MS Awareness Month  Mr. Speaker, May is MS Awareness Month. It was great for me to able to meet with victims of MS on May 9 and to accept a red carnation to wear as a symbol of our support to find a cure for this crippling disease. Most of us know someone with MS. Personally, my sister Mary Lou suffers from MS and friends, Dianne Hepburn and Tammy Graver, have also been diagnosed with MS.

Senate Appointment Consultations Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for what looks like support for Senate reform. That is good to hear. When it comes to reforming the Senate, there are further changes I personally would like to see. I ask my colleague across the way to support the government in getting those.

Senate Appointment Consultations Act  Mr. Speaker, I do not like to speculate in this place, but I will use accountability, for an example. It is something that should have been passed. We all want accountability, at least one would think that we all would in the House. A very simple act should have taken no time at all.

Senate Appointment Consultations Act  Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure for me today to stand in the House to speak to Bill C-43, the Senate appointment consultations act. The most important thing about the bill is that it is about democracy, democratic reform, something of which we can all agree. I know the Canadian public agree that we could use a lot more in this great building.

Canadian Forces  Mr. Speaker, on April 21, I had the distinct honour and privilege to meet and welcome home 12 of our finest soldiers from their recent tour of duty in Afghanistan. They are proud members of the well-renowned Grey and Simcoe Foresters, and were guests of honour at a barbecue and dance held at the Owen Sound Armouries.

Battle of Vimy Ridge  Mr. Speaker, on April 9, students from my riding of Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound will be among the 10,000 people attending the 90th anniversary ceremonies of the battle at Vimy Ridge. Students from Meaford and Chesley high schools and OSCVI and West Hill high schools in Owen Sound have been researching soldiers from the area who fought in the war.

Rail Transportation  Mr. Speaker, after two weeks of strike action in February, negotiators for CN Rail and the United Transportation Union reached a tentative settlement in their labour dispute on February 24. The ratification vote will be known on Tuesday, April 10. Can the Minister of Labour please inform the House what this means for Canadians across the country who depend on Canada's rail system?

Heritage Lighthouse Protection Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Senator Carney and my colleague from South Shore—St. Margaret's. I have eight lighthouses in my riding and another one just on the fringes. The member has talked about friends of lighthouses and groups that can take over, possibly the private sector.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I rise on this subject that does interest me because I have some very good friends in the Maritimes, people I have known for a long time. The same as any part of the country, as a member of Parliament, I want to see everyone treated right. At this time I would compliment my colleague from Calgary—Nose Hill for her very obvious understanding of how this budget as it relates to equalization really does work.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I know that in the equalization on a per capita basis P.E.I. finished first, New Brunswick a very close second, and Manitoba--

Business of Supply  I did not do that deliberately, Mr. Speaker, my apologies.

Committees of the House  Mr. Speaker, as a farmer and as a member of Parliament, I have followed this issue very closely and I have been involved in it. It is so ironic to hear the hon. member across the way talk about inaccuracies and whatnot. I have sat in on the discussions and I cannot believe some of the comments from over there.

Reg Krueger  Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to pay tribute to one of my constituents, Mr. Reg Krueger of Wiarton. Reg came to the area in the late 1940s to play baseball and was a member of the Shallow Lake Ranchers when they won the OBA junior championships in 1949 and 1950. Reg was a great fastball and hockey player.

Anti-terrorism Act  Mr. Speaker, tonight in the House MPs will have the chance to help in the fight against terrorism. Terrorism is not a conventional crime. It is for this reason that we as MPs should use our ability to provide law enforcement officials across the country with the specialized legislation they need to combat terrorism.

Fisheries Act, 2007  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from the Bloc, who obviously has an interest in the bill. It is really worth pointing out that this bill has not been redone or reconstructed in 139 years. Contrary to the amendment by my good friend and colleague from Bonavista--Gander--Grand Falls--Windsor, I have to ask my colleague from the Bloc, since he did state that he agrees with the bill in principle, if he would not agree with me that if we extend this for another six months, as the amendment calls for, time will go by and they will want another delay.