Marlene Jennings

[Business of Supply, April 21st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it was quite interesting to listen to the member opposite speak about how there are lawful owners. I would like his reaction to a letter that the Canadian Police Association sent, in which its president stated, “It would be irresponsible to suspend or abandon any element of this program now that it is starting to deliver the intended results. Bill S-5”--that is the government bill introduced in the Senate--“and Bill C-301”--that is the private member's bill from the member opposite--“will compromise public safety”.

The president also went on to state in his letter that while critics of the registry have characterized it as penalizing law-abiding long gun owners, primarily hunters and rural residents, he noted that of the 15 police officers fatally shot in Canada during the last decade, 13 were killed with rifles or shotguns. He also pointed out that long guns are used two times more frequently than handguns in spousal homicides and five times more in suicides. He stated that in 2005 it was a registered long gun that allowed the RCMP to actually find out who had murdered other RCMP officers.

I would like the member's comments.

[Petitions, April 21st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to table a petition urging a NATO nuclear policy review. As everyone knows, Canada has signed and ratified the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, or NPT, in which there is a commitment that each of the parties to the treaty will work for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

These signators call upon the Government of Canada to publicly press for an urgent review of NATO's nuclear weapons policies to ensure that all nuclear states fulfill their international obligations under the NPT, to negotiate and conclude an agreement for the elimination of nuclear weapons, and to eliminate reliance on nuclear weapons from NATO's strategic concept.

[Afghanistan, April 20th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the condition of the Afghan people is deteriorating: an Afghan woman politician has been assassinated, the Afghan Parliament has enacted a law that legalizes marital rape, and violence has been committed against Afghan women demonstrators protesting this horrific law.

What do the Conservatives intend to do to defend the rights of Afghan women and to put pressure on the Afghan government, with more than words, to repeal this horrific law?

[Afghanistan, April 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the government talked about serious consequences. What will those serious consequences be?

When it comes to foreign affairs, it is difficult for Canadians to know where the Conservative government's priorities lie. We have certainly heard much discussion about the Minister of National Defence's campaign to become the head of NATO and yet Canadians have heard very little from that side on the issues of fundamental human rights.

The NATO summit begins today. It is an opportunity the Prime Minister cannot waste. Do the Conservatives even have an agenda for this summit other than finding a new job for the Minister of National Defence?

[Afghanistan, April 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the NATO summit begins today. The rights of Afghan women should be the top priority at that summit. The Conservative government must reassure Canadians, who are scandalized by the new law, that it will not stand idly by.

Can the Conservative government reassure Canadians now and assure them that the Prime Minister of Canada will not compromise on the fundamental human rights of Afghan women at the NATO summit?

[Afghanistan, April 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, all week, Canadians have been outraged by the new law in Afghanistan that authorizes marital rape. Their reactions are visceral. They are calling on the Prime Minister to take meaningful action.

What sanctions does the Prime Minister plan to take if the Afghan government does not renounce its despicable law, which denies Afghan women their human rights?

[Business of the House, April 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the government House leader would reiterate his plans for the business for the rest of today and for tomorrow.

At the same time, given that the next two weeks are a scheduled parliamentary break, I wonder if the government House leader could also specifically tell us what House business he and his government are planning for the full week of April 20 when we come back.

[Air Canada, April 1st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Macfarlane of Dorval has been an Air Canada employee for over 20 years. Thousands of Canadians and hundreds of my constituents work for Air Canada. Like Mr. Macfarlane, they are sick with worry over the security of their jobs and their pensions in the face of this looming restructuring.

Will the minister stand right now, do more than keep a watchful eye and actually reassure Air Canada's 30,000 employees that their pensions and the financial security of their families will be protected by the government?

[Air Canada, April 1st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, Air Canada could be on the verge of bankruptcy. An analyst has estimated that it has a 50/50 chance of surviving. Restructuring Air Canada would mean thousands of layoffs, in the midst of the economic recession. The last time Air Canada underwent restructuring, 3,000 people lost their jobs.

What is the minister doing to protect the jobs of Canadians who work for Air Canada?

[Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, March 30th, 2009]

No, they abstained on the other vote.