David Sweet

[The Budget, March 22nd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of initiatives in this economic action plan for infrastructure, for more social and economic inclusion for people with disabilities, and the list goes on.

I would like to ask the member about the super credit for those who are first-time donors to charitable organizations. Could I get her take on how that would help charitable organizations that serve the community to grow and extend their help to those less fortunate?

[Infrastructure, March 22nd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Finance tabled the next phase of our economic action plan, which will focus on jobs and economic growth. Among many measures announced in our economic action plan 2013, our government introduced the new building Canada plan. Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities tell us about our new federal investments in job-creating infrastructure?

[Petitions, March 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from hundreds of constituents who have serious concerns about Bill C-279. They are convinced that all Canadians are fully protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Criminal Code and a legal system that recognizes that every citizen is equal before the law. The petitioners call upon the House of Commons and Parliament to vote against Bill C-279.

[Tibet, March 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the world watched over the past couple of weeks as the National People's Congress in China met for the ceremonial formalities of installing its new president, premier, cabinet and leaders of its government. To give credit where it is due, new Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke of the earnest expectations of the people for a better life in his remarks to the National People's Congress last Sunday.

I would like to note that the world is now watching how President Jinping's government lives by those words and lives up to those expectations with regard to the situation in Tibet, which has become increasingly violent and desperate under the current Chinese crackdown.

Given this urgency, we sincerely encourage President Jinping to meet with the leaders of the Tibetan government in exile to discuss the Dalai Lama's middle way approach for peace, human rights, stability and a reasonable coexistence between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples.

[Committees of the House, March 18th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology in relation to its study of the intellectual property regime in Canada. Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

[Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012, March 8th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, on this International Women's Day, I just thought I would point out the behaviour of the NDP members, who usually like to be the champions of decorum.

My colleague talked about the bizarre arguments that were being made. Then the NDP member pointed at my colleague and said that was what was bizarre. The member was pointing to my colleague and saying that she was bizarre.

It is right to criticize debate here, but to take it personally goes beyond the pale and is certainly not in the spirit of decorum that we want to see.

I would like to ask my colleague now, in a very civil way on International Women's Day, what the consequences will be if this bill is not passed.

[Human Rights, February 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend thanks for the hospitality and to thank all parliamentarians who attended the memorial event to commemorate the second anniversary of the shocking assassination of the Hon. Shahbaz Bhatti, federal minister for minorities of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Shahbaz Bhatti was the sole Christian minister in the government of Pakistan, and his brutal murder two years ago sent a chill to the soul of the nation. It was truly a dark day in human history.

The late Minister Bhatti's life work was to promote peace, tolerance and understanding among peoples of all faiths in Pakistan and throughout the world.

It was also my privilege to attend the announcement last week at which our Prime Minister appointed Dr. Andrew Bennett as head of Canada's Office of Religious Freedom. He did so in the spirit of Shahbaz Bhatti's mission of peace, tolerance and understanding among all peoples.

As a country that cherishes human rights, democracy, freedom and the rule of law, let us never forget what Shahbaz Bhatti stood for.

[An Act to Bring Fairness for the Victims of Violent Offenders, February 27th, 2013]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-479, An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (fairness for victims).

Mr. Speaker, it is with mixed feelings that I table An Act to Bring Fairness for the Victims of Violent Offenders. I am happy because the bill will bring comfort to thousands of victims for many years to come. What is weighing on my heart are powerful observations and emotions from my experiences attending National Parole Board hearings at the request of a constituent whose sister, niece and nephew were brutally murdered by a violent offender.

From this first-hand experience and others come a number of solutions in this private member's bill to enshrine the voice of victims in law and modernize the Corrections and Conditional Release Act so that victims do not have to relive their pain each year.

I ask for the support of all hon. members to bring these changes about.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012, February 15th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I did not rise immediately after the member's speech, because I actually had to think about exactly how I would phrase this with dignity.

I listened to the member's speech of balderdash for the entire time. He said very little about the bill but went back to 2008. It was kind of a cathartic exercise about how the election happened. Of course, he forgot to mention the fact that it was a minority government and that the opposition, actually, was in charge of having the government fall and having us go to an election. He also failed to mention that after the election, we actually were in government again.

At the end, he mentioned three issues and said his party would support the bill. He talked about how inefficient we were in getting these measures through and about wanting to do it annually. If that is the case, and they want to support it and make it happen, would they be prepared to go ahead, finish their speakers' list today, and move the bill into committee? Let us get it done. Let us work together as the loving partners we are so that we can get the--

[Tibet, February 14th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian-Tibetan community celebrated the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of Tibetan independence yesterday. This recognized a key moment in Tibetan history. In 1913, the 13th Dalai Lama re-declared Tibet's sovereignty after the fall of the Manchu empire. He successfully maintained the sovereignty of the nation until the Chinese invasion of 1949-1950.

Notwithstanding this centennial anniversary, Tibetans today live under such oppressive conditions that so threaten their culture, environment, religious freedom and human rights that we have seen, shockingly, over 100 Tibetans lighting themselves on fire in protest. We call on the leaders of China to meet in earnest with the leaders of the Tibetan government in exile to discuss the Dalai Lama's third way for human rights and democratic, regional, cultural and environmental autonomy for Tibetans within China.