Irene Mathyssen

[Petitions, October 4th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

The first is a petition in support of postal banking. Nearly two million Canadians desperately need an alternative to payday lenders, whose crippling and predatory rates affect the poor, marginalized, rural and indigenous communities most. There are 3,800 Canada Post outlets already in rural areas, where there are few or even no banks at all.

Canada Post has the infrastructure to make a rapid transition to include postal banking. Therefore, the petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to enact my motion, Motion No. 166, to create a committee to study and propose a plan for postal banking under the Canada Post Corporation.

[Petitions, October 2nd, 2018]

My second petition, Mr. Speaker, is in regard to Bill C-397, because, as the House knows, spouse pensions are denied to surviving spouses of military personnel, members of Parliament, judges, employees of Crown corporations, the public service and employees of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police if the marriage was entered into after age 60.

Most of the affected spouses are women or caregivers who have cared for veterans and other federal employees, and it is unfair that they not receive a pension when their partners pass away.

Therefore, this petition is in support of my bill, Bill C-397, which would eliminate this legislation denying surviving spouses the pensions to which they are entitled.

[Petitions, October 2nd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

The first is in support of postal banking and is signed by a number of Canadians who are very concerned about the fact that nearly two million Canadians desperately need an alternative to payday lenders because of the crippling lending rates that affect the poor, marginalized, rural and indigenous communities across Canada.

There are 3,800 Canada Post outlets that already exist in rural and remote areas where there are few or no banks, and Canada Post has the infrastructure to rapidly transition to postal banking. Therefore, the petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to enact my motion, Motion No. 166, to create a committee to study and propose a plan for postal banking under the Canada Post Corporation.

[Petitions, October 1st, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is in regard to the affordability crisis Canadians are facing with housing and other costs in their daily lives. First and foremost, Canadians are indeed struggling with unaffordable housing, child care, precarious and unreliable work, and shrinking opportunities, particularly among our young. Household debt is at a terrible high and costs keep rising. Instead of helping people, the Liberal government has continued to invest in the wealthy and well-connected.

The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to invest in affordable housing now, not at some distant time, and to take concrete measures to address out-of-control housing markets, protect good-paying jobs and take actions that will support and benefit those who are struggling.

[Petitions, October 1st, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today. The first is a petition in support of postal banking because nearly two million Canadian desperately need an alternative to payday lenders because of the crippling lending rates that affect poor, marginalized, rural and indigenous communities. We have 3,800 Canada Post outlets already in existence in these rural areas, where there are few or no banks and credit unions. Moreover, Canada Post has infrastructure that could make a rapid transition to include postal banking.

The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to enact my motion, Motion No. 166, to create a committee to study and propose a plan for postal banking under the Canada Post Corporation.

[Petitions, September 26th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a petition with respect to Bill C-397. Spouses of dying or past-serving veterans, public servants or employees of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are unfairly deprived of pensions in the event that their spouse dies. The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to support Bill C-397, which would eliminate all legislation that denies surviving spouses the pensions of military members, members of Parliament, judges, employees of Crown corporations, public servants and employees of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police if the retiree entered into a spousal relationship after age 60.

[Petitions, September 26th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I present a petition to the House of Commons signed by many Canadians who are concerned that nearly two million Canadians desperately need an alternative to payday lenders because of the crippling rates of interest that are charged to poor, marginalized, rural and indigenous communities.

We have 3,800 Canada Post outlets already in existence in these rural areas where there is often no bank. Canada Post has the infrastructure and can make a rapid transition to include postal banking. Therefore, the petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to enact my Motion No. 166, to create a committee to study and propose a plan for postal banking under the Canada Post Corporation.

[Status of Women, September 26th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, Anova in London, Ontario provides full service support for survivors of gender-based violence. The previous minister for Status of Women held consultations to discuss a national strategy to address gender-based violence.

This year, 71 people in Canada died at the hands of their intimate partners. Our criminal justice system has no legislation that specifically addresses intimate partner violence. This is outrageous.

Anova has yet to hear back from the minister. Where is the plan? How long does it take? Lives depend on it.

[Contraceptives, September 26th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, today, World Contraception Day, falls in the middle of Gender Equality Week. Sadly, in Canada, we have neither equal access to birth control nor gender equality. For example, birth control like the NuvaRing is available on public formularies in Quebec, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and the Yukon, but not in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba or Ontario. Only Alberta covers emergency contraceptives, and only Quebec covers the contraceptive patch.

Canada has an obligation to ensure that everyone across the country has access to the highest quality of medication, but obviously, this does not include many women, trans or non-binary persons in need of contraceptive care.

The Liberals are known for running with New Democrat policies to get elected and never keeping their promises. The Prime Minister could take the first concrete step and implement his promise of national pharmacare by beginning with free birth control, as proposed by my Motion 65.

He could take this—

[Business of Supply, September 25th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, we would have done it by spending intelligently. We would have done it by making sure that every dollar went where it was needed, instead of leaving $372 million on the table that belonged to veterans and their families.

Yes, the Liberals opened offices, but they opened them without staff. On this nonsense about providing service, I would like him to explain to me how people can go 29 and 32 weeks without any response from Veterans Affairs. Is that at all looking after the veterans and families of our country?

I am sorry, but I am a shade upset by the conduct of this government and the previous government. A fake pension is not a pension, and they know it is a fake pension, and so do the veterans of this country.