Belinda Stronach

[Foreign Affairs, June 6th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, earlier today I met with Nazanin Afshin-Jam, the Canadian champion of the cause to prevent the execution of an 18-year-old girl in Iran.

Ms. Afshin-Jam has brought world attention to this case of a young woman sentenced to execution after being convicted of killing a man who attempted to rape her and her 16-year-old niece. She was 17 at the time. Recent information indicates that the sentence has been commuted and a new trial has been ordered.

Would the minister confirm that he has received assurances from the Iranian embassy of a new trial? Would he update the House on any other developments?

[The Environment, May 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps the minister of improved wait times could answer this: Canadians with respiratory problems, including seniors and children, are being left to fend for themselves this summer when smog season begins.

The government has gutted key Liberal programs to reduce air pollution and smugly promises that it has a plan to clean up the environment.

It has now been 100 days and counting and we have not seen anything yet. Will the government admit that it has no plan?

[Health, May 18th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the government has failed to address the issue of wait times in its first 100 days in office. All we have heard are vague promises and a budget with no money for them.

This is in contrast to the Liberal plan which put $5 billion on the table to address this issue. Canadians are still waiting for something, anything, to reduce wait times.

If this is still one of its top five priorities, when will the government act?

[Grain Transportation, May 11th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, a Canadian Transportation Agency report, commissioned by the previous Liberal government, shows that selling grain hopper cars to the Farmer Rail Car Coalition would save farmers millions of dollars annually and would give them a respected commercial role.

Why did the Minister of Transport renegade on a deal to transfer the hopper cars to the Farmer Rail Car Coalition, a deal that would give farmers the respect they deserve and a financial break?

[Grain Transportation, May 11th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, a Canadian Transportation Agency report--

[Transportation, May 2nd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, almost 100 Canadians are killed annually in train accidents, and reflectors on the sides of trains are good but installed over 10 years is not the answer.

I hope the government will not use today's budget just to reposition itself for re-election but instead will invest in infrastructure renewal to save lives.

Just two weeks ago the Minister of Transport indicated publicly that he would not rule out calling a public inquiry into rail safety. When will the minister be calling that inquiry?

[Human Resources and Skills Development, November 28th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the government has recognized that we can make improvements to compassionate care to reach more Canadians.

I am pleased to inform the House that we have made significant improvements to the compassionate care benefit. The benefit will be expanded beyond immediate family members. Starting next January, Canadians will now be able to designate a person of their choice to care for them. This means not only temporary income support, but also job security. This is great news for Canadians.

[Employment Insurance, November 25th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, let me assure the House that all available employees are assigned to the processing of claims to minimize the wait times and to ensure cheques go to those employees who have filed for EI claims.

[Employment Insurance, November 25th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the aim of Service Canada is to provide better service to more Canadians in more communities. Over the next 18 months we are going to be doubling our points of service across the country from 320 points of service to over 600 points of service. This should mean better service to Canadians and more resources to better deal with those backlogs.

[Security Committee of Parliamentarians Act, November 24th, 2005]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-81, An Act to establish the National Security Committee of Parliamentarians.

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