House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 50% of the vote.
Justice April 12th, 2017
Mr. Speaker, we have set up a new judicial appointment process that made it possible to appoint women to 60% of the positions, since the beginning of our term, while the previous government made roughly 35% such appointments. We are very proud of our record on this.
In Quebec, there are 163 federal judicial appointments. There are six vacant positions that we will fill shortly. We are taking this very seriously. The federal government is doing its work.
Telecommunications April 12th, 2017
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Laurentides—Labelle for his question and for his tireless work on rural issues.
For people who live in rural regions, high-speed Internet opens up a world of economic opportunity. With the “connect to innovate” program, we will invest up to $500 million between now and 2021 to bring broadband Internet access to 300 of Canada's rural and remote communities.
I know there are going to be Canadians all across the country getting onto their mobile phones, accessing their Internet, turning on their TVs, to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs, which start tonight, and I know that everyone across this country will join me in rooting for the Montreal Canadiens over the Maple Leafs, over the New York Rangers--
Indigenous Affairs April 12th, 2017
Mr. Speaker, no relationship is more important to this government than the relationship with indigenous peoples. That is why we are working so hard to invest historic amounts of money, $8.4 billion in our first budget, billions more in the most recent budget, to begin the long work of creating opportunities and parity for indigenous peoples across this country.
I am extraordinarily proud of the work our justice minister is doing on this file and many other files. I stand by her in the great work she is doing.
Infrastructure April 12th, 2017
Mr. Speaker, we are proud that in budget 2017 we highlighted historic amounts of investment in infrastructure right across this country for bridges, roads, public transit systems, social housing. The impact on Canadians right across this country is going to be massive.
Indeed, Canada has developed over the years a tremendous level of expertise in infrastructure investments, whether it is through our pension funds or elsewhere. Participating in infrastructure investments all around the world makes good sense for Canadian know-how and for Canadian investors.
International Development April 12th, 2017
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle for her question.
Our government has continually emphasized how crucial education is to empowering girls. Education promotes gender equality, reduces the incidence of child marriage and unwanted pregnancy, and promotes peace.
Last year, close to $334 million of our international aid funding went to education. That is 9% of our total international aid.
As we move toward implementing the 2030 agenda, we must work together to make quality education available from early childhood to the end of school—
International Development April 12th, 2017
Mr. Speaker, we believe that constructive engagement on the world stage is what Canadians expect.
Our re-engagement with UNRWA is actually allowing us to hold to closer account the choices and the funding that is delivered through that mechanism. We know that Canadian pressure and Canada being part of UNRWA allow us to ensure that the help is going to where it is needed and it is not creating negative consequences for Israel or for anyone else.
Foreign Affairs April 12th, 2017
Mr. Speaker, one of the things that Canadians have appreciated is our engagement back on the world stage in multilateral forums and recognize that Canada is most effective when we work alongside like-minded partners and act in concert to put pressure on various bad actors in the international order. That is why we are working so carefully with our colleagues and allies around the world to ensure that we are holding governments, like the Russian government, to account on the choices they make and ensuring that the sanctions we bring forward are the most impactful possible from an international standpoint.
Foreign Affairs April 12th, 2017
Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the work our Minister of Foreign Affairs has done, in Brussels last week and in Italy this week, with our international partners on holding the Syrian regime to account.
On the issue of Russia, I think the Russian government has a very serious choice to make: whether it continues to support the war crime-committing, bloodthirsty regime of Bashar al-Assad or whether it stands with the international community in condemning those actions and moving forward in a real, tangible way towards peace for the Syrian people.
Fisheries and Oceans April 12th, 2017
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to be out in B.C. a number of months with the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to announce a historic oceans protection plan that is going to demonstrate world-class protection of our oceans, including empowering coastal communities to have the tools and the support they need to be the first responders that they so often are in situations of distress and accidents.
We know that investing in protection for our oceans makes sense both for the environment and for the Canadians who make their living on the ocean. That is why we are so serious about moving forward on a world-class oceans protection plan.
Health April 12th, 2017
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to confirm that this is exactly what we signed an agreement to do with the B.C. government, and indeed with all governments across this country.
We will work together to reduce the costs of prescription drugs. I was pleased to have the Government of British Columbia be part of this. We are moving forward on doing exactly that.
How are seniors are protected is extremely important to us. That is why we increased the GIS for our most vulnerable single seniors by 10% and why we lowered the age of retirement from 67 to 65.
We are going to continue to work for our seniors, and I thank the member opposite for her important question and her support.