Paul Lefebvre

[2015 Nobel Prize in Physics, March 8th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the fantastic achievements of Dr. Arthur McDonald, the co-winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in physics. Dr. McDonald, a professor at Queen's University, led a global team of over 270 researchers from 13 international institutions to the discovery that neutrinos can change identities, thereby confirming that particles have mass. This discovery upset the standard model of physics and changed our understanding of how the universe works.

The team conducted these experiments at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, or SNOLAB, in the Creighton mine, located two kilometres underground in my riding of Sudbury. The lab is the deepest clean room facility in the world, allowing scientists to study the particles free from cosmic radiation constantly bombarding the earth's surface.

Residents of Sudbury and all Canadians have reason to be proud of Dr. McDonald's scientific achievements.

I invite all members to join me in conveying our deepest congratulations to the 2015 Nobel Prize in physics winner, Dr. McDonald, and his team of collaborators.

[International Trade, February 25th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, in 2015, more than 350,000 international students spent over $10 billion in Canada and helped generate 90,000 jobs for Canadians.

Laurentian University, in my riding of Sudbury, is a big job creator. The community also benefits from the students this university brings in from around the world.

Can the Minister of International Trade tell the House about her initiatives to maintain Canada's status as a top destination for international students?

[Canada's Contribution to the Effort to Combat ISIL, February 22nd, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question.

We are going to increase the number of military personnel from 650 to about 800. We want to be sure we can provide training. At the same time, we need to provide immediate humanitarian aid on the ground. In providing that aid, we need to identify what sort of help is needed most. That is why we need people on the ground to identify the immediate needs. That is what we want to do. Those are the results that we will see from the investment that we are going to make in the region.

[Canada's Contribution to the Effort to Combat ISIL, February 22nd, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. In this context, when it comes to the United Nations, where some parties have veto power and make decisions in the region, everyone has their own take on the matter. In the region, there is a coalition of people who want the people on the ground, the Syrians, the Iraqis, to have a better future. In the meantime, there is the fight against ISIL. We are standing with our coalition partners. The Minister of Defence went to the region to discuss the needs and we changed our tune and planned a few changes to the way we provide support. As far as NATO is concerned, I think there is an immediate need and we cannot wait for large organizations like NATO and the UN to come and take part. I am very proud of the government for deciding to change the formula. I strongly believe this will be a winning formula.

[Canada's Contribution to the Effort to Combat ISIL, February 22nd, 2016]

Madam Speaker, the Minister of National Defence did two tours in the area to discuss with our coalition partners the needs on the ground and determine Canadian capacities for the different forces in the area.

It is important that we communicate with them, and that is what we did. That is what we promised Canadians that we would do: engage with our coalition partners and have a discussion of where our resources could be best placed. That is what our government has done, basically making sure that we are capacity building in the area and training the local forces so that we can ensure a better future and a long-term commitment.

[Canada's Contribution to the Effort to Combat ISIL, February 22nd, 2016]

Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today and add my voice to those who support the government's new strategy to combat ISIL.

I want to stress that I am very proud of the work that Canadian Armed Forces members have done in this fight. They served their country with distinction and did Canada proud on the world stage.

Make no mistake. This new strategy would ensure that Canada continues to take the fight to ISIL. This new approach would bolster Canada's role in the coalition and help make our collective military mission more effective and ultimately more successful.

Under this new approach, Canada will increase its military personnel on the ground, so we can better support our partners with planning and executing military operations.

We will triple the size of our train, advise, and assist mission to help Iraqi security forces. This will help the government and local authorities better defend themselves and improve security in the region. We will deploy Canadian Armed Forces medical personnel to help train Iraqi security forces.

Under this new approach, Canada will expand and improve its contribution to the international effort. Our contribution will better complement the efforts of our international coalition partners and will better align with our joint effort to defeat ISIL.

However, unlike the approach taken by the previous government, this new strategy recognizes that defeating ISIL should not be an end goal in itself.

We must work to restore security and stability in this region, to give those who live there a better future. That is why we have clearly realigned our military contribution to that of the international coalition against ISIL. We have gone from participating in active air strikes to training local forces, so that they are able to take over the security of their own country.

As Chief of the Defence Staff General Vance said, air strikes alone against ISIL are not enough. We also need to train those who will defend their own country against these threats to security and ensure long-term stability.

This was also confirmed by Colonel Steve Warren, spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, who said that we cannot forget about training. He said that everyone is focusing on air strikes, because people can see attention-grabbing videos that show explosions. He emphasized the importance of training local ground forces as a pillar of this operation.

Along the same lines, in order to equip and support those who live in the region and will need to rebuild for a better future, Canada will also contribute more to the coalition's non-military efforts.

We are taking steps to combat terrorist financing, curb the flow of foreign fighters, combat ISIL propaganda, and support long-term stability in the region.

I am proud that our new approach represents a return to a long and rich tradition that has made Canada a leader in the area of development and peace on the international stage.

This new strategy will enhance our contribution to the joint effort to defeat ISIL. It will also strengthen stability and security in one of the most volatile parts of the world with a balanced strategy that includes refocused military efforts, ongoing political action, and considerable investment in humanitarian and development aid.

We will increase funding for programs that promote security and stability in the region, thereby helping our partners strengthen their capacity to fight terrorism, extremist violence, and other threats. This will also contribute to stabilizing conflict zones and enabling displaced people to return home.

We remain resolutely committed to this fight not because ISIL is a threat to Canada, but because we are fundamentally opposed to the violent extremism that characterizes this group and that it seeks to perpetuate in the region and around the world.

The damage inflicted by ISIL is the legacy of a series of political, economic, and social crises that has been afflicting the region for generations. These crises are not new, and they will not be resolved from one day to the next. Unfortunately, what they all have in common is their disastrous impact on the region's most vulnerable people. By using our resources and expertise strategically and working with our local and international partners, we can improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of conflict-affected people.

Stopping the spread of terrorism and violent extremist groups such as ISIL requires a long-term commitment and an approach that balances military efforts, capacity building, and humanitarian assistance.

Our government's new policy leverages the expertise and resources of numerous departments within the government, measures Canadian expertise with that of our coalition partners, empowers regional governments and local authorities so that they are better able to defend themselves, and helps those who have been most cruelly affected by the violence to rebuild and work toward a better future.

This new policy reaffirms Canada's international role. Canada is a nation that stands against terrorism and violent extremism, that stands ready to protect the most vulnerable, that works with those who have endured overwhelming hardship, that helps them defend themselves, rebuild, and work toward a better future.

This new approach is comprehensive, balanced, and clearly geared toward increasing stability and security in the region over the long term.

Canadians can be very proud of the government's new strategy, and I am proud to support it.

[Lifeline Sudbury, February 22nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an organization whose work has greatly facilitated the welcoming of refugees in our riding. That organization is Lifeline Sudbury.

Lifeline Sudbury is made up of 17 community groups, including the local mosque, the local synagogue, various Christian churches, and community service clubs.

Lifeline has brokered resources and donations from a variety of stakeholders and helped to welcome Syrian families to Sudbury. So far, two Syrian families have arrived and started to settle in Sudbury. Their children are all in school, and one father has already found employment.

Sudbury has embraced both families warmly, and we look forward to welcoming many more families in the months to come.

We must continue to welcome those who are in need. We firmly believe that it will only make our communities stronger, more prosperous, and more resilient in the future.

Let us recognize Lifeline Sudbury and all groups doing similar work all across Canada.

[Foreign Affairs, January 25th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the world witnessed a horrendous terrorist attack in Jakarta, Indonesia, that took the life of one Canadian and another attack in Burkina Faso that claimed the lives of six Canadians. Our thoughts are with the victims' families.

Can the government tell the House what it is doing to support the investigations?

[Canadian Heritage, December 10th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we were proud to hear the Prime Minister talk about the efforts being made by the government to settle Syrian refugees in Canada. This is a testament to the commitment we made to Canadians and the world in response to the urgent need that is being felt internationally. Can the Minister of Canadian Heritage tell the House what measures the government plans to take to help Syrian refugees integrate into society?

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, December 7th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I thank and congratulate the hon. member for Joliette on his election. As a tax specialist and former professor of international tax law at the University of Ottawa, I appreciate his question.

It is clear from our platform that we want to clean up and rework Canada Revenue. We want to allocate resources to the right places in order to tackle tax havens. There is a lot of work to be done because this issue was largely ignored in the past 10 years. I want to play a role and work together with the minister to see what we can do to reduce the number of tax havens and make them less attractive.