Celina Caesar-Chavannes

[Canada Elections Act, February 9th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, the member seemed to focus quite a bit on the Liberals. This particular piece of legislation is focusing on all parties, making sure that we have openness and transparency across parties in terms of fundraising.

Could the member share her thoughts on the legislation requiring political leaders, in particular, to have increased openness and transparency as related to their fundraising activities?

[Business of Supply, February 6th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I am going to follow up on the last question and the fact that many constituents are not focusing on this issue.

One of the things that they are focusing on in Durham region, which my riding of Whitby is in, is the economy. Now we have an unemployment rate of 5.6% in that region. It has not been that way in 15 years.

Is my hon. colleague facing the same sort of questions at the door and commendation of our government's hard work?

[International Development, February 6th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, our government strongly condemns female genital mutilation, FGM, and other forms of violence, which affects 200 million women and girls worldwide.

I would like to thank my colleague from London North Centre for his question and his advocacy around a human rights issue.

Today, in Benin, the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie announced $3 million towards a project that will reduce FGM and other forms of gender-based violence.

I want to emphasize that women's rights are human rights, and we will continue to support education and awareness that prevent FGM and support survivors.

[Black History Month, February 1st, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, as we launch Black History Month, I would like to draw to the attention of the House a remarkable piece of literature by Robyn Maynard entitled Policing Black Lives. This book chronicles the experience of black people in Canada in a raw, exposed, and truthful place. It documents the slavery of black people in Canada, the harsh economic and social realities we faced post-slavery, and the institution on systemic practices and policies that continue to undermine us today.

Because the experience of black Canadians is seen to be not as bad as in the United does not make it okay. In fact, it is this notion that has led to the generalized erasure of the black experience in education and the Canadian proclivity for ignoring racial disparities.

I invite everyone in the chamber and across the country to learn more about black history in Canada, and this book will help them do so.

[Criminal Code, December 11th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, I think we could all agree on the merits of the bill, and I do appreciate the member's insight when it comes to talking about the legalities. I was somewhat disappointed that at the opening of his speech, the member took the opportunity to be partisan and to attack our government, particularly on this very sensitive and important bill as it relates to consent and victims' rights.

In this debate, we have heard members on both sides of the House talk about how the bill would give women the confidence to come forward. We have demonstrated our capacity to work together in the House. We unanimously passed a motion put forward by the interim opposition leader.

I wonder what the member would say to women in his riding about the benefits of the bill as it pertains to them specifically.

[Criminal Code, December 11th, 2017]

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her always insightful comments around this piece of legislation.

I am wondering if she could provide some additional insight. As she well knows, over the last little while there have been many campaigns in which women and girls have expressed their “#Me Too” in terms of sexual violence. I want to make sure that constituents in my riding of Whitby are clear as to how this piece of legislation would allow women to more readily find confidence in the justice system to ensure that when their complaints are brought forward, they are actually taken seriously and there is justice for those victims.

[Criminal Code, December 11th, 2017]

Madam Speaker, the hon. member spoke to the fact that specifically with section 176 the opposition and Canadians at large pushed to ensure that the section was kept and not only kept but that it was expanded to include not just clergymen, but also the officiants, to include other spiritual leaders. Therefore, I wonder if the hon. colleague could speak to the fact that even though this place might seem very contentious and that we might duel in here, quite often we are very much amenable to taking advice from opposition parties and being a government that is very open to listening to great advice from our opposition members as well as from all Canadians.

[Criminal Code, December 11th, 2017]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his very thorough and thought-out remarks.

Many people in my riding of Whitby, and I am sure in my colleague's riding of Edmonton, and across the country were very much seized with the #MeToo campaign and the notion that women have come forward, but that a number of their complaints have either not been followed through or the women have not received the adequate justice they need.

Could my hon. colleague explain to my constituents, as well as his, and to all Canadians how this piece of legislation and the amendments brought forward could strengthen our current legislation and allow women to feel they will have justice at the end of the day?

[Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act, December 8th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, subsequent to the apology, we have read Maclean's reports about Lucie Laperle. She talked about how important and poignant the apology was for her, as a recognition of what she has been through and the trauma she has had over her lifetime. As we listened to the Prime Minister give the apology and we watched Lucie in the gallery, it was a powerful moment.

Could the hon. member tell us what this apology means, not just for today but for future generations of Canadians in this country?

[Salaries Act, December 7th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, as I said in my speech, the Minister of Status of Women, the Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, the Minister of Small Business and Tourism, the Minister of Science, and the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie are full ministers.