Brenda Chamberlain

[Wage Earner Protection Program Act, October 5th, 2005]

Madam Speaker, since I have been in the House as long as the hon. member, I know he was a member of all those parties.

It is my understanding that my colleagues across the way will seek to introduce numerous amendments to the legislation. I say that it is good to see them coming aboard with the government legislation. It is a step in the right direction, both with this legislation and on working together for all Canadians.

My community of Guelph is also home to the University of Guelph and therefore another aspect of the legislation is particularly appealing to me. As a university town, a great many of our young people, plus a great many more who come from across Canada, take the opportunity to attend our fine university and then start out on the road to build a life for themselves in our beautiful community.

Therefore my staff and I are very familiar with the challenges that student debt presents. I am very glad to see that the legislation would allow student loan debt to be eligible for discharge in bankruptcy if seven years have passed since the former student terminated his or her studies. It offers greater flexibility for those young Canadians who may have hit a bump in the road of life. Most students want to pay off their debt but sometimes this may not be possible for one reason or another. I am glad that we are creating additional options for Canadians in financial difficulty. I know my colleagues from the NDP would like this passage of time requirement to be further reduced and this too merits further consideration in committee.

I also like it that the legislation puts forward reforms to the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act. This would help companies in difficulty to avoid putting employees out of work altogether by providing additional options and assistance to restructure and return to profitability. This, too, is a good thing.

Many members have made excellent points in the House and I am sure many more will be made in committee. However I want to indicate that the legislation is a good step and there seems to be interest and support within the House for the legislation. I hope we can move forward swiftly on this as it is a positive change for Canada and for Canadians. I would ask all members from all parties to move it forward.

[Wage Earner Protection Program Act, October 5th, 2005]

Madam Speaker, I really enjoyed a lot of the remarks made by the member for Kootenay—Columbia. I appreciate the support for this legislation. It is important legislation.

I rise in the House today to speak to Bill C-55, an act to establish the wage earner protection program act, to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and to make amendments to other acts. The House has witnessed much good debate on this legislation already. I know it will continue in committee should the House see fit to send the bill there, and I feel very confident that it will.

I think all in the House would agree that this is a very important piece of legislation. It is the result of extensive consultations with Canadians and stakeholders all across this great country.

The bill's four main objectives are to encourage viable but financially troubled companies to restructure as an alternative to bankruptcy, to better protect workers' claims for unpaid wages and vacation pay, to make the bankruptcy system fairer and reduce abuse, and to improve the administration of that system. These objectives offer positive changes for businesses and employees alike. This will serve to help the continued strength of our economy.

I know full well the difficulty that people experience when a company is in financial difficulty. The turmoil people personally feel is hard on them and their families. They worry about their next paycheque and what will happen if worst comes to worst and their employer shuts down. That alone is very hard on families. Then begins the task of recovering the wages that other people owe them. It is not pleasant and a task many Canadians consider far too difficult. For those who do attempt it, far too often they find, quite frankly, that they are unsuccessful.

That is one of the reasons I support this bill. We are making workers' claims for unpaid wages and vacation pay a higher priority than secured creditors' claims in bankruptcy situations. Workers will benefit from a limited superpriority for unpaid wage claims up to $2,000. The people who need it most will be given increased priority.

This legislation also establishes the wage earner protection program. The responsibility for this program will be housed under the portfolio of my colleague from southwestern Ontario, the Minister of Labour. He is very familiar with the challenges facing hard-working Canadians. Quite frankly, I cannot think of a better minister to administer this program.

The minister has indicated that an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 workers in every workplace across this country in both federal and provincial jurisdictions are left with unpaid wages or reduced pensions due to employer bankruptcies in Canada. The wage earner protection program will for the first time in history provide workers with a guaranteed payment for unpaid wages up to $3,000. This is a good thing and I am proud that the government is acting.

I also like the fact that the government will recover a portion of the cost of this program by making claims against the employer's estate, thereby making it unnecessary for an employee to do so. I know that some of my colleagues in the New Democratic Party have questioned the sufficiency of only being able to draw $3,000 in back wages. I think that is a fair question and one which should be given further consideration in committee.

The minister indicated that the $3,000 figure represented approximately 97% of the usual amount of wages lost. If the committee has a reasonable recommendation of a different amount that members can support, I look forward to giving it every consideration. From the minister's remarks in the House, I would say that he does also.

I also know that my colleagues in the NDP have questions about the limited superpriority for wage claims up to $2,000. Here again I think that the committee has work to do. The minister has indicated that there is evidence to support this figure. I think the committee should see what this evidence is and should give that serious consideration also.

Concern over their pensions is another issue that many Canadians worry about when their employer goes bankrupt. I am glad to note that Bill C-55 addresses this too. Many workers rely on their company pensions for retirement. Faced with the loss of this retirement income, many would be put into severe financial difficulty. It is just not right that the pensions of those workers are sometimes used to pay other creditors instead of being returned to those who have paid into them. The proposed reforms would improve on this situation.

One of my colleagues from the reform alliance Conservative Party was concerned that these initiatives might relocate the burden from employers to government and that these initiatives might encourage companies facing potential bankruptcies to offload responsibilities to government. The government is aware of this possibility and has taken that into account in the legislation.

We are seeking to help those employees who have faced an unfortunate and unexpected event, not to shift the burden to the taxpayer or government. If the provisions within the legislation to this end are not sufficient, I am sure that the committee will come forward with additional recommendations.

[Petitions, October 5th, 2005]

Madam Speaker, the third petition I am presenting today has 800 signatures. The petitioners call upon Parliament to take steps to further protect Canadian children by strengthening Canada's laws on pornography.

[Petitions, October 5th, 2005]

Madam Speaker, the second petition I wish to present has over 125 signatures and is with regard to parental sponsorship applications. The petitioners call upon Parliament to ensure that current immigration application backlogs are cleared up, that immigration processing times are reduced, and that reasonable timelines for processing these applications be established.

[Petitions, October 5th, 2005]

Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to present three petitions signed by members of my community and Canadians across Canada.

The first petition has over 160 signatures and it calls for section 83 of the Criminal Code to be expanded to offer additional exemptions for all martial arts and all martial arts contests sanctioned by the relevant provincial athletic board or commission. A number of individuals involved in martial arts in my community have personally expressed to me the importance of such a change.

[Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, October 5th, 2005]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-426, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (growing or producing cannabis).

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my colleague, the member for Sarnia—Lambton, who has helped me with the bill.

I am pleased to rise in the House today to introduce a bill which seeks to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, something which I believe needs to be amended.

In my community, like in many others in Canada, there is an alarming growth in the number of large scale marijuana grow operations. While law enforcement officials are putting every effort into eliminating these operations to catch the individuals involved, they have expressed a great dismay to me that the courts do not seem to be giving these criminals adequate sentencing.

The purpose of the bill is to provide real sentences and real punishment for those convicted of growing or producing cannabis. It would provide a minimum sentence of imprisonment, along with a minimum fine for first time offenders, and greater punishment for repeat offenders.

I am introducing this bill because it is past time to get tough on these large scale grow ops. I believe that this bill would do just that, and I look to all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

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

[Pope John Paul II, April 19th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express the profound effect that the late Pope John Paul II had on my community.

Through his spiritual leadership and tireless efforts for peace around the world, Pope John Paul touched and inspired many Canadians of all faiths.

Thousands of members of my community have expressed their support and love for this great man through signing books of condolence located at my office and around the city. They respect and revere this man, particularly for his presence on the international stage, highlighting issues that desperately needed the world's attention.

I was fortunate to be in Vatican Square some years ago with thousands of others to receive a blessing from the late Pope. It was truly an amazing experience.

While we welcome today's election of Pope Benedict XVI, my community and I will always remember and celebrate the life of Pope John Paul II.

[Volunteerism, April 12th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, next week is National Volunteer Week when we recognize so many who donate their time to fellow Canadians.

I thank the thousands of volunteers in Guelph who do so much to better our community. Their generosity was overwhelming in response to the tsunami in South and Southeast Asia.

The Rotary Club and Valentini Hair Design hosted a cut-a-thon. Harcourt Memorial United Church staged a benefit show where many, including Robert Munsch, performed. The Guelph Storm Hockey Club and the Guelph Fire Department collected donations. Youth undertook action in their schools to help raise money. The local Red Cross alone received over $770,000 from thousands of individuals and businesses.

These fundraising efforts could not have occurred without so many generous volunteers. I congratulate them and thank them for all of their hard work.

[Contraventions Act, November 2nd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to be recorded as being opposed.

[Whistleblower Protection, April 1st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member sits on the committee. As he well knows, this piece of legislation is going to committee next week with the minister. Any amendments will happen there. The member will have ample opportunity for all kinds of input.