Larry Miller

[Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006, October 17th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, the member for Selkirk—Interlake, for his knowledge and support for all the lumber producers and logging companies in his riding.

I heard earlier today my colleague from the Renfrew-Pembroke area who made comments in the House on the bill. It really showed the kind of support that some of the members of the House have for the lumber producers and the people who are on the ground who rely on the forestry industry to make a living.

The hon. member mentioned the relevance of the NDP. I do not want to comment on that, but if its members do not vote on anything that could be.

I would like to ask the member a question. Just exactly what makes members like the member for Burnaby—New Westminster and the member for Thunder Bay—Rainy River really not care about the lumber producers in their area? Is it partisan politics? What is it? What is the member's opinion on that?

[Committees of the House, October 17th, 2006]

My apology, Mr. Speaker. You are absolutely right, I should have known better.

During the speech of my colleague across the floor he mentioned the Wheat Board. I would like to know what he has against western wheat producers on that issue alone and why they should not have a choice. Many farmers in the riding I represent have a choice. That is all the government is trying to do.

My hon. colleague criticized cuts. The cuts only involve basically what has been a matter of overtaxation. Cutting out administration and seeing that money actually goes to Canadian taxpayers is all the government is doing.

I ask the hon. member across the way, what does he have against Canadian taxpayers getting a good bang for their buck and why he supports overtaxation?

[Committees of the House, October 17th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I kind of chuckle to myself when I hear some of the comments from my colleague across the floor. The member mentions the Wheat Board. What do you have against western farmers--

[Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006, September 27th, 2006]

Twenty-four years. It is unbelievable, and the previous government could not seem to deal with it.

The lumber producing provinces across this country, including British Columbia, where the hon. member who is yapping back here is from, the industry, all the small loggers and the large loggers support this. Lumber producers from Quebec and from the east coast benefit big time, as do all the lumber producers in Ontario, or the bulk of them, and the ones from my riding.

I ask the hon. member, how many logging companies are in her riding and how many of those are in support of this agreement?

[Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006, September 27th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the softwood lumber agreement has dragged on for years, for way too long.

[Hockey, September 26th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, for weeks the great Canadian pastime has been getting into high gear. Girls and boys, the young and the not so young, have been dusting off their skates, wiping off the rust and airing out their equipment. It is hockey time in Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound.

In every town, minor hockey associations are gearing up for another great season of hockey. Also ready to go for the season are our senior A Durham Thundercats, our junior B Owen Sound Greys, the junior C Hanover Barons and, of course, the OHL's pride and joy, Owen Sound Attack.

The Attack start the season ranked sixth in Canada by The Hockey News. With the return of stalwarts like Bobby Ryan, Bob Sanguinetti, Theo Peckham and other NHL draft picks, the Attack will be a force to be reckoned with. They defeated the Soo Greyhounds 4-3 Saturday night in their home opener.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to invite you and my colleagues to Vancouver in May to watch the Attack, of course after they mow down the OHL, win their very first Memorial Cup.

I wish good luck to all participants in the great--

[Heritage Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Protection Act, September 20th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague from Manitoba for bringing this bill forward. It is certainly a bill that I was very proud and happy to second. It is something that is long overdue.

As my colleague from the Yukon mentioned, with respect to hunting, fishing and trapping, there are very few ridings, of course taking away the large urban centres, that this bill does not affect in some way. As has already been mentioned, aboriginal people, the first nations, the Inuit, rely on hunting, fishing and trapping for their sustenance. Other people right across the country from coast to coast rely on those activities, particularly fishing, to make a living. This is a great way to recognize it.

How important would this be to our first nations, our aboriginal, our Inuit people? I would like the member to dwell on that aspect.

[Petitions, September 20th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to present two petitions to the House today, with a total of 61 names from people in my riding who support traditional marriage.

[Agnes Macphail, June 16th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Agnes Macphail, who in 1921 was the first elected female MP in Canada. She was born in 1890 in Proton Station in my riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound.

Agnes Macphail was a Conservative. She was a big supporter of agriculture and an active spokesperson for the United Farmers of Ontario. She fought for old age pensions, prison reform and farmers' co-operatives and she founded the Elizabeth Fry Society of Canada.

As people enter the village of Ceylon, a sign has already been erected that says, “You are now entering Agnes Macphail country”.

Next weekend a great group of women from Grey County, led by the Reverend Donna Mann, will dedicate a cairn in the name of Agnes Macphail.

Today I have the honour of working in the House with this great group of female MPs, some of whom will attend this dedication ceremony.

I am very proud to say that Agnes Macphail from Grey County helped to pave the way for these great present day women.

[Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Virtual Elimination Act, June 15th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague across the way for her concern about this chemical. I have a couple of questions for her.

First, this product has not been allowed to be sold in Canada since 2002. It is in the process. CEPA is dealing with it, basically to get this banned. My worry is, and I think all Canadians and my hon. colleague across the way should be concerned, that this private member's bill could actually hamper the efforts of CEPA.

Second, why, after the 13 years that her party was in government, was the thing not banned in that time? I would like that answered. Why does she not just let the CEPA process work because this bill could actually damage that? I would like to hear her comments on that.