Marlene Jennings

[Status of Women, April 20th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, despite many advances, women still have a long way to go before they reach true equality.

I would like to ask the Minister of State for the Status of Women, what is our government doing to advance gender equality in Canada?

[Status of Women, April 20th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's foreign policy priorities include eliminating violence against women and helping women become empowered decision makers.

To assist in these goals, the 2004 budget provides an additional $248 million for foreign aid. This is in addition to the $500 million Africa fund and is in keeping with our goal to double international assistance by 2010-11.

We have done this in Senegal, for instance, where CIDA supports a network of organizations that escort and protect women victims of violence, run literacy campaigns and hold legal information clinics.

Canada will maintain its commitment to reduce global poverty and strengthen democracy, justice and social stability, all of which will contribute to improving the situation of women around the world.

[Pay Equity, April 1st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage. At the CBC, employees working in the same position receive different salaries based on their sex.

Is the CBC subject to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees pay equity?

[Montréal Games, March 29th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I would like my colleagues to join me in wishing good luck to the 5,000 children between the ages of 6 and 12 who are participating in the 27th edition of the Montréal Games.

Since yesterday, these sports enthusiasts have been competing with one another in 24 sport disciplines, from track and field to water polo. The competitions are being held mainly at the Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard and will end on Sunday.

In addition to instilling healthy living habits in all these children, this event helps them to discover the rewards of setting personal goals.

On behalf of all the members of this House, I would like to congratulate these young athletes. Bravo.

[Fisheries, March 24th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I was not paying attention when the vote was taken. I would like to be recorded as voting in favour of the motion.

[Pay Equity, March 24th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, all crown corporations must respect the Public Service Pay Equity Act. Recently, members have risen in the House to speak out against pay inequity affecting CBC employees, depending on whether they work for the French or English network and whether they are male or female.

Apparently, since these statements were made, bargaining between the CBC and the union representing these employees has hit an impasse. I am very concerned. All Canadians have the fundamental right to consult their member of Parliament and inform that member of problems with government entities.

I call today on the CBC to show respect for our democracy by bargaining in good faith with the union on the issue of pay equity.

[Refugees, March 23rd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to inform my colleagues of the unacceptable situation of three Palestinian refugees taking shelter in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce church in Montreal.

These refugees are clearly displaced persons. They are elderly Palestinians who have been living in refugee camps in Lebanon since 1948. For most of this time, they have lived in a camp in which internationally recognized terrorist groups are active. Canada cannot on the one hand welcome Palestinian refugees in order to assist the Middle East peace process and on the other hand refuse to allow these three Palestinian refugees our protection.

If Canada is truly serious about its efforts for true peace in the Middle East, then it is also our duty to give these three refugees our protection.

[Committees of the House, March 12th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask the indulgence of the hon. member and I offer my apologies for interrupting him on debate.

I would ask for unanimous consent of the House to be permitted to table the second report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts respecting the protection of witnesses who appear before the committee in relation to its study of chapter 3, “The Sponsorship Program”, chapter 4, “Advertising Activities”, and chapter 5, “Management of Public Opinion Research”, of the November 2003 report of the Auditor General of Canada.

[Justice, March 11th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, known pedophile Robin Sharpe has stated publicly that Bill C-12 would actually be of benefit to him.

Now the opposition in response is intentionally putting up roadblocks to the passage of Bill C-12.

Would the Minister of Justice tell the House whether Sharpe is right? Would Bill C-12 benefit him?

[International Women's Week, March 11th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, during International Women's Week, I want to tell the House about a study published Monday by the Canadian Council on Social Development.

Ms. Ekuwa Smith's study, entitled “Nowhere to Turn”, reveals the treatment that women in Canada's cultural communities face pertaining to domestic violence. It especially focuses on the effect of such abuse on immigrant and visible minority women.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Smith and the Canadian Council on Social Development for this study. I hope it will help many women from across Canada in finding help when they face domestic violence.