Joy Smith

[Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act, June 11th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to thank the minister for his absolutely fabulous bill. It has, for the first time, changed the paradigms in this country about those who are trafficked and those who are involved in prostitution at this point in time.

Could the minister please talk about the compassionate side? The purchasing of sex would now be illegal for the first time, but there is another very compassionate side to the bill that is going to address the victims of this crime.

[Main Estimates, 2014-15, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I think we could all agree that everyone wants this whole Parliament to be accountable. Everybody wants the Senate to be accountable. In fact, it has been very discouraging to see a few individuals from all different parties who have taken advantage of the Senate.

Recently this year there has been a very strict accountability of the finances, a very close examination of the Senate. We know the Senate has a long and wonderful history where it is known as the chamber of sober second thought. We know that there are a lot of wonderful senators who work extremely hard and play within the rules. Since some of this has happened in the Senate and it has been revealed that some individuals allegedly have misused funds, this very strong accountability of the money has been put in place. I believe it was last December.

Is the member aware of this aspect, that accountability is being put in there and has been put in there now?

[Business of Supply, June 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague for her very insightful speech, because it listed all the things our government has done to help all families, including middle-class families, with middle-class families now prospering more than ever before in this country. I would like the member to please tell us what has been done for seniors and for those who are disabled, because I did not hear that in the speech.

[Victims Bill of Rights, June 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I was sitting here listening to the member's comments, and I found some of them rather disappointing.

For the first time in Canadian history, we would have a victims bill of rights that should be collaboratively put together by all sides of the House. It is not a political football. It is recognizing right now that victims do have rights.

I, personally, have worked with many victims who have been in courts and who are absolutely devastated by what happened to them. They had no one. They did not know how the process worked. They did not have any hope of restitution in any way, shape, or form.

What I have heard tonight is concern for the perpetrator who might not have the money to pay the restitution. I would ask the member across the way to consider the fact that knowing that there is some restitution involved when someone is victimized, maybe the perpetrator would stop for a minute and think that committing the crime against the victim would not be a good thing.

Having said that, I wonder if the member opposite could consider that we are considering victims here, and if she could talk about the victims a little bit and how this would help them. Could she talk about what she could contribute to enhance it in such a way that victims could be reassured that members on all sides of the House are on their side?

[Victims Bill of Rights, June 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I was impressed with the fact that, for the first time, victims would be recognized as victims, and instead of having to bear the burden of being victimized, they would also have the opportunity to understand the process as they go through the trial and also restitution.

Would the parliamentary secretary talk a bit about why this particular legislation is so necessary and why it has been brought forward at this point in time in Canadian history?

[Victims Bill of Rights, June 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to thank my colleague across the way for his very heartfelt, insightful speech. Obviously the member of Parliament has strong empathy for victims, possibly because of the experiences he has had.

That said, could the member outline one or two things he thinks are very important to add to the bill? I think the bill is very strong. It needs to have members on all sides of the House put their ideas forward as well.

[Petitions, June 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, today I have another one thousand signatures on petitions calling upon Parliament to amend the Criminal Code to decriminalize the selling of sexual services, criminalize the purchasing of sexual services, and provide support to those who desire to leave prostitution.

The petitioners are petitioning our government because the laws were deemed unconstitutional in the Bedford case.

[Victims Bill of Rights Act, May 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, if the minister would be so kind, I would like him to go back to Senator Boisvenu, who before he became a senator was on the streets of Montreal speaking against human traffickers in Quebec. In his life, he turned a great tragedy into a great triumph. The victims bill of rights is important, and Senator Boisvenu had some input into it.

Could the minister please comment on the senator's input on this particular bill of rights?

[Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, May 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, on the eve of the Toronto summit Saving Every Woman, Every Child Within Arm's Reach, hosted by our Prime Minister, we take a moment to reflect that all children have the right to dream of the future with hope and optimism.

The preventable death of mothers and children in developing countries is one of the greatest tragedies of the 21st century. No mother should have to choose between herself and the health of her baby. The most recent data show us that more than six million children die in these countries before they are even five years old.

Last week I had the honour to announce that Canada would contribute $7.5 million to UNICEF for water sanitation and hygiene at schools for girls in 12 countries.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation “...congratulate Canada for working to integrate its Muskoka Initiative commitment to maternal and child survival....”

I am proud of our Prime Minister for making maternal, newborn, and child health Canada's number one development priority. Why? Because it is the right thing to do.

[Justice, May 26th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, with forthcoming legislation on prostitution, Canada must tackle this issue with the clear understanding that prostituted individuals are not criminals. More of them are young women and children. Canada's goal should be to end the violent institution of prostitution in Canada, and not to legalize it.

Front-line Canadian organizations that have worked with trafficked victims have requested a made-in-Canada response that targets pimps and johns with stiff criminal sanctions, and provides rehabilitation and assistance instead of arrest for prostituted women.

Last week, former U.S. president Carter, having recently written a book about the global epidemic of violence against women and girls, wrote to Canadian parliamentarians, urging Canada to recognize the violence that prostitution causes to women, and to take this opportunity to ensure that Canada's future laws focus on preserving human rights.

I am confident that our government will do exactly that.