Cathy McLeod

[Sustaining Canada's Economic Recovery Act, November 1st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I was disturbed to hear comments regarding the comprehensive strategy to deal with the horrific incidents and missing aboriginal women across this country, particularly in the riding and the province where I live.

The strategy is comprehensive. On one hand, he says there is not enough money; on the other, he says they will never even be able to spend it this year.He cannot have it both ways.

Can the member actually say that it is not important for the policemen to have the tools to find these women? Is the funding not important, the funding that is going to the groups, for the awareness materials, and for pilot projects in the communities?

Again, it is a comprehensive strategy, and I think he needs to speak to the good work it will do for the missing aboriginal women and their families.

[Sustaining Canada's Economic Recovery Act, November 1st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, in my riding of Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, we have been particularly hard hit by the global economic recession. We have a forestry-dependent community and a cattle industry and they are truly struggling. The message I am hearing from my constituents is that absolutely education is important, all these things are important, but we need to find ways to keep our economy vibrant to provide the jobs that provide the tax base that would enable us to do many of the things we truly want to do.

My question at this point is, will focusing on jobs, economic growth and economic opportunity not actually lead to the ability to provide some of the support that the hon. member spoke about?

[Sustaining Canada's Economic Recovery Act, November 1st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I listened to the member with great interest. Perhaps he does not know about the homelessness partnering strategy. Of course, I realize that his party did not read the budget and voted against it. In my riding, extensive work is being done through that strategy. It supports everything from food banks to the development of low-income housing.

This is solidly in the budget. Perhaps he could speak to how he should actually support our budget, because we are doing many things on this issue that he cares about.

[Petitions, November 1st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, as we know, many people who suffer with MS look to some treatment that has been in its preliminary stages in other countries.

My petitioners have requested that they have some suggestions for the Minister of Health in terms of how we could facilitate moving forward in terms of offering hope again for those who suffer with MS.

[Veterans Affairs, November 1st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to pay tribute to a former member of Parliament for Kamloops as well as a war hero, 93-year-old Don Cameron.

Don is presently on a mission to ensure that the death of every fellow veteran throughout Kamloops is recognized. Working in collaboration with the local legion, Veterans Affairs and officials from the last post fund, Don is heading up an effort to find unmarked veterans' burial plots and ensure that a proper headstone is in place.

This has proven to be a difficult task, with Don spending hours every day combing through newspaper obituary notices, looking for mention of military service or looking for familiar names. He then presents the names to the local cadets who have agreed to search the maps provided by the local cemeteries to detail which plots are marked and which are not.

This kind of painstaking work speaks to the character of Don Cameron. There are not too many people today who would take on this difficult task with such selfless determination.

On behalf of the constituents of Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, we thank Don for his exemplary efforts.

[The Economy, October 26th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that Canada's economic action plan is delivering results for Canadians. Our investment in 23,000 projects has created over 420,000 jobs. Canadians are working.

Just last week in the community of Clearwater I chatted with a number of workers who had been impacted by the mill shutdown. They were so pleased to have employment with a community adjustment fund project.

Because of our government, Canada is leading the recovery with an economic and fiscal record that is stronger than other industrialized nations. While other countries struggle, Canada has been creating jobs.

The economic action plan is protecting the interests of Canadian families.

[Fairness at the Pumps Act, October 25th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest to the example that the hon. colleague across the floor gave in terms of how the Competition Bureau actually worked. It really created a solution to what was a big issue in Quebec.

We do have a Competition Bureau. So I would ask the member this. Is it also not very important for his constituents to be comfortable and confident when they fill up at the pumps that they are actually getting what they pay for? This is, of course, what the bill is intended to do.

The Competition Bureau did an excellent job in terms of the member's issue, and now there will be an added comfort in terms of the accuracy at the pump.

[Status of Women, October 20th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday at the status of women committee, the Leader of the Opposition once again chose show over substance. Members of the committee work long and hard to ensure that women's rights are addressed seriously, respectfully and honestly. Yesterday members of the committee were insulted that the Liberal leader used his private member's bill as an excuse to play politics with women's rights or, as the National Post said, “just window-dressing”.

Can the President of the Treasury Board tell the House why we think women deserve better?

[Brain Injury, October 19th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to pay tribute to an outstanding couple who have revolutionized the way Kamloopsians and Canadians think about the effects of brain injuries on survivors and their loved ones.

Dr. Gur Singh has been a leader in the Kamloops medical community and his enormous contributions have brightened the lives of countless individuals. As a neurosurgeon, Dr. Singh witnessed first-hand the devastating impact that brain injuries had on both individuals and their families.

Recognizing that more must be done and with the committed partnership of his wife, Manju, they have spearheaded the annual Gur Singh invitational charity golf tournament since 2003 and an annual dinner, appropriately named “Celebrating Survival”, starting in 2007.

Over $500,000 raised in seven years has enabled the Kamloops Brain Injury Association to maintain and increase the services it provides to brain injury survivors and their families in the Kamloops and surrounding areas.

We thank Dr. and Mrs. Singh for their enormous contribution to our community and in support of brain injury prevention, treatment and care.

[Ending Early Release for Criminals and Increasing Offender Accountability Act, October 18th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, we all know that as bills go to committee there are things that do need a bit of adjustment.

I would like my colleague to highlight why this bill is going to be so important for Canadians and so important for victims.