Guy Lauzon

[Canadian Navy, March 5th, 2010]

moved:

That, in the opinion of the House, in light of the upcoming centennial of the Canadian Navy, the government should consider reinstating the Navy executive curl on its uniforms.

Mr. Speaker, as the proud member of Parliament for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, I am very honoured to speak in the House today to my private member's motion, Motion No. 459, which would introduce the executive curl on the navy uniforms.

I have had the pleasure to serve in the House of Commons for nearly six years now and this job has been a most rewarding experience for me. As members of Parliament in this chamber, we are always working on a wide range of issues. In my work here on Parliament Hill, I discovered what I feel is a small but important issue that I would like to correct through the private members' business process.

While the legislation may seem small and simple to some, it would mean a very great deal to many of our veterans, historians and military enthusiasts from coast to coast to coast.

I want to start by offering a preamble, a history of sorts, about how this motion came forward. When the Canadian Forces were amalgamated on February 1, 1968, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force ceased to exist as separate entities. As a result, the new amalgamated Canadian Forces moved to adopt one uniform for all three elements of the service.

The navy uniform, in particular, lost one of its very unique traditions which distinguished it from the two junior services. The navy executive curl, also known as Elliott's Eye, was removed from the sleeve of naval officers' uniforms. This left Canada as the only blue water navy in the world whose officers did not sport either an executive curl, a stylized national emblem, a nautical icon or a star in its ranking scheme.

It is important for us to realize that for members of the Canadian Forces, the navy being no exception, these small details and the traditions associated with them bring much pride and esprit de corps. Even members of the Canadian Coast Guard wear a maple leaf with their rank insignia with the original intention to set itself apart from the navy and its executive curl.

The tradition of the navy incorporating the executive curl is a long one. In 1856, the Royal Navy instituted an executive curl and when the Canadian Navy was created in 1910, it adopted the curl as well. In fact, of the 22 countries in the Commonwealth who maintain a navy, 18 of them incorporate the executive curl into their ranking system. This loss of the executive curl on the navy uniform meant a loss of some of the identity of the navy.

I believe the timing of the motion is significant and important as well. With the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy, what better time to right this wrong and reincorporate the executive curl into the uniform of the navy? That is why I am here today to ask the House to support my efforts. This motion is aimed to give the navy back part of its identity lost in 1968 and to support the men and women of the Canadian Forces.

I look forward to discussions here in the House in the coming weeks and I hope I can count on all members to support this small yet important and meaningful request to introduce the executive curl to the navy uniform.

On a personal note, many times in the last six years when I have assisted at the Significance of the Battle of the Atlantic that is acknowledged every year, and I speak with naval veterans at the Cornwall Navy Club or other navy clubs, there is so much pride, so much history there and they are so proud of the fact that they served in the Canadian Navy.

A member in my own family, my deceased elder brother who served seven years in the Canadian Navy, was very proud of his naval tradition. I can remember as a 10-year-old, when my brother joined the navy and came home in that wonderful uniform that sailors so proudly wore, how proud I was to walk down the street to the candy store or wherever with my big brother, the sailor. A friend of mine who also served in the navy is in assistance today.

For those veterans, those people who served this country so well and for so long, I am asking the House to endorse this motion. Our navy has a strong and proud tradition and I hope the House will recognize it.

[Infrastructure, November 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as the proud member of Parliament for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, it was an honour to announce several stimulus projects across my riding this year. The projects included water and sewer, new roads, recreational facilities and new municipal buildings.

We all know these types of projects will accomplish many things in my riding. They have addressed six municipal council's priorities and increased the quality of life in all six communities. However, most important, these projects create jobs across the riding, which is a help to many people during this global economic recession.

For instance, I was visiting one of the projects just last week. This project has extended the work period for many workers and has fixed a road that has been a problem for many decades.

Canada's economic action plan is delivering results not only for my riding, but right across the country. I am proud to have supported this plan and to have delivered results for my community in these tough economic times.

[Justice, October 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, victims of crime are a priority. Our government appointed the first Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime and increased funding for victims' services. Now we are attempting to eliminate the faint hope clause.

Could the Minister of Justice tell the House what more this government plans to do to help victim?

[Patriotism, October 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, in April of this year I challenged my colleagues and their constituents to a contest to determine the most patriotic riding in the country by displaying a Canadian flag at their residences on July 1. Thirty-three of my colleagues accepted the challenge.

I am pleased to report to the House that over 1.4 million Canadian flags were displayed from coast to coast to coast as a result of this contest last July 1. I want to congratulate the members and constituents of the ridings of Huron—Bruce and Brant for placing second and third in our contest.

However, I want to very proudly congratulate the constituents of my riding for again claiming the title of most patriotic riding in this great country of ours. After five years of proudly representing the riding of Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, I can truly confirm that my constituents are definitely the most patriotic of all Canadians. God bless Canada.

[Justice, September 15th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, earlier today, the Minister of Justice announced our government's plans to introduce legislation to combat white-collar crime in our country.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice explain what his government plans to do about this serious problem and how it plans to protect victims of these crimes?

[Environthon Team, June 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as the proud member of Parliament for Stormont--Dundas--South Glengarry, I am thrilled to stand in the House today to congratulate a group of students from my local community.

Today, the North Dundas District High School's students council and environthon team from Chesterville have joined me on the Hill for the day.

Just recently, the school's environthon team won its local challenge and then placed second in the Ontario provincial finals in southwestern Ontario, making a strong showing and filling their school full of pride and school spirit.

I am so proud of these students and our community is fortunate to have youth like them representing us.

A special thanks also goes to their mentors and coaches, including Mike Deighton, who joins us here today as well.

I congratulate Mike and these great students and I wish them all the best in their journeys ahead.

[Taxation, May 8th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it has been 24 days since the Liberal leader said, “We will have to raise taxes”.

In that time, he has neither retracted his statement nor provided any details about his promise to raise taxes. Most surprisingly, the ever-vigilant media that parses each and every Conservative word has refused to press him for details.

Could someone in the government please comment on the Liberal leader's promise that, “We will have to raise taxes”?

[Proud to be Canadian Campaign, April 30th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, as a proud member of Parliament for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, I have always believed that my constituents are the most patriotic in all of Canada. We plan to show that again by winning in the annual Proud to be Canadian campaign this year.

Like in years past, I challenge my colleagues to have their constituents display a Canadian flag in their front windows on July 1. The riding with the most flags on display on Canada Day will be deemed the most patriotic riding in all of Canada.

My riding has had the honour of holding this title for the past couple of years and we are working hard to ensure that the same happens in 2009. Eighteen members have already taken up our challenge and it keeps growing by the day.

Today, I am challenging all my colleagues to hold similar contests in their ridings. Let us get our beautiful flag on display in households from coast to coast to coast and to show our true and patriot love for our country this Canada Day.

[Business of Supply, April 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, many of those very suggestions have been discussed. They are good suggestions and they are the kind of thing on which the government is working.

We believe in facilitating Canadians crossing the border. We believe in facilitating trade across the border and having the Americans visit us. He mentioned tourism. We are big on tourism. We want American tourists to come and tour this wonderful country. With the co-operation of the parties opposite, we will be able to do that. In the spirit we want to set with this, the member as well as other members should look at how we could better enhance our relationship with the Americans and go forward collectively together so we can build strong relationships and maybe make that border a little less ornery.

[Business of Supply, April 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has a tendency to see the glass always half empty or even one-quarter empty. The truth is we have made great progress with our neighbours to the south. In fact, our Minister of International Trade is currently in the U.S.A as we speak, building upon the great relationship we had with the former administration and now with the current administration.

Maybe part of the reason why that party is over there is because it did not know how to deal with our neighbours to the south. One of our colleagues talked about the Liberals' method of operations, but that did not work very well as we know. If I am not mistaken, a member left their caucus over the very comments she made about Americans to the south. Therefore, we do not need to take any lessons from the member or anyone on that side about how to build a relationship with our great neighbours to the south.