Vic Toews

[RCMP, January 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, a responsible approach to public sector compensation is critical during a time of economic uncertainty. Everyone is being asked to do their share to help manage government expenditures in the public interest. The RCMP is not being singled out in this respect. It is being treated exactly the same way. It is reasonable and responsible for the government to apply the same wage increase guidelines for every federal employee.

[The Budget, January 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, many of the public sector unions realize the difficult situation that Canada is in as a result of the global recession. I believe the unions have taken a responsible attitude toward their collective agreements and the settlements they have entered into with the Government of Canada.

[The Budget, January 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, what I do not understand from the member is why she believes that women will have to wait 15 years in order to resolve pay equity complaints.

It has been clear from a task force that the Liberals put forward in 2004 that there needs to be a proactive system of resolving pay equity complaints.

The government is committed to that. We simply do not believe that women should have to wait 15 years in order to have these complaints resolved.

[The Budget, January 29th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I apologize for interrupting the member on her eloquent presentation.

I believe the House leaders have knowledge of this. This morning when I tabled the supplementary estimates I was inadvertently provided with the wrong document, signed by the hand of Her Excellency the Governor General. I wish to sincerely apologize to the House for the error.

At this time I wish to provide the Speaker with a message from Her Excellency the Governor General signed by her own hand transmitting supplementary estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.

[Tabling of Documents, January 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to present to the House a message from Her Excellency the Governor General signed by her own hand.

[Pay Equity, January 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we do believe that pay equity is a fundamental right. That is why we are introducing proactive pay equity legislation, as recommended by the Liberal task force in 2004. In fact, this was legislation introduced by the NDP in Manitoba in 1986 and introduced by the Liberals in Ontario in 1988, supported by the member for Toronto Centre.

[Business of Supply, January 26th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That the business of supply be considered at the next sitting of the House.

(Motion agreed to)

[Status of Women, December 3rd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, for 13 years the Liberals did nothing with respect to pay equity for women. Women waited and waited and received no satisfaction from the Liberals because of the mechanism that they had in place.

What we are doing is putting in place a proactive mechanism that will address the issues of women in a timely fashion. It is something the Ontario government brought in under the member for Toronto Centre, something the Quebec government brought in, and something my own home province of Manitoba brought in back in 1986.

[Status of Women, December 3rd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, what we find unacceptable is that women would have to wait for 15 years to resolve complaints. In fact, the legislation we are bringing forward is something the David Peterson government brought in.

Mr. Speaker, do you know who supported that? The NDP supported that. Who was it led by? It was led by the member for Toronto Centre. It was he who brought in that legislation in Ontario.

[Status of Women, December 2nd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, under the previous Liberal government, women waited 15 years to get pay equity complaints resolved. Fifteen years. Now, we are able to resolve within a few short months another pay equity issue. We are bringing forward legislation that will protect the pay equity of women who are working for the federal civil service. We are proud to move this ahead, as opposed to the Liberals, who did nothing but chatter about it for so many years.