Yvon Godin

[Search and Rescue, April 23rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the Commissioner of Official Languages has published a scathing report on the closing of the Quebec City marine rescue sub-centre. He states that the Trenton and Halifax centres cannot respond to distress calls in both official languages. There is no guarantee that people in distress will receive the essential services to which they are entitled.

Why is this government playing with the safety of Canadians by not guaranteeing that francophones in distress will have adequate services in French?

[Petitions, April 4th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to submit a petition signed by more than 500 people in the riding of Acadie—Bathurst, who are calling on the House of Commons to maintain funding for old age security and to make the necessary investments to enhance guaranteed income supplement benefits and end poverty for all seniors.

[Financial Statement of Minister of Finance, April 3rd, 2012]

Madam Speaker, I have a question for the Liberal member.

There was a Liberal government from 1993 to January 2006. Did the Liberal government not cut $400 million from the CBC? Did it not cut health spending to the point where the health care system became ill as a result, and still is today? Did the Liberal government take $57 billion away from working men and women? That was the theft of $57 billion from working men and women, a theft legalized by the Conservatives.

[Foreign Affairs, April 3rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, what the minister is being asked is to explain to us why the government is refusing to tell the Tepper family the truth.

For over a year, the family lived with the worry of their family member being in prison and their government telling them nothing about what was being done to bring him home.

Is that how this government protects the rights of Canadians who are detained abroad? Will they finally explain to us what role they played in Henk Tepper's release? The Teppers are entitled to know the truth.

[Air Canada, March 26th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, there is no limit to the government's disdain for Canadian workers. First, the Minister of Labour takes away the right to collective bargaining. Then she takes away the freedom of speech by calling the cops when workers show their displeasure.

Why does the minister have so little respect for Air Canada employees?

When will the minister get up and apologize to the workers of Air Canada, or is she, like the Treasury Board minister, just saying, “See you on WestJet”?

[Points of Order, March 15th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, two days ago, on March 13, the Minister of Labour said, and I quote:

Mr. Chair, I can say that if there were to be a work stoppage during the period of time that has been indicated, the March break, there would be no alternate domestic air service to the following places in British Columbia: Castlegar, Nanaimo, Penticton, Sandspit. In Ontario it would be Kingston and Sarnia. In Alberta, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat....In Nova Scotia it would be Sydney. In New Brunswick [my riding] it would be Saint John, Bathurst and Fredericton. In Quebec...

She misled the House because these cities would not have been affected by the Air Canada strike, since Jazz is the airline—

[International Day of La Francophonie, March 15th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, on March 20 we will celebrate the International Day of La Francophonie, a UN day of observance that celebrates the French language.

La Francophonie is made up of more than 220 million French speakers worldwide. In Canada, more than 9.5 million people speak French. North America's Francophonie originated in Acadia and is now found across the country.

Canada's Francophonie is enriched by francophone newcomers from around the world who contribute to Canada's economic and cultural development. Did you know that French is an official language in 36 countries?

As Jack Layton pointed out, “Canada’s varied and unique francophone communities have made an invaluable contribution to Canadian society. Over time, these communities have helped shape our identity as a country, something we are very proud of.”

The NDP wishes you a happy International Day of La Francophonie on March 20 and invites you to discover or rediscover the beauty of the French language all year round.

[Protecting Air Service Act, March 14th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. If it is a national asset, why did the Brian Mulroney government sell it then?

[Protecting Air Service Act, March 14th, 2012]

Mr. Chair, we could turn off a couple of lights and we would save some money.

(On clause 6)

[Protecting Air Service Act, March 14th, 2012]

Mr. Chair, if the Liberals are tired, they can have permission to go home.