Deepak Obhrai

[Foreign Affairs, May 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, these are very serious allegations being made against this company, and the government will do everything it can to support this investigation.

I will repeat again that other governments expect Canadian companies to respect the rules, both here in Canada and when operating abroad.

[Foreign Affairs, May 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, these are very serious allegations being made against this company, and the government will do everything it can to support this investigation.

Canada is party to a number of international agreements, and we have strict laws for companies in Canada. Other governments expect Canadian companies to respect the rules both here in Canada and when operating abroad.

[Nuclear Proliferation, March 27th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government believes that nuclear terrorism is one of the biggest threats to global security.

Sadly, no country is immune from the consequences of a nuclear terrorist attack. Canada has been a leader in the global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism. We are pleased to be delivering on one of our 2010 summit commitments.

We are working in places like Mexico and Vietnam to keep nuclear materials safe and out of the hands of terrorists. Through our global partnership program, Canada has invested more than $85 million for nuclear security work in Russia. It is vital that we continue to work together with our allies.

[Foreign Affairs, March 27th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, last week, I visited the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, building on the visit of the UAE foreign minister to Ottawa earlier this month.

The successful visit and the dialogue between our foreign minister and the UAE foreign minister showed Canada's strong engagement with the region. I consulted with Emirati and Turkish officials regarding bilateral relations and regional issues, security throughout the Middle East, trade, commerce and travel.

While in Turkey, I consulted vastly on the increasingly grave situation in Syria and led the groundwork for Canada's participation in the upcoming meeting of the Friends of Syria to be held in Istanbul, which will be attended by our foreign minister. I took the opportunity to meet with the Syrian National Council, where I once again emphasized Canada's position to support freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law for all Syrian people.

[Foreign Affairs, March 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government finds the situation in Mali to be very troubling. Upon learning of the coup last week the minister immediately called upon those responsible to withdraw so that constitutional order, peace and stability may be restored. When they did not, Canada suspended direct aid to the Malian government.

In a statement today, the UN Security Council condemned the forcible takeover. Canada will not in any way back this illegal rule. Democracy must be respected. Differences must be resolved by dialogue and democratic process.

[Syria, March 15th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, as the Syrian crisis enters its second year, there are more signs today that the Assad regime is completely detached from reality.

While Syrian security forces have killed and maimed innocent men, women and children by the thousands, Assad and his wife have been searching the web mail ordering designer shoes and downloading their favourite songs. It is not pop tunes, it is loony tunes.

With every passing day it becomes more clear that Assad must go.

I am very proud that Canada, under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has been at the forefront of international efforts to end the Syrian crisis.

Today, our thoughts are with the innocent victims of Assad's brutality. We know that he is becoming more and more isolated.

We know that brighter days lie ahead for the Syrian people. Our government will continue to be a part of the solution to this crisis.

[Protecting Air Service Act, March 14th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, that question was irrelevant because the chief pilot of the airline said that it is a national asset.

Why does the government propose to act today and why have been here all this time? While we all believe in the collective bargaining, at the end of the day, as the minister and all my colleagues said, it is for economic reasons. We were elected to ensure that we provided economic direction for our country from the recovery, with the economic stimulus plan and with the upcoming budget. Canadians have to ensure our country stays economically strong and that applies also to the airlines.

Why is only Air Canada and not the other airlines like WestJet, Porter all the other airlines out there? It is time for the airline industry to provide proper service to all Canadians so they can benefit and not be caught in the fighting taking place between management and the workers. That has to stop.

All of us commend the Minister of Labour and the Prime Minister for doing the right thing by ensuring that the interests of all Canadians and the economy is at the forefront. That is what we are doing here tonight and that is what we are going to continue to do.

For my hon. colleagues on the other side, including the party way at the other end that seems to be fast asleep, wake up and smell the thing. At one point in time those members were supposed to form the government. They are no longer the national governing party because we have taken over.

This government will provide, under the leadership of this Prime Minister, what is required for all Canadians, and that is what we are doing tonight.

[Protecting Air Service Act, March 14th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I welcome to the House of Commons my new colleagues on the other side to Parliament. When they realize the importance of this airline, they will take their hat off and recognize what is more important, the rights of Canadian citizens, not only the rights of the union. We all agree that collective bargaining is one of the strongest tools we have for labour peace. That is not in dispute.

What is in dispute is taking a responsible position. Under the Minister of Labour, this government has taken the responsible position to ensure that all Canadians benefit from this airline because it is a national asset. If it is a national asset, then let us keep it as a national asset. I will continue to support this airline—

[Protecting Air Service Act, March 14th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I know it is very late at night and everyone wants to go home, but this is a very important issue that has been brought forward and that is why we are here so late at night.

I have been a very strong supporter of Air Canada. I am approaching almost two million air miles on Air Canada, which indicates my strong support for this airline. During my two million miles of travelling, the pilots, workers and management have done a very good job of making this a very reputable airline. Having attained a reputation, we now have seen what has happened. The unions want to go on strike, but the management wants to shut down this airline because it cannot come to a resolution, which is forcing this government to act.

For my colleagues on the other side, most of whom are brand new members who have not travelled on Air Canada and live in a utopian world, do not understand the importance of this airline to Canada. Let me quote what the chief pilot said, “This is a national asset”. Therefore, if it is a national asset, then let us all work responsibly to ensure that this national asset works for the benefit of all Canadians, not for the few other ones—

[Foreign Affairs, March 9th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is anxious to target senior officials for the Islamic revolutionary guard corps to counter its involvement with Iran's proliferation activities. Many Iranians are drafted into the revolutionary guard for military service and have no responsibility or involvement in the nuclear program.

These targeted measures are designed to hamper attempts by the Iranian authorities to develop a nuclear missile program. Canada is very much concerned about the happenings in Iran.