David Pratt

[Privilege, April 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. We are all interested in hearing the hon. member's comments. However I fail to see how his fairy tales could possibly be of interest to the House given the question before us.

[National Defence, April 18th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, as chair of the defence committee and indeed on behalf of the committee I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and comrades of Sergeant Marc Leger, Corporal Ainsworth Dyer, Private Richard Green and Private Nathan Smith who were killed last night in the tragic friendly fire incident near Kandahar.

I hope the families of these brave soldiers know that we feel their loss profoundly, we share their grief and we mourn with them.

To those who were wounded: Sergeant Lorne Ford, Corporal René Paquet, Master Corporal Curtis Hollister, Corporal Brett Perry, Private Normal Link, Corporal Shane Brennan, Master Corporal Stanley Clark and Corporal Brian Decaire, each and every one of us is praying for their full and speedy recovery.

To their families, friends and comrades, they too are in our thoughts and prayers. I hope this terrible accident will cause all Canadians to reflect on the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Canadian forces.

[International Criminal Court, April 11th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the atrocities and human rights abuses I witnessed in Sierra Leone have led me to the firm conclusion that there can be no peace without justice.

Consequently, I am very pleased and honoured to inform the House that earlier today the cause of justice and human rights took a major step forward with the 60th ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. This means the ICC will enter into force on July 1 of this year, Canada Day. The date is perhaps very fitting since Canada was the first country to pass comprehensive legislation to implement our obligations under the Rome Statute and we have long been a world leader on the ICC.

Most importantly, the ICC will end impunity for unspeakable evils such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Therein lies the profound significance of today's ratification.

I invite the House to join me in congratulating all those who have worked so hard toward making the ICC a reality.

[Diamond Industry, March 22nd, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week delegates from 37 different countries gathered with representatives of the world diamond industry and several non-governmental organizations to tackle the important issue of conflict diamonds.

This week's meeting in Ottawa achieved substantial agreement on all key issues toward the implementation of an international certification scheme for rough diamonds. The scheme will go a long way to severing the link between conflict diamonds and the illegal arms trade.

I thank the strong leadership and the hard work of the Canadian delegation and in particular David Viveash, Jennifer Moher, Jennifer Daubeny and Don Law-West. I was also very pleased to learn that Partnership Africa-Canada, a small Ottawa based NGO, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by three U.S. congressmen for its work on the issue of conflict diamonds.

I offer my congratulations to everyone involved in the Kimberley Process for their commitment to eliminating the trade in conflict diamonds.

[Diamond Industry, March 13th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned over the link between the trade in illicit diamonds and armed conflict in parts of Africa. Since May 2000, Canada has actively participated in an intergovernmental process which aims to develop an international certification scheme for rough diamonds known as the Kimberley Process.

I am pleased to inform the House that on March 18 the Government of Canada will host the next meeting of the Kimberley Process in Ottawa. This important meeting is sponsored by the Human Security Program of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. The problem of conflict diamonds must be addressed in order to advance international peace and security and to protect the legitimate diamond industry in Canada.

I hope all members of the House will join me in wishing all of the Kimberley Process participants a very successful meeting next week.

[Veterans Affairs, February 28th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I was joined by the Minister of Veterans Affairs and the Minister of National Defence in a very special event involving one of my constituents, Mr. Charles Craib, who received his war medals after 57 years.

Could the Minister of Veterans Affairs tell the House what advice he has for other veterans who may be in a similar situation of having earned war medals but never having applied for them or never having received them?

[Government Contracts, February 27th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, earlier today I had the pleasure to join the Minister of Public Works and Government Services at the awarding of a major contract in my riding to xwave Solutions Inc. Could the minister provide the House with some information as to what sort of services the company will provide?

[Veterans Affairs, February 7th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Veterans Affairs. Today members of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs visited the Perley-Rideau Veterans Health Centre in Ottawa. They heard how Ontario government cutbacks to the centre have slashed the operational budget from $30 million per year to less than $15 million per year. While the community resident care will be hardest hit, there remains concern among veterans and their families about the care they receive.

What is the minister doing to ensure the best possible level of care for our local veterans in the Ottawa area?

[Privilege, February 1st, 2002]

Madam Speaker, it is an indication of how badly off track the debate has gone that we hear the hon. member across the way talk about the Geneva convention. I could not help but hear his comment that Canada was not respecting the Geneva convention.

Is the hon. member accusing the government of committing war crimes in Afghanistan? If so, what particular--

[Privilege, February 1st, 2002]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. It is clear the member of the Bloc is straying so far from the issues under consideration by the House today that he must be advised by the Chair that what he is saying is not relevant to the motion before the House.