Costas Menegakis

[Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act, February 17th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the minister for her very eloquent, but also very passionate, speech. I know how important this issue is to her, not only as a parliamentarian but also as part of her lifelong work to assist women and girls who have unfortunately found themselves in these very difficult situations.

The minister spoke about the importance of not allowing these barbaric cultural practices to happen in our country. I wonder if she could elaborate a little on the importance and significance of educating and empowering these young girls and women so they know what avenues they have—and the bill provides many of those—and can seek some assistance when they find themselves in very difficult situations. These are often very personal family situations where, indeed, it is a cultural practice to force violence on a young girl because she did not heed what the parents promised the day she was born. I wonder if she could elaborate a little on the education and empowerment aspect of the bill.

[Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act, February 17th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I want to say that I am delighted to hear that the Liberal Party will be supporting this piece of legislation, although I have some concerns regarding some of the content of the member's speech this morning.

I see quite a significant flip-flop in the Liberals' position on the name “barbaric”, as the Liberal leader took exception to the word “barbaric”. However, I am happy to see that the Liberals have now seen the light that these practices are indeed barbaric and are not taking exception to that word.

I want to talk about the tie the member tried to make between the phrases “barbaric cultural practices” and “cultural communities”. They are two completely different things. A cultural practice that would impose violence and possibly death on a young lady because she does not concede to what the family decided the day she was born is indeed a barbaric cultural practice. Does the member not see that there is no correlation between that and specific communities? This fearmongering and trying to point to specific cultural communities is way off base.

[Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act, February 17th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the member's intervention on this bill. I take exception to and would like clarification on something she said. She takes exception to the term “barbaric culture”. She has no problem with the word “barbaric”, but takes issue with the word “culture”, thinking that somehow that speaks to a specific cultural group, which the bill does not.

Within some families in specific groups, if a 15-year-old girl is forced into a marriage against her will and if she rebels against it and says that it is not consensual, that she does not want that, she is stoned, or killed, or defamed in some way because she somehow has brought disrespect to the family. Is that not a barbaric culture? This is a cultural tool that is used in some groups to resolve an issue they think has brought disrespect to the family.

[Public Safety, February 4th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, I was privileged to welcome to Richmond Hill the right hon. Prime Minister for a historic anti-terrorism announcement to help protect Canadians here at home.

The anti-terrorism act, 2015, further exemplifies our government's commitment to keep our streets and communities safe, including from those who would perpetrate terror on the Canadian people. With this legislation, law enforcement agencies would have additional tools to detect and apprehend terrorists and to keep pace with evolving threats.

My constituents congratulate this government for taking such strong action. Carol Jean, from Richmond Hill, wrote that “Our PM is courageous.... He will not let Canadians down and this [legislation] is needed to protect innocent lives”. Shawn said, “On anti-terrorism, we finally have a PM that gets it, and does what he says”.

I am proud to be part of a government that is committed to protecting the safety and security of all Canadians.

[Citizenship and Immigration, December 12th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I believe I have been very clear so far today, and I will say it again. To suggest that we are focusing on only one group of people is categorically false. That said, we have seen countless examples in recent years of people being persecuted exactly for and because of their religious beliefs. We will prioritize persecuted ethnic and religious minorities, those who demonstrate they are at risk, and we will not apologize for that.

What is shameful is that the NDP continues to vote against every measure we bring to this House.

[Citizenship and Immigration, December 12th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the member has been sitting in the House and heard me respond to that question just before. To suggest that we are only going to focus on one group of people is categorically false.

That member and his party should reflect on their actions in the House. They vote against every measure we have put in place that would actually assist these very vulnerable people around the world. It is shameful that they are behaving like this in the House.

[Citizenship and Immigration, December 12th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have heard the heart-wrenching stories of minorities being persecuted in Iraq and Syria. They are being persecuted because they are ethnic and religious minorities. To suggest that we are only going to focus on one group of people is categorically false.

That said, we have seen countless examples in recent years of people being persecuted for their religious beliefs. We will prioritize persecuted ethnic and religious minorities, those at demonstrated risk, and we will make no apologies for that.

[Infrastructure, December 11th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, Richmond Hill residents have consistently told me that infrastructure is a priority of theirs, along with jobs and economic growth. I am pleased to inform them that our Conservative government is listening and delivering.

Through the gas tax fund, we are delivering stable, reliable, and significant federal funding to help build local projects. In 2010, nearly $20 million has been allocated specifically for municipal infrastructure in Richmond Hill. People can find gas tax funded projects in every corner of Richmond Hill, from the significant upgrades at the Oak Ridges Community Centre, the Bayview Hill Community Centre, the Richvale Community Centre, and the Lois Hancey Aquatic Centre, to a new multi-use trail at Oak Ridges Corridor Park east.

From major road reconstruction, pedestrian bridge replacements, and trail construction to environmental initiatives, the gas tax fund is improving the quality of life for residents in Richmond Hill and, indeed, across our great country.

On behalf of my constituents in Richmond Hill, let me take this opportunity to wish you, Mr. Speaker, and every member of the House a happy Hanukkah, a merry Christmas, and a happy new year.

[Citizenship and Immigration, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, temporary suspension of removals of foreign citizens who are subject to deportation are in place for a limited time while their country of origin is going through a major crisis.

Upon a full review by the Canada Border Services Agency, it was determined that the conditions in Haiti and Zimbabwe have improved considerably. Accordingly, the temporary suspension of removals has been lifted.

However, we are putting in place a special process that will allow these individuals who are facing removal to apply for permanent residence in Canada on humanitarian grounds.

[Citizenship and Immigration, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we welcome one in ten of the world's resettled refugees. In fact, we work very closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres. We continue to work very closely with him and look forward to meeting him next week in Geneva. We will be there at the table.

The member opposite needs to stop playing partisan politics at this time, using the plight of people who really need help as an excuse to stand up in the House with misinformation like that.