First Nations Financial Transparency Act  Mr. Speaker, I became aware that this was a long-standing issue for many first nations community members who had tried to get access to this information. I also, in speaking with my colleagues, understood that this was a bill that was very much needed in order to bring about the accountability and transparency that is very much needed in first nations communities so that members can determine for themselves whether their chiefs and councillors are being accountable and transparent through the levels that they set for themselves.

First Nations Financial Transparency Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for the very important work that he is doing on the aboriginal caucus. I have heard from first nations community members and non-first nations community members alike that this is a bill that is very much needed. I have received emails thanking me for bringing the bill forward.

First Nations Financial Transparency Act  moved that Bill C-575, An Act respecting the accountability and enhanced financial transparency of elected officials of First Nations communities, be read the second time and referred to a committee. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-575, First Nations Financial Transparency Act.

Points of Order  Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Over the weekend, I spoke privately with most of the members of the finance committee about the leak of a report of that committee by a former member of my staff. Let me assure the House that at the earliest opportunity, I proactively took action and dismissed the staff member in question.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, aboriginal reserve chiefs are being paid jaw-dropping salaries. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation reports that approximately 222 reserve chiefs and councillors were paid more than their respective premiers in fiscal 2008-09. Can the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development say if he will support my private member's bill, Bill C-575, An Act respecting the accountability and enhanced financial transparency of elected officials of first nations communities, and is he willing to go further to disclose all sources of income for band chiefs?

2010 Canadian Bowl  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and pride that I rise today to congratulate the Saskatoon Hilltops, the 2010 Canadian Bowl champions. In a fierce battle, the Hilltops defeated the Vancouver Island Raiders 34 to 23 in the national final. Should anybody wonder why my colleague from Nanaimo—Alberni will be looking so dashing today, it is because he will be wearing a Saskatoon Hilltops jersey as part of a friendly wager between MPs.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question and I thank him as well for all the hard work he has done over the past few weeks to ensure that Saskatchewan residents are well represented on this issue. PotashCorp is a successful business, one that is dominant in world markets.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, the simple answer is that we are following the law. Let me be clear. Canada is open for business. Under the Investment Canada Act, each case is considered unique and is reviewed on its own merits. Canadian companies have a strong record of competing globally, with Canadian companies overall investing far more overseas than foreign companies invest in Canada.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if that was a question or not. It seems to me that it is simply more rhetoric coming from that side of the room. While members of the opposition were busy trying to politicize this process, the members from Saskatchewan were honouring the process and the requirements of the act.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in my place to respond to the motion tabled by the hon. member for Toronto—Danforth, concerning foreign investment in Canada and the Investment Canada Act. I would like to take this opportunity to speak to my constituents and thank them for their patience and for their support over these past few weeks.

Status of Women  Mr. Speaker, in Canada today aboriginal women are more than three times as likely to be a victim of violent crime than non-aboriginal women. Our government is concerned by this disturbing pattern of violence and the impact it has on their families and our communities. We believe all women have the right to be safe, regardless of the community in which they live.

An Act to Prevent Coercion of Pregnant Women to Abort (Roxanne’s Law)  Mr. Speaker, I would like to reflect for a moment. I remember when I became pregnant for the first time. My husband and I were thrilled that our hopes and dreams of raising a family together would soon become a reality. I was so thankful that I had a loving and supportive husband to accompany me on this journey to motherhood.

Government Accountability  Mr. Speaker, Canadians expect to be served by a government that is open, honest and accountable. In 2005, Canadians were ashamed to discover that Transparency International had ranked Canada 14th in the world in its annual corruption index. In the 2006 election, Canadians rejected the Liberals and their cash-stuffed brown paper envelopes and elected a Conservative government with a mandate to clean up Ottawa.

Status of Women  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the efforts by Equal Voice to raise the issue of decorum in the House as part of its goal to help engage more women in the political sphere, not only here on Parliament Hill but right across the country. For this it should be commended. As Equal Voice points out, women are 52% of Canada's population and make up an average of 21% of Canada's municipal councils, provincial legislatures and the House of Commons.

Child Advocacy Centres  Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to supporting victims of crime, particularly the most vulnerable among us: our children. Today the Minister of Justice, along with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, announced funding of $5.25 million for the creation and enhancement of child advocacy centres to help better serve young victims and witnesses of crime.