Hélène LeBlanc

[First Nations Elections Act, May 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the parliamentary secretary for his speech. He spoke at length about public consultations.

The first part of my question is to find out what type of consultations we are talking about. Were there any face-to-face meetings?

All summer long there was a huge movement called Idle No More. I was wondering whether the public consultations took advantage of this movement to meet face-to-face with the different leaders who were there, and whether anyone took advantage of this large gathering to hold public consultations. This was a golden opportunity to allow people to express themselves. I was wondering whether anyone took that opportunity.

[The Canadian Museum of History Act, May 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the member a question. In his conclusion, the member talked about Canada's identity. I would like to know how the bill defines “Canada's identity”. What definition does the bill give to the notion of Canada's identity, and how will the Canadian museum of history convey that identity?

[Canadian Museum of History Act, May 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member, who has just given us a very interesting virtual tour of the museum.

A member mentioned earlier that there were local museums in his community. We all have historical societies in our communities that recount Canada's history.

The member then asked, given that the Canadian Museum of Civilization fulfills the mandate of telling Canada's history, just as the Canadian War Museum, the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology, and all the local museums do as well, what possible purpose could be served by changing the role of a major popular museum—the Canadian Museum of Civilization—whose very broad mandate is to assist and support local museums? How could this government provide more assistance to the local museums that recount our history while supporting the Canadian Museum of Civilization?

[Canadian Museum of History Act, May 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for raising two very important and interesting points in her speech.

She spoke in particular of Mr. Cardinal's absolutely remarkable architecture, which represents Canada's landscape and the influences that shape our country. It is known as a museum of civilization, and Mr. Cardinal reflects and acknowledges the Canadian landscape in his exceptional architecture.

She then talked about the incursion of private business interests into the affairs of a public institution. I would like her to discuss this a bit more and get her views on the issue.

[Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012, May 28th, 2013]

Again, Mr. Speaker, I have to raise a concern. The gentleman is not talking about Bill C-48. He is characterizing and not speaking to the importance of this bill and its different measures. We are in third reading, as the Speaker rightly pointed out. I would like the member to talk specifically about the different measures that are in this bill and to make sure Canadians understand the actions of the government regarding Bill C-48.

[Port State Measures Agreement Implementation Act, May 24th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the bill before us is another bill that originated in the Senate. This kind of bill always raises the same question in my mind.

This government may have won a majority, but we have to wonder whether that is truly the case, since it won just 39% of the vote and there was a participation rate of only 50%. I do not know if the government can claim to have the approval of the majority of Canadians.

Why are we seeing yet another Senate bill? We know that most senators are only appointed in return for favours granted to the Conservative Party.

Why does this government insist on introducing bills in the House of Commons that originate in the Senate?

I would like to hear the parliamentary secretary's thoughts on that.

[Government Accountability, May 24th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, when Kevin Page wrote his report on government spending, the Conservatives put obstacles in his way and discredited his work. After showing Mr. Page the door at the end of his term, the Conservatives replaced him with someone of their own choosing, yet now we are hearing that the new Parliamentary Budget Officer is facing the same obstacles.

Why are the Conservatives still refusing to give the Parliamentary Budget Officer the documents she needs to do her job?

[Fighting Foreign Corruption Act, May 24th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I want to object to the way the member refers to the bill with “our government”. I would remind him that the bill is from the other chamber, and the other chamber should be non-partisan. We see how much trouble it is in already because it is so partisan.

If it is a priority of the government that is sitting here and not the other place, how come it took five years to bring the bill forward?

[Fair Rail Freight Service Act, May 23rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his speech. In the House of Commons he often speaks to transport-related issues.

We all know that freight and passenger transport is vital to Canada. In fact, that is what Canada was built on and what continues to contribute to Canada's economic prosperity.

The hon. member talked about how other countries have managed to balance the interests of the shippers, those who use the railway for moving freight and people. I would like him to elaborate on that.

[Fair Rail Freight Service Act, May 23rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the deputy critic for transport, infrastructure and communities, for his well-crafted speech. He has shown us yet again how eloquent he is and how he has a great command of the language of Molière.

He said that the Conservatives did not want to improve bills in committee. That is absolutely appalling. I would like the member to talk about the imbalance. He made reference to David and Goliath in talking about the relationship between carriers and shippers.

Could the member tell us a little bit more about the imbalance between freight train and passenger train companies?