Laurie Hawn

[Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, September 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to my hon. colleague, and I could not believe some of things he was saying.

Are we more likely to help Colombia or anybody else progress in their human rights record or their economies by working with them or ignoring them?

I have to point out something that the hon. member said. He seemed to give the impression that because the GDP in Canada is $48,000 and the GDP in Colombia is $5,000 that somehow it is unworthy of Canada to work with and help Colombia. I cannot believe he actually said that. The GDP in Afghanistan is about $500. By extension, does that mean we should ignore Afghanistan and all the things it needs and the help that Canada can bring it just because it is not up to our standard of GDP?

For heaven's sake, I cannot believe the member would say that.

I ask the member, generally speaking, whether it is Colombia or Afghanistan, can we help people better by working with them in helping to bring their standards up by entering into these kinds of agreements, or do we just ignore them and say, “To heck with you. You're not up to our standard. Why should we work with you?” That is ridiculous.

[Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, September 14th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, contrary to what the last questioner said, we have actually doubled our aid to Africa. We have not withdrawn money from Africa at all.

If Canadian civil society is arguing against the FTA, I am not hearing it, and the people in Edmonton Centre are certainly part of civil society.

My colleagues seem to suggest we should just do free trade agreements with comparable economies, but I would suggest there would not be that many free trade agreements we could pursue because most economies are not comparable to Canada.

Does my hon. colleague not think that trade and free trade agreements are a good opportunity to increase employment? She talked about concerns regarding employment and prosperity for the people of Colombia. Is giving them opportunities not a good way to increase employment and increase their prosperity?

[Committees of the House, June 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons and on behalf of the Government of Canada I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the recommendations contained in the first report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, entitled “Military Health Care—National Defence”.

[National Defence, June 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, local Afghans are hired to provide security at specific Canadian Forces installations and are undertaking these duties under the training and supervision of the CF after being appropriately trained by Canadian Forces personnel. Weapons are collected and secured when not in use and never leave the CF installation.

Canada employs these personnel in a manner consistent with its international legal obligations. As Major Steve Jourdain said recently:

It definitely gives us flexibility. If it was not for the private security, it would not be possible for me to do the next operation.

[Doug Matheson, June 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 88-year life of a great Canadian. Doug Matheson was a war hero, lawyer, judge, flying instructor, too many other things to list and general inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Shot down in his Spitfire in 1943, he evaded the Nazis for several months before being captured. He escaped execution as a spy and spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft III, including spending time as a tunneler for the Great Escape.

After the war, he earned a law degree and was later appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench in Alberta.

His passion for life and the people in it never waned and his love of flying lasted a lifetime. He was a fixture at the Edmonton Flying Club for decades and tutored countless young pilots. At the age 87, Judge Matheson decided it was time to get his helicopter qualification, and he did so. Age was just a number to Doug.

On Monday Doug departed Edmonton for a flight over the Badlands in his Beechcraft Bonanza. He never came back. Somewhere along the way, he slipped the surly bonds of earth for the last time, put out his hand and touched the face of God.

He will be missed. Happy landings, D.R.

[Questions on the Order Paper, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[CFB Valcartier, June 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, since there is a class action before the courts, it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment on this specific point at this time.

CFB Valcartier provides drinking water to members of the Canadian Forces and their families, as well as to the municipality of Shannon. In recent years, we have invested over $40 million in projects to improve and maintain the base water supply system as well as to help the municipality of Shannon improve its own system.

[CFB Valcartier, June 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the identification of the contaminated site at CFB Valcartier is proof of the Canadian Forces' resolve to always protect health and safety.

In fact, National Defence has had programs in place for a long time to locate contaminated sites and determine potential risks. When contaminated sites are discovered, National Defence takes all the steps required to mitigate any potential risk.

[Petitions, June 9th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, the third petition is again from the constituents of Edmonton Centre, submitted on behalf of the children of separation and divorce, the petitioners call upon Parliament to base legislation on incorporating the rights of children and principles of equality between and among parents.

[Petitions, June 9th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, in the second petition, the petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to compel vehicle manufacturers to make service and repair technical information and tools available to independent service providers at a fair price, which is done in other jurisdictions, by passing and implementing appropriate measures. This is from the constituents of Edmonton Centre.