Airline Security  Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Veterans Affairs knows about airport security. Just last year, on May 5, he joined the Minister of State for Transport at Pearson International Airport to announce new airport security measures. The veterans affairs minister said, “The government...is committed to strengthening aviation security on all fronts”.

Airline Security  Mr. Speaker, I have listened to the news and I have not heard the apology. The honest men and women who work hard to make our airports and air space safe deserve an explanation. They deserve an apology. Through his actions the minister insinuated that they would confiscate his precious tequila and drink it.

Canada Labour Code  Madam Speaker, I commend the hon. member for Compton—Stanstead for presenting the bill. I thank her for her hard work and for her bringing this discussion to the chamber. I think it is unfair, as the parliamentary secretary has suggested, that we wait for a government bill, which we have not seen.

House debate  Madam Speaker, I thank the parliamentary secretary for his comments, none of which I disagree with. I think this citizenship guide is a massive improvement and I have no need to defend the record of a previous Liberal government. I was not here. What I am doing is looking to the future, and what I would hope is that the government could simply acknowledge that a group of people was left out.

House debate  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to rise and probe a little further the question I asked on March 5 of the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. To remind the House, the question was with respect to the new citizenship guide and some omissions and deletions in the preparation of it.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition today, as certified by the clerk of petitions, regarding the key role that post offices play in the social and economic life of Canadians and Canada by providing the infrastructure that healthy communities need to thrive and businesses need to grow.

Canadian Navy  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry for this motion. As the critic for Veterans Affairs, and I think I also speak on behalf of the critic for National Defence in our caucus, we will be recommending to our caucus full and complete support of this motion.

Citizenship and Immigration  Mr. Speaker, documents obtained under access to information clearly reveal that the Minister of Citizenship made a decision to explicitly exclude gay and lesbian people and our history from the new citizenship guide. However, he told a respected human rights group that it was merely an oversight.

The Economy  Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Wellington—Halton Hills. When I look at that side of the House, I find the member with the most integrity is actually sitting in that seat, so I take his comments seriously. I would like to give a little lesson about pensions. Pensions have the ability to actually stabilize the economy and help us through the troughs.

The Economy  Madam Speaker, I have no need or any desire to take lessons from members of the New Democratic Party on economics, on social justice or on people. Very frankly, the discussions that happened in the 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s may still occupy the minds and imagination of New Democrats, but we have moved on.

The Economy  Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time today with the hon. member for Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor. I have appreciated the comments raised in the House today in this take note debate. As we gather as members of Parliament, we all bring certain wisdom and knowledge to this discussion.

Veterans Affairs  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour John Henry Foster Babcock who died last week at the remarkable age of 109. Canadians from coast to coast to coast were not only touched by his death, but have been, and will continue to be, inspired by his life. Today, we recognize the passing of the last Canadian first world war veteran and pledge to keep alive the spirit of freedom, courage, democracy and dignity that marked his generation and left an indelible mark on Canada and the world.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table a number of petitions. The first petition calls for the Government of Canada to support a universal declaration on animal welfare. This petition, signed by a number of Ontario residents, acknowledges that animals often feel pain and suffer. It also acknowledges the significant role animals play in our lives.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to present 10 petitions from Canadians. The petitioners call upon the House of Commons to make changes to the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. These changes will help to protect the rights of all Canadian employees and to ensure that employees receiving pensions or long-term disability benefits laid off by a company undergoing bankruptcy proceedings will obtain preferred creditor status over other unsecured creditors.

Canadian Northwest Passage  Madam Speaker, as a proud Canadian and as a former proud northerner, I am pleased to speak to Motion No. 387 moved by the hon. member for Prince Edward—Hastings. I read with interest the speech that he gave to introduce the motion on October 5 as well as the speeches of other members in the House.