Harold Albrecht

[Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, September 15th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to the member, as well as others today. I have also read through the material and they have convinced me that the right way to go is to adopt this free trade agreement.

A number of constituents in my riding of Kitchener—Conestoga have approached me or have written to me about concerns regarding this agreement. The concerns generally revolve around the area of corporate social responsibility and the labour agreement as it relates to child labour, occupational safety and health concerns and the employment standards.

I know the member commented on those. Could he assure the people in my riding and Canadians in general that in fact these points are very clearly covered in this free trade agreement?

[Suicide, September 15th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, suicide has caused the tragic death of far too many Canadians. While suicide is too often kept quiet, we continue, nonetheless, to hear about individuals who have taken their own lives.

Everyone in this chamber has struggled with, or is familiar with those who struggle with, depression or mental health issues. Unfortunately, there are predators hiding behind the anonymity of the Internet, adopting false identities to convince vulnerable individuals to throw away the gift of life.

My private member's motion, Motion No. 388, calls on the government to update Canada's laws to ensure that counselling a person to commit suicide, or aiding or abetting a person in a suicide attempt, is a crime, regardless of the means used.

Over 8,000 Canadians have signed petitions in support of this initiative, and that number continues to grow.

I encourage all members to consult their constituents regarding Internet predators and to take action to protect Canadians when they are most vulnerable.

[Petitions, June 19th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour today to present two different petitions from constituents of my riding of Kitchener—Conestoga, as well as a number from the Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville areas.

The petitioners point out that life should be protected until natural death occurs and that predators encourage and assist suicide through the Internet.

They call upon government to enable prosecution of those who assist, facilitate, encourage or advise someone in taking his or her own life by updating the Canadian Criminal Code to reflect the new realities of 21st century broadband access.

[Petitions, June 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by hundreds of residents of Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia. These petitioners are recognizing that people who experience depression and mental illness need to be protected by law and that predators are currently encouraging and counselling suicide, without penalty, through the Internet.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to enable prosecution of those who encourage or counsel someone to commit suicide, by updating the Criminal Code to reflect the new realities of 21st century broadband access, and to fund education programs that will empower people who experience depression and mental illness and Canada's vulnerable youth to protect themselves from online predators and find appropriate community support resources.

[Petitions, June 15th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour today to present a petition on behalf of a number of residents of southwestern Ontario. The petitioners are concerned that people who are experiencing depression and mental illness should be protected by the law and that predators who are encouraging and counselling suicide, without penalty, by way of the Internet should be prosecuted.

The petitioners are calling on the House of Commons to enable prosecution of those who encourage or counsel someone to commit suicide, by updating the Canadian Criminal Code to reflect the new realities of 21st century broadband access.

[The Economy, May 8th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, while Liberals were hoping for more bad economic news, something happened today. We have been saying that Canada has the strongest economy in the G7 and that our economic action plan is the right plan to help create and save jobs. The Liberals laughed and talked down Canada's economy and our plan.

Well, what happened today? Statistics Canada reported 36,000 new jobs were created in April. Our plan is working. Canadians are staying at work and they are finding new jobs.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance please comment on the April job numbers?

[Armenia, April 24th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, beginning on April 24, 1915, the Armenian people were subjected to suffering and death at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, a tragic event in history that our Parliament has since recognized as the Armenian genocide.

I rise today as chair of the Canada-Armenia Friendship Group to remember such events, not only to honour the memory of those who died and not just to solemnly acknowledge what has passed, but as a starting point to move forward in greater friendship and understanding between the two present day countries of Turkey and Armenia.

The Armenian Canadian community, consisting of 80,000 Armenians, has contributed greatly to Canada's culture and economy. Their participation in Canadian society helps to build a better Canada. I especially applaud their efforts to acknowledge their past while looking forward to the future to build bridges based on mutual respect.

By recognizing and remembering the Armenian genocide, we are all compelled as Canadians to do everything in our power to ensure that such a terrible tragedy never happens again.

[Mel Brown, April 20th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a man who played a key role in developing Waterloo region's music scene.

In the late 1980s, Mel Brown relocated to Kitchener, Ontario after a long career playing guitar for some of the biggest names in music. Willie Nelson, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Bobby Bland and Waylon Jennings are just a few.

Mel's arrival put our community on the music map. It was common for blues greats like B.B. King to show up unannounced just to share a stage with Mel.

When blues great Buddy Guy last played in Kitchener, he said, “It's just you, me and B.B. left now”. At the annual Kitchener Blues Festival, talent from around the world looked forward to the private event where Mel played for the musicians and volunteers.

Mel Brown died in St. Mary's Hospital on March 20. He leaves behind his wife and musical partner, Miss Angel, two children, seven grandchildren and tens of thousands of fans.

Today we mourn the loss of Mel Brown, even as we celebrate his life and legacy. To those who loved him, our hearts are extended.

[Petitions, April 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour today to present a petition on behalf of a number of constituents from my riding and from the surrounding area.

The petitioners ask the government to introduce a new volunteer service medal award, to be known as the Governor General's volunteer service medal, to acknowledge and recognize volunteerism by Canadian troops.

They point out that during the period of September 1939 to March 1947 and also from June 1950 to 1954, Canadians who served our country received a Canadian Volunteer Service Medal. They ask the government to respectfully recognize this by means of the issuance of a new Canadian volunteer service medal, to be designated the Governor General's volunteer service medal, for those who have served since March 2, 1947. This would be for volunteer service by Canadians in the regular and reserve military forces and cadet corps support staff who were not eligible for the aforementioned medals and who have completed 365 days of uninterrupted honourable duty in the service of their country.

[Liberal Party of Canada, April 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government's economic action plan, recognized as one of the best plans in the world, sure stands in stark contrast to the Liberal plan of flip-flopping and changing policy on the fly.

Liberals pretend to care about the forestry industry in one province and then they slam it by calling it a basement industry in another. Liberals say that asbestos exports need to be banned while in British Columbia and then say something completely different while in Ottawa. The Liberals say that they will gladly sit in a coalition with separatists and then they say that it would be wrong to sit with people who want to destroy the country. The Liberals pretend to support the auto industry while in Ontario and then they go out west and say that they do not support it. The Liberals say that they are all for the seal hunt and then they introduce a bill to ban it.

Canadians need a steady economic action plan, not a flip-flopping Liberal plan.