The Budget  Mr. Speaker, one of the challenges we have before us is to take a look at all of the things we can take advantage of, bearing in mind that there is an uncertain economy throughout the world. The government has been very forthcoming in saying that we need increased productivity and in putting out plans for new venture capital, including the funding of that.

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in the House to speak to the 2013 economic action plan and what it means for my riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla. There are many reasons why I am in full support of the budget that are unique to my riding. However, there are initiatives that are in our national interest and I would like to briefly speak to those.

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, there certainly is a lot in this budget that I appreciate, particularly for Okanagan—Coquihalla. Given the issue of jobs training and skills, the fact that there are so many people either unemployed or underemployed, I and many of my colleagues have heard from employers who say that academia has been slow to connect both the skills training and encouraging workers to go into fields where there are currently employment opportunities.

Nuclear Terrorism Act  Mr. Speaker, obviously non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is a goal all countries should aim for. It is a challenging issue, because what this particular bill sets out to do is to make sure the technology behind these nuclear devices does not proliferate, whether through terrorist organizations or others.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, there seems to be hypocrisy here. We have the New Democrats constantly being on both sides of the issue. Their leader says that he wants to give new powers to the Senate, yet today we see a motion saying to abolish the Senate. We have a member asking if by leaning to elections for senators we would have a more partisan process, yet they claim that the Senate is already a partisan body.

Canadian Human Rights Act  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the debate on Bill C-279, which is sponsored by the hon. member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, an opposition member from my province of British Columbia for whom I have great respect. After examining and considering Bill C-279, I think it is clear that the amendments proposed in this bill are not necessary.

Inspirational Role Models  Mr. Speaker, last week was a truly great week in my riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla. On Friday morning I joined a very large and very excited group of students from Uplands Elementary School to have a live conversation with Canada's very own Chris Hadfield. Our conversation was carried out live through the ARISS amateur radio program.

Sport  Mr. Speaker, the sport of amateur wrestling has a rich Olympic tradition that thrives here in Canada thanks to medal-winning performances by the likes of Daniel Igali and female medallists Carol Huynh and Tonya Verbeek. Don Ryan, the president of Wrestling Canada, and many others around the world, were surprised to hear that the IOC has announced that wrestling will not be included on the list of core sports for the 2020 Olympics.

Sustainable Development  Mr. Speaker, Logan Lake is a wonderful rural resource-based community located in my riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla. Folks there are incredibly friendly, hard-working and have a great love of the outdoors. Each year, Logan Lake puts on an incredible outdoor hockey tournament. When not outdoors, they have a very innovative and unique cable service to watch, run completely by volunteers.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the speech by my B.C. colleague and his bringing forward ideas he thinks are important. There are a couple of errors that I just want to put on the record. First of all, we have seen a decline of refineries in Canada going from 44 down to 17. That is what I hear.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, it is important for us to hear all the different sides, but we are hearing so many errors on the subject of foreign investment, I do not know where to start. First, it is the provincial crown that owns the assets of mineral rights. Therefore, any development that is done is done in tandem.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to present two petitions on behalf of the Kalmring family and many constituents in my riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla. Lynn Kalmring was a loving mother, sister, daughter and friend to all who loved her. Lynn's life was tragically taken from her in a senseless and brutal act of domestic violence.

Jobs and Growth Act, 2012  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for the expertise he has brought to bear in the environment committee. Yesterday, the member for Kelowna—Lake Country brought up his experience as a former city councillor in discussing this budget. The FCM has said that it supports the changes to navigation proposed in Bill C-45.

Northern Jobs and Growth Act  Mr. Speaker, the member commented to the parliamentary secretary that he would like to see incentives for renewable energy. I will just inform the member that there is such an opportunity in Bill C-45, where there is a capital cost allowance incentivizing the use of more machinery in producing renewable sources of energy.

Helping Families in Need Act  Mr. Speaker, I was in Vancouver when the Prime Minister announced this and I received great feedback from my riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla on the issue. The previous member asked a question in regard to how many people this would help. I would like to get on the record how many families this piece of legislation would affect each year as well as the importance of helping out families.