Gary Lunn

[Sports, March 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, yes, we are fully engaged with national sports organizations. We have some that are actually doing a very good job. We continue to work with them and continue to do the research. I am working with the Minister of Health on strategies in how we can bring about greater awareness.

At the end of the day, we have to work with the experts. I understand this raises the issue about helmets. We have to ensure that we have raised awareness.

I was deeply concerned at what we saw in the NHL game last night. I saw the hockey player out cold on the ice as well. Again, we will do everything to ensure that the NHL does not allow this kind of action to continue.

[Sports, March 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for his question and his serious interest. This is a serious issue, something we have taken very seriously.

We have spoken with national sports organizations. I am working with the Minister of Health on strategies of bringing them together. It is something that we are concerned about.

Obviously, I saw the same hit the member did last night in an NHL hockey game. It is something we hope that the NHL also takes very seriously. That type of hitting is unacceptable.

[Sports, January 31st, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, funding to amateur sport in Canada is happening at an unprecedented level, the highest in the history of this country, something that our government is very proud of. We will continue to support those organizations to continue to do their work, as we have done, but we are not going to start regulating the wearing of helmets in sports. We are going to leave that up to national sport organizations like Hockey Canada which, quite frankly, do a very good job.

[Sports, January 31st, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by saying nobody likes to see overly aggressive hitting or fighting in any sport at any level.

Right now, amateur sport in Canada is receiving its highest level of funding in history. We are proud to support our athletes. We will continue to support Hockey Canada and its efforts to make sure that it continues to address this, as it is doing now.

Everybody in amateur hockey in Canada wears a helmet and that is the way it should be.

[Protecting Victims From Sex Offenders Act, December 7th, 2010]

moved that Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts, be read the third time and passed.

[Protecting Victims From Sex Offenders Act, December 7th, 2010]

moved that the bill be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to)

[Amateur Sports, November 18th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, this being the first question I have been asked since the Olympics, I am very proud to remind the House that we won 14 gold medals, which makes us all very proud.

On a serious note about the concussions, we take all of this very seriously. Hockey Canada runs a number of programs. We provide funding. However, we should let Hockey Canada regulate this. It is doing a great job. Children wear helmets in Canada. They will continue to do that. We support Hockey Canada in its efforts. However, I do not think this is a place for the government to step in and regulate.

[Eliminating Entitlements for Prisoners Act, November 16th, 2010]

moved that the bill be read a third time and passed.

[Eliminating Entitlements for Prisoners Act, November 16th, 2010]

moved that the bill, as amended, be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to)

[Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act, October 21st, 2010]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-49, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act and the Marine Transportation Security Act.

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