Yasmin Ratansi

[Foreign Affairs, February 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has always played a constructive role to foster peace in the international community. There have been many recent examples of Canada's success on the international scene. One such was the signing of the Naivasha agreement by south Sudan, thanks to the efforts of Canada.

With opportunities opening up in Palestine, could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs inform the House of what Canada is doing to assist the Middle East peace process?

[Black History Month, February 18th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, February is Black History Month in Canada. It is a time to reflect upon those who have made significant contributions to building the fabric of our society and to the strengthening of our country.

For the past eight years the Community Unity Alliance has recognized the tremendous contributions of distinguished African Canadians. This year the alliance recognized the hon. Alvin Curling, Brandeis Denham Jolly, Bromley L. Armstrong and Delores Lawrence.

As a woman, Delores Lawrence has long been recognized for her business acumen, her commitment to the community, and her philanthropic efforts. She currently sits as a governor of Seneca College and as the chair of the academic and patient care committee of Sunnybrook hospital. Delores has always been an inspiration to all women from all walks of life.

To all four of these distinguished individuals, please accept the heartfelt thanks of the people of Canada.

[Alzheimer's Disease, February 16th, 2005]

Madam Speaker, I ask the member for Thornhill, why is it necessary to develop a national strategy and how will the provincial and territorial counterparts assist in it? I know the member has made an effort. She talked about providing a focus, but could the member elaborate on the importance of a national strategy versus what is happening now?

[National Flag of Canada Day, February 15th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the 40th anniversary of the Canadian flag. It was first raised on Parliament Hill on February 15, 1965.

The debate in Parliament prior to the adoption of the maple leaf as our official national symbol is recorded as one of the most controversial of its time.

Much more than a symbol, the Canadian flag is now recognized worldwide and represents our values as a peaceful and generous country. National Flag of Canada Day is a day for us to reflect on our history, our identity and what unites all Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

The first National Flag of Canada Day was established in 1996 largely due to the efforts of a former member of the House. Jesse Flis represented the constituency of Parkdale--High Park for many years, and through his efforts we now celebrate National Flag of Canada Day every February 15.

[Telecommunications Act, February 7th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak on the referral stage debate of Bill C-37, an act to amend the Telecommunications Act. The goal of the bill is to create the right regulatory environment for sensible, smart telemarketing. We want to safeguard the privacy of Canadians and their right to choose with whom they wish to communicate.

Bill C-37 deals with unsolicited telemarketing and proposes to create a national do not call list. Such a list, administered by the CRTC, is preferable to other more regulatory approaches. Through the bill, the government is taking steps to give Canadians an effective and easy way to curtail intrusive telemarketing and protect their privacy.

Canada is not alone in facing the challenge of balancing the wishes of consumers with the needs of the telemarketing industry. I would remind the House that telemarketing activities span a very broad spectrum, from legitimate commercial enterprises with existing customers to fraudulent calls that prey on seniors and the unsuspecting.

Legitimate telemarketers and the marketing industry require an environment where they can conduct their business in a way that is acceptable to most Canadians. They have asked for a regulatory environment where their integrity is not undermined by the activities of the less scrupulous telemarketers.

The bill before us creates a model that would promote a positive atmosphere for legitimate businesses to undertake commercial communications within a well regulated structure. The amendments would strengthen the role of the CRTC under the Telecommunications Act with respect to the regulation of telecommunications facilities for unsolicited telecommunications to prevent undue inconvenience or nuisance.

Public opinion polls tell us that unsolicited telecommunications have become an inconvenience and a nuisance for many Canadians. In fact, during a survey conducted in 2003, 97% of respondents reported a negative reaction to unsolicited calls, with 38% saying they tolerate the calls, 35% reporting being annoyed by them, and 24% saying they hated receiving them. The majority of respondents, nearly four out of five, supported the creation of a national do not call list. Some two-thirds indicated they would likely sign up for a do not call list service.

I would like to remind the House that the CRTC imposed limitations on telemarketing in 1994. These limitations included a requirement that telemarketers maintain individual do not call lists. This provision, however, required consumers to enlist with each telemarketer separately, and there may be hundreds of telemarketers. The consumer has no way of knowing when his or her number may find its way onto another telemarketing list. It is not surprising, therefore, that many consumers consider this practice unsatisfactory.

Earlier this year, however, the regulator rendered Telecom Decision CRTC 2004-35, “Review of telemarketing rules”. In this decision, the CRTC concluded that a national do not call list had considerable merit and recommended a do not call list as approach that is preferable to other regulatory approaches. In its decision, the regulator also noted that changes to legislation would be necessary to enable it to operate a do not call list effectively.

What is required?

The bill before us would enable the CRTC to do three things: first, impose fines for non-compliance; second, establish a third party administrator to operate a database; and third, give the ability to set fees to recover costs associated with maintaining the list.

When the bill has been passed, we expect that the CRTC will undertake consultations to find an administrator of the do not call list. It will also determine how the list will operate and how much it will cost.

The CRTC will also consider whether any types of calls should be exempt from the do not call list.

In particular, I would like to make a recommendation that was raised by one of my constituents of Don Valley East. At all hours of the day and night he is harassed by unwanted fax transmissions. Similar to unwanted telephone solicitations, unwanted faxes can be equally intrusive and a waste of paper in home offices.

When the CRTC announced interim rules on telemarketing as a result of telecom decision CRTC 2004-35, the industry stakeholders maintained that these rules imposed too high a regulatory burden. The industry itself prefers a national do not call list. The CRTC has stayed its interim rules and awaits the passage of this bill before implementing a new regulatory regime.

In fact the industry may become more efficient and productive as a result of the creation of a do not call list. This would eliminate calls to individuals who do not want to be contacted and thereby reduce the number of unsuccessful calls. By passing the bill we would enable the CRTC to move forward on this issue.

Telemarketing has become more and more pervasive. There is no sign that it is going away. The inability to control a telemarketer's access to phones in our homes and businesses has become a source of frustration for a large percentage of Canadians. With this bill we provide the CRTC with the necessary tools it requires to enforce a national do not call list. In that way we give Canadians an easy and effective way to curtail intrusive calls. We will take steps to protect their privacy.

I urge hon. members in the House to support the bill.

[Tsunami Relief, February 7th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin my comments by recognizing the generosity of the Canadian people in response to the horrific tsunami that swept through southeast Asia on December 26, 2004.

I would also like to recognize the fast response by the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada to work in conjunction with the international community to help the survivors of the tsunami rebuild their shattered lives.

On a personal note, the disaster really hit close to home when I was asked by constituents to help contact their loved ones immediately following the tsunami.

In one instance a group of six young Canadian volunteers for the World University Service of Canada were taken to high ground by local people in the town where their aid project was located.

Although this is but one story of survival in which hundreds of thousands of people have been impacted, I can assure members that this one small act meant the world to the family and friends of the volunteers in my constituency of Don Valley East.

[Fraud Awareness Month, February 2nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, in Toronto yesterday the Minister of Industry joined members of the Fraud Prevention Forum, chaired by the Competition Bureau, to launch its Fraud Awareness Month.

Millions of Canadians will be better educated on how to protect themselves from fraud thanks to this month-long campaign. More than 40 public and private sector organizations will be reaching out to Canadians in an effort to educate Canadians on how to recognize, report and stop fraud. These organizations have committed to airing public service announcements on radio and television, distributing 30 million bill inserts and posters, buying newspaper ads and posting web banners, all in the name of fraud education and prevention.

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Fraud Awareness Month, with its unprecedented cooperation by the public and private sector, will help stop crimes before they start.

[Health, February 1st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of State for Public Health. Could the minister advise us of what the Government of Canada is doing to assure the safety of Canada's blood supply?

[Health, December 10th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of State for Public Health. What is the Public Health Agency doing to warn Canadians about the danger of malaria while visiting the Dominican Republic?

[Roy Overfors, December 10th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my sentiments to those of the hon. members for Laval, Sackville—Eastern Shore, and Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca in expressing our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Sergeant Roy Overfors.

Roy served with the House of Commons security service for 24 years ensuring the safety and protection of MPs, employees and thousands of visitors to the Parliament Buildings.

Roy was a loving husband and father. It was no secret to his friends on Parliament Hill that Roy loved the game of softball, both as a player and an umpire in many leagues.

For 10 years Roy was captain of Happy Hour Gang, a championship team that played in many exciting finals and won the Parliament Hill Softball League trophy in 1999.

His friends and fellow players are therefore proud to name the championship trophy the Roy Overfors Memorial Cup to honour the memory of a great sportsman and dear friend.