Asian Heritage Month  Mr. Speaker, May is Asian Heritage Month recognizing the rich history of Asian Canadians and their important contributions to the settlement, development and character of Canada. Canadians of Asian roots are a critical gateway for Canada's connection and trade with fast growing Asian economies.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased as the member for Vancouver Quadra to also be presenting petitions that were collected by Dogwood Initiative. Many people in Vancouver Quadra are concerned about potential oil spills on the Pacific north coast. They know that, since 1972 when a Liberal government put protection in that area, the Liberals have stood for protecting the environment and for excluding oil tankers from the Pacific north coast.

41st General Election  Mr. Speaker, were the members opposite laughing when their own government contracted Ekos to the tune of $10 million in research? In just the seven ridings it has examined, Ekos said that up to 50,000 non-Conservative voters were targeted by this widespread fraud. When will that disgraced government stop its ethically corrupt denials and excuses and call a royal commission?

41st General Election  Mr. Speaker, today's shocking news of the extent and nature of the election fraud scandal was released by Ekos, a non-partisan polling firm the government—

Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Certainly there are elements in the bill that would be violations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but that is not the key issue here. However, a second key issue is the absolute lack of consultation, such as when Bill C-11 came forward.

Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her comment. The combination of the two elements she just mentioned is exactly what is so disturbing. On the one hand, there are injustices toward refugees, and on the other, more powers are being given to Canadian ministers. It is a toxic combination when the government takes these unilateral powers that would affect the lives of people in Canada and their families abroad.

Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to enter the debate on Bill C-31. The Liberal Party believes that it is very reasonable to review, consult on and update refugee and immigration laws from time to time in order to address ways in which they may no longer meet the public interest, address issues that have come up since the last revisions and make improvements.

Protecting Canada's Immigration System Act  Mr. Speaker, In her speech, the member opposite recognized that the Liberals also have the view that the refugee system can be improved so that it is faster, fairer and better. However, she then took issue with the fact that the Liberals disagree with some of the details of how the government proposes to do this, such as going back on amendments already adopted on Bill C-11, and criticized the Liberals as working against the interests of the taxpayers of Canada.

41st General Election  Mr. Speaker, the allegations of systemic Conservative election fraud in the last election continue to grow. Now there are reports from at least two Scarborough ridings of scores of ineligible voters who not only cast ballots but voted twice. The government dismisses sworn affidavits about a secret bank account in Vaughan, but refuses to say where that money went.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, let us give the minister another chance. First, the Conservative government smeared B.C.'s first nations, whom it has a duty to properly consult, by calling them radicals and adversaries. Now we have learned that the government plans to relinquish its role in protecting vital salmon and other fish habitat.

Air Service Operations Legislation  Mr. Speaker, just to continue this line of discussion by my my NDP colleague, when the minister talks about three parties being involved, the public, the enterprise, and the workers, of course all members of the Liberal Party and others on this side of the House are aware that this is a difficult situation.

Air Service Operations Legislation  Mr. Speaker, I do not agree with what the minister has just said. In fact, what she is doing with this process of limiting the time for debate is destroying the process that seeks to find lasting solutions between labour unions and employers. This kind of government intervention does not correct problems in the long term.

Protecting Canada’s Immigration System Act  Mr. Speaker, after hearing some of the explanations from the minister on this closure motion, it strikes me that he is missing part of the job of being an elected representative. There is a sacred trust to support the general public's understanding of how our parliamentary process works, not to mislead on how it works.

41st General Election  Mr. Speaker, Eduardo Harari lives in the riding of York Centre. Last election he got a phone call asking if he would be voting Conservative. He said no. Later he got a call, claiming to be from Elections Canada, saying his voting station had been moved to a location on Wilson Avenue, which turned out to be a vacant lot.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition requesting the creation of a royal commission on the environment and health. The petitioners come from across the country. They are concerned about the thousands of chemical products which contaminate our air, water and food.