David Sweet

[Business of the House, March 27th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There have been consultations among all parties, therefore I move:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, for the sole purpose of considering the motion to concur in the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, standing on the order paper in the name of the member for Davenport, immediately after the taking of the deferred recorded divisions scheduled at the expiry of the time provided for government orders on Monday, March 30, 2009, the House shall revert to the rubric “Motions” under Routine Proceedings, provided that during this debate no quorum calls, dilatory motions or requests for unanimous consent shall be received by the Speaker; and, after a member from each recognized party has spoken, provided that members be permitted to split their time as per the provisions of Standing Order 43, the motion shall be deemed adopted.

[Public Safety, March 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, there are no more vulnerable members in our society than the children and youth of Canada. We as a government have the responsibility to protect these children from the myriad of perils and dangers that threaten them every day. The large number of arrests associated with Project Salvo only underscores some of the grave risks our children may face.

Could the parliamentary secretary please update the House on the important work being done by the RCMP and other police agencies to protect our children and keep them safe from those seeking to prey upon them?

[Petitions, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, along with my NDP colleague, I wish to table a large petition in two parts from the Grandmothers for Africa. Millions die in sub-Saharan Africa each year from malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS and HIV. In many cases, this means that, due to the deaths of their parents, children are raised by their grandparents.

The Canadian Grandmothers for Africa lauded the efforts of the grandparents, primarily grandmothers, and ask the Government of Canada, through this petition, to accelerate the increase of its foreign aid and make the necessary legislative changes to Canada's access to medicines regime to establish a substantial flow of retroviral drugs and lower-cost generics.

[Petitions, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions on two different subjects. The first one is with regard to human trafficking, a most heinous crime. Millions of people are trafficked and used as human slaves throughout the world. Thousands of them are right here in Canada.

The students at McMaster University have collected hundreds of signatures to call on the government to make sure that it provides appropriate housing, access to counselling, legal advice, immigration status, access to medical care and employment, and education for those who are victims of human trafficking.

[Food Freedom Day, February 12th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank all the farmers in my riding and across Canada who work hard, day in and day out, to ensure Canadians enjoy the highest quality, most abundant food supply in the world.

I salute our growers and producers today because today is Food Freedom Day in Canada, the day when average Canadians have earned enough income to pay their grocery bill for the entire year. We thank our farmers for the risks they take and the great care they give to raise the food we are so blessed to receive on our tables.

I would be remiss if I did not also acknowledge that too many Canadian families rely on food banks to enjoy the goodness of our bounty.

The weekend after next I will be participating in the annual Ancaster Community Food Drive in my riding and I urge all members of the House to also be mindful of those in need today and every day as we recognize our farmers for their great work.

[Citizenship and Immigration, February 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, Christians and members of other minority faith groups are often subject to severe persecution in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East. Our government is standing up for these victims of persecution.

Would the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism update the House on his recent announcement to assist Iraqi refugees?

[BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION ACT, 2009, February 10th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I could not hesitate to correct the record on something that was so blatantly misleading regarding the softwood lumber industry and the whole lumber sector.

It is this Conservative government that ensured that the $5 billion for the softwood lumber agreement were returned to Canada. It is this government that has maintained the funding for pine beetle extrication. It is this government that put a stimulus into the budget of 15% so that people would actually participate in renovating their houses, which would primarily go to the forestry industry by way of the lumber.

I just wanted to ensure the record was corrected and ask the hon. member why he would misrepresent the case with the forestry industry.

[Trade, February 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, with the global economy in crisis, Canadians are worried that the proposed U.S. stimulus package contains protectionist measures that would close the door on Canadian steel. Thousands of jobs in my community of Hamilton and in other communities across Canada depend on a vibrant Canadian steel industry.

Following the world economic forum in Davos, could the Minister of International Trade tell the House what the Conservative government is doing in response to their protectionist proposals?

[The Environment, June 20th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the opposition finally announced the details of his long awaited tax grab. With this shift, jet fuel prices will skyrocket, higher electricity costs will shock the average family and home heating increases will burn through the wallets of Canadians. Thankfully, for Canadian families, there is a Conservative government in town to stop the shift from hitting the fan.

Unemployment is at a 33-year low in the country and more than three-quarters of a million jobs have been created since our government took office.

Could the Minister of Human Resources tell Canadians how the proposed Liberal tax grab would affect the Canadian job market?

[Gasoline Prices, June 13th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, recent charges and guilty pleas in a price-fixing case involving the retail gasoline industry in Quebec have generated a lot of media interest and prompted questions regarding whether the Competition Bureau will be conducting an ongoing probe.

Yesterday the Competition Bureau announced that charges have been laid against companies and individuals in four markets in Quebec.

Can the government shed light on the news out of Quebec about charges and guilty pleas in a price-fixing case involving the retail gasoline industry? Is the probe continuing?