Sylvie Boucher

[Aerospace Industry, October 27th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are promising to abolish the F-35 program and thus jeopardize all related jobs. However, the Minister of Industry today reaffirmed the unequivocal support of our government for more than the 80,000 men and women working in this industry.

This investment will benefit the Canadian Forces as well as the Canadian economy. The Canadian Forces will be able to replace an aircraft that is approaching the end of its useful life, and the Canadian aerospace industry will benefit from the spinoffs, enabling it to create very specialized and well-paid jobs for Quebeckers and Canadians for years to come.

Investments in the F-35 program will result in significant spinoffs, including contracts of more than $350 million for Canadian corporations, research laboratories and universities. Tens of thousands of workers in the aerospace sector—

[Immigration, October 21st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, today the Minister of Public Safety and the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism announced that our government is delivering on its commitment to crack down on human smugglers who seek to abuse Canada's immigration system.

Our Conservative government will take fair and reasonable, but strict action to prevent the abuse of our immigration system.

The bill introduced today will send a clear message: Canada opens its doors to those who work hard and play by the rules, while cracking down on those who seek to take advantage of our generosity and abuse our fair and welcoming immigration system.

The measures introduced today send a clear message to individuals thinking about smuggling people and to those thinking about using human smugglers: do not do it.

[Business of Supply, October 21st, 2010]

Madam Speaker, I completely agree with what the hon. member for Acadie—Bathurst said about passports. The Bloc Québécois made our blood boil this summer. I want to keep my passport; I see it as a benefit.

Can my esteemed colleague opposite explain to me why the Bloc wants to do away with the spending power at the same time as he is asking the federal government to increase all transfers to the provinces?

[Status of Women, October 8th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, October is Women’s History Month in Canada. It is celebrated across Canada and by all Canadians. The Minister for Status of Women has announced this year's theme, “recognizing Canadian women in business”.

The economy remains on the minds of all Canadians, and this year's theme honours women's achievements, now and throughout history, in Canadian business and within the national economy.

Our government has taken significant action to improve women's economic security and prosperity. We have created new initiatives like the kick-start program that will help give entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow their ideas and their businesses.

I therefore call on all members of the House to join with me in celebrating the important contributions of women who have made and who make our economy and our country—

[Opposition Coalition, October 6th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, in a book published this week, the Bloc leader congratulates himself not only on being the “driving force” behind the coalition, but also on secretly scheming with the NDP to create the coalition before it was sprung on a shocked nation. Apparently even Jacques Parizeau himself was 100% behind this coalition.

The Bloc leader is quick to discredit those who say his party is not a real member of the coalition, but just a supporting player. On the contrary, not only is the Bloc a full partner in the coalition with the Liberal leader and the NDP, but it continues to be at its very heart.

The coalition partners know that Quebeckers and Canadians will never accept a coalition that is led by a man who says he loves the United States, that would have the NDP managing the economy and that includes a party whose sole aim is to tear Canada apart.

[Employment Insurance, September 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition continues to repeat that that his main priority with regard to employment insurance reform is instituting a 45-day work year. He has even threatened to trigger an election over this issue.

Yesterday, when the 45-day work year included in Bill C-308 was put to a vote, his employment critic, the member for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, voted for it, as did other Liberal members.

If the bill were implemented, it would cost Canadians at least $7 billion and increase premiums by at least 35% permanently. Just like all the other Liberal tax hikes, it would kill employment and bring our fragile economic recovery to a halt.

Our Conservative government is doing everything it can to get Canadians back to work and to leave more money in their wallets. The Liberal leader's main concern is to spend irresponsibly, which —

[Firearms Registry, September 24th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, this government knows that criminals do not register their long guns. Despite this important fact, the Liberal Party, the NDP and the Bloc Québécois voted to maintain the firearms registry.

We know that the long gun registry is wasteful and ineffective. The opposition members who changed their votes sent a clear message to their constituents, a message that clearly demonstrates that their boss's orders are more important than the voices of their constituents. Our party does not treat law-abiding hunters, farmers and sport shooters like criminals.

We do not support this wasteful and ineffective registry, which does absolutely nothing to prevent crime.

We will continue our efforts to eliminate this wasteful and ineffective long gun registry. We on this side of the House voted freely.

[September 20th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I have never felt stifled. I am a woman, and I have always been proud to stand up in the House to defend women.

This summer, the Minister for Status of Women announced a major change to the application process for the women's community fund. To respond in a more timely and targeted fashion, Status of Women Canada will now accept applications for funding from the women's community fund all year long. That is a big change.

The status of women has always been important to our government. The NDP member has voted against every single program we have introduced. She voted against all of our measures to help women in Canada and in her community.

[September 20th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, our government has increased funding for women to the highest level ever seen in our country and abroad.

The women's program at Status of Women Canada has two components: the women's community fund and the women's partnership fund. These programs are essential tools that allow Status of Women Canada to support the work of organizations that promote the equality of women and girls.

In 2007, our government increased the funding capacity of the women's program to unprecedented levels. Consequently, we were able to support more Canadian women and girls, especially those most in need.

The reaction to the increased funding for the women's program speaks for itself: in 2006, we received 145 applications, but in 2009, the call for proposals for the women's community fund alone generated almost 500 applications for funding.

To be eligible for funding consideration, projects must be one-offs and must work to promote the full participation of women in the economic, social and democratic life of Canada. This criterion is consistent with the three pillars established for Status of Women Canada: advancing women's and girls' economic security; ending violence against women, including aboriginal women and girls; and encouraging women's leadership and democratic participation.

The number of groups looking for financial support under the women's program keeps increasing. As is often the case with the funding program, it is unfortunately not always possible to fund all the projects that deserve to be funded.

In 2009-10, 78 valid and important community projects were approved. Of that number, 34 were from groups that were receiving funding for the first time. The full list of projects funded is available in a press release issued on May 6 on the Status of Women Canada website.

According to the organizations whose 78 projects received funding, these projects will have a direct impact on more than 24,000 women in Canada.

These projects will have positive results for women from diverse backgrounds in a large number of communities. I only have enough time to name a few: the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network set up a project called “Empowering Aboriginal Women; Influencing Community Wellness”. This 24-month project will promote violence prevention by facilitating leadership skills development in 84 community workshops with 500 aboriginal women.

Status of Women Canada and our government are concerned about women in Canada and Quebec, aboriginal women, all the women here today.

[Committees of the House, June 17th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the motion adopted by the committee, the Standing Committee on Status of Women studied the issue of maternal and child health at its meetings held on May 3, 5, 10, 12 and 26, and June 7, 9 and 14, 2010.

Through you, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to provide the Minister of International Cooperation with the government members' assessment of this study, with some conclusions from the report adopted in committee on June 14, 2010, and tabled in the House, in both official languages, by the committee chair on June 16, 2010.