Maria Mourani

[Situation in Syria, May 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, there is nothing more terrible than war. Still worse than war is civil war. My family experienced civil war in Lebanon. I would not wish the experience of civil war on anyone.

What is currently happening in Syria brings back a lot of painful memories: brothers killing brothers, children without a childhood, burnt bodies, massacres, torture, children's fear-filled eyes, suffering, despair.

I do not think Canada should play a part in causing more suffering. We have a duty to act, but to act for peace. Political action can be a response to an extremely complex situation, but it must be an equally complex response. What Canada can and must do is repatriate all those Canadian families who are awaiting visas for their non-Canadian children. Canada must be compassionate and bring back refugees, and it must help the persecuted minorities, including Christians, Kurds and Assyrians.

Canada must definitely not send military troops to Syria. It must not arm the rebels because we know that there are terrorist groups among these utterly fragmented factions. Above all, let us not arm the Salafists, who will turn those weapons against us and against our children. I beg you not to do that.

For example, groups that have pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda—

[Syria, May 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to Orthodox Christians in Ahuntsic and around the world who, this week, celebrated Easter, a holiday of hope and great promise.

On this occasion, I cannot remain silent about the recent kidnappings in Syria Of Msgr. Yohanna Ibrahim, a Syrian Orthodox bishop from Aleppo, and Msgr. Boulos Yazigi, a Greek Orthodox bishop from the same town.

These kidnappings are one facet of the terrible human drama currently confronting the Syrian people, especially seniors, women and children.

More than ever, Canada must take action to protect Canadians still living in the midst of the bombing because the government refuses to issue visas to their immediate family members. Canada must also be compassionate and help the thousands of refugees and people belonging to persecuted minorities targeted by acts of violence.

Many Canadians and Quebeckers have family members there. No matter the community they belong to, they are united in calling on the federal government to take action. The time for rhetoric, photo ops and fine speeches is over. We must take action.

[Government Expenditures, May 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, seven days ago we found out that the Conservatives lost track of $3.1 billion earmarked for public safety.

Seven long days, and we still have no answer about how this pile of money disappeared. This government is making cuts to fundamental aspects of public safety, such as the police officers recruitment fund, which represents for Montreal about $30 million over 5 years to maintain squads such as the Eclipse squad, an effective crime-fighting resource, but there is nothing about the $3 billion.

Will the Minister of Public Safety at least have the decency to rise and tell us where the $3 billion went?

[1982 Repatriation of the Constitution, April 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, the Supreme Court announced that it had completed its review of two judges' violations of the principle of separation of judicial, legislative and executive powers during deliberations to repatriate the Constitution and force it on Quebec.

The Supreme Court said that it found nothing incriminating, but has provided no details about its review. As we have been saying since the beginning, this confirms that only a public inquiry with open access to Privy Council documents can shed light on the matter.

The court's secret inquiry into itself is a parody of justice. When will the government admit that that is not good enough and do the right thing: call for a public inquiry?

[Citizenship and Immigration, April 23rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, a month ago, the immigration minister promised measures to help people trying to flee from the war in Syria. Absolutely nothing has been done since then, yet Canadian citizens are still living amongst bombs, because the government refuses to grant visas to their children or parents who do not have Canadian citizenship. Refugees are trying without success to join their families here in Canada and in Quebec. People who are members of persecuted minorities are trying in vain to leave Syria. What is Canada doing for these people? Nothing.

Will the immigration minister do more than simply spew empty rhetoric and make false promises to Canada's Syrian community? Will he take real action to save the lives of these women and children whose communities are being bombed?

[Petitions, April 15th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to table a petition calling on all members to support Bill C-452, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (exploitation and trafficking in persons), which I introduced recently and which is currently being examined by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

More than 100 people signed this petition, which calls for members to support the bill because sexual exploitation and trafficking in persons are serious crimes. The petition urges all members to ensure that this bill is read, amended and studied in committee as quickly as possible, before it returns to the House for third reading.

[1982 Repatriation of the Constitution, April 15th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, justice in a democracy requires the separation of powers between the judiciary, the executive and the legislative branch. A judge must not speak to any of the parties during the deliberations.

The revelations about Chief Justice Laskin's indiscretions shake the basic trust that people should have in the courts. This is so serious that the Supreme Court indicated that it would investigate the matter.

We must also shed light on the Privy Council's role in this scandal.

Will the Prime Minister accept how serious these revelations are and launch an independent public inquiry to determine what really happened and ensure that such a thing never happens again—

[Air Canada, March 27th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, after being brutally thrown out on the street—in violation of the Air Canada Public Participation Act—and after being forced to go before the courts to have their rights recognized, while Ottawa defended Air Canada's untenable position, the former Aveos workers are now the victims of the federal government's dogged determination.

The government is demanding that they repay their employment insurance benefits on the pretext that they received compensation from Air Canada eight months after the sudden closure of Aveos. That is a betrayal. How shameful.

Will this government stop attacking workers?

[Right to Education in French in Saskatchewan, March 27th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the teaching situation for students at École Boréale in Saskatchewan is deplorable. Although the school is a priority of the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises, the Government of Saskatchewan is refusing to provide the infrastructure required for the students' education.

However, this French-language secondary school could potentially have over 400 students, but today only three students have agreed to put up with this contempt. The other students and their families have resigned themselves to attending English-language schools. In Quebec, we treat the historic anglophone minority with respect and dignity. Why this double standard?

Samantha, Ryan and Jonathan are true heroes. These young people have persisted over time, come hell or high water, to assert their right to education in French. They are proof that Canada does not treat all its children the same way.

I salute their courage, their determination and especially the strength of their commitment to a cause that transcends boundaries, the cause of dignity and the right to live in one's own language.

To these young people and to all francophones outside Quebec, I say, “Your fight is our fight, brothers and sisters.”

[Public Safety, March 26th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the invitation to join her party, but unfortunately this is just a moment in an adjournment debate, and her government would have to change many things before I agreed to join it.

That said, I want to assure the hon. member that I understand the government considered this fund temporary. Still, if I were the Minister of Public Safety, I would use my own judgment. If I were creating laws with the intent to put the maximum number of people in prison, I would expect a lot of police officers would be needed to arrest those people.

This magical thinking has to stop. Making laws, dumping the costs onto the provinces, and believing that they will be able to cover all the expenses is ridiculous.

We are the people who make the laws. If we were in the United States where each state makes its own criminal laws, I might understand. But that is not the way it is.

Thus, I invite the Conservatives to reconsider their decision. Of that $37.5 million, four cybercrime sources made it possible to arrest Magnotta, a revolting serial killer from Quebec.

Anonymous, for example, was also being closely watched by the cyberpolice. We must not cut out the things that work.