Cathy McLeod

[Alzheimer's Disease and Other Forms of Dementia, May 27th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague has articulated very well some of the important things that have already been done in terms of research and in terms of the minister working with the provinces and territories.

I guess I need to go back to the predominant difference between this motion and the well-intentioned bill that we voted on previously, which had its challenges. Could the member quickly rearticulate the real concerns that were in the bill and why this motion is much more appropriate for moving forward in partnership with the provinces?

[National Nursing Week, May 12th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, May 11 to May 17 is National Nursing Week, the week that encompasses International Nurses Day. Florence Nightingale was born 195 years ago today.

It is an honour for me to rise in the House to talk about the vital contributions that nurses make in the health and well-being of all Canadians. With more than 408,000 regulated nurses across Canada from coast to coast to coast, it is by far our largest group of health care providers.

The Canadian Nurses Association is the national professional voice for registered nurses. Its theme this year for National Nursing Week is “Nurses: With you every step of the way”. This emphasizes how important nurses are in all of our lives at every age and in all health situations. In fact, we could say that nurses are the backbone of our health care system, providing us with the attention and medical care that we need to live healthy, long lives. Nurses know that every day they will touch a life or a life will touch them. I thank all Canadian nurses.

[Health, May 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I find it a little ironic. This member was part of the government for 13 years. They did nothing. We have a motion in this House. We have moved forward. We have given $125,000 immediately, tax free, and we are committed to having a solution that is going to serve these victims into the future.

[Health, May 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the health minister has been working in good haste with the provinces to develop a pan-Canadian strategy. What is really important is the research that is going to be done that the federal government is responsible for. We have $1 billion in neuroscience since 2006. We have 400 research projects investigating dementia this year alone.

In partnership with the provinces and territories, we are moving. I believe it is an important issue and we need to get to some good solutions. Research is an important process forward.

[Health, May 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, we do agree that it is time, and that is why each survivor got $125,000 in an immediate tax-free payment. We are committed to providing ongoing support to them. There is $180 million that has been designated for ongoing support for fewer than 100 people. Of course, there is going to be an extraordinary medical assistance fund. Again, we are committed to doing the right thing and we are moving forward in due process and haste.

[Health, May 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, of course this tragic event from the 1960s reminds us how important drug safety is and, of course, there was deep pain and suffering inflicted on the thalidomide survivors. We cannot undo that pain and suffering, but what the government has done is provide a lump sum payment already. There is $125,000 tax free. We are in the process of negotiating the remainder, which is going to be $180 million for fewer than 100 survivors. That will ensure that they have ongoing yearly support. Of course, there is an extraordinary medical assistance fund that will also be available.

[Citizen Voting Act, May 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, we need to go back to my original comments where we looked at international jurisdictions and the processes that were in place in international jurisdictions. What we have here is a system that has been put in place that is going to ensure the integrity of our system and the opportunity for those Canadians who are living abroad.

Again, this is not by any means a piece of legislation that is unusual or outside what many other countries similar to Canada have done.

[Citizen Voting Act, May 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I find it a little ironic. On the one hand, we have the opposition saying there is not going to be enough time for Elections Canada to implement the changes and we need to move this rapidly so it is ready for the election in 2015. Then, on the other hand, we have the opposition saying not to move so fast, as we need to debate this.

Time allocation has given us a very important opportunity to ensure that the bill will move through the process that is required so that Elections Canada will have time to implement the changes and move forward in the 2015 election with some good, solid processes and structures in place that would not only ensure the integrity of our system but allow great opportunities for Canada and for Canadians to exercise their democratic rights.

[Citizen Voting Act, May 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, this is a really important bill. Elections Canada estimates there are approximately 40,000 non-citizens on the national register of electors, and the accuracy of the register is very important for the fairness and integrity of elections. Certainly, we must ensure that people who are registered to vote are Canadian citizens. The bill would help to create and maintain more direct communication between the non-resident voters and the specific electoral districts in which their votes are counted.

This is a very well structured and important bill for supporting those 40,000 folks who are currently living outside Canada in terms of their ability to exercise their democratic rights.

[Citizen Voting Act, May 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, although this is early in the process, we anticipate that it will move its way through committee. It is already, very importantly, signalling the structure and the mechanisms that would need to be in place. Obviously, the committee will be reviewing it in detail.

I have every confidence in Elections Canada and its ability to do what is required in terms of the appropriate structure and mechanisms. Certainly there are some pretty good signals about what those are going to be so it can start to do some planning now.