Laurin Liu

[Social Development, June 12th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, once again, it is our most vulnerable citizens who are paying the price for the Conservative government's choices.

We have just learned that the 300 Quebec branches of meals on wheels will no longer have access to the federal new horizon for seniors program. This means that 30,000 people in Quebec, whose average age is 72, could see their services reduced.

Is the Conservative government really going to cancel funding for meals on wheels?

[International Trade, June 10th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, farmers no longer know who to believe in the Conservative Party when it comes to the future of supply management in Canada. The member for Edmonton Centre called supply management an anachronism that needs to disappear. The Prime Minister said that Canada would have to make difficult choices, and his Quebec lieutenant has already talked about compensating Canadian producers for the losses they will sustain as a result of the trans-Pacific partnership.

Will the Conservatives protect supply management, yes or no?

[International Trade, June 4th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, farmers in my riding, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, are not the only ones who rely on supply management. All farmers across Quebec and Canada have built their business model around this system. However, members in the Conservative caucus do not seem to have a problem with abolishing it.

Can the minister opposite guarantee that the Conservative government will not touch supply management in the trans-Pacific partnership negotiations?

[Science and Technology, June 3rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the minister of state is the one who is wrong. The current government does not provide adequate support for the humanities and social sciences, and the figures speak for themselves.

Between 2007 and 2015, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council saw its budget cut by nearly $50 million. Furthermore, in 2013, a Conservative Party insider said that there were too many young people in university and not enough young welders.

When will this government stop denigrating our humanities and social science researchers and start recognizing their contributions?

[Common Sense Firearms Licensing Act, May 29th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite made some absolutely ridiculous claims in his speech.

We know that there are a number of very important stakeholders that the government did not consult. The government is also disregarding the concerns that police services have about how difficult it will be to enforce the prohibition on the unauthorized transportation of firearms.

What groups did the government consult? Did it consult police services across Canada, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Police Association before the announcement? Did it consult the provinces and territories?

[Science and Technology, May 29th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government is not only muzzling scientists across the country, but it is also imposing unnecessary rules that are paralyzing their research. For example, a Toronto research centre is having to meet absurd conditions in order to get new funding. This is jeopardizing the scientists' careers, the work in progress, and also Canada's reputation in science.

Will the minister of state fix this absurd situation immediately?

[Quebec Collective of Social Inclusion Organizations, May 29th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, last night I had the pleasure of attending the gala held by the Collectif des entreprises d'insertion du Québec. It was an opportunity to mark 20 years of passion and support, because it was in 1995 that Quebec social inclusion organizations decided to form a collective. These organizations help thousands of people overcome poverty, and also contribute to the Quebec economy. However, the pride of all those who are able to re-enter the workforce is priceless.

On behalf of the NDP team, I would like to congratulate all the members of the collective. I would like to especially mention Grenier populaire des Basses-Laurentides in Saint-Eustache. I would like to thank the members of the board of directors, Yves Desforges, Raymond Lussier, Lise Savard and all those who do everything they can to ensure that their employees succeed. The Grenier populaire has an invaluable impact on the lives of our young people. All the residents of Rivière-des-Milles-Îles are grateful.

Together, we can build strong communities.

[Port State Measures Agreement Implementation Act, May 28th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech. He is always so well informed about the issues. I also know that this issue affects his riding and that he consulted fishers and the fishing industry in order to have an informed opinion.

I would just like to ask the hon. member for more information on the fishing industry in his riding and in Canada.

What are the spinoffs from this industry? Why is this bill so important for protecting this industry in Canada? I would also like him to speak to the important role Canada needs to play in the international community to ensure that other countries ratify this agreement.

[Digital Privacy Act, May 28th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to correct some of the false information the minister has spread. First, he said that we had enough time to debate Bill S-4 on Canadians' privacy. Unfortunately, we had just one day to debate this very complex bill that Canadians consider controversial. We have unfortunately not had enough time to study this bill thoroughly in the House.

In his speech he showed contempt for the official opposition. He is wrong: all of the recommendations were proposed by the official opposition. This is not how our Parliament should work. He also mentioned the Information Commissioner. There has been a flagrant lack of respect for the Information Commissioner during this Parliament.

Not only did the government not accept any of the recommendations that the Information Commissioner made during the study of Bill S-4, it also prevented the Information Commissioner from testifying before the committee during the study of Bill C-51, a bill that, as we all know, is even more controversial than Bill S-4.

This is the 97th time they have invoked closure in the House of Commons. That is not something to be proud of. The government keeps breaking records when it comes to gag orders in the House.

[Port State Measures Agreement Implementation Act, May 28th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure the member opposite: the NDP will support this crucial bill.

I would like to ask the member if the government is prepared to appeal to other countries around the world to sign and ratify the port state measures agreement.

I would also like to know how the government plans to put an end to illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing in Canada.