House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2006, with 55% of the vote.
Afghanistan November 29th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, all rhetoric aside, will the Prime Minister agree that re-establishing the necessary balance between the military and humanitarian aspects of the mission in Afghanistan is crucial to counteracting Afghans' disillusionment with the international community and the Afghan central government?
Afghanistan November 29th, 2006
NATO member states have confirmed they will maintain their military presence in Afghanistan. However, the humanitarian aspect of this operation seems to have been largely forgotten at the conference.
Can the Prime Minister tell us how he tried to convince his allies to discuss the humanitarian aspect of the NATO mission in Afghanistan during the summit?
Longueuil Municipal Retirees November 27th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the Longueuil municipal retirees association is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week.
The association's more than 260 members work to ensure retirees' well-being by offering help and organizing various activities to improve their quality of life.
Those of us living in large cities too often forget that there are many people devoted to improving their communities and promoting their municipalities. Without their invaluable contribution, our society would be significantly poorer.
Today I would like to pay tribute to all of the people who have watched Longueuil grow, who have contributed to its success and who have served its population for many years.
I would like to thank them for their commitment over the years and say how proud I am to represent them in the House of Commons.
Foreign Affairs November 21st, 2006
Mr. Speaker, as chair of the Middle East Refugee Working Group, Canada is in a privileged position to propose solutions to the humanitarian crisis in Palestinian territory.
If the European Union was able to set up a temporary process to get humanitarian aid to Palestine without going through Hamas, what is stopping Canada from using its privileged position to do the same?
Foreign Affairs November 21st, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the Palestinian population is already in a hopeless situation that became even worse with the election of Hamas, since humanitarian aid is no longer arriving at its intended destination.
Could the Prime Minister not promote an international conference that would begin implementing a structure to allow humanitarian aid to get to the Palestinian people?
Quebec International Solidarity Days November 8th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow there will be three major events taking place in Quebec that address the issues of global poverty and promises for development in the new millennium.
The goal of the Quebec International Solidarity Days, which will continue until November 19, is to promote solidarity and commitment to a more just world among the public.
A highlight of this 10th annual event will be the launch of the first États généraux de la coopération et de la solidarité internationales in Quebec, which will provide an opportunity to examine what has been done and think about what remains to be done, and most importantly how to do it.
Montreal will also host the Millennium Promise Conference, an international event that will bring together people from all walks of life who share the objective of improving the lives of children and of people living in extreme poverty.
I will be taking part in this important conference and I would like to take this opportunity to urge the Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages to demonstrate a sense of humanity and do something concrete for the most disadvantaged members of our society. The federal government must immediately stand up and be counted, by significantly increasing the development assistance budget.
Afghanistan October 31st, 2006
Mr. Speaker, despite what the minister has said, according to the United Nations Development Fund for Women, 65% of the widows in Kabul see suicide as the only option to get rid of their miseries and desolation.
Is this not a strong indication that we have to make changes in what Canada is doing and significantly expand the humanitarian aspect of our contribution in Afghanistan?
Afghanistan October 31st, 2006
Mr. Speaker, in her report on Radio-Canada yesterday, Céline Galipeau revealed the absolutely horrible situation that some Afghan women are living in, in a supposedly pacified region of Afghanistan. Some of them are choosing to set themselves on fire to escape their tragic lives.
Did the minister responsible for CIDA become aware of this horror when she travelled to Afghanistan and does she intend to propose a plan to her government for intervening to relieve this terrible human misery?
Arms Trade October 23rd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, on October 3, I asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs about the actions of a number of Canadian companies that have been circumventing existing treaties to sell military equipment in its component parts.
The minister replied that he supported in principle a comprehensive and legally binding conventional arms treaty that would control the sale of this type of equipment.
Other than supporting it in principle, can the minister give us a concrete idea of what Canada plans to do to make such a treaty a reality?
Gun Control October 3rd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the minister is well aware that arms traffickers are getting around existing treaties by selling parts that are ultimately used to build weapons and military equipment.
Does the government intend to cooperate on putting in place a treaty that covers such a use of parts?