This is not funny—
House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2019, with 26% of the vote.
Aboriginal Affairs April 22nd, 2013
This is not funny—
Aboriginal Affairs April 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we have been increasing health care funding for our first nation communities during our time as government. We have also made historic arrangements at improving health care delivery, particularly in British Columbia, with a historic tripartite health agreement that we signed off, which will be implemented this year. The member and her party and the other opposition party can support the matrimonial rights legislation that will give—
Aboriginal Affairs April 22nd, 2013
Mr. Speaker, our hearts go out to those individuals who have lost loved ones to suicide. As I stated last week, Health Canada will work closely with the communities and send both additional nursing and counselling to the communities that were affected. We have renewed funding and work very closely with the national aboriginal organizations to develop the framework for the national aboriginal youth suicide prevention strategy and will continue to work in partnership with many other organizations.
The member can support aboriginal first nations women by supporting the matrimonial rights legislation in place in the House. That will give aboriginal women the same rights she takes for granted.
Anaphylaxis April 19th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Niagara West—Glanbrook for his hard work on this important file. I am proud to lend my support to this important motion. This is an important issue to many Canadians. I want to congratulate him for his hard work on this file. It is long overdue.
Could the member elaborate on how important it is to use plain language about allergens on food products?
Business of Supply April 19th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party had 13 years to apologize to individuals who went through the residential school system for the wrongdoing done to them. I was one of those students back in the day.
The Liberals had 13 years to settle and implement land claims agreements, which they failed to do. I can speak for Nunavut. The Mulroney government signed our land claims agreement. For 13 years, that party did absolutely nothing to implement the land claims agreement. Prior to our government coming to power, the NTI filed a lawsuit against that government at the time. Now we are back dealing with the implementation issue.
The Liberal Party had 13 years to invest in education, infrastructure and health. What did it do? It cut transfers to balance the books.
As a member of the first nations aboriginal community, as an aboriginal person, I am shocked that those two parties do not support first nations people having the same matrimonial rights the member for Vancouver Centre takes for granted. She wants first nations women to be below her when it comes to matrimonial rights so that first nations women can protect their children in areas of dispute. Why is that member opposing the matrimonial rights bill that would make first nations women equal to all Canadian women?
Business of Supply April 19th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, Nunavut is now 20 years old. The land claims agreement in Nunavut was signed by Prime Minister Mulroney. We will be celebrating our 20-year anniversary this year.
The challenge that we had for 13 years under the Liberal government was a lack of implementation from the government of the day, but now we are proceeding. I am quite proud of the record of our government in proceeding in creating the Nunavut Territory and implementing our land claims agreements.
I want to ask the member a question around the rights of first nations aboriginal people and Inuit that goes beyond land claims agreements.
Aboriginal women in this country continue to fight for equal rights that the member takes for granted. Yesterday, the Minister for Status of Women was responding to a question on the matrimonial rights of aboriginal people in that they be equal to other Canadian women. I want to know why the NDP and the Liberal Party do not recognize the fact that aboriginal women do not have the same rights when it comes to matrimonial rights and why the member continues to oppose that. What are they afraid of?
Aboriginal Affairs April 18th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, our hearts go out to those individuals who have lost loved ones to suicide. Health Canada will work closely with the community and send both additional nurses and counselling staff to assist the community during this time.
We have renewed funding for, and work very closely with, the national aboriginal organizations to develop the framework for the national aboriginal youth suicide prevention strategy. We also continue to fund a number of community-based programs and services for mental health promotions, counselling, addiction prevention treatments and aftercare for first nations. Suicide prevention is also a pillar of the pathways to aboriginal health equity program we announced last year.
Suicide Prevention April 18th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, we welcome the leadership of the Chief of Neskantaga First Nation at this very difficult time.
Health Canada has sent additional nurses as well as counselling staff to assist the community members during this very difficult time.
Our government takes the situation seriously, which is why we provided funding for drug and alcohol abuse programs in the community. It is also why the community received funding to prevent and combat youth solvent abuse.
Health April 17th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I was the finance minister for Nunavut dealing with the Liberal health care cuts.
Patient care in a hospital, the practice of pharmacy and admixing all fall under the provincial jurisdiction. The Ontario government has said it would be regulating these sites.
I have instructed Health Canada's officials to co-operate fully with the investigation that the Wynne government has been leading. If the review determines that there is a federal role, we will seriously consider any changes that are recommended.
Health April 17th, 2013
Mr. Speaker, it was that party that cut health transfers in Canada.
The Health Council of Canada's 10-year mandate expires in 2014, meaning there is no need to continue federal funding. Our government announced long-term stable funding transfers to the provinces and territories to help them achieve their health care priorities.
Federal health transfers have grown from $19 billion in 2005-06 to $27 billion in 2011-12 and will reach $40 billion by the end of the decade.