event. Many parliamentarians, past and present, have had the opportunity to share in the festival's cultural performances and activities, as well as some great cuisine, as have over 70,000 Canadians annually.

The Taste of Asia Festival is hosted by the Federation of Chinese Canadians in Markham, the town of Markham, the Association of Progressive Muslims of Ontario, and is aided by the Canadian Federation of Intercultural Friendship.

I recognize with thanks all the volunteers, sponsors and entertainments who make this event such a success and I applaud the organizing communities that give us all the opportunity to celebrate and share in the dynamic, diverse society that we Canadians are.

Piotr Jelen

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in April, Piotr Jelen, a resident of Rawdon in my riding, was inducted into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame. He coached the Canadian competitive ski team for 25 years and is the force behind the gold medal won by Mélanie Turgeon, as well as the successes of numerous other Quebec skiers, including François Jodoin, Alain Villiard and Geneviève Simard.

A Pole by birth, Piotr has lived in Quebec since 1974 and has spoken of how warmly he was received by the people of Quebec. His love of skiing has not diminished, and he is back with the Quebec team this year, as active as ever. His greatest source of pride is that he has been able to help great athletes achieve great things without any major injuries disrupting their ability to live normal lives.

On behalf of my colleagues in the Bloc Québécois and everyone in Rawdon, my heartiest congratulations for this well deserved honour.

Poverty

[Tony Martin, NDP, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I believe the stars are aligning for a poverty plan for Canada.

This week I was in Halifax and Moncton for parliamentary hearings. We met hundreds of individuals who are struggling to keep people's heads above water in their communities. What they are looking for from us is leadership and a partnership.

Also, yesterday here the Canadian Council of Churches and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada hosted a forum on a sustainable economy that would include everyone. We see the religious right and left converging on calls for a real poverty plan. We need the same from our political parties.

We can come together around the dignity of the person, the common good, human solidarity and being good stewards for our planet. We can deliver for all the basic necessities of food, clothing, shelter and a fair wage.

Ontario has just passed, unanimously, anti-poverty legislation. We need national leadership to harness the excellent work happening in several provinces.

Acts of Heroism

[Rod Bruinooge, Conservative, Winnipeg South, MB]

Mr. Speaker, last week a near tragedy occurred in Winnipeg's Red River. A teenaged boy was racing friends over the Provencher Bridge when he mistakenly pole-vaulted into the dangerously cold river below. That boy landed on his back and bystanders thought the worst had happened.

That is when Faron Hall, a man who lives under the bridge, jumped into the fast-moving river. Hall says that it took several attempts to calm the boy, but he was able to pull him safely to shore.

Originally from the Dakota Tipi First Nation, Hall says he has been homeless for nearly seven years, but he downplayed his actions saying, “I don't think I'm a hero. I'm just a human being”. Faron is certainly a hero. He showed a rare example of true selflessness by risking his own life to save another. On behalf of Winnipeggers and all Canadians, I thank him for his courage and compassion.

We can all learn a great deal from this man and his story. I ask the House to join me in applauding Faron Hall.

Focus on Youth Awards

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my great honour to rise today to congratulate the winners and honourees at the 20th annual Focus on Youth Awards held last night in Mount Pearl.

I have been privileged to be involved in these awards for many years, and am proud to be part of a community coming together in celebration of youth in Mount Pearl.

Erica Fitzgerald and Colin Rose were chosen as the Mount Pearl female and male youth of the year. Also honoured last night were Sydney Burton, Hannah Noseworthy, Adam Keating, the Mount Pearl Synchro Tier 2 Team, the 4th Mount Pearl Pathfinders, Amy Fifield, Ben Mercer, Chris Doyle, Stephen Holloway, the Mount Pearl Show Choir, the Mount Pearl Senior High Drama Club, the O'Donel Jazz Band, and O'Donel “Back to the Eighties”. Also Carol Ann Kelloway was honoured as the adult volunteer.

I am proud to count these individuals among my constituents and offer my heartiest congratulations to the winners and to all honourees.

G2P3

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to recognize three outstanding young students in my riding. Eboni Morgan, Essence Morgan and Mia Caschera are students Stouffville's Glad Park Public School, and are also known by their moniker G2P3, or Girls 2 the Power of Three.

Last Sunday they hosted a fundraising event for our local food bank that included competitions for teenagers, including basketball, skipping and hula-hooping. They arranged the prizes, the vendors, the music and along with their classmates, they baked a wide range of treats to be sold at the bake table. In total, the event raised over $2,700, which will help support our local food bank.

My riding is an exceptional one. We are blessed with hard-working people from around the world. We are home to the Oak Ridge's Moraine and Rouge Valley. My farmers produce Canada's best potatoes, corn and cattle. We are home to Olympic heroes Eric Lamaze and Karen Coburn.

Ebony, Essence and Mia represent the next generation of Canadian leaders. They are an important part of why I am so proud to call Oak Ridges—Markham home.

Teen Rock Group Accomplishment

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, some secondary school students from the Fadette school in Saint-Hyacinthe have won the local finals in a young entrepreneurs competition, with their recording of an album by the band Rock 'n Ressources, titled “100% ados”. They will now move on to represent the Saint-Hyacinthe school board at the Montérégie regional finals in June.

The students had to compose the lyrics and music for songs aimed at young people the same age as themselves about the things they care about. They then had to perform these numbers for a recording. They chose to send a positive message about friendship, perseverance and helping others that reflected their motivations and passions. Every single one of them discovered hidden talents, pushed their boundaries and experienced great pride in their accomplishments. I too am proud, because my granddaughter Tiffany was one of them.

My colleagues in the Bloc Québécois and I congratulate these young people on their initiative and wish them the best of luck at the next level of competition.

Republic of South Africa

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to give good news from Africa. Once again the Republic of South Africa has undergone a peaceful transfer of power through a free and fair election.

This past weekend I had the honour to represent Canada at the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma. South Africa has experienced tremendous upheaval in its history, from discrimination of its majority citizens and now to the building of a multiracial society.

South Africa will always remind the world of horrors of discrimination, but it will also remind the world of reconciliation, a tribute to the first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela.

On behalf of the government and the people of Canada, I wish to extend our congratulations and best wishes to all South Africans on their march into the future as a truly democratic and multiracial society.

Joannie Rochette

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on March 28, 2009, facing stiff competition, Canadian Joannie Rochette won the silver medal in the women's singles event at the International Skating Union's world figure skating championships in Los Angeles.

This is the first time a Canadian has won a medal in this event at the International Skating Union's world championships since 1988. I am proud to say that Joannie Rochette began skating with the Saint-Léonard figure skating club in my riding, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel.

Her silver medal is the culmination of years of determination, dedication and the desire to win. This young woman, who trains in Saint-Léonard, has inspired Canadians and sent a message to the whole world that she intends to win the gold medal for Canada at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.

Congratulations to Joannie. We are behind her all the way.

Taxation

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it has been 29 days since the Liberal leader said, “We will have to raise taxes”. He also said that he is a “tax and spend, Pearsonian Trudeau Liberal”.

For those Canadians who have been paying taxes in this country for as much as three and a half decades, we want to know which taxes he will raise. He gives us hints with his words on that too: “We've got to have popular, practical, believable policies that may include some form of carbon tax”. He also said, “I'm not going to take a GST hike off the table”. Lately he has even risen in the House of Commons to say that he wants a “radically expensive EI plan that would force payroll taxes to rise”.

Could I trust him to clarify all of this in his own words by rising today and answering which taxes he will raise, by how much and who will have to pay?

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. I had the honour of attending the launch in London this past Friday.

Violence against women humiliates and demeans women and often robs them of their hopes and dreams.

According to the YWCA, over 50% of Canadian women will experience violence at some point in their lives, the majority before they turn 25. Sadly, most women know their abusers.

In this current economic climate, abuse is on the rise. Women's shelters in London have seen an almost 80% increase in calls over last year, with 50% more files assigned to counsellors. In Calgary, a women's emergency shelter helpline had a 300% increase in calls from the previous year.

Sexual violence against women can and must be stopped. To put an end to this type of violence, women must be seen as equal. Equality has to start in the community, with our activists, police departments, service providers and neighbours all working together for a common goal. And it has to be supported by our federal government.

No woman should ever have to endure sexual violence--

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. member for Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière.

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

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

Mr. Speaker, as everyone knows, the Liberal brand is closely associated with tax hikes. The Liberal leader stated very clearly that his party would raise taxes.

The Canadian people are still waiting to hear the details of the Liberal leader's plans. To this day, their questions remain unanswered. Yet those questions are so basic. Which taxes would he raise? Who would be affected by the new taxes? How would he go about raising those taxes?

Bearing in mind that people are sick of Liberal tax hikes, when will he tell Canadians and Quebeckers the truth?

We think that Canadians have the right to know what to expect from this Liberal leader.

Does he not think so too?

People want the truth, and they want it now.

Drummondville Voltigeurs

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, our local Quebec major junior hockey league team, the Drummondville Voltigeurs, made history on the ice at the Marcel Dionne Centre in front of a record-setting crowd yesterday by winning the President's Cup for the first time in 27 years. After weeks of intense work and tremendous effort, their determination paid off because this win gives them a chance to play for the Memorial Cup.

I would like to express our admiration and appreciation for what they have accomplished so far. Their achievement is a significant contribution to sport throughout the Drummondville region.

Let me say it one more time: the Voltigeurs are our heroes. I would just like to wish them the ultimate honour: leaving their mark on the trophy after the 11-day celebration of the 91st anniversary of the Memorial Cup.

Here's to the cup!

British Columbia Election

[Ujjal Dosanjh, Liberal, Vancouver South, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday British Columbians re-elected Premier Gordon Campbell and his B.C. Liberals to a third term.

On behalf of the Liberal caucus and myself, I would like to extend congratulations to Premier Campbell for a hard-fought and successful campaign.

I want to applaud British Columbians for having exercised their democratic rights and obligations. Congratulations are also in order for Carole James, leader of the NDP, and her team for a hard-fought campaign.

British Columbians have re-elected Premier Campbell to a historic third term, something rarely seen in B.C. political history.

Once again, British Columbia has experienced politics and democracy at their best. Congratulations.

First-Time Homebuyers Tax Credit

[Kelly Block, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Mr. Speaker, our government's economic action plan has taken a key step in assisting Canadians wishing to purchase a new home. A new first-time homebuyers' tax credit will save new homebuyers up to $750 on the closing costs when buying a new home. This plan will now allow first-time homebuyers to withdraw $25,000 from their retirement savings, $50,000 for couples, to purchase or construct a new home.

Bonnie Begerich of the Calgary Real Estate Board and Ellen Baba of the Medicine Hat Real Estate Board have praised the tax credit for encouraging new homebuyers to enter the market. The Canadian Real Estate Association and the Association of Regina Realtors are supporting this plan. This new program will help hard-working Canadian families.

While the Liberal leader is planning to raise the GST and impose a job-killing carbon tax, Canada's economic action plan is helping Canadians with one of life's most significant purchases. Conservatives are standing up for Canadian families who wish to better their lives.

Employment Insurance

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the entire country is suffering the effects of a worsening economic crisis. Bankruptcies were up 60% in March. Unemployment is up 83% in Alberta and 68% in British Columbia. There are more people in western Canada than anywhere else in the country who paid into EI but cannot get benefits.

We have proposed a 360-hour national standard of eligibility for EI. Will the Prime Minister act on our proposals before the end of the parliamentary session?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, as you know, Canada has a very generous employment insurance system that we in fact enhanced in the most recent economic action plan. Over 80% of those who are paying into it are receiving benefits.

The fact of the matter is that this is very transparent. The Liberal leader wants to change long-standing Liberal policy, and we all know why he wants to do it. Having denounced the coalition, he now wants a proposal that he thinks can pull the coalition back together. It is simply another proposal to raise payroll taxes.

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, if I had the government's record on unemployment, I would want to change the subject too.

However, this is not about my record; this is about the government's record. The Conservatives are the government. What does the government propose to do to fix the eligibility problems with EI? There are a lot of Canadians waiting for an answer.

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we all know the motivation of the Liberal leader in making such a proposal. Let us be clear what the proposal is. The proposal is that a Canadian could work 45 days and collect employment insurance for a year. That would be the system in every region in perpetuity.

That would do nothing for the economy or for the recession today. It is simply a completely unwise, unthought-out proposal to raise payroll taxes to the roof in perpetuity for workers and small business.

[Michael Ignatieff, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to have the Prime Minister say that to the 150,000 people who would be eligible under EI if our proposal went through.

Here is a concrete example. In Magog, 200 workers lost their jobs at Gurit Canada. Those employees did not all live in the same employment insurance region.

They all made the same contributions. They all lost their jobs at the same time. Yet they were not entitled to the same assistance.

So, I ask again, will the government change the employment insurance system—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the system we have in place meets the needs of the market. When we go through a difficult period, like we are right now, the system responds accordingly; benefits are increased and eligibility is also increased. In our economic action plan, this government has already increased long-term benefits for workers.

If that leader wants to go out and tell Canadians that he thinks they should pay higher payroll taxes so that people can work 45 days and then collect EI for a year, every single year, in every single region of the country, we are ready to take him on.