Health  Mr. Speaker, at the heart of our public health care system is one simple principle: no one should have to pay out of pocket for health care. Yet, patients all across the country are being charged extra fees for medical services, and the Government of Canada is doing nothing about it.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my hon. colleague on a thoughtful and sensitive speech. I also share his distinction between suicide and assisted death. That is an important distinction that all parliamentarians would do well to keep in mind. I have two quick questions for him.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, following up on the question of my hon. colleague on the government side, I share his concern that we seem to be moved toward filling a legislative gap because of the Supreme Court decision, which is very true. On the other hand, it strikes me as the realistic situation that if we do not have legislation in place by the June 6 date given by the Supreme Court, then we would be in the untenable position of having a legislative vacuum.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for those thoughtful points. They also raise fundamental issues that will be discussed at committee. I could not be clearer than I was in my speech in saying that I believe the conscience rights of those who do not want to participate in assisted death, medical practitioners and institutions, ought to be explicitly protected.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, in many ways, that question gets to the very heart of the matter before us, which is that the Supreme Court has clearly and carefully ruled that competent adults in Canada who are suffering from grievous and irremediable conditions ought to be allowed the ability to choose their end of life and get assistance from their medical professionals to do so.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, I listened with interest to the speech from my hon. colleague. He very clearly said that he believed this legislation would conform with the Supreme Court decision in Carter. I have read a very spirited and well-reasoned letter recently from Joe Arvay, the lawyer who argued the Carter decision.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, I want to begin my remarks by acknowledging the delicacy, sensitivity, and grace that the subject before us requires. The subject matter of this debate, assisted dying, raises issues of the most profound importance, indeed of life and death. They engage our deepest sentiments not only as parliamentarians but as humans.

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, I listened to the comments of my hon. colleague from Edmonton. I was born in Edmonton and grew up there. I spent 27 years in Edmonton before moving to Vancouver and representing the great riding of Vancouver Kingsway. I was intrigued by my friend's comments where he appeared to be very critical about the Alberta government's decision to run a $10-billion deficit at a time when the Alberta economy is facing a global collapse of commodity prices, particularly oil and gas, but of course, he represents the Conservative Party.

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, I am the health critic for the New Democratic Party, so I read this budget with a particular interest in the provisions around health care. We know that during the last election, there were some very clear promises by the Liberals to the Canadian people. One was that they would allocate $3 billion over four years to home care, which we all agree is very important need in our country.

Public Service Labour Relations Act  Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague for an excellent speech and, frankly, the government for introducing legislation that is long overdue. The right to collectively bargain in Canada is a constitutional right, and it has been a disgrace that the Canadian government has actively attempted to frustrate this, particularly the previous Conservative government that made it so difficult for our men and women in uniform, who simply want to sit down with their employer and collectively bargain the terms and conditions.

Health  Mr. Speaker, all experts and stakeholders agree that we need to start making strategic investments in home care now. We have seniors being kept in hospital beds simply because we do not have the resources to care for them in our communities. During the last campaign, the Liberals told Canadians they would invest $3 billion over four years in home care.

Income Tax Act  moved for leave to introduce Bill C-256, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credit for dues paid to veterans' organizations). Mr. Speaker, I think I speak for all members of this House when we say that we very much honour and cherish the veterans who have served our country.

Food and Drugs Act  moved for leave to introduce Bill C-257, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (sugar content labelling). Mr. Speaker, as the health critic for the New Democratic Party, it gives me great pleasure to introduce this bill today, with thanks to the hon. member for Windsor West for seconding the bill.

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act  moved for leave to introduce Bill C-255, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (appeal process for temporary resident visa applicants). Mr. Speaker, I am very honoured to rise in the House, with thanks to my seconder, the hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby, to introduce this very important bill.

Food Safety  Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve to know that their food is safe, and they deserve to know that now, not years from now. Seventy-one percent of Canada's meat inspectors report that staffing levels are now so low, they cannot adequately ensure the safety of the products on Canadians' tables.