Lost her last election, in 2008, with 33% of the vote.
Multiculturalism November 27th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, could the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism tell the House what she is doing to ensure that Canadian children who are using the Internet for educational purposes are not subject to messages of hate subculture and extremist organizations.
Violence November 22nd, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the International Day to End Violence Against Women is November 25. It is a day chosen as the anniversary of the brutal assassination of the Mirabal sisters in the Dominican Republic in the 1960s.
These three sisters known as the Unforgettable Butterflies were symbols of dignity and inspiration for their struggle for freedom and respect for human rights in the face of an oppressive regime. In their memory people come together around the world on November 25 to denounce gender violence in all its forms: domestic battery, rape and sexual harassment, state violence, torture and abuse of female political prisoners.
On November 25 all Canadians can mark this day and recommit to doing everything they can to end violence against all women everywhere.
The Environment November 9th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, few things unite youth in Canada like their commitment and dedication to the environment.
I read recently that the minister has appointed several new members to his important youth roundtable.
I wonder if the parliamentary secretary to the minister could tell the House about the roundtable and the important young Canadians who play a role in advising the government.
Seniors November 7th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, this is National Seniors Safety Week. Many seniors are injured in their own homes. Declining vision, hearing, sense of touch and smell are all part of the normal aging process, yet they can increase the risk of injury.
As we age our bodies take longer to heal and recover, making injury prevention that much more important.
Fortunately, the news is not all bad. Many of the injuries occurring in the home can be prevented. Hazards just have to be recognized and the necessary precautions taken.
The Canada Safety Council is encouraging seniors to make their homes safer. Its campaign “Good Living and Independence—That's the Ticket for Aging Canadians” includes public service announcements and ideas for improvement.
All colleagues in the House can get help the message out. Simple precautions in each of our homes would help prevent injuries and improve our quality of life. Indeed there is no place like home and all of us want to be as safe and injury free as possible.
The Economy November 5th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, the global competitiveness report was recently released. Could the industry minister tell the House how Canada ranked in growth competitiveness compared to previous years?
Interparliamentary Delegations October 25th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the delegation of the Interparliamentary Union, which represented Canada at the 105th interparliamentary conference held at Havana, Cuba, March 28 to April 7, 2001.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month October 5th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time to celebrate survivors and people challenged by the disease. Each member of the House has been affected by breast cancer in some way or knows someone who has been.
In Burlington we are fortunate to have Breast Cancer Support Services, an invaluable resource for women, men and their families to get information on treatment options and the critical support they need.
I congratulate the BCSS and similar organizations across the country for the important role they play in helping those affected by this terrible illness.
Last Sunday Canadians participated in the 10th annual Run for the Cure. In Burlington more than 5,000 people ran or walked to raise over $300,000. In five years our community has raised more than $1 million for breast cancer research.
All of us can help raise awareness and educate Canadians. Mammograms and monthly breast self-examinations contribute to the early detection of the disease. Together we can fight breast cancer. Let us all work to find a cure.
Burlington Arts Centre October 3rd, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Burlington Arts Centre on its expansion and reopening last Sunday. The centre first opened in June 1978 and accommodated specialized areas of study including hand weaving, spinning, woodcrafting and ceramics. The arts centre has grown and launched fabulous exhibits like Fragile Embrace which received over $100,000 from the millennium fund.
Recently the arts centre has tailored programs to fit the special needs of the Burlington Association for the Intellectually Challenged, Big Sisters and the East Burlington Home and School Association. It has developed community outreach programs for the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital, the Royal Bank of Canada and Chapters. The 8,000 square foot expansion has increased space for the hands on program which hosted 3,500 school children last year.
The Burlington Arts Centre is unsurpassed in Canada. It is an important people place and a source of inspiration and learning. I congratulate the marvellous staff and volunteer team who have worked so hard to make the dream of this extension such a beautiful reality.
Burlington September 26th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, on Sunday hundreds of Burlington residents from all walks of life, all cultural and religious backgrounds came together at the Halton Mosque to send a very strong message to the world and to all Canadians.
Muslims in Burlington and throughout Canada were equally shocked by the recent acts of terrorism. Islam is a religion of love and care for all human beings. The destruction and mass murder in New York City and Washington D.C.have no place in religion.
As a community Burlington residents reject terrorism. Our gathering demonstrated that our values as Canadians, our respect for diversity and our fellow citizens cannot be shattered like those buildings in the United States. Terrorists have no place in our communities or in our country.
All of us as individual Canadians and as members of the House must work hard to protect our diversity and to nurture our freedom and respect for others. As citizens of a civilized nation we have all been tested. Sunday's gathering in Burlington is evidence that we can meet that challenge. Burlington residents can be very proud.
As the member of parliament for Burlington I extend my congratulations to the Halton Islamic Society.
Attack on the United States September 17th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to hear what the members opposite have to say. I was in Burkina Faso, along with several other members of the House of Commons, for the IPU conference attended by parliamentarians from around the world. They witnessed Tuesday's events on television. I believe that there are some members from the Bloc Quebecois who have friends working and living in the United States. This has been a particularly difficult period for us and for members of parliament everywhere. I find it sad that some members believe that there is a simple solution.
The member opposite mentioned many things that we should do. I would like to talk about the role of parliamentarians in this type of organization.
It is because of a jet lag in English. They help us understand and talk about issues. In Burkina Faso we were talking about the Middle East crisis. That was the backdrop to all the events on Tuesday.
I know the member opposite has participated and can tell us the value of that for leaders from communities around the world, how we can enhance the role of parliamentarians, ensure that people participate in the meetings and carry back the messages of common cause and ideals, and that we can work out all the details of these plans that we need to put in place, of the many facets of the ways we have to deal with this horrible terrorism and particularly the incidents that happened on Tuesday.