Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations Legislation  Mr. Speaker, the member's government, his Minister of Agriculture, brought in legislation just last year which in essence would kill the Canadian Wheat Board. That was in opposition to over 20,000 plus farmers who wanted to retain the Canadian Wheat Board. Any potential strike CP could have had would have had nowhere near as much impact on the grain farmers in the Prairies as killing the Canadian Wheat Board.

Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations Legislation  Mr. Speaker, let us look at the government's track record since it achieved a majority government. We can talk about Air Canada that has had back-to-work legislation imposed on it twice. We can talk about Canada Post and its back-to-work legislation. Now we anticipate back-to-work legislation for CP Rail.

Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations Legislation  Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I rise to put a few words on the record about what we believe are very important issues that all Canadians no doubt are concerned about. I appreciate the question that the member opposite posed, but only in the sense that we within the Liberal Party have always advocated how important it is for us to look at the larger picture.

Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations Legislation  Mr. Speaker, the Liberal Party has expressed a great deal of concern about the way in which the government is trying to bring things through, in what we would argue is an inappropriate fashion, to draw this matter to a close. Through this resolution, the government is suggesting that the bill, whenever we see it, would ultimately pass second reading and then the House would go into committee of the whole.

Continuation and Resumption of Rail Service Operations Legislation  Mr. Speaker, actions speak far louder than words. The government, and in particular this minister and the Prime Minister, might say they believe in the free collective bargaining system, but their actions show quite the opposite, whether it was the shafting of Canada Post workers or the shafting of Air Canada workers.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, we recognize, as all Canadians do, the importance of war memorials and monuments. A great majority of Canadians every year take the time to show their love and appreciation of our forces of today and of yesterday, and assign a great deal of value to the monuments. The concern, at least in part, that Liberals have is in regard to the issue of restorative justice.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, we need to recognize that sometimes our greatest enemy is from within. I believe, in the case of the Prime Minister, that this might be an issue of pride. Sometimes pride will prevent one from doing the honourable thing. The Prime Minister has made an apology outside the House and the current Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism has said the government is not going to reopen the issue.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, this is a relevant motion. Over the last five to eight years the issue has been talked about in provincial legislatures. I refer to two specifically, British Columbia and my home province of Manitoba, where resolutions were passed. In Manitoba specifically, we were asking for the government to recognize it.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, there are many from within the Indo-Canadian community today who believe it would be a wonderful thing to see the Prime Minister of Canada stand in his place here in the House of Commons where the problem originated when we passed some of the laws many years ago. So, to bring some conclusion to it, making the effort would go a long way and would put the issue to rest.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, out of respect for the issue that we are debating today, I will try to be as high road as I can. When the member asked why the Liberal Party did not provide an apology, one could also y ask why the Brian Mulroney government did not provide one. Why did the NDP in the province of British Columbia not make that apology when it was in government years ago?

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, actually, I was first elected back in 1988. I represented Inkster and my colleague, Dr. Gulzar Cheema, represented Kildonan. Dr. Gulzar Cheema kind of baptized me into the Indo-Canadian community and, in particular showed me the different Gurdwaras and Sikhism as a religion and faith, for which I have an immense amount of respect.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, what an honour it is today to rise in my place to speak on such an important issue. This is the first time that I have addressed the Komagata Maru incident of 1914 in this place, but I did have the opportunity to address this issue in the Manitoba legislature. This is a very important issue to many of my constituents.

Petitions  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition from well over 100 residents of Winnipeg North who have taken the time to put the petition together, sign it and send it to the House of Commons. The petitioners believe that people should continue to have the option to retire at the age of 65.

Foreign Affairs  Mr. Speaker, Canadians truly care about what is happening in Ukraine. Over 1.3 million Canadians are of Ukrainian heritage. They are concerned about a fair democratic system, human rights and the rule of law in Ukraine. Canada will play a role in sending observers, we know that.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I look to the minister because there is a great deal of merit for the Prime Minister to stand in his place inside the House. I do not see the drawback as to why thePrime Minister would not want to do that. It is not a question of political partisanship. The Komagata Maru is something that political parties of all stripes have recognized as an issue.