Royal Galipeau

[Safeguarding Canada's Seas and Skies Act, September 18th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, in view of the agreeable nature of the House, I wonder if you might want to seek unanimous consent to see the clock at 5:38 p.m.?

[Visitors from Australia, September 15th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I note the visit to our capital today by two Australian visitors, Elizabeth and Peter Bardos, who are hosted by two wise residents of Orléans, Fran and Michael Rushton.

Mr. Bardos is a dedicated public servant, who has spent his entire career making life better for his fellow countrymen, having worked for the Liberal Party of Australia and a number of members of Parliament of that great country down under.

Those close to Mr. Bardos have described him as a champion of democracy. Canada and Australia have for many decades enjoyed a friendly and highly productive relationship, one that is very special to this country, Canada.

We had the opportunity to witness the quality of our relationship with Australia during the visit to Canada by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott last June.

I would like to wish the Bardos' a most delightful visit to Canada.

[Le Festival Haïti en Fête, June 20th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the eighth edition of Festival Haïti en Fête will take place July 18 to 20 at Petrie Island, a hidden gem of our beautiful Orléans.

[Member spoke in Creole as follows:]

Féstival Haïti en Fête, c'est ou célébration impôtante dé divèsité kiltirelle nan pays nou an.

[Translation]

Haïti en fête is proudly presented by the Kombite Outaouais, a non-profit organization founded in 2007 by Pierre-Richard Fidelia, Edy Joachim and Michel Paisible. It is a pleasure to thank this organization and everyone involved in presenting this event since this helps us become more familiar with the Haitian culture and francophone racial minorities in Ontario.

During the event, there will be music, a day of soccer, barbecue and much more.

The Government of Canada is very pleased to contribute funding for this festival year after year. I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous contribution of city councillor Bob Monette in the uptake of this event.

People of Orléans and everyone of the National Capital Region, this is a rendezvous.

Mr. Speaker, I say more than “thank you so much,” I offer you “piles of thanks”.

[Canadian Forces Health Services, June 19th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, five years ago today, the Canadian Forces Health Services Centre Ottawa, which serves 10,000 Canadian Forces members in the national capital region, moved to the Montfort Hospital.

It was all made possible by the Government of Canada's investment of nearly $200 million over 20 years.

Our government has helped the Montfort Hospital shine and survive. It is a beacon for the Ontario francophonie.

More than 98% of all wounded taken to the Kandahar airfield hospital survived their wounds. This is a rate of success unmatched by our allies or our enemies in any war in history. Those health professionals are now here at the Montfort Hospital.

The relocation of Canadian Forces health care personnel to Montfort Hospital is yet more tangible evidence of the incremental approach adopted by the Canadian Forces Health Services with a goal of choosing projects that enable it to work closely with its community partners.

Happy anniversary to the Montfort and the Canadian Forces Health Services Centre Ottawa.

[Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, June 16th, 2014]

I have a very simple question, Mr. Speaker.

Does the hon. member, who believes Canada is a pacifist country, realize that even the illustrious Lester B. Pearson took part in wars? Does he know that even Lester B. Pearson fought to defend Canadian ideals in the First World War?

[Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, June 16th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I found my colleague's speech rather interesting. I am wondering if she would have known what she was talking about had she not read a speech prepared by someone else.

Frankly, the fact that she is calling Canada a pacifist country leads me to believe that the United States entered the First World War before we did. That is not the case. She also gave the impression that, during the Second World War, the United States were battling against the fascism of Nazi Germany before we were. That is also not the case. Her speech gave me the impression that we never went to Korea and that we did not do an extremely tough job in Afghanistan.

Canada is not a pacifist country. I do not know where she got that idea, and I do not know why she is reading speeches written by someone else.

[Committees of the House, June 16th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order. During the last question exchange, I do not know if you heard it, but I did, the use of unparliamentary language by the member for Vancouver Kingsway.

[Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, June 12th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I apologize to you and to the House. I did not vote on this motion because I was late from a medical appointment. If I had been voting, I would have voted in favour.

[Veterans Hiring Act, June 2nd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I find it regrettable that the hon. member for Winnipeg North comes here with cheap shots. Just to reassure everyone, I write my own speeches, I do it in both official languages and I do it with the dignity that is commensurate with what is required in the House.

As far as how many jobs would be created, I will just say not one. This bill is not about creating jobs. It is about helping veterans to get to the head of the line and to have access to the jobs. It is to offer them hope, which is what veterans deserve.

If the hon. member just talked to his friend next to him, the hon. member for Guelph, who is a member of the committee on veterans affairs and who co-operated with the committee and contributed in a positive way, he will be very happy to see the report that the committee will deposit tomorrow, which the government will respond to in due time. Hopefully, for once, the member can come and vote in favour of that and in favour of all the programs that we put forward to help veterans.

[Veterans Hiring Act, June 2nd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member very much for his question. I must also thank him for the extraordinary service his colleague, the member for Sackville—Eastern Shore, provided to the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs and thank the committee for the work it did to make recommendations to the government.

I want him to know that we listened to the ombudsman's recommendations. The report will be tabled in the House tomorrow, and the government will respond to it in due course, without delay. I am sure the hon. member will be very pleased with the results.

In the meantime, I invite him to support this sensible bill that all veterans, especially those who need better access to federal jobs, will benefit from.