Flu Season  Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, flu season has arrived. While most people recover in a few days, influenza causes more than 12,000 hospitalizations every year and some groups are at a significant risk for influenza-related complications. Groups at high risk include pregnant women, pe

Methamphetamine Abuse  Mr. Speaker, Manitoba is facing a crisis. Last year there were 35 overdose deaths from methamphetamine in our province, more than both fentanyl and carfentanil. In the past four years use among adults has doubled and use among youth has increased by 50%. There are regular reports

Child Health Protection Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank members for engaging in this debate. I think some very valid points have been brought up by all speakers. I will make this remark very brief. I would simply say that we have looked at all the data and all the different options available and we

Child Health Protection Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for her valuable help on the health committee in reviewing this bill. The issue was clarified, in that the Minister of Health agreed that under regulations through Health Canada, sports sponsorship would not be affected. One of

Child Health Protection Act  Mr. Speaker, it was a matter of debate whether to leave the definition of children as those aged 17 and under or 13 and under. There was an extensive review by legal staff and of the precedent set in Quebec. It was feared that if the definition of child were of those under the ag

Child Health Protection Act  Mr. Speaker, this is a public health matter. Obesity is rising at an alarming rate and the patterns leading to obesity often start in childhood. A number of years ago before I was in government and practising medicine, I lobbied very heavily for anti-smoking legislation. Among th

Child Health Protection Act  moved that Bill S-228, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (prohibiting food and beverage marketing directed at children), be read the third time and passed. Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to stand here today as a sponsor of Bill S-228, the child health protection act, at its

Violence against Health Care Workers  Mr. Speaker, last month, I met with Sandi Mowat of the Manitoba Nurses Union to discuss the rising tide of violence against health care workers. As an emergency room physician for 20 years, I would regularly be exposed to violence, even on two occasions having been assaulted my

Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, our government was proud to contribute more than $35 million towards the new Diversity Gardens at Assiniboine Park in my riding. Construction is under way, and a couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit the site and see the progress for myself. Once compl

Elections Modernization Act  Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is correct. As I referred to in my speech, 172,000 people in the 2011 election, according to Statistics Canada, cited lack of identification as the reason they did not vote. We are not suggesting the voter identification card is the only piece of iden

Elections Modernization Act  Mr. Speaker, I can assure the House that despite time allocation, this vote will be having all of the scrutiny at committee and by Parliament that it deserves. I will take no lessons from the party that invoked time allocation on this motion twice. I would also like to clarify o

Elections Modernization Act  Mr. Speaker, whether we waited until a given time or not is not really relevant. We will be passing this measure in time to apply it for the next election.

Elections Modernization Act  Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the hon. member for Halifax. It is my honour to speak in favour of Bill C-76, the Elections Modernization Act. There are many important facets of the bill, but today I will focus on how this legislation would address barriers that pr

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month  Mr. Speaker, today marks the beginning of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. As a motorcycle rider, Winnipeggers may see me riding my Triumph Bonneville down Portage Avenue or taking part in the upcoming TELUS Ride For Dad in support of prostate cancer research. Riding a motor

Equal Opportunities West  Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise and share with the House the important work Equal Opportunities West is doing to assist persons with disabilities to secure meaningful employment. Its staff is dedicated to making sure each individual in its program is given the opportunity to