Nicole Demers

[Status of Women, October 31st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, for the first time in 50 years of space flight two women, Pamela Melroy and Peggy Whitson were commanders at the same time, one on the space shuttle Discovery, and the other at the International Space Station.

While women are soaring high in space, here on earth, in a country said to be the best in the world, the Conservative government wants to set them back 30 years.

We send money to Afghanistan so that women can assert their rights, and that is a good thing. However, funding is being cut for women who want to defend their rights here. An honorary title was given to Aung San Suu Kyi for her courage, while the court challenges program was eliminated and an anti-abortion judge was appointed.

These decisions are far from enabling women here to aim high. The minister should learn to take command, like her sisters in space, instead of snubbing the women who disagree with her.

[Status of Women, October 24th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the minister must stop this empty rhetoric. The reality is that programs for women's equality, social justice, and women's political and legal participation have been dropped. The new rules eliminate all funding for activities promoting women's rights. Twelve of 16 Status of Women regional offices have been closed, not to mention the elimination of the court challenges program.

The real question is this. Will she apologize? That is what is needed. What is she waiting for?

[Status of Women, October 24th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as we saw yesterday, despite mounting pressure from women's groups, the minister responsible for the status of women refuses to apologize and is maintaining her arrogant, petty attitude.

Will the minister admit that her blackmail is inappropriate? Will she set aside her pride? Will she show some humility and do the right thing under the circumstances, which is to apologize to all women?

[Status of Women, October 23rd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the minister responsible for seniors in Quebec made comments similar to those by the minister responsible for the status of women when she said, “We give you money and you do nothing but complain.”

Instead of chattering on about inappropriate comments, will the minister follow the Quebec minister's example and apologize to women?

[Status of Women, October 23rd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the minister responsible for Status of Women made some mean comments when she was threatening and blackmailing women's groups.

Michèle Asselin, the president of the Fédération des femmes du Québec, is right to wonder whether the minister's intention is to muzzle women by threatening to take away financial support.

Will the minister admit that her blackmailing is harmful and will she apologize to all women for her comments which, face it, were disparaging and insulting?

[Monique Sourdif, October 22nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute today to Monique Sourdif, a resident of Laval and recipient of the Quebec “Hommage aux Aînés" award. The award recognizes the contribution of an individual to improving the well-being, quality of life, participation and role of seniors in Quebec society.

Her commitment is incontestable. For more than 25 years, she was involved in the Canadian Cancer Society, bringing support to cancer patients and their loved ones.

For more than 10 years, she worked to promote the participation and integration of seniors within organizations and private residences, and was involved in the “celebrating seniors” committee in Laval.

She helped initiate intergenerational days and, in the same spirit, founded the Maison des grands-parents. She was an administrator at the Laval FADOQ for a few years and was a co-founder of the Table de Concertation des Aînés in Laval.

Monique is an exceptional woman, and a wonderful mother and grandmother, but most of all, she is my friend. I am proud to see her honoured in this way. No one is more deserving. Bravo!

[Status of Women, October 18th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, women do not need charity; they need real programs.

The throne speech is a slap in the face for women. It makes no mention of pay equity or improving the economic security of women.

Can the minister, who says she is connected to women's reality in Quebec, explain why there are no measures for women and no pay equity legislation announced in the throne speech? That is not what I would call connected.

[Hate Propaganda against Women, June 20th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, on April 22, a motion put forward by the hon. member for Etobicoke Centre to add the word “woman” to the Criminal Code with respect to hate propaganda was adopted by everyone except the Conservative Party.

The government and its Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women do not seem to be too concerned about the prevalence of hate propaganda, yet it can be found in ads, in songs, on television, everywhere.

It is high time to give the justice system tools to eradicate this scourge. That does not mean encroaching on freedom of expression, but when freedom of expression is used to perpetrate gratuitous violence against women, it has to be censured.

The Conservative government has to implement this April 22 motion. It is a matter of political integrity and, above all, dignity and respect for women.

[Status of Women, June 15th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Laurentides—Labelle and I recently presented petitions with a total of 2,868 signatures from 105 women's groups.

The petitioners are demanding that the Prime Minister keep the promise he made on January 18, 2006, when he committed to taking action to support the human rights of women. He can do this by reopening the 12 offices of Status of Women Canada, bringing back the court challenges program and restoring the original criteria for the women's program.

Women are being betrayed by this government, which is setting their cause back and violating their rights. If women are so important to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women, why has she allowed these cuts to be made?

This government needs to listen to women if it really believes in justice and fairness.

[Petitions, June 12th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased and especially proud to rise here today to present two petitions containing 1,499 signatures from 75 women's groups in Quebec. These women feel betrayed by the Conservative government and its Minister for the Status of Women.

The Prime Minister has reneged on a promise he made on January 18, 2006, when he committed to taking action to support the human rights of women. The petitioners are calling on the government to re-open the 12 offices of Status of Women Canada, to bring back the court challenges program and to restore the original criteria for the women's program.

Basically, the petitioners hope that the Prime Minister will keep his word and respond positively to their concerns.