James Lunney

[Yom Kippur, September 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, known as the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur is the second of the high holidays and conclusion of a 10-day period specifically set aside to focus on introspection and repentance. It is a time of rest, reflection and renewal for Jewish people as they observe the day by fasting, praying, attending synagogue and refraining from work.

Prime Minister Harper said that pluralism is the principle that binds our diverse peoples together. For Canadians, this important holiday provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on the tremendous contributions that members of the Jewish community have made to Canada. It also affords an opportunity to renew our commitment to expose and oppose anti-Semitism in all its forms, including the new and virulent anti-Semitism surfacing around the world.

Yom Kippur is about getting relationships right, man-to-man and man-to-God. May this season be a blessed experience for all who take note.

[Foreign Affairs, September 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this week the UN Human Rights Council released its latest anti-Israel missive.

The Goldstone report began with a mandate to condemn the Jewish state in a process that Canada and many other nations would not support. The report accuses Israel of war crimes in the recent Gaza conflict.

Regrettably, war crimes is the same claim made by the Leader of the Opposition during the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Could the minister of state please inform this House what the government's response is to this report?

[Petitions, June 19th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, the member who spoke before me mentioned the 12,000 Canadians who were on the Hill recently for the March for Life.

I also have a petition from some 475 people from my riding and from other parts of Vancouver Island and Canada. The petitioners call upon Parliament to recognize that people have a right to life. They draw to the attention of Parliament that since 1988 Canada has had no law regarding abortion at all.

They call upon Parliament to pass legislation for the protection of human life from the time of conception until natural death.

[Criminal Code, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I listened to the member's speech with some interest. At the end of his speech, he talked about working together and collaboration. I was a little disappointed to hear the member basically apologizing and making excuses for the people who commit auto theft, not once or twice but sometimes dozens of times. One person alone in B.C. was responsible for more than 1,000 car thefts.

I heard him mention that insurance companies should perhaps transfer responsibility to car owners by forcing them to buy immobilizers, as was tried in a jurisdiction he referred to. It seems to me that is lazy politics. It is wrong-headed. It is like the gun registry, which penalizes the honest people.

Bill C-26 creates a separate offence for theft of a motor vehicle. It calls for a prison sentence of up to six months for conviction of a third or subsequent offence, and there is a new offence for altering or destroying a vehicle identification number. It makes it an offence to traffic in property obtained by crime, and it makes the possession of such property for the purposes of trafficking an offence.

Why does this member and his party not get on board with Canadians who are tired of this kind of theft and do something that will actually make our communities safer?

[Business of Supply, June 11th, 2009]

Raise taxes for GM and Chrysler?

[Human Rights, June 1st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday our Prime Minister was honoured with not one but two awards recognizing his strong leadership and decisive actions in defending human rights at home and abroad.

He received the Canadian Jewish Congress Saul Hayes Human Rights Award, the first serving prime minister to ever receive this award, and also the Simon Wiesenthal International Leadership Award.

Since forming government, our Prime Minister has led Canada in a new era of principled foreign policy based on Canadian values, taking bold positions on the world stage regardless of how popular they were at the time. Canada was the first country to cut off funding to the Hamas government and the first to pull out of the Durban hatefest.

Here in Canada, our Prime Minister has acted to protect the rights and safety of communities at risk through creating the security infrastructure pilot program. Just yesterday, he announced that our government will table legislation that would allow victims of terror to sue those foreign entities responsible for the attacks.

It is great to see our Prime Minister acknowledged for his leadership and conviction in advancing human rights. Canada and the world are better for it.

[Business of Supply, May 28th, 2009]

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the minister for sharing that overview with us. The $451 million in ramped up spending for small craft harbours, for science and for the coast guard is going to make a big difference in stimulating coastal economies. I want to thank the minister for that great overview.

Our oceans are great sources of economic activity. Ocean trade makes our oceans a tremendous contributor to Canada's economy. Oceans function like global highways. Safe and secure waterways are critical to Canada's economy.

For coastal communities, oceans have been the source and the mainstay of economic, social and cultural benefits. The most obvious examples would be found in commercial, recreational and aboriginal fisheries. In my riding aquaculture, including shellfish aquaculture, is also a big economic driver. I had the pleasure of announcing on behalf of the government as part of our stimulus package funding for a new centre for shellfish research, part of Vancouver Island University at Deep Bay. That is a tremendous contributor to our local economy.

Could the minister please describe the economic contribution of Canada's fishing sector in terms of dollars to Canada's economy?

[Canada-Israel Relations, May 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations with all parties and I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That, in the opinion of this House, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and the State of Israel should be highlighted confirming the deep bond of friendship between the Canadian and Israeli democracies.

[Security Infrastructure, May 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, hate crimes undermine the security of our neighbourhoods. The communities at risk security infrastructure program is a $3 million initiative that allows targeted communities to apply for funding to improve security and enhance their safety.

Canada is not immune to violent acts that target individuals based on their race, culture or identity. Crimes that target community or religious institutions are sometimes considered to be victimless crimes, but this is not the case. Hate-motivated crime leaves more than just physical harm because it targets an entire community.

That is why our government has acted to extend this important program, allowing community organizations to apply for federal funding to assist with upgrades to security infrastructure. This program continues our government's efforts to not only punish crimes but also to prevent them whenever possible.

Now is the time for community organizations to apply for this funding. Whether it is for a synagogue, a mosque or a community centre, all Canadians deserve the right to feel safe in their community, and our Conservative government is taking action to enhance both safety and security.

[Human Pathogens and Toxins Act, April 30th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I want to compliment the parliamentary secretary on his management of the committee and for the way he steered the bill through committee. He had a lot of co-operation from opposition parties along with the chair who spoke just a moment ago.

Canada really has a stellar international reputation in managing pathogens as evidenced by the H1N1 worldwide crisis. Canada is receiving pathogenic material from Mexico and helping it to analyze the bug that has been causing problems down there.

I wonder if the parliamentary secretary would comment on whether the provisions in Bill C-11 would help to ensure that we maintain our leadership role and would help to secure Canada's position as a leader in managing human pathogens.