Romeo Saganash

[Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal, January 30th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to pay tribute to the Diamond Jubilee Medal recipients who are involved in the community or politics, who are young role models and who provide services to others.

On January 21, nearly 150 people gathered in Val-d'Or to honour these dedicated individuals. Among the recipients were mayors, veterans, community volunteers and aboriginal leaders.

I am also pleased to be honouring seven additional people from my riding this weekend at Chibougamau city hall.

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to recognize these exceptional people by nominating them. I offer my heartfelt congratulations to all of the recipients, and I would like to thank them for what they do, because it makes our region stronger.

[Aboriginal Affairs, January 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the problem is that the Conservatives have not honoured their commitments to aboriginal peoples. If they had done so, there would be no protests in the streets here in Canada or around the world. Nor would there be an emergency meeting with aboriginal leaders.

In aboriginal communities today, one in four children lives in poverty. The suicide rate among young aboriginals is five to seven times higher than among young Canadians.

What exactly does the Prime Minister plan to do to address those two specific problems?

[Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, January 28th, 2013]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-469, An Act to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Mr. Speaker, it is with honour and pride that I rise in this august assembly to introduce the government bill whose title you have just read out.

The Declaration was negotiated over a period of 23 years, with the participation of numerous representatives of indigenous peoples from every part of the world, speaking on behalf of 370 million aboriginals worldwide. It includes 46 provisions protecting their social, economic, cultural, spiritual, environmental and, particularly, political rights.

These are minimum standards set by the United Nations that I am asking this House to respect henceforth, in order to ensure the dignity, survival and well-being of all aboriginal peoples, including those of Canada.

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

[Aboriginal Affairs, January 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, why did the Conservatives endorse this declaration in 2010 and then ignore it? Conservative inaction is being criticized by first nations and other Canadians from coast to coast to coast today.

The NDP is listening. The NDP values consultation. My bill ensures that our laws are consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Will the Prime Minister or the minister agree to support this important initiative?

[Aboriginal Affairs, January 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, if the Conservatives respected the treaties or the nation-to-nation negotiating principle and consulted with aboriginal people before introducing bills that have a direct impact on their rights, there would be no such thing as Idle No More.

The political inaction that has lasted for decades under both the Liberals and the Conservatives is no longer an option.

Today, I introduced a bill to ensure that Canadian laws are consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

When will this become a reality?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, October 26th, 2012]

With regard to the expenditures of the Canadian International Development Agency: (a) what was the actual spending in fiscal year 2011-2012 in the areas of (i) delivery of vaccines and immunization, (ii) nutrition and food security, (iii) basic education, (iv) sanitation and hygiene, (v) child health; (b) what were the planned pre-Budget 2012 expenditures for each of the fiscal years 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015, broken down by fiscal year and by recipient country and by project, including bilateral, multilateral and geographic/partnership branch, in the areas of (i) delivery of vaccines and immunization, (ii) nutrition and food security, (iii) basic education, (iv) sanitation and hygiene, (v) child health; and (c) what is the planned spending post-Budget 2012 for each of the fiscal years 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015, broken down by fiscal year and by recipient country and by project, including bilateral, multilateral and geographic/partnership branch, in the areas of (i) delivery of vaccines and immunization, (ii) nutrition and food security, (iii) basic education, (iv) sanitation and hygiene, (v) child health?

[International Trade, October 22nd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the government likes to boast about its trade record, but let us examine the facts. Yes, the facts.

In August, Canada had a $1.3 billion trade deficit, and exports of industrial goods were 13% lower than they were this time last year. There is bad news on the import front as well. Our companies spent almost 4% less on machinery purchases last month.

When will the government take its poor—if not pathetic—record seriously and do something about it?

[International Trade, October 18th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it is unacceptable to shove this down Canadians’ throats without discussing it with anyone. Think about it. We are talking about less than a month to approve an agreement that we will be bound by for the next three decades. That is ridiculous, but we know that when it comes to ridiculous, the people across the way have no equals. They are again proving that they are amateur negotiators and unable to achieve a mutual benefit. This agreement is going to wreak havoc on the Canadian economy.

Why refuse to hold consultations with Canadian workers, the people who are going to suffer the consequences of this agreement?

[Combating Terrorism Act, October 17th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I really enjoyed my colleague's presentation. Social and environmental terrorism were mentioned in previous remarks. The speakers could have added aboriginal terrorism, while they were at it. They are fond of this term, on the other side of the House.

My colleague spoke of the imbalance in this bill between security and fundamental rights. I would like him to say more about this.

[Combating Terrorism Act, October 17th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I warmly applaud the speech by our colleague from Châteauguay—Saint-Constant. Since 2006, we have seen many things being gutted, including environmental legislation, social rights, workers' rights and some constitutional rights. I would like to hear my colleague talk a little more about that. In his view, how does this bill go even further in denying our constituents' civil and constitutional rights?