Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, one of the most telling statistics is the one which references the clock: every 24 hours 10 Canadians are committing suicide on average. I believe that as a society we can do so much better. Earlier today I made reference to the fact that many different stakeholders want to see involvement in this issue, in developing that national strategy.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I will pick up on the word used by the leader in terms of partnerships. As an MLA for 18 years in the province of Manitoba and as a health care critic I am aware that trying to get stakeholders together is an issue. I am talking specifically about stakeholders from the different school divisions and to a certain degree the municipal governments.

Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act  Mr. Speaker, the member for Winnipeg Centre has a way to express how he really feels on issues. I feel fairly passionate, as I am sure he does, as many members do about Bill C-4 and how we have the refugees being the victims. We are talking about victims twice over. In fact, the on the ship on which the minister and the Prime Minister were standing, I believe there were 75, 76 individuals who were seeking asylum.

Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act  The minister says that none have. We will have to wait and see. Does the member believe that the proposed desired impact of the minister is to get at the profiteers? Does he believe that this legislation will do what the minister wants it to do, and that is to get at the profiteers, or will it cause our refugees to be victims twice?

Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act  Mr. Speaker, I find it amazing that a Conservative member of Parliament would stand, read a statement and then sit down and it is supposed to be a question. It is the Conservative line. The Conservatives know what it is they want to say. They know what it is they want to tell Canadians in terms of the props.

Preventing Human Smugglers from Abusing Canada's Immigration System Act  Mr. Speaker, one could wonder why the government would have brought in Bill C-4 in the first place. I go back to the ship, the Ocean Lady. It comes to port and then on the back of the ship we see the Prime Minister of Canada saying that we are upset at these profiteers and smugglers.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I would like to give thanks to a constituent in my riding for providing me with this petition from Calgary which states that immigration processing time for sponsoring parents is causing great hardships and is preventing families from being together. Due to lengthy processing times in some immigration categories thousands of families every year are being kept apart.

Citizenship and Immigration  Mr. Speaker, in 2010 the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism exceeded his targets with overall immigration, but fell short when it came to families. The greatest backlogs today in immigration deal with parents. We have Canadians who are trying to get their loved ones, their parents, to be able to come to Canada.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I want to pose a question on an important issue as I try to understand the NDP position on the whole idea of job creation. We in the Liberal Party have made that our issue coming into this, saying, “Jobs, jobs, jobs.” We hear that in terms of what the New Democrats are equally concerned about, yet there is a major policy decision with regard to the buy America provisions that were brought in.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, the member made reference to the manufacturing industry. It is an industry that has been hit in terms of phenomenal numbers, tens of thousands, not only in Ontario but in provinces across the country. On the policy front, the Conservatives have dropped the ball on the buy America provisions.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, when I reflect on the government's policy, in terms of priorities it was not that long ago when it said its first priority was to give huge tax breaks to corporations. I listened to the member speak. We were talking about jobs and the need to create and generate jobs here in Canada.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I would like to get some clarification on an issue with respect to the New Democratic Party. First, I would say that it initially was the Liberal Party that began this session by saying that jobs were the number one priority. Therefore, we appreciate the motion that is before us.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, it is very important that we are clear on the point that there one-quarter million more unemployed people today in Canada than when the Conservative government took office. From day one that party has been saying the issue is jobs, jobs, jobs. I look at the buy American provisions that have been put into place.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I bring forward a petition from individuals who are concerned about visitor visas not being approved. In particular, one of the “whereas” clauses recognizes the importance of things such as weddings, graduations, birthdays, funerals, other family gatherings, where family needs to be given extra consideration so that they can have people from abroad being able to participate with family members here in Canada.

Safe Streets and Communities Act  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comment. I, for one, would ultimately argue that all members should have been afforded the opportunity at some point to provide comment on all nine of the bills that have been bundled together in this one bill. With regard to programs, there is a litany of programs.