Eleni Bakopanos

[Greece, March 25th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, today, March 25, 2003 marks the 182nd anniversary of the independence of my country of origin, Greece.

I invite all members of the House to join all Hellenic Canadians in celebrating this anniversary in their respective ridings.

I am pleased and honoured that today's anniversary coincides with the first ever commemorative stamp issuance by Canada Post honouring Hellenism and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the American Hellenic Educational and Progressive Association, AHEPA, in Canada. This commemorative stamp will be unveiled in West Block this evening and I invite all members of the House to come and participate with our right hon. Prime Minister. There will be over 400 Canadians and Americans of Hellenic origin at this historic event.

I am proud of my Hellenic heritage, just as I am proud of being Canadian. Here in Canada, my second patrida , we uphold the very same ideals born from Greece, my country of birth: the ideals of freedom, democracy, justice and the promotion of peace worldwide.

Mr. Speaker, I wish everyone:

[Editor's Note: Member spoke in Greek as follows:]

Zito i Ellas! Zito o Kanadas!

[Petitions, April 19th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present in the House a petition in both official languages, signed by the residents of my riding, Ahuntsic, asking parliament to urge the Government of Canada to request that the United Kingdom return the parthenon marbles to Greece.

The petitioners ask that every effort be made to have the Parthenon Marbles, which were removed from Greece almost 200 years ago without the consent of the Greek people, returned to Greece, their country of origin, prior to the 2004 Olympic Games when Greece will host the 28th Olympiad.

[Greece, March 21st, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, this weekend more than 300,000 Canadians of Hellenic origin will celebrate the 181st anniversary of Greece's independence day.

Greece's Independence Day is the most important anniversary of its history. March 25, 1821, also marks the most influential moment of western civilization.

My constituents of Hellenic origin and the members of the greater Hellenic community of Montreal and across Canada have always upheld here in Canada the very same ideals held by their ancestors. They have maintained a tradition of democratic principles and rights, and with wisdom and courage contributed to the promotion of peace worldwide and to the fight against injustice everywhere. These concepts and values born from Greece, my country of origin, have formulated the direction and structure of our nations, including those of Canada, my second “Patrida”.

I am proud of my Hellenic heritage, just as I am proud of being Canadian, as Canada is the prime example of a country devoted to the ideals of Hellenism: freedom, democracy and justice.

On March 25 I invite all members of the House to wish Canadians of Hellenic origin:

[Editor's note: Member spoke in Greek]

[Violence against Women, December 6th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, following the December 6, 1989 tragedy at Montreal's École polytechnique, this day has been designated by our government as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

Now, more than a decade later, we are unfortunately still living in a society where violence against women is ever present.

Today, a series of events are taking place across the country to remember all the victims of violence against women who lost their lives.

In my riding of Ahuntsic, the Centre des femmes italiennes de Montréal is showing its solidarity with all women by distributing white candles to residents of Ahuntsic. I congratulate them and I reiterate my support to organizations such as the centre that work to eliminate all forms of violence against women.

It is our responsibility as Canadian parliamentarians to regroup our efforts and to eliminate any and all types of violence against women in our society. Let us all work together to put an end to all forms of violence.

[Brain Tumour Awareness Month, October 19th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the month of October has been designated Brain Tumour Awareness Month in Canada.

Each year approximately 10,000 Canadians of all ages are diagnosed with brain tumours. More than 100 different types of brain tumours have been identified. Brain tumours are the second leading cause of cancer death in children under the age of 20 and the third leading cause of cancer death in young adults between the ages of 20 and 39.

The mission of the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada is to collect funds for research, to provide support services to people with brain tumours and their families, and to provide information to the public.

I would like to quote for members the words written by a young woman, Krista, age 19, who understands better than any of us the devastation of cancer:

I look into the sky and what do I see? A castle, a rainbow, and dreams for me,

An end to this battle which I must fight, To rid my feelings of depression and fright.

An end to cancer is not far away, It will be here soon...Someday.

Let us hope and pray that the someday—

[World March Of Women, October 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, on October 11, a group of approximately 250 women and men of Ahuntsic walked in solidarity to fight poverty and violence against women.

I would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of our march, especially Mireille Belisle, the founder of the Fondation Mélanie Cabey, a not for profit organization to support the disappeared; SNAC, a food and community action service; the Ahuntsic CLSC, which manages Réseau justice et foi; the Centre des femmes italiennes de Montréal, which organized the event; the municipal housing office; Courrier Ahuntsic; Amitié n'a pas d'âge; Stations Nos. 27 and 28; La Resource; various elected representatives and a number of private citizens.

We on this side of the House have worked closely and co-operatively for the last seven years with all local groups to ensure that all women in Canada and elsewhere receive justice and equality, and that there is zero tolerance for violence against children and women.

Congratulations on a successful march to all those who participated in Ahuntsic and all across Canada.

[World March Of Women, October 4th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, on October 11, the women and men of Ahuntsic will march in protest against violence, poverty and discrimination against women.

This march will unite women from all backgrounds and communities in demanding a right as legitimate as respect.

Since the beginning of our mandate, our government has committed resources to assisting women and children. The government has already contributed $800,000 to the international component of the World March of Women, nearly $200,000 to the Canadian Women's March Committee and $7 billion to assist families with children.

We eliminated the clawback from middle and higher income mothers. We contributed $32 million to crime prevention to assure that women and children are a priority. We contributed $22.5 million to the aboriginal head start initiative, as well as $43 million for shelters for women, children and youth.

However, we have more to do. I encourage all my colleagues to join women across Canada, to march with them, to support them in their ridings and on the Hill and support equality across Canada.

[Canadian Alliance, September 26th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, once again, there is dissension in the ranks of the Canadian Alliance. Unlike their leader, members of his party feel that simple possession of marijuana should be decriminalized.

The party's critic, who is now drafting the party's justice policy, supports decriminalization for simple possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana.

This is the sort of issue that clearly demonstrates to Canadians the confusion that reigns in Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition. I am sure the leader of the Alliance will continue to allow confusion to reign on this and other issues during the next election not for policy but for political expediency.

[Cultural Policy, September 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, increasingly, nations are becoming aware of the threat to their culture, traditions and cultural expression. Canada is certainly one of these, given the presence of the American culture.

My question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage. What is this government doing to combat this world-wide threat?

[Foreign Affairs, June 15th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, recently the President of the Hellenic Republic visited Canada at the invitation of our government.

During his very successful visit the President discussed the Cyprus issue with both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Given the upcoming round of proximity talks in July, can the Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterate this government's position and tell us what we are doing to help secure a prosperous future and enduring peace for the people of Cyprus?