Erin O'Toole

[Protection of Canada from Terrorists Act, December 8th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, sometimes I am surprised that the NDP often takes positions that are so radically detached from reality and the public security and safety environment in which we live.

In fact, the hon. member has Valcartier in her riding, the proud Canadian Forces base. For over 12 years, the men and women from that base saw the face of terrorism in Afghanistan. No doubt some people who are serving Canada right now have come through that base and are seeing it in other parts of the world.

Bill C-44 is intended to provide for security and keep Canada safe from some of these global networks that would do us harm.

In the case of Bill C-44, when the Canadian public is quite accustomed to protection being given to law enforcement sources, why would we not extend that same protection to sources that provide information and intelligence on national security? It would keep our men and women in uniform safe.

[Santa Claus Parades in Durham, December 8th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, one of the joys of representing a riding with a collection of lovely small towns is participating in the annual Santa Claus parades. This year I took part in five of six parades in Durham because I still have not mastered the art of being in two parades at once.

These parades are great for the community. They bring the community together, celebrate the fun in Christmas, and highlight the importance of shopping locally. However, these events would not happen were it not for the hard work of volunteer committees, so I rise to thank them.

In Bowmanville, I thank Terryl Tzikas; in Courtice, Dale Gibbons; in Orono, Wendy Partner, Scott Story, and Shelley Rivers; in Newcastle, Karen Bastas and the Newcastle BIA; in Port Perry, the Lions Club of Port Perry and Kenna Kozak and the Scugog Chamber of Commerce; in Uxbridge, Bernice and Chris Brown and the Uxbridge BIA. I would also like to thank the army, navy, and air force cadets and my volunteers for helping to hand out thousands of candy canes along the parade route.

I would also like to take this time to wish the citizens of Durham a very merry Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.

[Steel Industry, November 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as the member of the trade committee well knows, our government has consistently stood in opposition to such protectionist measures.

What is interesting is that her colleague the member of Parliament for Burnaby—New Westminster has been promoting such measures, calling them perfectly logical, as members opposite are trying to actually oppose the one in five jobs being created in Canada attributable to trade.

There is no party in this House that stands up more for opening markets for Canada and protecting our own access than this government.

[Steel Industry, November 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as the minister indicated in this House earlier this week, our government is deeply concerned by the appearance that the U.S. intends to apply buy American restrictions to the project at Prince Rupert.

This is just another example of how illogical and actually counterproductive to free trade these buy American programs are.

Our government has a track record of consistently opposing such measures and standing up and opening markets for Canadians. We will continue to work on that.

[Northern Development, November 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, nothing indicates better the experience that the minister brings than the fact she was previously the MLA for Gjoa Haven. In fact, she grew up in and is from Nunavut. She brings that passion and knowledge to the House. She is not just reading lines on a piece of paper.

The reality is that the Auditor General knows that more money is being spent. There are results. We are going to ensure that we take the Auditor General's feedback to ensure that there are more clauses in these funding agreements to ensure that recipients can provide all information on eligible items, including margins, to make sure that the net benefit is for the families of the north.

[Northern Development, November 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I said before, the government wants to ensure that northerners have the same access to healthy food that constituents like mine have. That is why we created the Nutrition North program, and it has seen good results. Since 2011, there has been a 25% increase in shipments to the north of healthy food products. An average family of four has seen a net reduction in their grocery bill of $110.

Since this minister has been part of the federal cabinet, northern Canada has never been better served. She is a champion for the north and for all of Canada.

[Northern Development, November 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the only thing found in dumps here this morning is the questions and the approach of the opposition.

This is a time where we could be talking about how the Nutrition North program is helping families in the north, just as we are hearing. The minister is in touch regularly with her communities. She represented the territory on the ground. She was raised there. She is not just reading attack lines in the House of Commons, but delivering for northern Canada. We are very proud of that.

[Northern Development, November 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as the parliamentary secretary indicated earlier, those reports are untrue. The minister, as the member for Nunavut, is constantly in touch with her community on all reports.

In fact, in contrast to the rhetoric being thrown around by some of those members, northern Canada has the strongest member in cabinet in its history. There is no stronger champion for the north, some one delivering results, not petty and shameful attacks.

[Northern Development, November 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I said in my previous response, the member knows that the program is working. The Auditor General said that it can be improved, and we will see improvements that ensure that retailers are a part of a solution for northern families, but already we are seeing a net benefit of over $100 per family. This week an additional $11.3 million was added to the program.

This is the time to make sure that northerners know about the program and that we work with retailers to make sure that it is having an impact. It is not the time for shameful attacks.

[Northern Development, November 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it is rather quite shameful that the member for Churchill is using unfounded, untrue personal attacks when she should be talking about the importance of the Nutrition North program, which has provided areas like hers with a 25% increase in shipments of healthy food. An average family of four has seen their grocery bill go down. That is why we created the program. We committed new funding just this week. Ongoing improvements are in place. This is an important program and not the time for unfounded attacks.