Daniel Petit

[Afghanistan, October 30th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of International Cooperation will send off 78 soldiers stationed at the Valcartier military base, who will be joining 2,300 members of the Canadian reconstruction team already in Afghanistan.

We should remember that the sole objective of our troops on the ground is to help rebuild Afghanistan and to establish a healthy social and political climate for the Afghan people. There is no doubt that these efforts are bearing fruit, as was pointed out by President Karzai in this House when he was in Canada.

These efforts are part of the Canadian military's longstanding tradition, which dates back to the founding of our nation, of seeking to bring peace, democracy and justice to the four corners of the earth.

Our new Canadian government is proud to unanimously support our valiant and courageous men and women stationed in Afghanistan.

[International Cooperation, October 25th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, since the Bloc does not know whether it supports the mission in Afghanistan or not, can the Minister of International Cooperation tell the House what she accomplished during her recent tour to Afghanistan?

[Transport, October 23rd, 2006]

Last weekend, the leader of the Bloc Québécois announced that Quebec City would be the capital of a sovereign Quebec in 2015. Among the initiatives of the Bloc Québécois is a proposed high-speed train connecting Quebec City and New York.

Can the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities tell the House whether this proposal is viable?

[Justice, October 17th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign, the Conservative Party made a firm promise to establish a presumption whereby anyone convicted for the third time of a violent crime or sexual assault is automatically considered a dangerous offender. Today, the Minister of Justice made good on that promise.

Could he elaborate on what this means?

[International Cooperation, October 2nd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of International Cooperation and Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages was in Bucharest last week for the 11th summit of la Francophonie. The minister announced a memorandum of understanding between Canada and France.

Can she provide any details about this MOU?

[Softwood Lumber, September 21st, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, it is deplorable to note once again that the Liberal members from Quebec have decided to play politics by voting against the softwood lumber agreement despite strong support from the Province of Quebec.

The Liberals were ready to bring the softwood lumber industry to its knees.

The Liberals were ready to push the workers in the softwood lumber industry and their families into bankruptcy in order to satisfy their partisan interests.

Fortunately, since January 23, 2006, the softwood lumber industry and the workers of Quebec have been able to count on the new Conservative government, which cares about the interests of Quebec, and more importantly, the interests of workers and their families.

[Justice, June 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, the Montreal police reported that crimes committed with guns increased by 25% between 2004 and 2005, in Montreal—25%.

Can the hon. Minister of Justice explain to this House why the Liberals and the Bloc are against the bill on mandatory minimum sentences and why they insist on defending criminals who use guns instead of protecting honest people from criminals?

[Criminal Code, June 2nd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank my colleague for expressing her opinion on conditional sentences. I have a specific question for her. In Quebec, there is a huge problem with drunk drivers who cause accidents that kill people. It is a scourge.

Currently, under the conditions that are imposed upon them, some offenders can benefit from a conditional sentence. The amendment we are proposing will eliminate this option or at least will make its use very difficult.

Here is my question. How can my colleague explain the fact that she is against this bill? Not only drunk drivers who hit and kill someone can benefit from a conditional sentence—meaning that they will be serving their sentence at home—but, in Quebec, they have the privilege of receiving 90% of their salary. Indeed, during that period, if they are injured and cannot work, they will be receiving money. Not only do they serve their sentence at home, but they are paid.

I am asking my colleague to explain to me why she is against this bill.

[Quebec City, June 2nd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of my riding, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, I would especially like to thank our Prime Minister for his openness toward and respect for Quebec City. We finally have a government that takes the interests of Canadians to heart.

By giving Quebec City, the oldest city in Canada, an international airport, the Prime Minister has allowed the city to welcome the thousands of tourists and delegates who will come to celebrate the anniversary of French Canada in 2008.

Mr. Prime Minister, on behalf of my fellow citizens, I cordially invite you to come celebrate our anniversary with us in 2008.

[Criminal Code, May 29th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to raise a point of order because of the remarks just made by the member opposite.

We are studying a bill, not questions of religion. The member opposite knows very little of the region I live in. People put their trust in me as they did in him in his riding because we represent something too.

Our program has always been clear. It was a five point program and included Bills C-9 and C-10. At no point did we take the public by surprise.

The fact of seeking the law and respect for human life by imprisoning others, which is possible, does not mean selling one's soul to the right. Rather, it is a question of expressing a legal approach and ensuring that the Criminal Code, which we must review every five, seven, eight, nine or ten years, applies in certain places in a given manner, as required.

In this case, that is, a change in sentences, it is not difficult. The bill is simple. It involves indictment for a serious crime. Everything is relative. It is not a matter of excessive imprisonment. It involves only serious crimes.