House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2011, with 47% of the vote.
Ending the Long-gun Registry Act November 1st, 2011
Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the hon. member.
Past government bills regarding the elimination of the gun registry required owners who wished to sell their guns or give them away to ensure that the new owner actually held a hunting or owner's licence. But this bill does not contain a similar measure.
How can the government be sure that weapons will be transferred solely to people who possess a valid licence?
Auditor General October 28th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, it is all well and good to want to favour one's friends instead of choosing the most competent people for essential positions, but when it is done at the expense of francophones from coast to coast to coast, that is unacceptable. The government cannot play the bilingualism card only when it wants to look good.
Will the government reverse its decision and appoint a bilingual auditor general?
Auditor General October 28th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the President of the Public Service Commission said that, in the public service, language is an essential requirement. This government continues to tell anyone who will listen that it has nothing against bilingualism and that the Auditor General is perfectly competent, except it has forgotten one important requirement: bilingualism.
Did the government at least take the time to interview him and ask him a few questions in French before offering him the job?
Joliette Soup Kitchen October 28th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to take this opportunity to pay a glowing tribute to the directors and volunteers of La Tablée Joliette.
Founded in 1981 by the Clerics of Saint-Viateur, the soup kitchen is a non-profit organization that prepares and distributes 5,000 to 6,000 free meals each year to people in need in my riding.
I was able to see first-hand the exceptional work accomplished by this community organization by helping the volunteers over the Thanksgiving long weekend.
I would like to recognize the involvement of the soup kitchen's president, Raymond Veillette, and his team of volunteers, which include Marie-Pauline Blake, Léonie Ferland, Julie Cornellier, Diane Fournier and Alain-Bruno Bonin.
These people prove that the battle against hunger and poverty is a collective effort, and they deserve all the support we can give them.
Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act June 24th, 2011
Yes, Mr. Speaker, we will repeat what we have said: it is to protect workers.
Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act June 24th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, reducing their wages will mean that their pensions will be smaller, and thus they will have less money when they reach retirement age. This week, we spoke several times throughout almost an entire day about the poverty of seniors. Therefore, I do not believe that we should decrease workers' salaries because they will then retire in poverty.
Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act June 24th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, this is the first time that I have participated in a debate in the House. It is quite interesting. In light of what we are going through and what our employees are currently going through—because they are our employees—I believe that we absolutely must support their actions. They want a contract that is signed in good faith. We have to support them in this.
Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act June 24th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the mail may be late, but we must protect the rights of workers. I know that a large part of the population agrees with us and wants the workers to be able to negotiate a real contract and not have one imposed.
Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act June 24th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers held a rotating strike so as not to prevent Canadians from receiving their mail. The union offered to end the strike if the company would agree to keep the former collective agreement in effect during the negotiation process; however, Canada Post refused. Why did it refuse?
Employees are locked out; they are not on strike. Their right to strike has been taken away, and this is unacceptable in 2011. Locking out employees does not seem like a good idea when negotiations are underway. We must not forget that Canada Post belongs to all Canadians. Why is the government imposing legislation that will give the workers lower salaries than what was offered by Canada Post? Why decrease their purchasing power when we know that the cost of living never stops increasing? You can see it at the grocery store each week.
We are asking the Conservative government to respect the rights of workers. We are hoping that what is happening at Canada Post is not a prelude or a severe warning to all Canadian workers. We must allow both parties to come to an agreement for everyone's well-being. Will the Conservative government allow this to happen?
We know that a lower salary means a lower pension. After I was elected, employees in my riding asked me to protect their jobs and to ensure that Canada Post was not privatized. They explained to me what they are experiencing and told me about their concerns. They said that they have been feeling the pressure for a long time already. My role as a member of Parliament is to listen to them and bring their message to Ottawa.
Business of Supply June 20th, 2011
Mr. Speaker, the status of women has been a priority for me for over 30 years, not only because I am a woman, but also because we are talking about at least half our population. In Quebec, for seniors living in low-income housing—I am talking about Quebec because that is where I live—as soon as they get the slightest little increase, 25% of that increase goes toward the increase in their rent. If a person gets an extra $600, then 25% of that amount goes toward his or her cost of housing. That does not leave much for groceries or personal items.
Again, women are the poorest because often, women who are in their 40s or 50s today will be taking care of their aged parents. They will leave their jobs and sometimes lose their jobs. They will end up poor when they retire because they will not have worked long enough to accumulate a respectable income to have a decent retirement. I want to see this motion adopted.