Sylvie Boucher

[Community organizations in Beauport-Limoilou, January 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment thank a number of organizations in my riding which help the least fortunate members of our community. These organizations include Bouchée Généreuse, Maison Agapè, Patro Roc-Amadour, Knights of Columbus and many others we know we can rely on. In these difficult times, I find it especially important to highlight their dedication to the community of Beauport-Limoilou.

Their efforts to give hope, to ease people's pain and suffering, to listen and to help make a significant impact on the lives of our constituents.

They know that they can always count on me to help them—as a resident of Beauport-Limoilou, as a fellow human being, and as a member of Parliament. Thanks to all.

[Opposition Parties, December 3rd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the member for Papineau and all members of his party need to take off their rose-coloured glasses and stop believing that the Bloc has disavowed its ideology. Are we the only ones who can see that the Bloc is doing whatever it can to advance its cause: Quebec separation?

The fact that Jacques Parizeau approves of and applauds the coalition is proof that the Liberal Party and the NDP have fallen into a trap. How can the Liberal Party leader possibly believe that he is fighting for Canada when, once again, he will be the one handing ammunition to the Parizeaus, Landrys and Marois of this world? Is that really what he wants?

The opposition parties have acted utterly irresponsibly in dragging us into this unstable situation. This proves that they do not merit the confidence of Canadians.

[Violence Against Women, November 25th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, too many women throughout the world are victims of violence. Our government continues to take the protection of women and their families very seriously. Last week, the Minister of State (Status of Women) announced that Canada would participate in the UNIFEM campaign to say no to violence, in an attempt to increase the commitment of governments throughout the world to eliminate violence.

As one of the first signatories, Canada is a strong supporter of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. We are determined to address issues of gender equity, including violence against women. We provide desperately needed funding for the family violence initiative and other services for victims of crime.

By amending legislation, including the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Government of Canada is taking concrete steps—

[Violence Against Women, November 21st, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, violence against women is an affliction that affects too many women around the world. One in three girls is sexually assaulted before the age of 18. Women are more likely than men to be the victims of the most severe forms of spousal assault, as well as spousal homicide, sexual assault and criminal harassment. Protecting women and their families is something that this government takes very seriously.

I am proud that Canada is participating in UNIFEM's efforts to achieve worldwide political commitment to ending violence against women. That is why, yesterday, the Minister of State (Status of Women) announced that the government will sign on to UNIFEM's campaign to end violence against women around the world.

[Questions on the Order Paper, June 10th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, in response to a) The Government of Canada has not provided direct or indirect funding for the North American Future 2025 Project being conducted under the joint stewardship of the Conference Board of Canada, the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the “Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Geografia e Informatica”.

In response to b) There are no records in the systems which track correspondence for the Privy Council Office, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Industry Canada or Environment Canada that indicate any reports on the North American Future 2025 Project were received by the government.

[400th Anniversary of Quebec City, June 6th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, we on this side of the House are proud to represent Quebec. We are proud to promote Quebec across Canada. The Government of Canada has given $120 million to the Quebec City region for the 400th anniversary celebrations. That is a significant contribution. The Bloc Québécois will never have a cent to give.

[400th Anniversary of Quebec City, June 6th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, unlike the Bloc, we on this side of the House are proud to promote the French fact in Quebec City and to publicize Quebec City as a francophone city across Canada and around the world.

[Bloc Québécois, May 9th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, if the success of the Bloc can be measured by the brevity of its mandate in Parliament, as Lucien Bouchard so aptly put it, clearly, after 18 years, those members have really failed. Yet they have cost Canadian taxpayers $300 million. Their ineffectiveness is well known, since nearly half of the 116 members elected for that party have never introduced a single bill. Among such members are the members for Laurier—Sainte-Marie and Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour.

Since the Conservative government won the confidence of Canadians, the Bloc has introduced only 29 private members' bills. Not one of them has received royal assent. This negligence is a stark contrast to the results obtained by this government.

To be present means to be in a position to take real action, solve problems and deliver the goods. To be absent means being a Bloc Québécois member in Ottawa.

[Business of Supply, May 8th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, our government has done a lot for these people, in this House. We invested $9 billion in programs for Canadians with disabilities. The Bloc Québécois has done nothing. We have invested $30 million in income support for seniors. The Bloc Québécois has done nothing and never will. We have invested $550 million through the working income tax benefit. Once again, the Bloc Québécois has done nothing.

[Business of Supply, May 8th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, as a woman and a single mother, I believe that this government has accomplished many things over the past two years. We have made significant investments to help families and individuals: $13 billion in benefits for families with children, including the universal child care benefit and the new child tax credit.

We have invested in the most important thing for children: education. On this side of the House we have taken action to establish structures for families and those with low incomes. And all the while, the NDP has voted against these measures. They have done nothing to help the families in this country.