Sadia Groguhé

[Employment and Social Development, March 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, apparently, the Conservatives still do not have an answer. What will they do next, consult psychic JoJo Savard?

The Parliamentary Budget Officer believes that the government is going in the wrong direction by relying on information from Kijiji. It is simple. The government cannot use information gleaned from online classified ads to prove that there is a shortage of specialized labour.

How can the Minister of Employment and Social Development have the audacity to contradict the Parliamentary Budget Officer with regard to the supposed labour shortage when the minister himself admits that he does not know what is happening on the labour market?

[Employment and Social Development, March 27th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the incompetence of the government's economic team is astounding. It is so astounding that what is left of its competence is now for sale on Kijiji for 99¢.

After lecturing all the economists in the country, now the so-called Minister of Employment candidly admits that no one knows exactly what is happening on the labour market.

If he does not know what is happening on the labour market, then what is he basing his decisions and policies on?

[Finance, March 26th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, between the Parliamentary Budget Officer's figures and the information available on Kijiji, I think the choice is simple. The information on the skills shortage is simply incorrect. We certainly cannot expect to get accurate figures from a site used primarily for renting apartments and selling used furniture.

Will the minister start developing policy based on information from the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer or will he continue to use Kijiji?

[Employment Resource Centre, March 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, access to the job market and job retention are still major challenges and concerns, particularly for youth. However, I would like to acknowledge the exceptional work of PLACE Rive-Sud, an organization in my riding that is holding its annual job fair today.

This year, PLACE Rive-Sud is celebrating 30 years of excellence and success. It has provided guidance, training and labour market access to over 50,000 people aged 16 and over who live in Longueuil. Last year alone, 4,000 people benefited from the outstanding service provided by the 50 employees who are dedicated to this cause.

This example demonstrates the quality and success of Quebec's youth employment centres. I wish continued success to PLACE Rive-Sud and the work it does in social and economic development.

[Canada-Honduras Economic Growth and Prosperity Act, March 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, today the government is moving yet another time allocation motion.

We have made it quite clear in the House that we do not want our democracy to be undermined in this way. Members of all parties in the House and Canadians watching our debates have the right to be informed about what is going on. This is unacceptable.

My colleague was talking about democracy in these countries, particularly in Honduras. He praised the democratic systems in those different countries, but he would be better off ensuring that democracy is as strong within our government here in Canada. That is not the case today.

[Intergovernmental Relations, February 26th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government's insistence on imposing new rules for the Canada job grant, despite provincial opposition, might hurt Quebec.

Youth employment centres, which help young people 16 to 35 years old develop their employability, could lose their funding.

When we know that the unemployment rate for that group is twice as high as for the rest of the population, there is some cause for concern.

Can the minister guarantee that the reform he is trying to impose will help reduce the youth unemployment rate?

[Situation in the Central African Republic, February 12th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for his speech.

Canada's influence and credibility on the world stage have been diminishing for some time now. Does my colleague not think it would be necessary, as part of an international obligation of co-operation, to ensure that Canada takes a more active role in this situation?

[Situation in the Central African Republic, February 12th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, I thank my hon. colleague for the question. The importance of helping women, as I just mentioned, the need to support them and really give them the tools they need to be able to access governance roles and leadership roles is clear. There is no doubt in my mind about that. I believe that positive, peaceful revolutions in Africa will be led by women. We need to be aware of that and continue to support all African women in that regard.

In closing, I wish to come back to something my colleague said about the responsibility to protect doctrine. There are sensible tools in place, tools that are accepted internationally. Why not really use those tools to make a difference in the lives of people who are suffering and who are subjected to these massacres?

[Situation in the Central African Republic, February 12th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, I thank my hon. colleague for the question, one that speaks to me in so many ways.

I fundamentally believe that African countries and developing countries have a growing need for female governance. We need to call attention to the place of women in Africa and find a way to raise their profile. There are women business owners, female workers, women who are sometimes the sole providers for their families. We have a duty to support these women's networks, to support these women who land in positions such as the current interim president. We need to really support her and stand behind her.

We also need to send a strong message. Canada can send these strong messages and tell the interim president that she has our support and we will be there for her so that her country can get back on its feet and get out of this situation.

[Situation in the Central African Republic, February 12th, 2014]

Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague for the question.

As I said in my speech, I wholeheartedly think that Africa is not doomed, in that certain things can truly be prevented. We are well aware that in African countries, a combination of a number of factors can ignite things quickly and significantly.

I am thinking of extreme poverty, overpopulation, lack of education, and so forth. My colleague also raised the issue of morality. Indeed, we know that Canada is one of those countries whose economy benefits from this resource extraction.

However, when will we stop and think that this mineral extraction sector of the economy must stop being used to ignite and fuel conflicts?