Lois Brown

[Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School, April 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the 125th anniversary of Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School is right around the corner. This long-standing Aurora institution is celebrating the milestone May 3 and 4.

A Williams grad myself, I still remember the amazing teachers and incredible school spirit. It began in 1888 as the Aurora High School on Church Street before moving to Wells Street in 1892.

The school moved to its current location on Dunning Avenue 60 years later and became the Aurora District High School. In 1961, it was given its present-day name, fondly known as Williams.

We watched many a football game while cheering on our team with the memorable chant, “Let's go, double blue; double blue, go; let's go”.

Congratulations to the Williams 125th reunion committee for its hard work in organizing this historic event. I look forward to seeing everyone this weekend at Williams.

[Committees of the House, April 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I listened to my colleague and her comments, but her facts are somewhat seen through rose-coloured lenses.

When this government was elected in 2006, we inherited a backlog of some 900,000 files from her government. She said that her government had fixed the problem.

I wonder if the member could tell the House what mechanisms her government used to construct a system that was supposed to be so well put together, because 900,000 files seems like an enormous number of files to let languish and not address. Could the member speak a little to how her government acquired 900,000 files with which it did not deal?

[Committees of the House, April 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, from what my colleague has said in the House today, what she is really saying is that the government has done such a fabulous job of managing the economy, that everyone wants to come to Canada. It is true. People around the world want to come to Canada because they see it as a country that is prospering under this government. We have done an amazing job managing the economy. What the member is also saying is that there should be free everything for everybody who wants to come into the country.

I wonder what part of due diligence the member sees as the responsibility of the government to ensure first of all, that we are able to manage our economy, to manage the services for Canadians who are here and yet still have the warm and open arms that we have to so many people who do come to Canada. We want to see families reunited. We are providing those services for people around the world to come to Canada, but there are proper processes that people need to go through. I wonder if the member could comment on due diligence that is the responsibility of the government to provide.

[Strengthening Military Justice in the Defence of Canada Act, April 29th, 2013]

Thirteen long forgotten years, the member is absolutely right.

Why did the Liberals not put fairness into the process to ensure that these people were treated equitably? Why did the member allow it to go on for so long?

[Strengthening Military Justice in the Defence of Canada Act, April 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I listened to my colleague speak, and she is talking about fairness and justice for all. Our government is very intent on seeing those things happen and making sure that there is fairness in the process.

If my colleague sees these things as not being fair, then they were unfair under her government as well. She was there for 13 years. Why did her government not fix it—

[International Co-operation, April 25th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, today at the Global Vaccine Summit, the Minister of International Cooperation announced that Canada will remain a leader in polio eradication. Bill Gates said Canada's increased support will help ensure that we can end polio and help all children live healthy and productive lives.

However, to accomplish this, violence against vaccine workers must end. Canada calls on all parties to denounce acts of violence against immunization workers. We also need everyone to continue to promote scientific facts about vaccination.

Canada remains committed to making polio history.

[International Co-operation, April 19th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, our government, as I said, is committed to ensuring that our development dollars are focused, effective and accountable.

Over the last number of years we have ensured that more moms and more babies have the nutrition they need. We have more children in school, and a high percentage of those are girls who are receiving an education.

We will continue to achieve real results with Canadian taxpayers' dollars.

[International Co-operation, April 19th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, all of the projects are going to be judged on the merit of the project.

What I want to say here is that Canadians can be very proud of the achievements their hard-earned tax dollars are making on projects abroad. Our investments are providing food, medical assistance, health care and emergency humanitarian assistance for those who need it most. We will continue to ensure that Canadians' dollars are spent in the ways that achieve the greatest results.

[International Co-operation, April 15th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as I said, our government is committed to poverty alleviation and achieving results for those most in need. That is why we created the Canadian International Institute for Extractive Industries and Development. It will help developing countries manage and govern their natural resources responsibly and ensure that the benefits are maximized for the people and for long-term development.

Finally, if the hon. member does not agree with partnering with the private sector, I ask her to refer to the comments of her colleague, the member for Newton—North Delta, who said when she was a member of the foreign affairs committee:

It really shows how much of a difference we can make when we work together. Symbiosis occurs when you can get partnerships established.

[International Co-operation, April 15th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I would encourage my colleague to take a look at the Equator Principles, which are international standards that Canada signed onto when those Equator Principles were constructed. We have a counsellor and we are working very well within that framework.

I also would like to say that I did not see her at the PDAC convention in March, in Toronto, where every country in the world was there, asking for Canadian expertise. Every country in Africa had a kiosk at that convention because they are looking to Canadian expertise in our extractive industries to come and bring that expertise into their country to help them develop their resources.

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to speak about the good work that our extractive industries are doing globally and what part they can play in international development. We want to help bring millions of people out of poverty by achieving sustainable economic growth. We want to see families, communities and, ultimately, developing countries, sustain economies and set out on a plan of prosperity.

We are doing exactly that in ways that promote the best of Canadian values. It is our duty to explore all partnerships and all innovative ideas to meet this critical objective. Our government is proud to partner with organizations that share our commitment to responsible resource development. Development that respects those resources beneath the earth of a given country should benefit the people who live above the earth of that country, especially those most in need.

Canada has an expertise in natural resources and we are pleased to share our knowledge with developing countries that are asking us to do just that.

Amadou Koné, the ambassador of Burkina Faso, said, “Burkina Faso needs help training workers and building human resources; Canadian companies can assist with that.”

The Peruvian ambassador, José Antonio Bellina, advocates for a win-win situation through private sector partnerships for development.

Canada's resource sector leads the world in responsible mining practices. The reality is that oil, gas, and mining are increasingly important sources of economic growth, revenue, and employment in the developing world.

In 2011, exports of oil and minerals from Africa, Asia, and Central and South America were more than 10 times the value of international development assistance provided to developing countries in the same year. Trends show that this will only increase.

Canadians know that a responsibly managed extractive sector can be a force for positive change. This translates into jobs, social services, and improved livelihoods so people can lift themselves out of poverty.

Our government has achieved results in the area of private sector partnerships. Thanks to a partnership with World University Service of Canada and Rio Tinto, residents in Ghana will have better educational services, better water and sanitation. And thanks to a partnership between Plan Canada and IAMGOLD, 10,000 youth in Burkina Faso will be trained with real job skills.

Our government's work will be further bolstered by the new Canadian International Institute for Extractive Industries and Development which will harness Canadian and international expertise and best practices to provide developing countries with additional resource governance support.

Development is not about dependency. It is about helping those in need to get a leg-up so they can prosper.