Claude Gravelle

[Citizenship and Immigration, May 5th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, this is more bad news for francophone communities outside Quebec.

The president of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada has criticized the lack of measures to increase francophone immigration. The last time she appeared before the Standing Committee on Official Languages, Ms. Kenny even described the situation of francophone immigration outside Quebec as scandalous. She is asking the federal government to take drastic measures right away to avert disaster for the communities.

Will the government listen?

[Mining Industry, May 4th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, sustainable development of our resources can grow our economy while protecting the environment, but the Conservatives keep dropping the ball.

The Mining Association of Canada is calling out the Conservatives for ignoring their duty to consult with first nations. In fact, the CEO said, “I think we are doing more of the consulting than they are”.

When will the Conservatives stop ignoring the potential of sustainable development? When will they stop ignoring their duty to consult and start living up to their responsibilities?

[Mining Industry, May 4th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, a number of mining companies have projects that would create excellent jobs here in Canada and that are also environmentally friendly.

Unfortunately, the Conservative government is doing nothing to help them. The president and chief executive officer of the Mining Association of Canada called out the government for ignoring its duty to consult with first nations. He even said that his organization consults first nations more than the government.

Why is the government undermining the efforts of developers and why does it not do more to help them get their projects off the ground?

[Petitions, May 1st, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to rise again in the House to present more petitions on my private member's bill, Bill C-356. I have 32 pages, some of them double-sided, of signatures from hundreds of people from my riding of Nickel Belt, Verner, Field, St. Charles, Cache Bay, North Bay, Sudbury, Guelph and other parts of Ontario.

The petitioners ask the government to support Bill C-356, which calls on the Minister of Health to help implement the national strategy on dementia.

[Tourism, April 30th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of State for Tourism shocked francophone communities outside Quebec when he said that they want unlimited amounts of money to meet their needs.

Instead of scorning francophones outside Quebec, he should listen to them. He would learn that his government's cuts are preventing them from providing adequate services. There is no mention whatsoever of francophones in the budget.

Will the minister ever understand that francophone communities need support, not scorn?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, April 20th, 2015]

With regard to government funding: what is the total amount allocated for fiscal year 2013-2014 within the constituency of Nickel Belt, specifying each department, agency, initiative and amount?

[Nadia Bouillon, March 30th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to pay tribute to Nadia Bouillon from Chelmsford who won a gold medal in solo women’s ice dance at the Special Olympics in Prince George, British Columbia.

A member of the Walden Figure Skating Club, Nadia has been skating since she was eight years old and says she enjoys the hard work that it takes to compete at this level.

Most importantly, Nadia tells us that she skates to have fun and do the best she can. She enjoys travelling to competitions and making new friends with other athletes.

Nadia’s success is rooted community engagement and the determination it takes to overcome obstacles.

I am sure all members will join me in congratulating Nadia and her parents Paul and Lynn, along with her coach Maxine Connolly and everyone who makes the Walden Figure Skating Club successful.

Great job Nadia.

[CBC/Radio-Canada, March 27th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives do not understand anything. The elimination of 244 jobs means the loss of one-quarter of all jobs back home in northern Ontario. It means that 25% of all jobs are being cut.

Franco-Ontarians need French-language television and radio services.

Will the minister stop gutting our public broadcaster and finally reinvest in Radio-Canada?

[National Strategy for Dementia Act, March 13th, 2015]

I thank my colleague for that excellent question.

This bill was supposed to be presented in the House three weeks ago. The Minister of Health asked me to delay it until today so we could negotiate. We have negotiated, and I have here seven pages of amendments that were agreed to. All of the amendments that the Minister of Health wanted have been agreed to.

I am going to talk about one amendment. The Conservatives wanted to change the name of the bill, “an act respecting a national strategy for dementia”, to “an act respecting a pan-Canadian strategy for dementia”.

I do not care what they call it; I do not think the patients care what they call it, nor do the doctors or the caregivers. They can call it whatever they want, but do something.

[National Strategy for Dementia Act, March 13th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, these people are indeed doing a very good job, but they need help. They need guidance. They need to be eligible for employment insurance. They need a lot of things and the government could do a lot for them.