Blake Richards

[2010 Paralympic Winter Games, March 16th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a golden day for Canada, as our Canadian athletes won two gold medals and a bronze at the Paralympics.

The people of Canmore, in my riding of Wild Rose, are very proud of their own Brian McKeever, who won Canada's first ever winter Paralympic gold medal on home soil. Brian won gold in the 20-kilometre, visually impaired cross-country ski race, along with his brother, Robin McKeever, who acts as his race guide.

Our second gold was won by Lauren Woolstencroft, of North Vancouver, in women's standing slalom. Lauren is a four-time gold medallist and the reigning world champion in slalom, giant slalom, downhill and super G.

We are also proud of Karolina Wisniewska, who took the bronze in the women's standing slalom. Karolina, who lives in Vancouver, is now a seven-time Paralympic medallist.

On behalf of the people of Wild Rose and all Canadians, I wish our Paralympians continued success at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

[Petitions, December 8th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions all on the same topic of euthanasia and assisted suicide.

A number of my constituents and others from across Alberta are concerned and want to protect the most vulnerable in our society. The petitioners are calling on Parliament to uphold section 241 of the Criminal Code without any changes in order to ensure that Parliament does not sanction or allow the counselling, aiding or abetting of suicide.

[Petitions, December 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to have the opportunity to rise in the House today to present two petitions from my residents on my riding.

The first petition is signed by residents of the city of Airdrie, mainly parishioners of the St. Paul's Catholic Church. The second petition is signed by residents throughout my riding, from places like Carstairs, Didsbury, Olds, Exshaw and Crossfield, as well as a number of other residents of Alberta and many other provinces.

The petitioners are quite concerned, as I am, about the bill presently before Parliament, which seeks to legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Therefore, the petitioners call upon Parliament to retain section 241 of the Criminal Code, without any changes, in order to ensure that Parliament not sanction or allow the counselling, aiding or abetting of suicide.

[Petitions, November 24th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise to present a petition today from a number of constituents throughout my riding, from places such as Cochrane, Bearspaw, Water Valley, Olds and Airdrie to a number of other Alberta communities, such as Calgary, Beaverlodge and Grand Prairie.

These petitioners share my concern about the bill currently before Parliament that seeks to legalize assisted suicide. They also have concerns about euthanasia. The petitioners are calling upon Parliament to retain section 241 of the Criminal Code without changes to ensure that Parliament does not sanction or allow the counselling, aiding or abetting of suicide.

[The Economy, November 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it has been a difficult year for many Canadians. While the global recession began outside Canada's borders, we have not been immune. Our Conservative government has been working hard to ensure that Canada exits the recession even stronger than when we entered it. It is working and the world is noticing.

Could the finance minister please inform the members of the House what the OECD said about Canada's economy today?

[Justice, October 30th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, our government believes the rights of criminals should not come before the rights of victims and law-abiding Canadians.

Canadians lose faith in the criminal justice system when they feel that the punishment does not fit the crime. That is why, this week, our government tabled Bill C-54 to impose consecutive sentences for multiple murderers, ensuring that the punishment fits the severity of their crimes. Canadians can rest assured knowing that victims and the families of murder victims remain a top priority for this government.

I am proud of the good work our government has done to make communities safer for law-abiding Canadians, in spite of the constant obstruction of opposition members who pretend they are tough on crime but whose actions do not match their words.

Canadians know they can count on this government, under the leadership of this Prime Minister, to continue to stand up for victims and their rights and the rights of law-abiding Canadians.

[Petitions, October 23rd, 2009]

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure today to present petitions from all across western Canada, with hundreds of signatures from citizens calling for greater freedom of use for natural health products.

[Truth in Sentencing Act, October 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to see that Bill C-25, our Conservative government's truth in sentencing legislation, was finally passed unamended by the Senate and has received royal assent.

Could the Minister of International Trade please tell the House what this will mean for Canadians?

[Canada Grain Act, October 8th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I do not know how I could possibly begin to even address that in 30 seconds.

I thank the hon. member for his good work on behalf of farmers. I know many of my colleagues on this side have the best interests of farmers in mind.

He gave one example of the opposition parties choosing to not have the best interests of farmers in mind. I wish they would follow the example of this Conservative government, show what is in the best interests of farmers and do what is right for them.

[Canada Grain Act, October 8th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the question. I appreciate the way he tries to work together with members on the agriculture committee. I find the hon. member to be a very reasonable and fair person. Unfortunately, when it comes to his ideology, he is dead wrong.

I look forward to the opportunity, at the agriculture committee, to debate and discuss this and to bring in producers and hear from them as well. If the member were to withdraw this motion, we could have that debate at the agriculture committee. I would welcome that opportunity. I know farmers would welcome that opportunity as well.

It is very unfortunate that he has chosen to bring this motion forward. I would love to have that opportunity to debate this with him at the agriculture committee and to have our producers come in and share their thoughts as well. I would encourage that.