Marlene Jennings

[International Cooperation, February 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, on Sunday the Minister for International Cooperation announced that CIDA would continue to support the work done in Guatemala by Quebec cooperatives grouped together under the name of SOCODEVI.

CIDA has contributed up to $7 million over four years to SOCODEVI to support its work with small agricultural cooperatives in Guatemala. As a result, thousands of rural families will benefit from improved access to agricultural equipment and opportunities related to their marketing efforts.

The peace established in Guatemala in 1996 put an end to four decades of war, fuelled for the most part by the gap between the rich and the poor. This peace since 1996 is being strengthened daily with improving living conditions for all.

By supporting SOCODEVI, Canada is contributing to this peace.

Here is a meaningful example of Canada's support to less disadvantaged people in developing countries.

[Thérèse Daviau, February 5th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise to pay tribute today to Thérèse Daviau, who passed away on February 1.

She will long be remembered for her great energy, both on the Montreal political scene, where she was active for many years, and in her professional life.

As well, Thérèse Daviau suffered the terribly tragic loss of her daughter Geneviève, who was among the 14 victims of the École Polytechnique massacre on December 6, 1989. In its aftermath, Thérèse Daviau courageously devoted a great deal of her energies and generosity to the December 6 Victims Foundation Against Violence and worked tirelessly on behalf of gun control.

For all these reasons and more, Thérèse Daviau was an outstanding model for countless women wishing to get involved in public life. Her commitment and devotion to the many causes dear to her were a striking example of what women can do to make the world a better place.

I offer my sincerest condolences to Thérèse Daviau's family and friends. She will be truly missed.

[International Development, February 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, this week Canadians are celebrating International Development Week.

For over 50 years Canada has provided assistance to the world's poorest countries and communities. In the early years our teachers, nurses and administrators provided much needed services. Today they are working side by side with their capable and dedicated counterparts from around the world in a spirit of true partnership for development.

Polls confirm that the Canadian public supports international development. The government has acted on their concerns with good reason: international development efforts have yielded considerable results.

In 1975, for instance, 40% of the world's population had access to drinking water, and today that figure is approximately 70%.

I invite all Canadians to show their commitment to international development during this International Development Week.

[Position of Parliamentary Poet Laureate, December 13th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise in the House today to underscore a great moment in the history of our parliament. On December 11, 2001, this House passed Bill S-10 in third reading. This bill, sponsored by Senator Grafstein, will create the position of parliamentary poet laureate, once royal assent is received.

I myself had the honour of being able to work on it, but my colleague, the hon. member for Saint-Lambert, is the one who ensured the bill's safe passage through the House.

I thank the MP for Saint-Lambert profusely for her hard work and dedication to the creation of a parliamentary poet laureate. Her skillful stewardship ensured the successful passage of Bill S-10 through the House.

December 11 will be remembered as a good day for Canadian culture. The creation of a parliamentary poet laureate will ensure that Canadians' knowledge and appreciation of their poetry is further enhanced.

[Committees of the House, December 13th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I will be brief. The Bloc Quebecois insists on the tax points issue.

Therefore, I wonder if the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance could give us the value of the cash transfers to Quebec, expressed as a percentage of all transfers, taking into consideration Quebec's population, and the value of the tax points.

[Terrorism, December 4th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend the entire world learned of the horror visited upon innocent Israeli civilians by suicide bombers. Over 20 youths were killed and some 200 others were injured.

These acts of terror must cease. The deliberate targeting of civilians, whether they are Israelis, Americans or citizens of any other country, can only be qualified as an act of terror. The fact that they are carried out in the name of Palestinians' right to a free, autonomous state can in no way justify or even explain the use of terror against Israeli citizens.

Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian authority must now work resolutely to bring these terrorists to justice.

The Palestinian authority and other countries in the Middle East that have allowed these terrorist groups to spread their hatred of Israel must stop supporting this hateful cause.

Canadians deplore these acts of terror. I would offer my profound condolences to the families—

[Question No. 79, November 30th, 2001]

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

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 30th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, Question No. 79 will be answered today.

[International Aid, November 30th, 2001]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member opposite for her question.

I am very pleased to say that, indeed, Canada has a relationship with Afghanistan that spans several years. So far, we have contributed $150 million in aid to that country, plus an additional $16 million since the September 11 events.

The money given to Afghanistan as international assistance was not paid to the Taliban, but to NGOs working with women—

[Business of Supply, November 21st, 2001]

No, Mr. Speaker. We agree with the committee that the basic features of the plan are valid.

We were asked to examine certain aspects of the plan which were raised by witnesses who appeared before the committee during consideration of Bill C-2.

What the member is refusing to see is that, in our response to the report, we mentioned the issues it raised. We have already addressed these issues, such as the short work week and undeclared earnings. We intend to look more closely into such issues as apprenticeship, self-employment, and family obligations.

I think that in the present climate of economic uncertainty, Canadians want to know that they can count on a reliable and stable plan. And they can.

The EI plan is stable and reliable and we are going to ensure that it stays that way.