Nycole Turmel

[Labour, May 1st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are playing a dangerous game by eliminating fundamental measures that protect Canadians.

In their latest budget implementation bill, the Conservatives have changed the definition of what constitutes dangerous work. In recent years, workers have lost their lives on the job just a few metres from this chamber.

Why does the minister not drop his irresponsible plan to change the definition of what constitutes dangerous work in order to ensure workers' safety?

[Labour, May 1st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, today is May Day when we honour the hard-fought gains of working people, the struggles for a safer workplace, better working conditions, and fair wages. The Conservatives have launched attacks on the rights of workers and have failed to act to better protect workers. There must be consequences when companies and senior executives fail to keep workers safe.

Why is the minister refusing to hold companies to account?

[Business of Supply, April 29th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP would like the division to be deferred until tomorrow, Wednesday, April 30, at the expiry of the time provided for government orders.

[National Capital Act, April 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the House for their participation in this debate, which is particularly important to the people of Hull—Aylmer.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the dozens of volunteers involved in my “Together let's protect Gatineau Park” campaign. Their passion for our park is truly inspirational.

What I heard during this debate is that, like these volunteers, MPs recognize the exceptional value of Gatineau Park. We all hope that it will be preserved.

However, as we know, good intentions are not enough to protect the park. We now have a responsibility to put words into action.

Over the past seven years, the House has examined several NDP initiatives to meet this objective. All of them died on the order paper. There is no more room for failure. We must move forward if we want to leave a healthy park to future generations.

Whether it be because of its rich biodiversity or its contribution to the economic development of our region, Gatineau Park is clearly a genuine national treasure.

It is unacceptable that Gatineau Park is the only major federal park that has no legal standing and no legal protection.

The measures proposed in my bill are simple. They will remedy this situation by giving our park protections similar to those in place for our national parks.

In practical terms, this means that Gatineau Park would be granted real legal standing. Its boundaries would be entrenched in law and could no longer be secretly changed.

The National Capital Commission's mission would also be changed to include the responsibility to protect Gatineau Park's ecological integrity and to acquire the real property located within the park.

This bill will finally give Gatineau Park—a park that was created 76 years ago—the protection it deserves.

When I launched the “Together let's protect Gatineau Park” campaign in 2012, I quickly realized that the protection of this park is a cause that goes beyond political allegiance.

By signing my petition to protect Gatineau Park, thousands of people in the Outaouais region and throughout Canada have already given me their support. I also have the support of non-governmental organizations known for their expertise in this area, such as Nature Canada and the Ottawa Valley chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

Today, I urge all members from all parties to support this bill. I urge them to send the bill to committee so that we can truly discuss the very foundation of the bill and its benefits and, by working together, find a solution to protect our park.

I urge them to respond to the call of our volunteers from across the country, from citizens and organizations who care about the future of Gatineau Park.

We cannot let this opportunity pass us by once again. I know that people are hesitant and have questions, but those cannot be sorted out in the House. We can only answer these questions by sending this bill to committee, having an open discussion, and listening to the public and organizations as they make recommendations, offer suggestions and tell us exactly what they expect.

As I mentioned at the start of my speech, everyone agrees that Gatineau Park needs to be protected. In 20 years, we will no longer be able to say that we forgot, that we dropped the ball and that we should have done something when we had the chance in the House.

Now is the time to act. Now is the time to think about this and to protect our park together.

[Democratic Reform, April 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, this week, the Minister of State for Democratic Reform pulled another rabbit out of his hat.

He said that his electoral reform was needed to protect stay-at-home moms from administrative headaches when they make calls for political parties. That statement is unacceptable.

Can the minister tell me where he found even one stay-at-home mom who was concerned about the administrative burden of call centre operators? Maybe on Infoman?

[Democratic Reform, April 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the Native Women's Association of Canada provided an eloquent reminder of the significant barriers to the electoral participation of aboriginal women.

By eliminating Elections Canada's education and awareness initiatives, Bill C-23 will exclude even more aboriginal women who are already wary of our electoral system and a government that does not care about their needs.

The government should withdraw its bill and come up with a totally new approach to reform. Will it?

[Homelessness, April 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday in the House, I asked the Conservative government if it planned to reverse its cuts to funding for the fight against homelessness. I was told that there had been no cuts.

Yesterday, when I met with the minister responsible for this file, I was told once again that there had been no cuts. However, in the Outaouais, the situation is very clear. Funding for organizations has been cut. For example, funding for Entraide familiale de l'Outaouais has been reduced by more than $14,000.

We have been told that budgeted amounts are being redistributed and that other moneys will be available soon. Homelessness must be addressed right now.

People who do not have a roof over their heads need help right now.

Community organizations working with the most vulnerable in the Outaouais are having trouble meeting their commitments right now.

The federal government must clarify the situation and honour its commitment to fund the fight against homelessness right now.

[Social Development, March 31st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, an unprecedented coalition is forming in the Gatineau area to oppose the Conservative cuts to the fight against homelessness. Many organizations that help these vulnerable persons are seeing their funding cut by thousands of dollars. Politicians from all levels of government and from all parties have come together in support of this cause. Will the Conservatives reverse their cuts to the fight against homelessness?

[Democratic Reform, March 26th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Jean-Pierre Kingsley clearly indicated that the Conservatives' election “deform” bill is unacceptable in its current form.

It is unthinkable that the government would get rid of the vouching system, which allowed tens of thousands of people to vote in 2011.

It is also unacceptable that the Conservatives are trying to muzzle the Chief Electoral Officer by preventing him from informing and educating the public.

Will the minister listen to the recommendations of experts such as Kingsley and Mayrand, who know a lot more about the subject than he does?

[Ethics, March 26th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are once again doing favours for party friends at taxpayers' expense. Mark Kihn raised millions of dollars for the Conservative Party. In return, Mr. Kihn had the privilege of using the Prime Minister's airplane to travel from Calgary to Ottawa between Christmas and New Year's Day. That explains why the Conservatives do not feel the need for an air passengers' bill of rights.

Why do Canadians have to pay for the whims of the Prime Minister's friends?