Richard Nadeau

[Noëlla Tremblay Carreau, May 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak here today in order to celebrate the outstanding work of Mrs. Noëlla Tremblay Carreau who was honoured by the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec on May 15, 2006.

This extraordinary woman, who works at the CHSLD in Gatineau, received the Florence award for community involvement for her contribution to the development and humanization of perinatal care in the hospital environment and for her commitment to the family.

Ten nurses from across Quebec received awards during the gala evening marking the end of nurses week, which was held May 7 to 13, 2006.

Mrs. Tremblay Carreau, your dedication brings honour to our community, which makes us even more proud of your involvement. The Bloc Québécois and everyone in Gatineau would like to thank you for your commitment to the well-being of the people of your community.

[Canada's Commitment in Afghanistan, May 17th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, we understand that the conflict in Afghanistan has gone on since the attacks on September 11, 2001. All the efforts are meant in some way to punish the Taliban, who allowed groups of terrorists to train on Afghan territory. The government in place at the time no longer exists. These people are no longer in power.

We know now that the Taliban are in the South of Afghanistan and people say in the north of Pakistan, as well. The conflict could broaden.

As the conflict could deepen, could splinter, is there an exit plan to protect our soldiers in the event the conflict becomes like the war in Vietnam or Iraq?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, during today's debate, the Bloc Québécois showed that there are structural shortcomings. We are in a federal institution, and we are talking about municipal jurisdictions, provincial jurisdictions, provincial-federal ones, or just federal ones.

Nevertheless, my question for the member for Yellowhead is as follows: How can he say to a person dying of a pesticide-related cancer that this is just an ideological issue?

We must go beyond that and not blame the person. I am sure the member's approach is informed by an ideology he agrees with. Yet how can he say such a thing when a person is diagnosed with a pesticide-related cancer? I would hope that goes beyond ideology.

I would like to hear his comments on this.

[Business of Supply, May 11th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I am dumbfounded. My head spins. Sometimes I wonder whether I am in Canada or Montana.

Following up on what he had to say, does the hon. member for Ottawa Centre not think that on the face of it, regardless of why, the Conservative government had only one idea, which was to nip Kyoto in the bud, before it ever saw the light of day?

I am going to read a short sentence that I would like him to comment on. I will read it in English to be sure not to lose the spirit of the text. In 2002, the current Prime Minister said:

“As for the Kyoto accord, we will stand alone in this House, not just opposing ratification, we will repeal this accord at the very first opportunity”.

Is that not scandalous? I would like my colleague to comment on that.

[The Budget, May 9th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke has an Acadian surname that affirms all of Canada's francophonie, a name of great gallantry. I would therefore like to ask her the following question. How is it that the budget does not provide for help to the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada for the development of Canadian francophone minority communities? There is no doubt as to the alarming rates of assimilation in Canada in francophone minority communities. Why is there no investment to help the federation and expand its budget, as it had requested?

[The Budget, May 9th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, do my colleague from British Columbia and his party recognize the fiscal imbalance? Do they recognize the reality of it as it relates to Quebec and the different provinces?

Over the 13 years when the Liberal government was in power, the shortfall plunged the provinces into situations that made it extremely difficult to work in such critical fields as health, social services, appropriate income and education.

Does my colleague recognize this concept, which is of great importance and needs to be resolved?

[The Budget, May 9th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I salute my colleague from Souris—Moose Mountain.

First of all, the Bloc Québécois finds it interesting that the fiscal imbalance should be addressed in this budget. You will recall that the previous government did not even want to utter those words, even though the Bloc Québécois, the opposition at that time, had made a very eloquent demonstration of this fiscal imbalance on the basis of the Séguin report.

That being said, there is still one thing that bothers me. That is the question of employment insurance. In that connection, I would like to ask him the following question.

What is the hon. member’s position on the creation of an independent employment insurance fund managed by workers and employers, who would ensure that we never again see the astronomical sum of $48 billion scattered elsewhere in the federal budget instead of being returned to the people who, at some point in their careers and lives, need to receive employment insurance benefits?

[Jeannette Sanche, May 9th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, Miss Jeannette Sanche was born on May 6, 1906. She was the youngest of a family of 13 and worked for nearly 40 years for Canada Post. She was a very generous woman, especially with her 22 nieces and nephews, all of whom received from her their first communion outfit.

She was a member of the theatre troupe of her father, Wilfred Sanche: the Cercle dramatique de Hull, the first theatre troupe in the Outaouais region, founded in 1899. She is also the aunt of the late Guy Sanche, the beloved Bobino of the famous children's program.

Miss Sanche lived on the first street to have electricity in Hull, rue Papineau. She was one of the first residents of Hull to acquire a car and drove until she was 93.

Since moving into the Centre d'hébergement Champlain-Gatineau in 2005, she has attended most activities and continues to enjoy company.

The Bloc Québécois wishes you a happy centenary, Miss Sanche.

[Canada Labour Code, May 4th, 2006]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (replacement workers)

Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to table this bill, seconded by my colleague for Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert.

The purpose of this bill is to prohibit strikebreakers, which will end the disparity between the labour codes of Canada and Quebec.

I am proud to table this bill today because many workers in Quebec are victims of the fact that there are two classes of employees in Quebec.

The Bloc Québécois has submitted similar bills nine times in the hope of ensuring that workers subject to the Canada Labour Code have the same rights as those subject to the Quebec Labour Code.

During the last Parliament, the Bloc Québécois' bill was defeated by only 12 votes. The Bloc hopes that the new Parliament will make it a priority to act in workers' best interests.

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

[Public Health Agency of Canada Act, May 2nd, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the hon. member for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.

During the SARS crisis, the Toronto region went through quite a difficult time. If I remember correctly, the World Health Organization made an announcement restricting travel to and from Toronto. It was not only up to the government of the day to ensure that travel was restricted.

Could we take this into account and show that this international organization actually did have an important word to say in regard to this crisis?