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House of Commons Debates VOLUME 146 Ï NUMBER 158 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 41st PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, October 3, 2012 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 10751 HOUSE OF COMMONS Wednesday, October 3, 2012 The House met at 2 p.m. I invite all of my neighbours to visit my website to sign up for the pie baking and the pie eating contest. There will be a chubby-bunny marshmallow contest for younger children, face painting, bouncy castles, and performances by our local Croatian and South Asian Prayers dancers. We will also get some great visits from our new hockey team members, the Steelheads. Of course, our dedicated police Ï (1405) officers, firefighters and paramedics will let children crawl through their wonderful vehicles. [English] The Speaker: It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led today by the hon. member for Etobicoke As we celebrate Thanksgiving, I invite all of my neighbours to —Lakeshore. come and join me and, hopefully, this weekend to join us at the food bank where I will be volunteering with my son. [Members sang the national anthem] I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS [English] *** OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY Mr. Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay—Superior North, Ind.): Mr. [Translation] Speaker, the Conservatives' lack of a coherent energy strategy is hurting Canada. We eastern Canadians are captive to expensive, insecure, imported oil. We pay a lot for gasoline and home heating RAIL TRANSPORTATION oil, especially in northwestern Ontario. Incredibly, there is more than enough oil produced in western Mr. Yvon Godin (Acadie—Bathurst, NDP): Mr. Speaker, in Canada to meet all our needs, but it is exported for much less than November of this year, VIA Rail service between Halifax and eastern Canada pays for foreign oil. That price difference is costing Montreal will be cut from six runs per week to three runs per week. our economy $19 billion a year. The Governor of the Bank of As though that were not enough, now CN is threatening to shut Canada said that it was a major drag on our growth. down a 225 km stretch of track between Moncton and Bathurst within the next two years. This decision will have a direct impact on We must build a new pipeline to bring western petroleum to the our industries and on the routes offered by VIA Rail. east. Instead, the government wants to bulldoze a route through B.C. to ship raw bitumen to Communist China as fast as possible. Canada's railway is essential to economic development, and the It is time for an energy strategy that takes care of our own energy government has a duty to protect the public interest and support security, creates value-added jobs in Canada and minds the long- economic development. The government talks about the economic term interests of Canada for a change. recovery and development assistance, but what good is that rhetoric *** if we do not have the infrastructure to encourage industries to move to our regions? THANKSGIVING Ms. Eve Adams (Mississauga—Brampton South, CPC): Mr. Speaker, to build on the wonderful community spirit in Mississauga If the government abandons this infrastructure, we can forget —Brampton South, I am hosting my annual fall fair and corn roast. about economic development. The federal government cannot just sit This free event will take place on Sunday, October 14, at Sandford back and do nothing, for it is to blame for privatizing CN. The Farm Park from 1 to 3 p.m. government must act, and quickly. 10752 COMMONS DEBATES October 3, 2012 Statements by Members [English] I also spoke about the positive investments our government is making in cities both big and small across Canada. These messages NATURAL RESOURCES were well received. Mr. Bob Zimmer (Prince George—Peace River, CPC): Mr. Speaker, all Canadians benefit from the development of our natural I congratulate the organizers on this successful event and I resources. I urge all Canadians to take a step back to examine this encourage all communities to be at the forefront of Canada's future issue from a rational point of view. and to forge relationships with Asia-Pacific counterparts as we move into the Pacific century. In today's society, all Canadians use natural resources. Whether it is the gas or electricity in our cars, the sticky notes on the fridge or I look forward to working with all of my municipal colleagues as the Tupperware filled with Thanksgiving leftovers, it all comes from together we continue to create jobs, ensure our communities remain natural resource products. strong and secure Canada's long-term economic prosperity. Practically speaking and in order to function in today's modern society and utilize these resources, we need to develop them. *** Whether we work in a small town coffee shop or in an office Ï (1410) building in downtown Vancouver, natural resources are a part of our daily lives. That is why our government has introduced our plan for [Translation] responsible resource development. To be clear, only the projects that ECONOMIC RECOVERY have been determined to be safe and responsible will proceed. Our rational plan will ensure that we remain good stewards of the Ms. Ève Péclet (La Pointe-de-l'Île, NDP): Mr. Speaker, while environment and our natural resources. the Conservatives pat themselves on the back for their so-called economic policy and job creation, the reality is not so rosy. Their *** laissez-faire attitude and corporate tax cuts are not producing the LAKESHORE GENERAL HOSPITAL AUXILIARY desired effect. Mr. Francis Scarpaleggia (Lac-Saint-Louis, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, The latest figures from Statistics Canada show a loss of 2,277 I recently had the honour and the pleasure of attending the 50th manufacturing companies in Montreal, which translates into a loss of anniversary luncheon of the Lakeshore General Hospital Auxiliary. over 61,700 jobs since the Conservatives came to power. They can [Translation] add that to their record. The auxiliary has been a central supporting pillar of the Lakeshore Creating a real industrial recovery policy is vital to Montreal. General since before it opened its doors in 1965. [English] Yesterday, my colleague recommended that the Conservatives read Zola's Germinal, but I think that it is too advanced for them. I In addition to organizing fundraising activities for hospital recommend that they start with something simpler, such as improvements and scholarships for nurses, the women and men in “Economic Recovery for Dummies”. blue coats are a welcome and comforting presence to patients and their families dealing with the stress of tests or treatment. *** In a very real sense, auxiliary members are also ambassadors [English] carrying, with or without words, a heartening message to patients, “You are not alone. You are part of a caring community that offers GARY FOSTER you its support in times of need and personal challenge”. Mr. Mike Allen (Tobique—Mactaquac, CPC): Mr. Speaker, last week, our region paid its final respects to long-time potato farmer, I would like to take this opportunity to thank auxiliary president community and family man, Gary Foster of Moose Mountain, New Barbara Armbruster, past president Sally Brown, Terry Aitken and Brunswick. all of the other past and present auxiliary members who have helped the Lakeshore fulfill its vocation in our community for half a Gary was a contract grower for McCain foods for 40 years. He century. also served on various committees, including the negotiating *** committee and the national safety net committee. He also was a very recent inductee into the New Brunswick Potato World Hall of INTERNATIONAL TRADE Recognition. Ms. Wai Young (Vancouver South, CPC): Mr. Speaker, last week, I had the honour of attending the Union of British Columbia Ever the person to lobby on behalf of growers, Gary was always Municipalities 2012 convention in Victoria where I hosted a well-informed on the issues and impossible to trip up on the reception to celebrate sister city agreements between municipalities numbers. Gary took great pride in getting things done and, behind in Canada and China. the scenes in his very unassuming manner, worked hard for his community. I shared with delegates our government's vision for deeper trade and cultural relationships for the benefit of Canadians, especially in Gary lived by the Winston Churchill saying, “You make a living British Columbia, Canada's gateway to the Asia-Pacific. by what you get, but you make a life by what you give”. October 3, 2012 COMMONS DEBATES 10753 Statements by Members The stories at the Hall of Recognition ceremony and at his funeral Ï (1415) recounted his strong work ethic. When people were not quite performing or up to date on their files, well sometimes they just ARMY RESERVE RECOGNITION DAY needed a GSU, a general sharpening up, but that was always for their betterment and the people around them. Hon. Laurie Hawn (Edmonton Centre, CPC): Mr. Speaker, across our great nation today, Canadians are celebrating the first Gary will certainly be missed by his family, the community and Army Reserve Recognition Day. We are paying tribute to the nearly the industry in general. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife 25,000 men and women who serve in Canada's reserve force. Dorothy, his children, Al and Kelly, and the entire Foster family. *** Our reservists have made outstanding contributions to both international and domestic operations. Canada's army reservists were CONCEALMENT OF IDENTITY ACT an integral part of our missions in Afghanistan and the humanitarian relief we brought to Haiti following that disastrous earthquake.