Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here today and to rise in the House to talk about the employment insurance program and, more specifically, about maternity benefits, extended parental benefits and parental sharing benefits. Becoming a parent can be a stressful time for many Canadians.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, the new NAFTA safeguards more than $2 billion a day in cross-border trade and tariff-free access. Prime Minister, how will the new NAFTA encourage economic diversification and contribute to strengthening our nation's international trade performance, including for my constituents in the region of Niagara?

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, I did not hear a question, but I will speculate on the question the member was asking with respect to the aluminum industry. The aluminum sector is not discounted under this new agreement. As was mentioned by the minister on many occasions, discussions are going to continue.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, it is quite rich for the member to talk about HALFTA, since, quite frankly, back when NAFTA was drawn up and authored by the Conservative government, the Conservatives gave away the farm. When we are looking at what has happened to some of the industries throughout the country, especially industries that have moved away to other countries, I think the member best do his homework before standing up and slinging mud.

Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement Implementation Act  Madam Speaker, I am honoured to rise in the House today to talk about the new NAFTA deal, which Canadians throughout this great nation have worked so hard on. For over a year we have negotiated hard, for a good, modernized free trade agreement with our partners: the United States and Mexico.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, it is a great question, because sometimes we only see the face of it and do not see the residual benefits of those investments. The member is correct. For every investment we make, whether it be through the child care benefit or old age security or whether it be infrastructure with respect to the roads, water pipes and things of that nature, there are other benefits attached.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, the one thing I did in the last term, and will continue to do, was speak with a lot of our seniors, different seniors' organizations and seniors' homes. I have made that a habit, as much as I can, when I get back to my riding. I have heard loud and clear that it is at age 75 when there is a greater need.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, that is what we are all do here. We fight for the interests of our riding and, in this case, the best economic interests of our riding. I give credit to the minister, the Prime Minister and, more important, the teams that were there on a daily basis, negotiating this agreement.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, that is a very important question. It was a very important issue during the campaign and in the last session in the House. I have been discussing that issue with a lot of our different agencies. The short answer is, yes, I agree with what you are saying. I believe that over time, once we have the full pharmacare program in place in the next year or two, we will start to look at dental.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, I will take this opportunity to wish all a merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah and a happy new year. I hope that members spend much quality time with their families, friends and neighbours in their communities. I am honoured to rise today in response to the Speech from the Throne.

Parole System  Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to stand in the House today to speak on this very important issue. I have my Métis jacket on today in celebration of indigenous month. Aboriginal day is this Friday. As was very well articulated by the member for Winnipeg North, victims have an important role in the criminal justice system and we need listen to their concerns on a regular basis to ensure they have a further role in the criminal justice system.

The Environment  Madam Speaker, throughout the past years, the current and well-into-the-future local governments, as well as the property taxpayers and water and waste water ratepayers have been experiencing higher rates in taxes due to climate change. With that, the government has taken on a very disciplined approach to look through a triple bottom-line lens that takes into consideration environment as well as economic and social issues.

Federal Trades Strategy  That was a great point, Madam Speaker. Once again I will repeat what I said earlier. We have already begun this process. This is a process that I began in my former life as a mayor, working with our local partners, industry and education, as well as unions and others, to put forward strategies to ensure that we introduced the trades to our younger students so that they could get introduced to something that they might be interested in doing as a career.

Federal Trades Strategy  Madam Speaker, in one word, I say absolutely. Just recently, the minister and I met with all of the building trades of Ontario, which I mentioned earlier. That subject was brought up and that we would be looking at those very issues. This is not just the obvious. There is a lot work to be done here.

Federal Trades Strategy  Madam Speaker, quite frankly, we have already begun through the efforts of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour. Once again, our government has significantly boosted federal support to the provinces and territories by $2.7 billion over six years. There is no doubt that as we move forward together, not only members on this side of the House but members on all sides of the House, as well as all our partners, we look forward to hearing those very comments the member brought up so that the strategy is all encompassing, not only including the best interests of employees but also those of employers and those who are under-represented so that all interests can be included within a federal trades strategy.