Andrew Cash

[Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, June 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have been listening with a lot of interest tonight to this debate, and it seems to me and to many of my colleagues on this side that the Conservatives are speaking out of both sides of their mouth. They want to tell Canadians that they are deeply against cluster munitions, as we are, and I believe most Canadians would be. We support the ban on cluster munitions, and yet we are concerned about the loophole they have put in the bill that would allow the Canadian government and the military to facilitate in some instances perhaps even the transit through Canadian territory by Canadian military assets of these munitions, which we are all in agreement should be banned.

How are Canadians to view the government's real commitment to this? What we see time and time again with the government is a lack of willingness to stand up for Canada and Canadian values on the world stage and consistent buckling under to the pressure of its friends south of the border.

[Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, June 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member put some of this debate into context.

I want to just underline, for those who are watching this at home and for some people who are in the House participating, that we support the Convention on Cluster Munitions. We just do not support making an exception to it, which appears to be the case in this bill.

We have to put this in context. The government decided not to run for a Security Council seat. It dragged its feet on the small arms control agreement. It pulled out of the UN anti-drought convention. Now it is including an exception to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

It is little wonder that we on this side of the House have some concerns. It is a matter of trust. The government plays fast and loose with people's trust. Therefore, we have serious concerns about this. I think these are real concerns. They are concerns that have been expressed by third parties.

I would like my hon. colleague to comment on some of this.

[Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, June 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I want to rise in defence of all musicians in the House.

Let us just bring it back to cluster munitions. We hear the government side blithely say that it supports the banning of cluster munitions. What I would like my hon. colleague from Winnipeg Centre to comment on is that if the government is so steadfastly in support of this treaty, which we are, why would the chief negotiator say in the media that he was removed from the job partly because of objections from senior U.S. officials to his aggressive stance in the talks?

That raises this question: who is driving the ship on foreign policy for Canada if the chief negotiator was removed because of complaints from the U.S. side? Could my colleague respond to this query?

[Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, June 11th, 2013]

I am going to rise on a point of order.

[Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, June 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the member asked what might have been a rhetorical question when he said that he did not know how the NDP could weigh in on this debate. I just wanted to remind my hon. colleague that our party was the only party in this House that opposed Canada's mission in Afghanistan. That position was supported by over 50% of the Canadian population.

Over four million Canadians voted for us in the last election. That is why we are here. That is why we have every right to debate this issue in the House.

The member said that the U.S. is perhaps in a different place than Canada on this treaty. Let us just put it in perspective. There are four billion cluster bombs stockpiled around the world. The United States has a quarter of them. They are not just in a different place; they are in a different universe.

What the member is trying to say to us tonight is that we do not have any right to question their position. We just have an obligation to listen and adhere to their position. We are saying here, and we are actually saying it very clearly, that we support the treaty lock, stock and barrel. We do not support a way in which our position in the world is somehow compromised by this clause on interoperability.

[Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, June 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have been listening to the debate with great attention. It reminded me of some conversations that I had in a previous career, where I was involved with some American vets who were trying to get support for a land mine ban. I was playing some shows in the United States, in my former life, and they told me “thank goodness for Canada” and “thank goodness for the independent voice right next to the United States”, which could actually send clear message to the world that there were people in North America who saw things differently.

I wonder if my hon. colleague from Toronto Centre might want to comment on the drift that we have seen consistently from the government vis-à-vis our place in the world.

[Library and Archives Canada, June 11th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is the government is taking public property and it is selling it back to Canadians at a profit. These documents belong to the people of Canada. They have already paid for them. However, if they want to have access to them, they will have to pay again.

The digitization plan at Library and Archives Canada is already under free-fall due to the minister's reckless cuts. These are his mistakes. Does he really think it is fair to make Canadians pay for them twice?

[Portugal Day, June 10th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of Portuguese immigration to Canada. Today, Portugal Day, I would like to reflect on some of the community's great accomplishments.

Many came in those early years with very little education but a burning desire to succeed. Today, Luso Canadians have successful businesses, created peaceful and tidy neighbourhoods, and have literally built much of the Toronto skyline. Their children are now teachers and academics, professionals of all sorts, skilled tradespeople, artists, athletes and great civil society leaders.

The Portuguese community in Canada is one of our great success stories as a nation. However, there is still much work to be done to strengthen our ties, which is why today I have tabled a motion urging the government to establish an agreement with Portugal that would allow Canadian youth to experience the vibrant life and culture of Portugal and would provide Portuguese youth with the same opportunity here.

Portuguese immigrants came to Canada escaping poverty and political oppression. They came to seek a better life, and in the process they have made life better for all Canadians.

[Member spoke in Portuguese as follows:]

Parabéns e feliz dia Portugal.

[Punjabi Heritage Month Act, May 29th, 2013]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-514, An Act to designate the month of April as Punjabi Heritage Month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill to designate the month of April as Punjabi heritage month.

Punjabis have been partners in building Canada for over 100 years. Punjabis have helped strengthen Canada's spirit of giving and generosity through significant contributions in the areas of arts and culture, language, business and sport, among others.

From the beat of the dhol and the festive spirit of baisakhi to the fast-placed sport of kabaddi, and the traditional meal of makki di roti and saag, Punjabis have established growing, vibrant and dynamic forms of cultural expression that are unique to the Punjabi-Canadian experience. New Democrats believe it is time to recognize the contributions of Punjabi Canadians.

The bill would give an opportunity for every Canadian to celebrate the accomplishments and culture of the Punjabi community, and designate every April in Canada as Punjabi heritage month.

I hope all members of the House will support this legislation.

[Member spoke in Punjabi and provided the following translation:]

The recognition of Punjabis, a proud moment for Canada.

[English]

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

[The Canadian Museum of History Act, May 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it has been a very interesting debate tonight, and we have heard many different opinions and sides of the issue. One that keeps coming up is that it will be great for Canadians in small towns and rural municipalities because they will be able to see some of this great repository of Canadian history, which is interesting.

I will read a quick report:

In a move that blindsided the Canadian Museums Association, the Conservative government cut $4.6 million from the museum assistance program...The reduction in funding was made without warning, without consultations with museums or the museums association [said the executive director of the CMA, John McAvity]...“This kind of funding is one of the hallmarks of a civilized society”... But small museums across the country will be left competing for a much smaller pot of money as a result of the cuts, he said. “This program has been inadequate [for quite some time now]....Now it's even more inadequate.”

If we are talking about funding for a tour of artifacts to small Canadian museums, we have already heard at the heritage committee how desperate these museums and archives are. The government has already cut the program that supports these small museums. How much is it going to cost and where is the money going to come from so that these small towns can access Canadian history as the member has described tonight?