Canadian Wheat Board  Mr. Speaker, we are well aware that the loss of the Canadian Wheat Board is a loss for all of western Canada. The Canadian Wheat Board gives farmers and people in western and northern Canada prices and rates that the big agri-food businesses cannot equal, particularly during hard economic times.

Canadian Wheat Board  Mr. Speaker, back in March the Minister of Agriculture said he would not scrap the Wheat Board unless western farmers were in favour of it. Over the summer, western producers voted and spoke out in favour of the single desk. Why is the government failing to listen to the voices of western farmers?

Canadian Wheat Board  Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are at it again. The agriculture minister has talked about blowing the candles out on the Wheat Board. The Prime Minister has talked about a train barrelling down on the Wheat Board. We have not seen this kind of arrogance since the Mulroney Tories, whose legacy was to be left with two seats, neither of them in western Canada.

Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act  Mr. Speaker, given that my colleague represents a constituency similar in many ways to the one I have the honour of representing, I would like to hear his thoughts on why, in the government's economic plan, we have not seen the priority put on first nations and the needs that first nations have in our regions in northern Canada, whether it is in terms of housing, funding for education or, quite frankly, a real commitment to economic development in some of the communities where the highest rates of poverty exist in our country.

Canadian Wheat Board  Mr. Speaker, the port of Churchill and northern Manitobans will also feel the hit from the attack on the Wheat Board. Farmers, workers and Canada's only deep water Arctic seaport are being sacrificed for the government's ideological agenda against the Wheat Board. When will the government admit its move will hurt Canadians?

Senate Reform Act  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Hamilton Centre for his fiery speech and the way he stood up for so many Canadians who supported the New Democratic Party. Many of them refer to our position on the abolishment of the Senate, the way we speak out for them and the position we bring forward to the House of Commons as the key reasons for supporting us.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, suicide prevention should be a national priority. Tragically, Canada's aboriginal youth suicide rate is five to six times higher than the Canadian average. We know that providing healthy alternatives is the key: investments in education, recreation centres and the necessary programming.

Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act  Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to join so many voices in opposition to Bill C-4. It is a bit of a déjà vu, having been part of the team in the last parliamentary session that stood against Bill C-49. It is interesting to note that, while all opposition parties joined to oppose that bill, we are in the new Parliament assuming, yet again, that Canadians want this kind of legislation.

Safe Streets and Communities Act  Mr. Speaker, the excellent speech of my colleague from Edmonton—Strathcona brought forward what is truly one of the parts of this legislation which the government has failed to talk about, which is the impact on aboriginal people. Certainly my colleague has explained this at length, but I would like to hear more about how this legislation leaves out people who are often the most negatively impacted as a result of the inequality that exists in our society.

Libya  Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my hon. colleague a question that is both connected to this debate and on a point I raised earlier regarding the work we need to be doing in our own country in terms of building communities, investment and development in our own communities. I specifically look to the challenges we face in northern Canada and aboriginal communities.

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, sadly, over the weekend a young person living in Cross Lake, Manitoba, took his own life, the second in as many weeks. His community has been asking for federal support for youth programming for a long time. Young people are still waiting. Instead of talking about out-of-control youth, when will the government stand up and support young people in aboriginal communities so that they can gain control over their lives?

Aboriginal Affairs  Mr. Speaker, while the suicide rate in Canada has declined in recent years, in the aboriginal communities it remains tragically high. The most alarming statistic is the rate of suicide among young aboriginals, which is five to six times higher than for other Canadians. They have no recreational activities, no youth centres, no extracurricular programs and no hope.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Mr. Speaker, my colleague comes from a strong labour background, which has also shaped the community I am from in Thompson, Manitoba, and here I am thinking in particular of the work done by the steelworkers. I would like to ask him if he could elaborate on the value of having unionized workplaces.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for the remarks he made in this House. I would also like to ask him to comment on one of the central facts in this debate: that this government is denying Canadians and the representatives of postal workers the right to collective bargain.

Restoring Mail Delivery for Canadians Act  I thank my colleague for bringing forward the voice of a young person who is concerned about his future. We know that young people form the demographic that does not get involved in politics, but many of them did come out for this election in a big way. Many others say, “Well, why would I?