Daniel Petit

[Criminal Code, February 6th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague almost argued in support of the bill. He mentioned that, at one time, drugs were less potent than they are today. I hope that that is not true. Drugs are drugs.

I would like to ask him a very different question. He wondered whether this bill could stand up to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In 1982, the Liberal Party introduced a charter that the Province of Quebec did not sign. We did not sign the charter. The Criminal Code is one of the rights governed by the federal government, but we did not sign the charter. In addition, the other rights and freedoms of the charter have not been or could not be implemented since 1982.

When my colleague talks of being charter proof, is he referring to the fact that the Criminal Code no longer applied to the Province of Quebec because we did not sign the charter, which gives the federal government this authority?

I would like to hear my colleague, an academic, answer this question.

[International Cooperation, February 6th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, to kick off International Development Week, the Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages announced a contribution by the Government of Canada to the Société de coopération pour le développement international.

Will the minister provide particulars about this contribution, which will help citizens of these countries to take charge of their lives in order to ensure their self-sufficiency and long-term economic sustainability?

[Fisheries and Oceans, January 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the fishing industry in the Gaspésie and Îles-de-la-Madeleine region is undergoing drastic transformation.

Aquaculture represents one of the paths to the future, along with the exploitation of new species.

What does the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec intend to do to help this industry?

[Member for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, January 29th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps we should congratulate the member for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean, who will be seeking a sixth term in Ottawa as a member of the Bloc Québécois.

Yes, a sixth term.

Yet, on November 8, 1997, he stated in La Presse that the separatists did not intend to seek a third mandate in Ottawa. He said that, regardless of what might happen, the Bloc did not belong in Ottawa and it was not the Bloc's mission to settle there.

That was 10 years ago, in 1997.

Has the member for Roberval—Lac-Saint-Jean found his own road to Damascus? Has he converted, with the help of salary and benefits, to federalism?

[Petitions, December 13th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a petition signed by 2,011 young Canadian volunteers who are calling on Parliament to address this issue in order to facilitate volunteerism both in Canada and abroad. I am therefore tabling this petition.

[Lung Association Christmas Seal Campaign, December 11th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that December is the Lung Association's Christmas seal campaign month.

In Canada, over three million people suffer from serious lung conditions. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which chronically restricts the supply of air to the lungs, is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada.

Our clean air act will help prevent lung diseases.

Our government is concerned about how lung diseases affect Canadians and has been collaborating with the Lung Association on various programs for a long time. We intend to keep working with them to reach our common goal: improving pulmonary health.

I therefore urge all of my colleagues to support the 2006 Christmas seals campaign during the month of December.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and merry Christmas.

[Liberal Party of Canada, December 7th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, we have learned that the new Leader of the Opposition, during the recent Liberal Party leadership campaign, received a $50,000 loan from Rob Bryden, who was appointed the leader of his transition team. This represents a Liberal act of cronyism to which we have become accustomed.

Can the President of Treasury Board explain in this House how the federal accountability act will deal with this culture of entitlement?

[400th Anniversary of Quebec City, December 7th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, in 390 days, Canadians will mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City.

The new Government of Canada is a proud partner in the 400th anniversary celebrations and is making the substantial contribution of $110 million for organizing and hosting events.

Some 400 years ago, Quebec City became the starting point in the adventure of building the Canada of today: a dynamic and modern Canada that builds its strength on its linguistic duality and cultural diversity.

Our government is actively involved and working closely with the Société du 400e anniversaire de Québec, Quebec City and the Government of Quebec to ensure that this anniversary is celebrated by all Canadians, because the anniversary of the founding of Quebec City is also the anniversary of the founding of Canada.

I want to join the mayor of Quebec City, Andrée Boucher, who is on Parliament Hill today, in inviting all Canadians to Quebec City in 2008.

[Liberal Party of Canada, December 5th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities tell us whether the election of a new Leader of the Opposition from Quebec will change the centralizing attitude of the Liberal Party of Canada and help restore the fiscal balance in the Canadian federation?

[Business of Supply, November 28th, 2006]

Today's motion mentions that the Conservative government has broken its promise to reduce medical wait times. Since my colleague from the Bloc Québécois said this is a provincial jurisdiction, I imagine the Bloc members will vote with the Conservative Party today.

We might also wonder whether a strike by medical specialists in Quebec would not show that, no matter what the federal government does, it will not be able to do anything about wait times, since everything depends on the medical professionals in Quebec who are on strike.

I would like my colleague to say a few words about the possibility of reducing wait times. I realize that the Bloc Québécois has just informed us that it will vote with us.