Romeo Saganash

[Val-d'Or Chamber of Commerce, November 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise here today to congratulate the board of directors and staff of the Val-d'Or Chamber of Commerce. On October 16, 2013, this exceptionally dynamic organization in Val-d'Or was awarded the prestigious honour of Chamber of Commerce of the Year for 2013 by the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec.

The chamber of commerce won this award through the hard work of its executive and members and the collective efforts of the entire business community. The award means great exposure for Val-d'Or's economy.

The Val-d'Or Chamber of Commerce sponsored an aboriginal business integration program that has been very successful.

With 1,120 active members, the Val-d'Or Chamber of Commerce has also earned its accreditation with distinction from the Chamber Accreditation Council of Canada.

On behalf of my constituents and my colleagues, I would like to say bravo to the Val-d'Or Chamber of Commerce.

[Respect for Communities Act, November 21st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Québec for her very interesting and very important speech on this bill. I wonder if she could talk about one aspect of this debate that troubles me.

The Supreme Court often makes rulings. We have heard that this government is not listening to Canadians, but it also refuses to listen to institutions like the Supreme Court, which has issued an important ruling on this important matter.

In its decision in the Khadr case, the Supreme Court also said that the rule of law requires the government to act in a way that respects the Constitution. Does my colleague think that the government is once again going against a Supreme Court decision?

[Aboriginal Affairs, November 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have it in for some of the most vulnerable members of aboriginal communities, which are already struggling with an unacceptably high poverty rate.

Rather than consulting with aboriginal communities or conducting impact studies, the minister waited until the Federal Court blocked the changes that he wanted to make to the welfare program.

Does the minister now realize that he made a mistake and will he respect the Federal Court's decision?

[Safeguarding Canada's Seas and Skies Act, November 4th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my colleague from LaSalle—Émard for her excellent speech and for her participation in this debate.

I represent a riding with several coasts: the coast of James Bay, the coast of Hudson Bay and the coast of Ungava Bay. People understand the environmental, social, economic and historical importance of the St. Lawrence River. This waterway is not only beautiful; it is also historically important. In fact, we met more than 400 years ago along its shores, did we not?

I would like my colleague to tell me how she interprets this. I have a hard time understanding how the government can miss such a good opportunity to do things properly and express a broad vision that is desperately lacking from this bill.

Does she feel that the government is missing the boat?

[Safeguarding Canada's Seas and Skies Act, November 4th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine for his presentation.

Like him, I have an enormous constituency that includes a lot of coastline along James Bay, Hudson Bay and Ungava Bay. Therefore, I understand the importance of the environmental concerns expressed by my fellow citizens. He stated them as well.

There are also social concerns here. What may be even more important is the survival of several coastal communities. There are economic concerns because those communities may be affected by a major spill in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, as my colleague mentioned.

Does he think the measures proposed in this bill do not go far enough? I would like him to elaborate further on the economic issues affecting the coastal communities.

[Aboriginal Affairs, October 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives sent a message at the end of last week by refusing to renew the government's rental agreement with the First Nations University of Canada in Regina. The university is facing a financial hit of $1.4 million.

When the problem of inadequate funding for first nations education is on the agenda, how can the minister justify this new disengagement from the country's first nations?

[Government Orders, October 22nd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Québec for her very passionate remarks.

Like me, she must have met with a lot of constituents this summer. That is what I did, and this was a hot topic wherever we went. Whether in Chisasibi, Chicoutimi, Kuujjuaq or Paspébiac, it was what everyone was talking about throughout the summer.

The Conservatives asked for an extra month to properly prepare their throne speech; yet they were practically silent on the issue in the speech.

How does my colleague explain the government's almost utter silence on an issue that is so important to the democracy of our country?

[Business of Supply, October 22nd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I wish first to congratulate my colleague on his excellent presentation.

I am not a complete amateur, in my opinion, contrary to what the member for Saint-Laurent—Cartierville thinks. Moreover, being called an amateur does not bother me too much. Anyone can see that my back is broad, and there is a reason for that.

All summer long, I travelled throughout my constituency of Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, the second-largest in Canada. My constituency is highly diversified. I have 14 Inuit communities, nine Cree communities and two Algonquin communities. I have logging and mining towns and villages throughout the riding.

Wherever I went, people talked to me about the Senate and the need to abolish that outdated institution.

When someone calls me an amateur, it does not bother me, but when he calls my constituents amateurs, I have a small problem with that.

I would like to know whether my colleague heard the same thing in his constituency.

[Aboriginal Affairs, June 13th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the cost of food in northern Canada is so outrageous that the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are all calling for the Auditor General to investigate the nutrition north Canada program.

The minister seems to be indifferent to their calls. Will the government listen to northerners for once? Will it respond to their concerns?

Families up north are paying $8.99 for two litres of orange juice, while around here it costs only $2.99. These families need a government that supports them.

[Navigable Waters Protection Act, June 13th, 2013]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-535, An Act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Vallée-de-l’Or, Anishinabe Aki and Eeyou Istchee regions).

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to speak today to introduce Bill C-535, An Act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Vallée-de-l’Or, Anishinabe Aki and Eeyou Istchee regions). I want to thank my colleague from Abitibi—Témiscamingue for seconding the bill.

As everyone knows, in northern Quebec we are quite attached to our lakes and rivers. We know that we cannot take them for granted. They are an integral part of our lives: our work, our play, our economy, our social well-being, our history and our common future.

In the previous budget bills, the Conservatives took away the protection of these important sources of water and life. With this bill, I am proposing a way to start repairing the damage. I am calling on my colleagues from all parties to support this bill and to help us, as members of the official opposition, right the wrongs this government has done to us.

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