Yasmin Ratansi

[Landscape Architecture Awards, June 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that a company in my riding of Don Valley East, Schollen & Company International, is a recipient of a National Merit Award in the 2007 Awards of Excellence in Landscape Architecture.

The landscape architecture profession is concerned with analysis, design, planning, management and rehabilitation of the environment around us.

Landscape architects integrate and apply knowledge of ecology, socio-cultural factors, economics and aesthetics to create environments that are functional, innovative and attractive.

Schollen & Company International is one of the 36 projects located in Canada, the United States and China that have been recognized for excellence in all aspects of the landscape architecture profession.

The real winners, of course, are Canadians who get to enjoy these wonderful projects.

[Ministerial Expenditures, May 31st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, what is the hold up and what are the Conservatives hiding? The secretary of state likes to justify laundering his expenses by saying that his friends are taking care of it.

If he has done all the extensive travelling he claims, are we to understand that he owes more than 100 favours to his friends?

Whether it was a charge to the government or a personal gift to the minister from friends, the minister has a legal obligation to disclose it. Which was it, a gift or a charge, and how much?

[Ministerial Expenditures, May 31st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State for Multiculturalism has failed to disclose any travel expenses since he took over the job in January.

On May 16 and again on Tuesday, we asked the minister where his travel expenses were posted. Both times he said he had asked the department officials to post the expenses on the website, despite the fact that officials are required to post them automatically. Surprise, the posting has still not been done.

What is it about proactive disclosure that the minister does not understand?

[Committees of the House, May 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 20th report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women entitled, “Human Trafficking and the 2010 Olympics”, asking the government to develop and implement a plan prior to the 2010 Olympics to curtail the trafficking of women and girls for sexual purposes.

[Millennium Scholarships Excellence Award, May 29th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the millennium excellence award program is one of Canada's most prestigious national scholarship initiatives.

Directed at Canadians preparing to enter college or university for the first time, the program's entrance award plays a crucial role in the recognition and encouragement of excellence in the classroom and beyond.

The millennium excellence award program seeks candidates with outstanding achievements in four key areas: academic performance, community service, leadership and innovation.

I am therefore very proud to announce that five students from my constituency of Don Valley East have earned this prestigious award: Heeba Abdullah, Ashley Booker, Safir Jamal, Naila Obaid and Arissa Sperou.

I ask all members of the House to join me in congratulating these outstanding students and future leaders of Canada.

[National Dystonia Awareness Week Act, May 17th, 2007]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-446, An Act respecting National Dystonia Awareness Week.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 50,000 Canadians who suffer from the disabling neurological movement disorder known as dystonia, I am pleased to introduce an act respecting National Dystonia Awareness Week.

Dystonia is not well understood and is an often misdiagnosed disease that affects certain regions of the brain responsible for involuntary movement and can manifest itself through a variety of symptoms.

The purpose of the bill is to get greater awareness of the disease, especially of its severity and long term chronic symptoms, by designating the week commencing on the first Sunday in June as National Dystonia Awareness Week.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, from the responses I have received so far, it appears the minister is totally inept. I will ask her a very simple question.

Women from rural and urban communities and all walks of life appearing before the Standing Committee on the Status of Women have stated that programs have to be looked at through a gender lens. GBA was critical research done by Status of Women to help departments be effective in the program delivery.

Why did the minister gut the research capacity of SWC and why are all her cuts detrimental to women?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, I will give her an easy question.

The Yukon Status of Women Council works with local women's organizations and the Yukon Housing Corporation to advocate for housing on behalf of women fleeing abusive relationships. That means women and children now have an option other than returning to their abusers.

Why does the minister think that cutting advocacy programs will further the lot of women's lives in this country?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, that means no.

Can the minister explain why the new funding guidelines have not yet been posted on her website two months after she announced changes? How can groups apply if they do not know the criteria?

[Business of Supply, May 16th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, could the minister advise if the funding as allocated in budget 2007-08 has been disbursed to the Status of Women and if so, when?