Marlene Jennings

[Justice, May 8th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, that is news to me, because during the last election campaign, that is not what the Prime Minister said as leader of the official opposition. Despite his serious error in judgment, the member in question still seems to have the confidence of the Prime Minister, who appointed him Chair of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

After making such virulent statements about the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, does the member still have the Prime Minister's confidence?

[Justice, May 8th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Saskatoon—Wanuskewin recently made inappropriate statements concerning the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. These statements by the fiercely pro-life member lead us to wonder whether he intended to intimidate the courts into not defending women's rights.

Does the Prime Minister intend to take disciplinary action against the member to stop him from attacking judicial independence?

[Child Care, May 5th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, last November the NDP sold out to the Conservatives and now that strategy has cost Canada a national child care program. Yesterday's child care debate proves it.

After the throne speech, the NDP was “cautiously optimistic”, and the NDP House leader had the gall to state, “We are making progress”. Now the NDP is surprised that the Conservative budget keeps the Conservative promise to kill child care.

Amazingly, in NDP land the members continue to attack the Liberal opposition and give the Conservatives a free pass. The NDP told Canadians last election, “Lend us your vote just this one time”. That is a mistake Canadians will not make twice.

[Point of Order, May 4th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the record of the proceedings in Hansard will indicate clearly that I said, “—if the minister were an honest woman—”.

I did not say she was dishonest. I did not say she was a liar. I did not say she was honest.

I said that “if” she were an honest woman, she would admit there was no real plan for protecting our environment, that she had no weight in cabinet and that she had no interest in protecting the future of Canadians.

And I am still waiting for her to admit it.

[The Environment, May 4th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, if the minister were an honest woman, she would admit that she has been totally ousted from the budget, and has no weight in Cabinet and no plan for protecting our environment.

Canadians want a real plan, made by Canada and for Canada.

When will the minister stop bending over backward to please President Bush instead of doing some good for Canadians and our environment?

[The Environment, May 4th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance has cut $5 billion earmarked for the environment. He has compensated with a vague promise to reduce that amount by 60%. In his budget, he did not even offer one dollar.

How can the minister let the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister sacrifice Canada's environment and the future of Canadians?

[Child Care, May 1st, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, this government and the minister are living in a dream world. Cancelling daycare agreements and replacing them with corporate tax credits is doomed to fail. It did not work in Ontario, or in New Brunswick, or even in Quebec.

Will the minister finally admit the truth, which is that her government has no real plan to help children of working mothers?

[Child Care, May 1st, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, this government wants to cancel the national daycare and early childhood centre system and replace it with cheques for about $1.60 a day.

How can the minister claim that this measure constitutes a plan to support a working mother in Vancouver who pays about $1,100 a month to put one child in daycare?

[Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, April 26th, 2006]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-227, An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce--Lachine.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to introduce this bill to change the name of the riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine to Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine—Dorval.

It is at the request of many of my constituents of Dorval, and I am honoured to be able to table this with the support of my honoured colleague from Saint Boniface. I hope I will have the support of every member of the House for this bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Resumption of debate on Address in Reply, April 11th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member opposite on what appeared to be his maiden speech, if I heard him correctly. I listened with great interest to his remarks. I do have a question, however, and it goes to the issue of child care.

I am a mother. I have actually had the experience of using all of the so-called choices that exist: a family member taking care of my child; my child being taken care of by a caregiver in the caregiver's home; a licensed caregiver; my child in non-subsidized day care; and then my child in subsidized day care. I can tell the member opposite that as a parent in 1993 it was costing me $25 a day in unsubsidized day care and with the child caregiver in the licensed home. Today, I am told by those groups and parents and private day care centres that are not subsidized, it costs anywhere between $75 and $90 a day.

So while I applaud the $1,200 taxable per child under six years old, my experience is that it will not help those parents who have to put their children--