International Trade committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the presenters from British Columbia. It's nice to see some people from the west coast here. Before I get started, I want to echo Susan's comments about the importance of this agreement and this industry to British Columbians. Coming from a community on Vancouver Island, Port Alberni, where forestry is the job creator, I know it's the driving economic industry in our region.

International Trade committee  My name is Susan Yurkovich. I'm really pleased to be here today on behalf of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council. Duncan is the co-chair of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council, which is an organization that was established to advocate for the B.C. forest sector on trade-related matters, but our organization, as you'll see today, works collaboratively with provincial associations and lumber companies across the country as a member of the Canadian Lumber Trade Alliance.

Environment committee  Thank you very much for joining us this morning. From Public Services and Procurement Canada we have Duncan Retson. He is the director general, portfolio and government affairs sector, policy, planning and communications branch. Thank you very much for joining us. We have the Honourable John Godfrey here today as well.

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  This is a story about the importance of smart public policy and public investment in community infrastructure, such as that referred to in the Speech from the Throne and of how it has helped position Halifax for success: success, with a tremendous opportunity and responsibility of a national shipbuilding contract, with the Irving shipyard already becoming a key economic driver in our city; success with the greatest concentration of ocean-related Ph.D.s of anywhere in the word in capitalizing on our potential of the oceans nearby for research, nutrition, energy, logistics, and even, in the case of the marine research station in Ketch Harbour in my riding, for cutting-edge algae biofuel; success in helping to support our local arts and culture scene with groups like Shakespeare by the Sea, Khyber Centre For The Arts, Neptune Theatre, and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and festivals like Nocturne: Art at Night and North by Night Market, which are just a few examples of the vibrant culture found in our city; success with a rich diversity of food and food security initiatives in Halifax, like Hope Blooms, a modest community garden program empowering at-risk youth in the urban core, or like our urban farms, common roots urban farm, the Spryfield urban farm, and the John Umlah memorial community garden; and success in attracting and supporting diversity in our city. Just last month, I visited the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre in downtown Halifax to discuss with its director, Pamela Glode-Desrochers, how I could help advance its objective of improving the lives of aboriginal people in an urban environment through social and cultural programming.

Industry committee  Thank you for the question. Let me begin by saying the National Research Council is one of the research jewels in Canada. This is an institution and organization that has a proud 100-year history of scientific discovery. We've had Nobel prizes associated with it. Whether it's measuring the distance between electrons or the distance between stars, we have to ensure that the NRC is successful going into the future both in basic and applied research.

Industry committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I'd like to thank the committee for having us. It's an honour and privilege to be appearing today. Like my colleague Minister Bains, I'm really looking forward to working with you all. Before I start, I'd like to acknowledge my colleagues Minister Bains and Minister Chagger, as well as John Knubley and Kelly Gillis, with whom we have the privilege of working.

Environment committee  I have with me Paula Brand, who is the acting director general of our sustainability directorate, and who is responsible overall for the development of the progress report and the federal strategy. I also have with me, Duncan Retson, from Public Services and Procurement Canada, who is the director general of the office of greening government operations, an important part of the federal strategy as well. I'll focus my opening remarks on two main areas, if I may: first, the administration of the current act; and second, a bit of an introduction to the draft 2016-19 federal sustainable development strategy and the current public consultations we're in.

National Action Plan to Address Violence Against Women  Mr. Speaker, it is my absolute privilege to stand in support of the motion by my colleague, the member for Churchill, the official opposition critic for aboriginal peoples. She continues to be a staunch advocate in whatever portfolio she is in. I know she represents many Métis and first nations in her constituency, and she does them proud, not simply in speaking for them but in being a voice here and sharing their stories and desires.

Environment committee  Sure, I do. It's a great question. We have a burgeoning newcomer population, especially from China. They have a real hunger for outdoor activities, especially fishing and hunting. The government and the Prince Edward Island Wildlife Federation have tried to make sure that if any of these newcomers want information or want to take hunter safety or firearm safety programs that we have programs available to them.

Fisheries committee  It's unfortunate. Smallmouth bass is a great sport fish that we have in the St. John area or the southeast of the province. It's been there for a hundred years. It's not native to our province, but people have been moving it within the province into lakes or areas they shouldn't be, because these fish will threaten native species of salmon.

Business of Supply  Early one morning, as the trip drew to a close, I stood alone at Essex Farm Cemetery, on the outskirts of Ypres, where Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Guelph native, performed his work as a field surgeon in the Canadian artillery. It was here that McCrae's friend and student, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer, died from wounds sustained in battle.

Status of Women  Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Status of Women said she listens to women, but we have seen no evidence of this. Women's organizations from across the country have called on the government to take action on violence against women: the YWCA, the Native Women's Association of Canada, the Canadian Teachers' Federation, Plan Canada, and Canadian Council of Muslim Women have all raised their voices to call for a national action plan.

Yukon and Nunavut Regulatory Improvement Act  It does not say anything in the treaty about having their economic, cultural, religious and education rights stripped, or that they would be made wards of Duncan Campbell Scott who came north to sign the treaty. There needs to be a day of reckoning on this. The communities I am in say that the reckoning is the respect that we move forward with.

Canadian Heritage committee  I would follow up on the digital piece. I think that's usually significant. I see it as an opportunity for this sector. We know that people who visit a website to watch cultural content online are twice as likely to buy a ticket for it later. So in terms of that audience development piece, the digital thing is essential.

Battle of Ypres  It was in the terrible shadow of those graves and the nearly 6,000 Canadian casualties of the Second Battle of Ypres that Guelph native, Colonel John McCrae, composed In Flanders Fields. We commemorate the anniversary of that battle, which began 100 years ago today. Over the next two days, Canadian and other allied troops would face the first real deployment of chemical weapons as they fought through chlorine gas.