Caroline St-Hilaire

[Iraq, February 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, very soon, the Government of Canada could commit us to armed conflict in Iraq. Since the House will not be sitting for the next two weeks, there should be a process in place by which to recall the members if needed.

Will the government agree that it must consult the House and allow it to vote on this important question before Canada sends soldiers to a war in Iraq?

[Peace, February 26th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, not long ago there was a march for peace in my riding, in which students and teachers from a dozen elementary schools in Longueuil took part.

To show their support, students from Félix-Leclerc elementary school from grades 2 through 6 created poignant posters, cards and messages for peace.

All of nine years old, Raphaëlle Bouchard presented me with these remarkable projects that are symbols of hope, asking me to voice their concerns to the Prime Minister to make him aware of the type of society in which they want to live, and their fears of an impending war.

As a mother of young children, I must say that the social conscience demonstrated by this peaceful protest and the concrete actions taken by these young people had a profound effect on me. As their representative here in the House of Commons, I am happy to be their spokesperson and to tell them that I stand with them in their call for peace.

[Iraq, February 14th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said yesterday that any action against Iraq should be taken within the framework of the United Nations.

What will Canada's response be if the United States decides to act unilaterally, as it recently threatened to do?

[Iraq, February 14th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, while the inspectors are presenting a new report to the Security Council, the international community fears that the United States will act unilaterally outside the framework of the United Nations.

Since the Prime Minister did not do so yesterday in Chicago, can the Deputy Prime Minister promise this House that there is absolutely no way that Canada will be part of any unilateral action by the U.S.?

[Broadcasting Act and Income Tax Act, February 12th, 2003]

moved for leave to introduce C-355, An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and the Income Tax Act (closed-captioned programming).

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to amend the Broadcasting Act to require broadcasters to provide closed captions for their video programming.

We are also asking that the Income Tax Act be amended to allow a tax deduction for broadcasters for the purchase of closed-caption technology.

As 10% of the population lives with hearing problems, this is a very important issue.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Income Tax Act, February 12th, 2003]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-354, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (child care expenses).

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to introduce my bill to amend the Income Tax Act in order to allow families in which one of the spouses operates a business or is self-employed and has a low income to deduct child care expenses on the income tax return of the taxpayer with the higher income.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Iraq, February 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday President Bush said “The game is over”.

Given the obvious impatience of the American president to go to war, should the government's role not be to support the only other remaining avenue to peace, which is to promote to the maximum the inspection process currently under way?

[Iraq, February 7th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, many of us share the UN Secretary General's belief that war can be avoided. There is still room for hope and for peace. It is vital that all possible resources be made available to the inspectors so that Iraq may be disarmed through peaceful means.

Will the Minister of Foreign Affairs admit that these are the two fundamental objectives his government must pursue?

[Charlie Biddle, February 5th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, Quebec has lost one of its pioneering jazz musicians. Charlie Biddle, the famous bass player, passed away yesterday at the age of 76.

His body of work was prodigious. His passion and dedication in setting a style that reflected his roots were unequalled. His love of Quebec and music, and his pride in expressing his art in his adopted home all contributed to feeding our hunger for jazz and also helped Montreal earn its international reputation as a centre for jazz.

This great musician whose fingers pulsed with emotion sent shivers down our spines for more than a half century and became one of the jazz greats. In recognition of his exceptional contribution to Quebec's music scene, he was awarded the Oscar Peterson Award and on January 18 he received the Calixa Lavallée Award for music, given annually by the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste, from the Premier of Quebec, Mr. Bernard Landry.

On behalf of my colleagues from the Bloc Quebecois, I offer my sincere condolences to his family, his many friends as well as all his fans.

Thank you Charlie Biddle for having been Quebec's ambassador of jazz. Your music will play on in our hearts.

[Health, January 31st, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the real reason accountability to Ottawa is so important is because the federal government's true intention is to impose Canada-wide standards for health, as a senior government advisor was quoted as saying in Le Devoir .

Will the Prime Minister admit that the ultimate goal of the federal government is uniform healthcare, regardless of Quebec's specific healthcare needs?