House of Commons Debates VOLUME 147 Ï NUMBER 037 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 41st PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, January 29, 2014 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 2277 HOUSE OF COMMONS Wednesday, January 29, 2014 The House met at 2 p.m. [English] JUSTICE Mr. Rob Anders (Calgary West, CPC): Mr. Speaker, rape is a Prayers crime like no other. It is a violation of the spirit as well as the body. It is an assault on trust, privacy and control. It can leave the victim with a sense of bruising, shame and guilt, and it happens to a woman in Ï (1400) Canada every 17 minutes. These are women who are teachers, nurses and judges. They are women whose husbands may be doctors or [English] lawyers. The Speaker: It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing Thirty years ago, rape was folded along with indecent assault into of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Abitibi— a new crime called “sexual assault”. It covered everything from Témiscamingue. unwanted touching to any form of penetration, including offences involving a weapon or bodily harm. [Members sang the national anthem] Getting rid of the term “rape” did not stop it. Many argue that it negatively changed the justice system and resulted in lighter not tougher sentencing. The average jail sentence for sexual assault STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS offenders is two years. [Translation] Today, I will be introducing a private member's bill that would help to change this. The bill would establish much tougher FRANCINE LALONDE mandatory minimum sentences for sexual assaults that fall within the definition of rape, and those sentences would be served Mr. Louis Plamondon (Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, consecutively. The bill would help keep offenders behind bars BQ): Mr. Speaker, our colleague Francine Lalonde passed away longer and help keep Canadians and their families safe. during the night of January 16. Francine leaves behind an impressive political and social legacy. She was the first woman to serve as vice- *** president of the CSN, and she was the minister of status of women in René Lévesque's cabinet in 1985. Ï (1405) NORTHWEST TERRITORIES DEVOLUTION ACT A Bloc Québécois MP from 1993 to 2011, Francine left her mark as foreign affairs critic, serving as a dedicated and respected Mr. Dennis Bevington (Western Arctic, NDP): Mr. Speaker, on ambassador for Quebec. She was also an ardent defender of the need Monday, the aboriginal affairs committee held hearings in Yellow- for Quebec sovereignty. knife on Bill C-15, which combines devolution with the elimination of regional land and water boards. There are those individuals who strive to make a difference in A clear message from the hearings was that there is a strong society and who leave their mark everywhere they go. Francine was opposition to the Conservative plan to shut down these regional one of those people. A woman of values, conviction and courage, she boards. was one of the first people to initiate the social debate on the right to die with dignity, which will soon become law in Quebec. These boards give a local voice to development decisions, which is a system that works. They were created through constitutionally The great French author Alexandre Dumas once said that those protected land claims agreements. Even the chamber of mines said whom we have loved and lost are no longer where they were, but they have a good working relationship with the local boards. they are still everywhere we are. The aboriginal governments of the Gwich'in, Sahtu and Tlicho My deepest sympathies go out to her spouse, Guy, and her three have pledged that they will use every avenue available to fight these children. Farewell, Francine. changes, meaning greater delays for future development. 2278 COMMONS DEBATES January 29, 2014 Statements by Members “Canada has returned to the old colonial ways of thinking they SCHOOL WORKERS IN NOVA SCOTIA know what is best for us. They are silencing our voice. This is not the constitutional promise made in the Tlicho agreement,” said Mr. Scott Armstrong (Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodo- Tlicho Grand Chief Eddie Erasmus. boit Valley, CPC): Mr. Speaker, at the end of January literally thousands of students across Nova Scotia write exams. *** MOMPRENEURS It is a difficult time in Canada, as we have inclement winter weather and many times school is cancelled. This causes increased Ms. Eve Adams (Mississauga—Brampton South, CPC): Mr. stress, not only among the students writing exams, but their families Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to praise who are trying to get them to school on time. Mompreneurs. Mompreneurs are a dynamic group of moms who are also leading Thank goodness we have the bus drivers and the custodians and business owners, experts and innovators within their respective the maintenance workers that we do in our school system, who get fields. our students to school on time so they can write their exams and enjoy their school day. On Monday, I had the pleasure of hosting a pre-budget consultation with GTA Mompreneurs from Oakville, Burlington, This is a terrible time of year for a job action or strike that Mississauga, Brampton and Hamilton. The working moms shared prevents students from going to school, particularly those who live suggestions, offered concrete policy advice and were grateful for the in the rural areas of the province. We need our bus drivers, opportunity to be heard. custodians and maintenance workers at school so our students can I was pleased to hear that many initiatives in our government's write their exams during this difficult and stressful time of year. economic action plan, such as the children's arts and fitness tax credit, the small business hiring tax credit and improvements at CRA That is why I want to congratulate both the school board and the are helping make everyday life more affordable for these working union for coming together, putting students first, agreeing to families. mediation and stopping the strike after only a few hours. For once, we saw great collaboration by the adults who are involved in the As I wrap up this year's pre-budget consultations, I am proud to school system in making sure that students are put first. stand up for my local community in Ottawa to advocate for my neighbours' priorities and to deliver exceptionally constructive *** feedback to our great Minister of Finance. The women at Mompreneurs are smart and hard-working, and Ï (1410) they are a testament to the business spirit and entrepreneurship that is alive and well in Canada. [Translation] *** PORTNEUF—JACQUES-CARTIER JOHN ROSS MATHESON Ms. Élaine Michaud (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, NDP): Mr. Mr. Ted Hsu (Kingston and the Islands, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the Speaker, on the night of January 3, a devastating fire broke out Hon. John Ross Matheson, who passed away in Kingston last month, downtown in Old Donnacona, in my riding of Portneuf—Jacques- served his country in World War II, in this House as the Liberal Cartier. It destroyed four businesses and left six families homeless. member for Leeds, in the Ontario courts as a judge, and in many other roles. He did much of the background work that led to the In response to the disaster, the people of my riding have shown creation of the Order of Canada. He himself became an Officer of the absolutely remarkable solidarity and generosity. In just three weeks, Order of Canada in 1993. $61,500 has been raised to help the victims of the fire. A significant quantity of non-perishable food items have also been collected. John Matheson was the co-designer and an advocate in Parliament for the adoption of our Maple Leaf flag. To change the most important symbol of a country, to leave behind the old and journey I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the generous ahead with the new, required a deep faith in Canada's potential, donors for helping those who have lost everything start a new life. Canada's future and Canada's place in the world. With less than a year before the town celebrates its 100th To his family, I offer, on behalf of this House, our sincerest anniversary, the mayor of Donnacona, Sylvain Germain, is calling on condolences. the various levels of government to help rebuild the nearly 100-year- old buildings in the downtown area, which represent a significant John was true to the very motto he proposed for the Order of portion of Donnacona's heritage buildings. Canada. John Matheson desired a better country, and his faith in what kind of better Canada could be built led him to devote his life to it. I urge the government to show its support and heed the mayor's call so that we can proudly celebrate Donnacona's 100th anniversary We thank him. in 2015. January 29, 2014 COMMONS DEBATES 2279 Statements by Members [English] public hearings to have their voices heard by the Conservative government. GOVERNOR GENERAL'S MEDAL OF BRAVERY Hon. Keith Ashfield (Fredericton, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I rise Yet, in the face of Enbridge's dismal track record and total lack of today to recognize and honour four outstanding members of the social licence in British Columbia, the decision from the JRP tells us Fredericton Police Force who were recently presented with a Medal that they, like Conservatives, could hear just one voice in this of Bravery from His Excellency the Governor General of Canada. country, that of the oil lobby.