Royal Galipeau

[Knights of Columbus, March 29th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, on March 29, 1882 the Knights of Columbus received its first charter thanks to the persistent efforts of the late Reverend Father Michael J. McGivney.

He wanted to help the church, his community and all Catholic families.

The first Canadian council was formed in Montreal, in November 1897.

In 2010, the Knights of Columbus donated close to $30 million and volunteered 9.3 million hours to charitable causes in Canada. The order has 1.8 million members in 10 countries, including 225,000 here in Canada.

Ever since the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization was brought to Canada, its members have become known for their mission to be their brothers' and sisters' keepers and to make a difference for their fellow human beings.

I am pleased to wish a very happy founders day to my brother knights.

Long live this great charitable organization.

May this great organization continue its charitable work for decades to come.

[Juno Awards, March 27th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to the late Pierre Juneau, who passed away a month ago and who was the inspiration for the Juno Awards.

This week there is a big celebration of Canadian music and the spotlight is on Ottawa as the host of the 2012 JUNO Awards. Canadian music stars will be converging in the national capital of the best country in the world to showcase their talent and celebrate the success of our vibrant music industry.

Yesterday was the kick-off to Juno week, a week of special events and live music. We can be proud of the wealth and diversity of musical talent that Canada has to offer to people here at home and around the world.

Please join me in remembering the late Hon. Pierre Juneau and in celebrating our amazing Canadian artists.

[Montfort Hospital, March 16th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, next Thursday will mark the 15th anniversary of the S.O.S. Montfort rally. The support for the Montfort Hospital is a testament to the strength and determination of the Franco-Ontarian society to which I belong. The commitment of $200 million over 20 years made by this government in June 2006 has doubled the scope of the hospital's services.

Too often, the suggestion by an Ontario commission to close the hospital is politicized, and demagogues blame a former provincial premier. Yet this situation never would have occurred if the federal government of the day had not made drastic cuts to health care transfers.

When federal health care transfers were reduced from 50 to 14 cents of every dollar, the provincial government was forced to close 44 hospitals, including Ottawa's Riverside and Grace Hospitals, and merge 14 others.

Since then, this federal government had made major strides in this area. It now provides 30 cents of every dollar spent on provincial health care, and counting.

[Protecting Air Service Act, March 13th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I would like to ask the minister a question. In his opinion, what effect will an Air Canada work stoppage have on Canada's fragile economy? Can he explain why we should expedite approval of this bill today?

[Protecting Air Service Act, March 13th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, when the last intervener began his speech, he threatened you, Sir, to make you suffer for the next 10 minutes. I hope you did not suffer too much.

As far as the allusions to Mr. Milton are concerned, I must say that I completely agree with hon. member for Bourassa. I was just as outraged.

I wanted to finish the quote from Justice Louise Otis:

Taking into consideration the situation of the Parties, the tentative agreement is reasonable and fair. The negotiation process, which was carried out diligently and competently, has been exhausted. I do not recommend that negotiations be further resumed or that a mediator be appointed. Under the full circumstances, I consider that a reasonable agreement had been reached.

I would like to ask the hon. member for Bourassa to join us in putting an end to this mess.

[Protecting Air Service Act, March 13th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the hon. member for Nanaimo—Cowichan for keeping a level head as she is arguing her case.

It is very interesting that although she lives in Nanaimo--Cowichan and is very active there, she is also very active here, and sometimes we feel that she is present simultaneously in both places. That is easy because the planes are flying. If they were not flying, a lot of anxiety would probably be flying, and the economy would be hurting also.

The last time we had a work stoppage at Air Canada, in 1998, it was for 13 days, and cost the company its life.

On February 22, Madam Justice Louise Otis said:

In the process of writing this report, I have come to learn that the tentative agreement was voted down by the Union membership. This tentative agreement was the result of a fair and productive negotiation process by competent negotiators. Tense and arduous by all means, the negotiation was nonetheless undertaken rationally and professionally by both Parties. Taking into consideration the situation of the Parties, the tentative agreement is reasonable and fair—

[Air Service Operations Legislation, March 12th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Cape Breton—Canso is an active member both in the House and in his community, so I suppose t he was in his district over the weekend. How would he have returned back here to make that eloquent speech this afternoon if the airline had not been in the air? Is Air Canada not essential to him and to the service that he gives to this country?

[Shabnam Assadollahi, March 9th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was the 101st International Women's Day. I would like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to one of the most courageous women I know, Shabnam Assadollahi.

Iranian by birth and Canadian by choice, she has worked for decades to promote human rights.

A seasoned advocate, Ms. Assadollahi founded a number of multicultural programs to help newcomers, particularly women, adjust to their new country.

This remarkable woman, who lives in Orléans, has had eight children's books translated into Farsi and distributed them in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Through her compassion and understanding of the realities facing newcomers, this exceptional woman is such an asset to our great country.

I would like to thank Shabnam for her dedication to these worthy causes.

Shabash to you and to all those who use wisdom and knowledge to promote human rights.

[Business of Supply, March 8th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if you could inform the hon. member opposite that the sound system works very well and that we can hear everything just fine, without even using the listening device. We find her speech very interesting. If she is ready to vote on the motion, so are we.

[Business of Supply, March 5th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, for over six years now, I have been rising in this House alongside my colleague, the Minister of Veterans Affairs, to vote in support of veterans. Every time, I am thinking of my father, who served during the second world war, and expressing my unwavering support for the Royal Canadian Legion.

What does the hon. member think would help veterans more: the demagoguery coming from the other side or voting in favour of improvements to the lives of veterans?