Lucienne Robillard

[Firearms Registry, September 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, can we use facts instead of ideology when making decisions? If the Conservative minority government's bill were in effect today, the 12 gauge hunting rifle found in Hudson yesterday would not have been registered.

To all the groups asking to keep the registry and in light of all the evidence in favour of it, can the Prime Minister explain the real reasons preventing him from facing the truth?

[Firearms Registry, September 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, less than 24 hours after the Conservative minority government denied the usefulness of the firearms registry, we learn that the Sûreté du Québec used the registry to arrest a teenager from Hudson who allegedly made threats on the Internet. This gives us more evidence that the registry can be a useful and effective tool.

Will the Prime Minister change his mind and promise to keep the registry and perhaps thereby prevent another tragedy?

[Firearms Registry, September 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that it is very difficult to predict an act of insanity and that the gun registry is not a cure-all that will prevent violence in our society. But the public health association, the suicide prevention centre and the police all recognize that there has been a marked reduction in thefts, suicides and homicides involving firearms.

Why does the minority government not recognize that this registry is valuable, even if it saves just one life?

[Firearms Registry, September 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers, through their premier, Jean Charest, the Fédération des policiers municipaux du Québec and women's groups such as the Fédération des femmes du Québec are calling for the gun registry to be maintained intact.

Why is this Prime Minister, who heads a minority government, turning a deaf ear to Quebeckers' legitimate requests?

[Dawson College, September 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday, we were all saddened by the tragedy that hit Dawson College in my riding,Westmount—Ville-Marie.

On behalf of the Liberal Party caucus, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family of the young woman who was killed. I also hope for a speedy recovery for all of the people who were hospitalized because of this unjustifiable and incomprehensible act.

I would also like to pay tribute to all involved in saving lives and helping those affected. The police officers, ambulance technicians on the scene, hospital staff, faculty, students, the student union of Dawson College, and the people of Concordia University lent a hand to the people of Dawson College in their time of need.

We hope and pray that those affected by the tragedy, as well as the Dawson community, will be able to find peace and harmony in the wake of this difficult event.

[National Defence, April 11th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister knows full well that the appearance of conflict of interest is just as important as conflict of interest itself.

Why not simply acknowledge the situation?

[National Defence, April 11th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, when the Conservatives unveiled their defence platform, their defence critic at the time identified two of his clients that could obtain contracts with the armed forces. Today, as Minister of Defence, he has responsibility for files involving companies he once lobbied for.

Why has the Prime Minister not prohibited this sort of practice in the accountability act?

[Canada-U.S. Border, April 7th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, even the Canadian Urban Transit Association disagrees with that.

American politicians have announced their intention to fight legislation requiring people to show a passport when crossing the border with Canada. Unlike American senators, our Prime Minister simply threw in the towel in Cancun.

He simply cut and ran.

Why should Canadians have to rely on American senators rather than their own Prime Minister to protect their interests?

[The Environment, April 7th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, we learned that the finance department presently concluded that the Conservatives' so-called environmental plan was ineffective and costly.

Will the minister admit that a tax credit is not an environmental plan and will the minister commit to an actual climate change plan like the one the Minister of International Trade was so proud to release last April?

[The Environment, April 7th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister refused to promise to respect Canada's international commitments to the Kyoto protocol. However, a representative of the Minister of the Environment said that the government did not intend to withdraw from the protocol. There is utter confusion about the government's intentions.

I am asking once again today whether the government will respect Canada's signature with regard to the Kyoto protocol.