Mr. Speaker, our government has been clear on this subject: all members of Parliament have the right to their own opinion. What is my opinion? I am in favour of freedom of choice.
House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2019, with 30% of the vote.
Status of Women November 27th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, our government has been clear on this subject: all members of Parliament have the right to their own opinion. What is my opinion? I am in favour of freedom of choice.
TV5 November 27th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, today, Canada is chairing the 21st conference of ministers responsible for TV5, in Ottawa.
We can be proud to host this important conference, especially in a year when TV5 Monde is celebrating its 25th anniversary and when TV5 Québec Canada is celebrating its 20th.
We can also be proud of the leadership role Canada has played in the past two years as chair of the TV5 partnership, investing $25 million over five years.
Canada has once again demonstrated its commitment not only to TV5 Québec Canada and TV5 Monde, but also to the Canadian and international Francophonie.
Marcel Prud'homme November 26th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a great Canadian parliamentarian, Senator Marcel Prud'homme, who is retiring from the Senate.
After first being elected to the House of Commons in 1964, he was re-elected eight more times. He was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney on May 26, 1993, and has now devoted a total of 45 years to parliamentary life.
Senator Prud'homme represents a true institutional memory for Canada. He is known for his openness towards every country in the world and for emphasizing the importance of maintaining dialogue.
He believes that Canada should play a unique, original and positive role in the world, and suggests that we put more time and effort into dealing with international issues.
Senator Prud'homme, today, all of Canada thanks you for passionately defending the country and for representing us with integrity all over the world.
Status of Women November 25th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, ending violence against women is the responsibility of all governments, civil society and other partners. Our government is working hard to end violence against women here and abroad.
It is important to realize that violence against women takes many forms. Above all it is important to break the silence so that we can finally eradicate this violence.
That is why our government is introducing certain bills so that criminals, and not victims, pay for their crimes.
Let us take a moment to remember all those women who have lost their lives and all those who have lost their self-confidence, and let us give ourselves the tools to change things once and for all.
Status of Women November 25th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, ending violence against women—
Justice November 23rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, everyone knows that, on justice issues, Liberal and Bloc members defend the rights of criminals. Fortunately, Canadians know that they can count on our Conservative government to defend the rights of victims.
Our government believes that murderers must serve tougher sentences for the most serious crimes.
Bill C-36 would eliminate the faint hope clause. Criminals who commit first or second degree murder would no longer be able to apply for early parole. We do not want families to have to go through the pain of attending repeated parole hearings and having to relive their losses over and over.
We hope that, for once, the Liberal and Bloc members will stand up for the victims in this country by supporting this bill.
Our government works in favour of those Quebeckers and Canadians who obey the law.
Business of Supply November 20th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, climate change is an important part of our government policy, and is one of the most important challenges of our time.
On November 10, André Pratte wrote an article in La Presse called “Canada and Copenhagen”, a great title, and I will read an excerpt:
Canada has developed a strategy that could compromise an agreement in Copenhagen”, according to the Bloc member [for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie].
These types of comments distort reality. If there is no agreement in Copenhagen next month, it will certainly not be because of Canada.
...In the main British, English and American newspapers covering the talks, there is not a single mention of our country.
...The main obstacles in the way of an agreement are primarily:
—the United States' delay in announcing the greenhouse gas reduction targets it would be prepared to agree to;
—the absence of firm commitments from China—
That is why the Prime Minister is currently working to ensure that all countries that are major greenhouse gas emitters work together to find the best possible solution.
Our government is committed to reducing our country's total greenhouse gas emissions by 20% based on the 2006 level, by 2020. By 2050, we have a reduction target of 60% to 70% based on the 2006 level.
Our government is doing what needs to be done to significantly reduce greenhouse gases. Canada's economic action plan, which was introduced as part of Budget 2009, is clear on this point. The plan builds on previous investments by allocating an additional $4 billion to support a cleaner, more sustainable environment and help Canada achieve its climate change objectives. This includes a $1 billion investment over five years in the green infrastructure fund for renewable energy production and other projects. Through the clean energy fund, which was launched on May 19, 2009, we will invest another $1 billion over five years in clean energy research and demonstration projects, including carbon capture and sequestration. That funding alone is expected to generate further investment of at least $2.5 billion in clean energy.
The House of Commons bill will also require public utilities to produce at least 15% of their electricity using renewable resources and to reduce their annual energy consumption by 5% through efficiency measures.
The Government of Canada has also set ambitious goals in terms of energy production. By 2020, 90% of our electricity needs will be provided by non-emitting sources, such as hydro, nuclear, clean coal and wind power.
This clean energy goal, along with a whole series of other policies and measures, demonstrates our willingness to work as hard as our national partners.
Our government remains committed to reducing Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.
Our target is ambitious but realistic, because it takes into account Canada's growing population and our very energy-intensive industrial sector.
The Government of Canada's approach to fighting climate change will produce tangible economic and environmental results and will benefit all Canadians.
Our government is committed to working with provincial and territorial governments and other partners to develop and implement a North American cap and trade system for greenhouse gas emissions.
Harmonizing Canada's climate change policies with those of the United States is in both countries' economic interests.
We are working with the provincial governments and our partners to develop and implement a North American system.
We have already announced the publication, under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, of a notice of intent to regulate vehicle exhaust emissions and Canada's offset credit systems.
The Copenhagen meeting marks the beginning of a major international collaborative process to set achievable targets. We must ensure that we do things properly and not just deal with them in record time.
Canada's economic action plan includes more than $2 billion in green investments to protect the environment, stimulate our economy and transform our technologies.
For example, the clean energy fund will invest $850 million over five years to develop promising technologies and $150 million over five years for clean energy research and development.
In addition, the green infrastructure fund will provide $1 billion over five years to support targeted investments in green infrastructure that will help improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.
Our government intends to ensure that 90% of our electricity comes from non-polluting sources by 2020.
In keeping with our commitment to consult the provinces and territories in preparation for the conference of the parties to the United Nations framework agreement on climate change, which will take place in Copenhagen, our minister has held a series of meetings with the premiers and many of his provincial and territorial counterparts to discuss synergies between the federal, provincial and territorial approaches to fighting climate change.
Our consultations with the provinces and territories are part of the work we are doing to harmonize Canada's climate change plan with that of the United States.
The Government of Canada has invited the provinces and territories to attend the Copenhagen conference as members of the Canadian delegation. Their role will be to advise the minister and the lead negotiator, who will represent Canada during the negotiations.
Madam Speaker, as I am also a member of the official languages committee, I can say that we worked very hard to give priority to our linguistic duality at the 2010 Games. We studied the issues with our colleague from the Bloc and we will make sure that the 2010 Winter Games are bilingual, which means in both official languages of the country, English and French, because La Francophonie must shine.
Madam Speaker, on September 15, we announced $7.7 million in additional funding to ensure that the 2010 Winter Games are fully bilingual. Out of that amount, $5.3 million will be used for translation and interpretation services. The Department of Canadian Heritage is going to sign an agreement with the Translation Bureau, which will provide its expertise both before and during the Games, to ensure that the information provided to the public, the athletes, the media and the officials is in Canada's two official languages.
The Government of Canada is determined to ensure that the 2010 Winter Games will leave a lasting legacy to Canadians. This is why it is allocating $1.5 million for permanent signage. The installation of these bilingual signs at the various Olympic venues will promote the use of both official languages during the Games and will serve as a lasting legacy.
The medal ceremonies will be shown every evening at Vancouver's BC Place and on the screens of the celebration sites in Vancouver and Whistler. Every evening, the ceremonies will be followed by concerts featuring the provinces and territories. An additional $900,000 will be used to showcase French culture and performers during the medal ceremonies, so that these ceremonies also reflect the Government of Canada's commitment to our official languages.
The Government of Canada has already invested in the torch relay, the celebration sites, the Cultural Olympiad and the opening ceremony. We have included linguistic clauses in all these contribution agreements to ensure that these events reflect our country's linguistic duality, and we have also made arrangements to have francophone performers from all regions of Canada.
Federal institutions are subject to the Official Languages Act and to its related policies, and the increased demand for services must be taken into consideration. Each institution is responsible for ensuring that its obligations are met.
The Department of Canadian Heritage is coordinating the federal government's participation in the Games' organization and presentation. The 2010 Games Federal Secretariat is cooperating with the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer of the Treasury Board Secretariat to help institutions provide services in both official languages during the Games.
Promoting our two official languages and their rightful place at the 2010 Winter Games has been and remains a constant priority of our government. Since the beginning, we have wanted our two official languages to be fully integrated in the planning, organizing and presentation of the 2010 Winter Games.
In the 2008 budget, our government earmarked $24.5 million to support the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic torch relay. The Olympic torch will travel through over 1,000 communities. The torch relay provides a great opportunity to showcase the Canadian francophonie.
The Economy November 19th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, in this global economic downturn, one thing is obvious: the Canadian economy is doing better than most and we are leading the global recovery. This was confirmed today by the OECD in its economic report.
Although global recovery is fragile, Canada is one of the strongest G7 countries in terms of GDP growth for next year and we will lead the G7 for growth in 2011.
The OECD points out that our Conservative government's economic action plan is contributing to the recovery.
But we must remain focused. We need to stay the course, keep the focus on the economy and fully implement our economic action plan.
That is what the OECD recommends and it is exactly what our Conservative government is doing. We are fighting the recession while the leader of the Bloc Québécois and his party vote against economic recovery.