Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to rise today on behalf of the people of Nipissing--Timiskaming and offer my response to the Conservative government's Speech from the Throne. On Tuesday evening I listened intently to the Speech from the Throne, eager to hear w

Relay for Life  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize those who helped organize as well as those who participated in the annual Relay for Life which took place in North Bay, Ontario this past weekend. This fundraising event, which involved over 225 cancer survivors, also served as a memorial

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in order to present a petition on behalf of a group of residents of northern Ontario who are calling on Parliament to amend the Criminal Code as it pertains to human life in subsection 223(2). I respectfully submit this petition to the Cl

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, today I want to pay tribute to 26 students and 15 adults who spent Saturday, May 27, picking up garbage along the highway between New Liskeard and Haileybury. The driving force behind this initiative was Nathalie Lessard, an educator who recognized the importance o

Income Trusts  Mr. Speaker, the NDP member said something that really disturbed me. She said to just let it go and let us get on with things. I have seniors in my riding who invested money in income trusts, their savings, their retirement money. They were putting that money aside thinking they

Court Challenges Program  Mr. Speaker, we have learned that the report soon to be tabled by the Commissioner of Official Languages will take issue with the Conservative government for cancelling the court challenges program, one of the most important tools for minority linguistic communities. It is appal

Court Challenges Program  Mr. Speaker, they are using something they created to protect themselves. All along the Prime Minister has said that the court challenges program was not needed because he would never do anything to contravene the charter. However, the Commissioner of Official Languages said tha

Softwood Lumber  Mr. Speaker, it is quite surprising that the minister continues to support his softwood lumber agreement. We were told that we would have seven years of peace, that it was the best agreement in decades, and that the agreement was preferable to going to court. The reality is that

Jess Larochelle  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Private Jess Larochelle, a Canadian Forces soldier from my riding who will be decorated with the Star of Military Valour for distinguished and valiant service in the presence of the enemy for his actions during an intense firefight in t

Canada Foundation for Innovation  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the 10th anniversary of the Canada Foundation for Innovation. In fact, it was on yesterday's date, in 1997, that Parliament passed legislation to create this independent public agency responsible for providing money for research infrastructu

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms  Mr. Speaker, today we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is a milestone in our history that all Canadians can take pride in. Since that historic day in 1982, the Charter has become one of the strongest symbols of Canadian iden

William Henry Drummond  Mr. Speaker, 2007 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Dr. William Henry Drummond in Cobalt, Ontario. Dr. Drummond was Canada's first national poet, and his unique style blended English and French in a symbolic and meaningful way. Dr. Drummond was a remarkable person. In

Hazardous Materials Information Review Act  Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, I believe you will find consent that I split my time with the hon. member for Oakville.

Hazardous Materials Information Review Act  Mr. Speaker, Bill S-2 originated in the last session of Parliament under the sponsorship of the Liberal leader of the Senate. It was passed by the Senate, but had only received first reading in the House when Parliament was dissolved. The bill seeks to change the process by whic

Government Accountability  Mr. Speaker, a constituent of mine says that when he attempted to raise serious issues on mental health services in northern Ontario with the health minister, he was told he needed to have a lobbyist registration number. When I approached the minister, I was told the same thing.