House debate  Mr. Speaker, clearly the government is committed to collaborating with its U.S. neighbours to realize the security benefits intended by the western hemisphere travel initiative, while ensuring that our shared border remains open to legitimate trade and travel. This issue has been a top priority at the most senior level meetings between our two countries, including the recent visit to Washington by the Minister of Public Safety.

House debate  Mr. Speaker, like those who have gone before me, I would like to congratulate you on your new role. Obviously, it means that you will not be sitting on all those committees with the rest of us. I rise in response to the question put to the House by my hon. colleague, the member for Windsor West, regarding the western hemisphere travel initiative of United States.

Petitions  The second petition, Mr. Speaker, asks that Parliament retain section 241 of the Criminal Code without changes in order that Parliament not sanction or allow the counselling, aiding or abetting of suicide, whether by personal action or the Internet.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions primarily signed by hard-working people from my riding of Oxford. The first petition asks that Parliament amend the Income Tax Act in order to permit a pension from a registered pension fund to be split between spouses.

Canada's military mission in Afghanistan  Madam Chair, with all due respect, the member says that he was in Kandahar. If he thinks our troops are fully equipped, why would the minister want to do sole sourcing? We are obviously short of equipment. We understand that. We are not trying to deny that our troops need the equipment.

Canada's military mission in Afghanistan  Armour protection for APCs.

Canada's military mission in Afghanistan  Madam Chair, my understanding is there is something like 16 requirements for additional equipment in that theatre that have not been met. I do not think it is up to me to tell the government what they are. The military knows what they are.

Canada's military mission in Afghanistan  Madam Chair, obviously the member for Carleton—Mississippi Mills is far more aware of what the shortcomings are. I agree with him wholeheartedly. If we are doing this stuff in a hurry, then we were shortsighted some time ago, not yesterday, not last week, but months and years ago.

Canada's military mission in Afghanistan  Madam Chair, with all due respect, I have not been there. I understand what the member is saying. I come from somewhat of a similar background to the military people. Sometimes when people ask them if they are happy with what they have, they have a certain reluctance to tell outside people what they are short of.

Canada's military mission in Afghanistan  Madam Chair, we have heard that comment on sole sourcing from industry sources. The sole sourcing that I understand the government is talking about is in the context of it being an emergency and the product has to be purchased and there is only one supplier of the product. What we are talking about with respect to this sole sourcing is that we have let our military resources dwindle to such a point that we have committed it to an action where it needs equipment but we do not have the time to go through the normal tendering and evaluation process.

Canada's military mission in Afghanistan  Madam Chair, the member's question certainly lays open this whole issue. The member's party has talked about this huge infusion of money, but in fact it is not a huge infusion of money immediately. I do not disagree that all of the money could be used in year one, but we are so far behind to start with, and that is the issue we have about the sole sourcing.

Canada's military mission in Afghanistan  Madam Chair, I am honoured to take part in this debate regarding our Canadian Forces operation in Afghanistan but first let me say that this side of the House, and I am sure that side of the House, have the utmost faith, respect and trust in our young men and women who are going to Afghanistan.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition from the congregation of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Tavistock, Ontario, most of whom are constituents of mine. They call upon Parliament to ban the production, promotion and distribution of a film based on the murders of Tammy Homolka, Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy by Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka.

Energy Costs Assistance Measures Act  Mr. Speaker, the simple answer is that it absolutely affects us. It affects us in our agriculture, in our cost of production for agriculture and in our input costs. All of that is involved in this. The other thing it affects, with all due respect to Canadians, is that it costs us in our industry.

Energy Costs Assistance Measures Act  Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague has probably already identified that the former minister of the environment is astute in his assessment of where this money is coming from. It is fair to say that this program has perhaps more to do with an eye on an election than it does on good management and helping Canadians who have been overtaxed for a long time.