Rona Ambrose

[Maternal Health, May 27th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, we are listening to care agencies, such as World Vision Canada, who say that 24,000 children under the age of five will die today in the developing world. This June we have a historic opportunity to make a difference in the lives of women and children in the developing world. That is exactly what we are going to do. We have a responsibility to act to save the lives of women and children.

It is the right thing to do. We ask the opposition to please join us and our G8 partners in doing that and to stop this divisive debate.

[Maternal Health, May 27th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, here is another question on this issue from the Liberal Party. The truth is, Canadians do not want to have this debate. Canadians want us to work with our G8 partners to save the lives of women and children in the developing world.

We know from all the care agencies around the world that there is a lot of work we can do. Some 24,000 children under the age of five die every day in the developing world. We have an obligation to act to help protect and save these children. That is what we are going to do with our G8 partners.

I ask the member to support us and end this divisive debate.

[Status of Women, May 27th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the truth is that our government increased funding for women to an unprecedented level. We support projects across Canada, including in Quebec. We have to focus on improving the lives of women rather than pitting women's groups against one another.

[Status of Women, May 27th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, what led us to decide to save the lives of mothers and children was people like Sharon Marshall from World Vision Canada, who has said that she is outraged this debate is being raised in order to distract from the real issue on the table. The real issue is 8.8 million children are dying every year from causes that we could easily prevent with intervention that costs pennies.

We are listening to people like Sharon Marshall with World Vision Canada. We want to save the lives of mothers and children in the developing world. We have a consensus with our G8 partners. We ask the opposition to support this great initiative.

[Status of Women, May 27th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, our policy is influenced by people like Sharon Marshall from World Vision Canada, who is telling us that over 24,000 children under the age of five will die in the developing world.

Our government is bringing the G8 leaders together in June to help save the lives of women and children. We have an obligation to try to protect and save the lives of women and children in the developing world. It is a noble and honourable initiative. I ask the opposition to support us instead of engaging in this divisive debate.

[Status of Women, May 27th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, here we have another question on this issue from the Bloc. The truth of the matter is Canadians and Quebeckers do not want to debate this issue. Canadians and Quebeckers want us to save the lives of women and children in the developing world. That is exactly what our maternal and newborn health initiative is about.

We have a historic opportunity. I ask the opposition to stop this divisive debate and work with us and our G8 partners to save the lives of mothers and children.

[Firearms Registry, May 26th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the reality is our government has actually increased funding for women's groups to the highest it has ever been in the history of our country. We are proud to be supporting projects in every province and territory.

I would ask the hon. member to work with us instead of turning women's groups against each other.

[Status of Women, May 26th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister has indicated this week and as our government has reiterated many times, this government has no intention of reopening this issue and we have no intention of introducing the supporting legislation on the issue.

[Status of Women, May 26th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister indicated this week, this government has no intention or interest in opening up this debate.

[Child and Maternal Health, May 14th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I am very glad to hear from the member opposite that he wants to end the rhetoric and that he wants to help because that is exactly what we have been asking all of the opposition parties to do with us. We have a historic opportunity in June with our partners from the G8 who are all coming to the table with the same goal of saving the lives of women and children.

I am very pleased to hear that the NDP is now supporting this initiative. It is a laudable initiative, an honourable initiative and it is the right thing to do. This is a historic opportunity.