Joy Smith

[National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, April 25th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, this week is the seventh annual National Victims of Crime Awareness Week which raises awareness about victims' issues and the program, services and laws in place to help victims of crime and their families.

With my extensive involvement in combatting modern-day slavery, I am particularly pleased about a new program our government has announced to provide financial support to parents of missing and murdered youth. Having met many parents whose children have been tragically taken or lured from them, I know these parents face challenging financial strains in addition to significant emotional and mental burdens.

This important initiative adds to our government's ongoing actions to support victims of crime, including $5.25 million for the creation and enhancement of child advocacy centres across our country and the development of a national action plan to combat human trafficking.

Working together, we must fight to end the sexual exploitation of women and youth across our nation.

[Human Trafficking, April 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, today the leader of what is called the largest proven human trafficking ring in Canadian history will be sentenced.

This is a deplorable crime that leads to vulnerable people being taken advantage of, often for the profit of criminal and terrorist organizations.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety tell the House what the government is doing on this file?

[Human Trafficking, April 2nd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes that human trafficking is a despicable crime and that anyone who profits from the modern-day slave trade should face serious consequences.

In recognition of this crime, I recently introduced Bill C-310. Our crown attorneys desperately need this tool in order to prosecute human traffickers wherever they commit their crimes. Unfortunately, last Friday NDP members deliberately delayed the passage of Bill C-310. They deliberately threw it to the bottom of the order paper.

This has become a pattern that is very disturbing. When we look at the record, NDP members have already voted against tougher penalties for child predators, against tougher penalties for child kidnappers and against ending house arrest for serious crimes such as sexual assault.

Last Friday the only muscle that was shown was against the innocent victims of this horrendous crime.

[Petitions, March 30th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, today I have the honour of presenting several hundred petitions in support of my Bill C-310, which will go to third reading today. These petitions were totally unsolicited by me.

I am pleased to see that these people are supporting the bill, as are all members on all sides of the House.

[Petitions, March 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I also have hundreds of petitions that have come forward requesting that the government put in a national action plan to support victims of human trafficking, which is critical. I am pleased to say that our government is in the process of doing that.

These petitions are in support of that national action plan.

[Petitions, March 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I have before me a petition from hundreds of people across the country who are asking the government to request that Parliament amend the Criminal Code to decriminalize the selling of sexual services, criminalize the purchase of sexual services and provide support to those who desire to leave prostitution.

The second petition also addresses the issue of targeting the people who purchase sex in terms of the Nordic model and make the victims of sexual exploitation victims, not criminals.

[Petitions, March 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the final petition requests that the government implement a comprehensive national action plan to combat human trafficking. As we know, the government had announced in the last election that it would do that.

[Petitions, March 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by many petitioners from across the country. It is addresses the Criminal Code to decriminalizing the selling of sexual services and criminalizing the purchasing of sexual services and providing support to those who desire to leave prostitution.

[Petitions, March 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions.

The first petition is from a number of constituents and others across Manitoba. The petitioners call on the federal government to develop and implement Bill C-233, a strategy for poverty elimination, in consultation with the provincial, territorial, municipal and aboriginal governments.

[Committees of the House, March 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Health in relation to Bill C-300, an act respecting a federal framework for suicide prevention. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House without amendment.