Wayne Easter

[Gender-Based Violence, March 25th, 2021]

Madam Chair, there have been some very remarkable, heartfelt remarks tonight. I have a staffer who volunteers at a women's shelter in Charlottetown. There is no question that during the pandemic, the domestic intimate partner violence has gone up.

We know the problem, and the last speaker hit on a really important point. What is the underlying cause for this behaviour and this violence? Some of us are lucky that we were born into the families we were. Many situations are not like that.

My key question is for the last speaker, and really for anyone. What do we need to be focusing on? We can all outline the problems, and they are serious. Is it education? Is it training? Is it funding? Is it family relationships and working on that? Where we do have to go? We need to be targeting the solution here.

[Committees of the House, March 24th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Finance in relation to Bill C-14, an act to implement certain provisions of the economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 30, 2020, and other measures.

The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House without amendment.

[Committees of the House, March 23rd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Finance in relation to Bill C-208, an act to amend the Income Tax Act, transfer of small business or family farm or fishing corporation. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House without amendment.

[Interparliamentary Delegations, March 23rd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, two reports of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group.

The first report concerns the 73rd annual meeting of the Council of State Governments West, the CSG West, held virtually by video conference on July 29 and July 30, 2020.

The second report relates to the National Conference of State Legislatures, NCSL Base Camp, held virtually by video conference September 15 to September 17, 2020.

[Committees of the House, March 10th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Finance in relation to Bill C-224, an act to amend an act to authorize the making of certain fiscal payments to provinces, and to authorize the entry into tax collection agreements with provinces.

The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

[Daryl Guignion, February 19th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, today I pay tribute to Mr. Daryl Guignion, who passed away recently.

Daryl, perhaps P.E.I's most dedicated environmentalists, was one of the foremost spokesmen in his own quiet way for watershed conservation in P.E.I. His knowledge of our river systems was second to none.

With 40 years of teaching in the University of P.E.I. biology department, Daryl was famous for his field trips, visits to old-growth hardwoods and sand dune ecosystems, canoe trips to wetlands and snowshoeing in nature. His efforts resulted in the implementation of the Morell River Conservation Zone, the formation of the Island Nature Trust and protection of Greenwich, and numerous Atlantic salmon restoration projects.

Daryl received awards aplenty, but I want to conclude by thanking Rosie, his partner in life and in much of his work. It is said that pillow talk in their household was discussion of brook trout, salmon and smelts.

P.E.I. has lost one of its best. We extend our condolences.

[Interparliamentary Delegations, February 17th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, two reports from the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group.

The first is in relation to the National Governors Association's winter meeting, held in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., from February 7 to 10, 2020.

The second concerns the Great Lakes Day and Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast, held in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., from March 3 to 5, 2020.

[Committees of the House, February 16th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Finance, entitled “Investing in Tomorrow: Canadian Priorities for Economic Growth and Recovery”, the pre-budget consultation report prior to the 2021 budget, as ordered by the House.

It was a somewhat difficult trail to get to the conclusion of this report. COVID happened, scheduling changed and Zoom capacity in Parliament made it very difficult to find enough time. I want to thank the many organizations and individuals who submitted briefs, some 793 prior to mid-August, and also thank those who appeared over the summer on COVID-19, and the witnesses who were able to appear in the fall. A special thanks to members of all parties who put a lot of hard work and endurance into completing this task, and a very special thanks to the analysts with the Library of Parliament and the clerks who helped to finish this process.

[Interparliamentary Delegations, February 16th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, two reports of the Canada-U.S. Inter-Parliamentary Group.

The first report relates to the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures held in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., from August 5 to 8, 2019.

The second report concerns the annual national conference of the Council of State Governments, held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, U.S., from December 4 to 7, 2019.

[Stuart Thiesson, January 27th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, with great respect, I recognize Mr. Stuart Thiesson of Saskatoon, who passed away this month.

Stuart worked in the farm movement for 41 years with the Saskatchewan Farmers Union and later the National Farmers Union. He was the wordsmith behind so much of what the NFU stood for, holding the pen that drafted hundreds of presentations to provincial and federal governments. Stuart was gifted in turning ideas into words and turning those words into calls for action.

A founding member of the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame, he served on the Labour Relations Board and the Statistics Canada advisory committee and was a founding director of the Saskatoon Community Clinic, where he fought for accessible health care for all.

As well, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Saskatchewan and inducted into the Agriculture Hall of Fame. Stuart loved to play musical keyboards and host friends and family at his cabin on Emma Lake.

Stuart is truly one of Canada's best.