House of Commons Hansard #97 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was honduras.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
They say “right on”, Mr. Speaker, absolutely.
Let me point out something else. The majority Conservative government, even when it was in a minority, has never, ever achieved a balanced budget. Conservatives have never achieved a balance budget. If we want a balanced budget, we have to go back to prime minister--
Report StageEconomic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 1Government Orders
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton
Order. I am not sure that we are gaining any ground on the quieting down here. We have another minute or so left.
The hon. member for Winnipeg North.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, time is a scarcity inside the chamber as it passes so quickly, and there are so many points that I would love to make.
I know the Conservatives are very sensitive on this because they understand that it is important to Canadians. They have failed on all accounts. They have never delivered a balanced budget, yet they proclaim that this is something important to them.
We could even expand upon it by saying that they were given a multi-billion-dollar balanced budget when they took office and before the recession even took place. They not only squandered that, they turned it into a multi-billion-dollar deficit. This is the Conservative Party that does not understand the concept of balancing the books.
If we want balanced books, what we have learned from history is we need the Liberal Party taking governance of this country. That is the way to deliver a--
The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton
Order. The hon. member for Winnipeg North will have six minutes remaining when the House next takes up the question on the matter that is before the House and of course he will have the usual five minutes for questions and comments.
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, 70 years ago tomorrow, the greatest seaborne invasion in history took place along the beaches of Normandy.
Under intense fire from German infantry, thousands of Canadian soldiers braved intense combat and turbulent waters to seize and secure Juno Beach. Over the span of two bloody hours, they achieved their objective before moving inland to begin the process of crushing Hitler's war machine.
Several years ago, I visited Juno Beach. What struck me as I looked down on the beaches was the bravery of these Canadian soldiers. These young men charged into a wall of enemy fire. Each and every one of them made a conscious decision to risk their lives for the lives of others.
It has been 70 years since D-Day, and Canadian flags still fly proudly on the soil liberated by these young men and women. On this solemn anniversary, may we continue to keep the faith with those who came before us, may we dutifully pass the torch to those who follow, and may we always fly the Canadian flag proudly.
Mylène Freeman NDP Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today in honour of World Environment Day.
Future generations are counting on us right now. Canadians cannot ignore global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, and other environmental challenges. Tackling climate change means implementing incentives for individuals and strict standards for industries and demanding leadership from the federal government.
We need mandatory targets and clear greenhouse gas emissions reduction standards. We need strict standards for gas emissions and energy efficiency. We need strategic infrastructure spending that focuses on public transportation and better energy efficiency for housing so that our communities can be more energy efficient.
These things need to be done, and the NDP will do them.
John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC
Mr. Speaker, last weekend in Niagara Falls, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, representing 2,000 members, came together at its AGM, where they overwhelmingly passed a motion supporting National Health and Fitness Day, which is this Saturday, June 7. It has already been proclaimed by 141 cities, with more on board each day.
This great news comes as Canadians face cresting rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, along with mounting health care costs.
MPs, mayors, individual Canadians, and whole communities are saying yes to healthy physical activity on National Health and Fitness Day and year round. I would like to congratulate my colleagues from all parties in the House who have acted as role models for all Canadians and acknowledge the efforts of our government, through our dynamic Minister of Health and Minister of State for Sport, who are rallying private and public sectors to higher levels of physical activity.
June is also Parks and Recreation Month, a great reminder for Canadians to take advantage of our parks, mountains, forests, paths, and streams. I invite all Canadians to show up this Saturday with our MPs, mayors, and councillors to make Canada the fittest nation on Earth.
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Mr. Speaker, on February 15, I attended a multilingual mass that opened the celebrations of Saint-René-Goupil Church’s 50th anniversary.
I am looking forward to the closing celebration on June 15, 2014, which will be presided over by His Excellency Msgr. Christian Lépine, Archbishop of Montreal, along with the church’s current and previous pastors. Given the amount of love shown during the opening celebration, this closing mass promises to be a truly special occasion.
Being a pillar of our community is a great accomplishment. That is why I would like to recognize the exceptional work of Pastor Raul Garcia and the entire church family, which includes dedicated volunteers, such as Gilberte Tremblay, who do exceptional work bringing together people from different generations and cultural communities to build a socially conscious parish that strives to make life better for all of us.
Congratulations to the members of Saint-René-Goupil Church on 50 wonderful years, and my best wishes for many more to come.
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Mr. Speaker, Canadians were saddened to learn this morning of the tragic deaths of three RCMP officers and the wounding of two others in a shooting last night in Moncton, New Brunswick.
I would like to express my heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families, friends, and colleagues of the victims, and we pray that the killer is quickly brought to justice without further violence.
The deaths of these officers remind us again of dangers faced every day by our law enforcement officers. The death of an officer shakes the entire community. It is a heartbreaking reminder of the sacrifices made by these brave men and women every day to protect our lives with their own.
Our first responders are heroes, too, and we should not let a day go by without praying for their safety and thanking them for their valued service to Canada.
Jonathan Tremblay NDP Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Mr. Speaker, like many of my fellow Canadians, I am worried to see that the Conservatives are refusing to shoulder their responsibilities to ensure that a fragile ecosystem in the St. Lawrence River is protected, especially in light of the potential development of the Gros-Cacouna oil terminal.
Our riding has the tremendous privilege of bordering on some incredibly magnificent and biologically diverse areas. We have the Charlevoix World Biosphere Reserve, the Saguenay-Saint-Laurent Marine Park and the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals. Those world-renowned organizations in our region are a huge asset for the environment and a key component in developing our tourism industry.
I am prepared to fight on behalf of future generations so that any development is accompanied by an open, public, and thorough environmental assessment.
Corneliu Chisu Conservative Pickering—Scarborough East, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about a historic event that took place in the riding of Pickering—Scarborough East.
May 23, 2014, the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud marked the opening of the l'École élémentaire catholique Saint-Michel at 29 Meadowvale Road, a picturesque location a short distance from the Rouge Park that will accommodate up to 250 students from kindergarten to grade 6 in the east Toronto region.
The students in the French Catholic schools of the Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud participate fully in their community and are able to express their faith, language, and culture with pride.
At the opening ceremonies, we were blessed by the presence of His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins of Toronto.
I would like to thank Réjean Sirois, director of education, and Ms. Dufour-Séguin, the school board's president, for their work. I would also like to congratulate the francophone community in Pickering—Scarborough-Est for this great achievement.
Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
Mr. Speaker, today volunteers from Ducks Unlimited are meeting with members of Parliament.
For those who do not know, Ducks Unlimited Canada is national non-profit organization committed to conserving and restoring Canada's wetlands.
For 76 years, Ducks Unlimited Canada has conducted research, educated the public, informed public policy, and preserved 6.4 million acres of wetlands. As a farmer who understands the value of these wetlands, I would like to take this opportunity to thank it for its work.
We lose up to 80 acres of wetland every day in Canada. Aside from their recreational value, wetlands filter water, provide essential habitat for species at risk, reduce drought and erosion, and are essential in flood prevention.
Ducks Unlimited has a long history of working with the federal government, and I ask all honourable members to join me in thanking Ducks Unlimited Canada and their 6,200 volunteers for their work to preserve Canada's natural spaces.
Sana Hassainia NDP Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC
Mr. Speaker, the summer season is already upon us, and the riding of Verchères-Les Patriotes has some wonderful local products to try.
Today I hope to encourage my constituents to buy local products. This is not some dream. We can be green and prosperous. It is not true that we have to choose between the economy and the environment.
This summer the people of my riding will be able to visit a number of public markets, including those in Sainte-Julie and Boucherville as well as a new one in Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu. Let us discover our local bounty, support our local producers, and reduce our environmental footprint, all while enjoying delicious products.
In closing, I would like to congratulate Suzanne Roy on her election to the prestigious position of president of the Union des municipalités du Québec. Knowing how effective she is and her determination to successfully complete all of the projects she undertakes, I can only commend the UMQ board of directors for putting its trust in her.
I am certain that Ms. Roy, who has been the mayor of Sainte-Julie for nearly nine years and who is also the warden of the Marguerite-D'Youville RCM, will do a wonderful job and bring the same dedication and attentiveness to this position as she does to the residents of the towns she serves.
Roxanne James Conservative Scarborough Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I was shocked to learn that the RCMP is investigating the chief of staff to former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien for receiving a $1.5 million bribe. Allegedly, this money was wired to a Swiss bank account after he awarded a contract worth $110 million in taxpayers' money to a company.
These allegations against a senior Liberal Party adviser are extremely troubling. This is the same party that misappropriated $40 million of taxpayers' money that it has yet to pay back.
We look forward to the RCMP getting to the bottom of this sleazy affair, and we expect, Canadians expect, that the leader of the Liberal Party will ensure that his advisers fully co-operate with the authorities on this matter.
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, this week is Canadian Environment Week, and today is World Environment Day.
Many environmental groups have taken this opportunity to meet with members of the House of Commons and to organize events on Parliament Hill.
On Monday, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society released its report, entitled “Dare to be Deep”, which demonstrates the need for immediate action to protect our oceans. Just 1% of Canada's ocean territory is currently protected, but we have made an international commitment to protect 10% of our ocean by 2020.
Today is also Ducks Unlimited Canada's Day on the Hill. Ducks Unlimited Canada has an impressive success rate of over 75% in protecting Canada's wetlands. Ducks Unlimited Canada is doing important work across the country to protect and restore habitat with a view to supporting Canada's ecological, economic and social integrity.
I would like to wish everyone a happy World Environment Day.
Ted Opitz Conservative Etobicoke Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today to salute the tens of thousands of Canadians who served on land, at sea, and in the skies over northern France. The significance of this day cannot be overstated. Just 11 months after the D-Day landings, Canadians and our Allies celebrated victory in Europe. Remarkably, Canadians progressed further inland than any of the Allies during the course of the Battle of Normandy.
While we remember this proud accomplishment, we also pay tribute to the almost 1,000 Canadians who sacrificed in the landings at Juno Beach on D-Day, including the 340 brave Canadians who gave their lives.
Our greatest generation laid the foundations of our freedom and our democracy and inspired generations of veterans who followed their example. God bless our greatest generation and our D-Day veterans.
Lest we forget.
Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL
Mr. Speaker, sorrow, fear, and disbelief are just some of the emotions being felt by residents of Moncton and all Canadians. We must not let this incident shatter the confidence we have in our safe and caring communities. We will indeed struggle through the coming days and months, but it is important that we strongly support the residents of Moncton and the RCMP as this incident continues to unfold.
Every day we know the challenges and dangers every single RCMP officer puts himself or herself in to protect our families. However, it is incidents of the kind that happened in Moncton that make us realize their tremendous sacrifices. We all have friends and relatives who are members of the RCMP, and today we must support them and their families as they struggle with the burdens and realizations of incredible danger.
Today we offer our sincere condolences to the members of the RCMP, especially the families of the three officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in their line of duty. We also pray for a full recovery for the two officers who were injured.
I would like to thank every single RCMP officer and all their families. May God bless each of them.
Susan Truppe Conservative London North Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of Status of Women is in Paris participating in the Global Summit of Women, a meeting of women leaders from around the world. While meeting with her international counterparts, the minister will highlight Canada's efforts to promote gender equality, women in our economy, and an end to violence against women and girls.
For example, budget 2014 included specific measures to get more women involved in the economy, and we have helped ensure that aboriginal women enjoy the same rights as women across Canada. We have implemented over 30 laws that crack down on those who commit violent crimes against Canadians, including women and girls. It is a shame that the opposition opposes our efforts at every opportunity.
Canadians can be proud of our Conservative government. Thanks to our leadership, Canada is a world leader when it comes to defending women's rights and promoting their economic prosperity.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, the entire Atlantic region is in shock because of the horrific murders of the RCMP officers in Moncton. On behalf of all New Democrats, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the victims.
Our thoughts are also with the people of Moncton, whose sense of security has been shaken during this manhunt.
Be strong, Moncton. Our hearts go out to you.
Our thoughts and prayers are with a close-knit community facing a situation that one hopes would never happen in Canada. We extend our sympathy to families now huddled inside their homes wondering if danger is just outside their doors. We stand here in tribute to police officers killed and wounded in this horrible tragedy.
For all members of the New Brunswick RCMP and their families, they are not alone. We are thinking of them, and a whole nation stands with them.
Rodney Weston Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, yesterday in Moncton, New Brunswick, five RCMP members were senselessly shot by a dangerous person who seems to have no regard for human life. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the three RCMP members who gave their lives serving their country and protecting their fellow Canadians. We wish a speedy recovery to the two RCMP officers who remain in hospital.
Tragedies like this are a stark reminder of the dangers faced every day by front-line police officers. Dangerous criminals like this must be stopped to ensure communities like Moncton remain safe and secure places. We look forward to the police bringing the individual responsible for these crimes to justice.
As we mourn the loss of the three members of the RCMP, for all of our front-line police officers, I would like to say a heartfelt thanks for the work that they do.
I would also ask that all members and Canadians please keep the people of Moncton in their thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I understand there have been discussions among representatives of all parties in the House and that there is agreement to observe a moment of silence in honour of the three fallen RCMP officers in Moncton, New Brunswick.
[A moment of silence observed]
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Justice told us that the government would follow up on the committee's modest recommendations to improve veterans' quality of life. This requires more funding.
In concrete terms, how many more millions of dollars will be added to the department's budget to improve the quality of life of veterans and their family members and friends who support them?
Peter MacKay ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, again, I reference the unanimous report that came from the veterans affairs committee, which speaks directly to the level of support and co-operation that exists to continue to support our veterans, their families, those who have served our country in uniform.
We have established a record over the last eight years of having been very committed to the needs and the support of veterans: the $4.7 billion in additional funding that has been made available to them, the efforts that have been made to support those suffering from post-traumatic stress.
