Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, having gone out and spoken to aboriginal families across the country, I can say that what they have asked for is our action plan. As opposed to waiting like the NDP would like to, they would like action and they would like it now. They want to be supported. They want prevention programs.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I guess what I would like to ask the NDP is to support our concrete plan to make sure that we are getting action for these victims of crime. This is very clear. Aboriginal women and aboriginal families have asked us and compelled us to move forward with this. We are acting now and I ask the NDP to support it.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, as I have been very clear multiple times in the House, we are standing up for these victims of crime. So the Leader of the Opposition can hear it clearly, let me quote yet again from Bernadette Smith, whose sister Claudette Osborne went missing in 2008. She said, “This Action Plan is something that our families have been waiting for.

Status of Women  Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear. Our government is taking action today. We are moving forward to make sure that these women, girls, and families who have experienced these abhorrent crimes are being supported and protected and we are moving forward with prevention programs.

Status of Women  Mr. Speaker, as I just said, we are moving forward now. We have an action plan, and that is what families have asked for. Bernadette Smith, whom I spoke about here in the House last week, requested that our government move forward, and that she is delighted we are moving forward now, as opposed to waiting for the lawyers and others to move forward, as the NDP would like.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious issue, and families and victims want action. Let me tell the House, in the words of an indigenous women, Bernadette Smith, whose sister, Claudette Osborne, went missing in July 2008, and I quote: This Action Plan is something that our families have been waiting for.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, going hand in glove and in a fashion similar to how we are being respectful of the provinces, health transfers currently are on an escalator of 6% per year, and that will be transferred over to GDP. However, the decisions on health care remain in the hands of the provinces.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, first, to set the record straight, the social transfer is also on an escalator and has been for several years. It was established by one of Hon. Jim Flaherty's budgets. I want to be very clear that this social transfer continues, it is on an escalator and it will meet GDP as well.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I will start by saying that is categorically false. Of the jobs that have been created since 2009, as a mentioned before, over 1.1 million, 80% of them, are in the private sector and over 65% of them are well-paying jobs. Those jobs have been created by Canadian industry because we have created the opportunity, the stimulus, for job creation in Canada.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for her question. The parliamentary secretary is doing outstanding work, both in the area where she supports me, labour, and also in western diversification. As I mentioned before, the provincial labour ministers and markets are seeing the reflection of what is changing on the ground.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my comments, I think it is very clear that the provincial labour ministers and provincial governments know their provincial labour markets. The system, as it is right now and as it has been for almost two decades, creates opportunities whereby Canadians in the provinces where they work are treated fairly and the same.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has asked the House to agree to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. Let me begin by asking this. Is this really the best way to help low-income Canadians? There are a number of reasons why the government does not support the motion and I welcome the opportunity to set some of them out.

Status of Women  Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear here. I have heard from victims' families directly. They want action and that is precisely what we are delivering. Today I was pleased to stand in the House and table our action plan to address family violence and violent crimes against aboriginal women and girls.

Status of Women  Mr. Speaker, the opposition opposed our budget action of a $25-million investment toward making sure that violence against aboriginal women is combatted. It opposed matrimonial property rights. We are here and focused on making sure that the rights of victims are dealt with.

Status of Women  Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, these are terrible crimes against innocent people and our thoughts and prayers are with those families, as well as with the victims. However, I want to be very clear. How dare the opposition raise this when it opposed budgets for shelters, when it opposed the $25 million that we have invested—