House of Commons Debates
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House of Commons Debates VOLUME 148 Ï NUMBER 184 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, May 31, 2017 Speaker: The Honourable Geoff Regan CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 11733 HOUSE OF COMMONS Wednesday, May 31, 2017 The House met at 2 p.m. Friday. It is incredible to see how indigenous peoples are returning to traditions and teachings that demonstrate the strength of our heritage. The organizers and the hundreds who participated showed Prayer honesty, humility, courage, respect, love, effort, and knowledge. I am a proud supporter of Winnipeg Pride. Ï (1400) I was asked by the women and families at the powwow to talk [English] about the murdered and missing indigenous women and girls inquiry and to mention that we must be inclusive of all peoples, including The Speaker: It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing two-spirit people, for they are a part of us. of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Victoria. The two-spirit people were traditionally seen to be a connection [Members sang the national anthem] between men and women and had a greater connection to the spirit world. They were and are a mirror into our souls. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Tapwe akwa khitwam hi hi. *** [Translation] Ï (1405) TAXATION TOURISM WEEK Mr. Gabriel Ste-Marie (Joliette, BQ): Mr. Speaker, this morning the Journal de Montréal reported that the government signed a tax Mr. Kerry Diotte (Edmonton Griesbach, CPC): Mr. Speaker, information exchange agreement with Cook Islands, a tax haven in this week is Tourism Week. Canada's tourism industry is an the Pacific. We all want to prevent fraud, so exchanging information important economic driver. It helps create jobs and grow the seems innocent enough, but this is a scam. economy. There is more to this information exchange agreement than meets This week is a chance to celebrate Canada's natural beauty, the eye. It gives businesses carte blanche to use the Cook Islands so events, and vibrant cultures. From coast to coast to coast, Canada has they do not have to pay taxes here. Basically, the “Crook” Islands is so much to showcase. Today I would like to highlight Edmonton. now the 24th member of a select group of tax havens with a free pass from the government. For one thing, Edmonton is truly a festival city. In fact, we have so many festivals, they are hard to keep track of. There are dozens of The government goes on and on about how it is combatting tax them. There is the Fringe Festival, the Folk Festival, the Street fraud. How? By using agreements to legalize fraud? The government Performers Festival, the Heritage Festival, and let us not forget the is stealthily giving fat cats a free pass with these tax treaties granddaddy of Edmonton festivals, K-Days. It is centred in my masquerading as information exchange agreements. Then the rest of north-side riding of Edmonton Griesbach. us have to pay twice as much because the bankers made off with the cash. I would like to invite everyone to Edmonton this summer for our festivals, our attractions, and our warm hospitality. Come for the fun Enough sneaking around. It is time this government was exposed and leave with great memories. as the handmaid of Bay Street multimillionaires. *** *** [Translation] [English] ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH WINNIPEG PRIDE Mr. Angelo Iacono (Alfred-Pellan, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, June 1 Mr. Robert-Falcon Ouellette (Winnipeg Centre, Lib.): Mr. marks the beginning of Italian Heritage Month. On this special Speaker, I congratulate Ryan Richard and the other organizers for the occasion, I want to recognize the Italian-Canadian community in very first Canadian two-spirit powwow, celebrated in Winnipeg last Alfred-Pellan and across the country. 11734 COMMONS DEBATES May 31, 2017 Statements by Members [English] Lodge and explore the trails that wind all over the slopes that hover above the city of Vancouver. Our parents came to this land with nothing but their strong will and rich values, and they managed to build a respectable place for Head north for half an hour on the famous Sea to Sky Highway to the community. They understood that the power of a community was Squamish, the outdoor recreation capital of the world, and the much greater than that of an individual. Stawamus Chief, the second-largest granite monolith in the world. It is our duty to preserve their efforts and come together to The rock climbing is second to none. This place of great spiritual rejuvenate the associations they put in place, to look back at the path significance for the Squamish Nation is truly humbling. of hope and prosperity they traced, and to make it flourish with a spirit of togetherness, honour to the roots, and respect to this land of Howe Sound lies at the foot of these mountains, a spectacular opportunities. marine environment for sports, tourism, and abundant and resurgent biodiversity. That is the duty we must live up to in order to preserve the extraordinary heritage of our roots. These wild spaces are for us to respect, protect, and share. Please experience Canada's west coast wilderness. [Member spoke Italian] *** *** [Translation] LYME DISEASE NICOLE LEBLANC Mr. Len Webber (Calgary Confederation, CPC): Mr. Speaker, Mr. Guy Caron (Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Bas- we have waited for over a year for the federal government's ques, NDP): Mr. Speaker, a great dame of Quebec televison passed framework on Lyme disease. Thousands of sick Canadians are away last week. Rose-Anna Saint-Cyr is no more. awaiting the necessary funding for testing and treatment, waiting for the medical system to be able to diagnose and treat their illness, Actress Nicole Leblanc left an indelible mark on the history of wondering if they are passing Lyme disease on to their partners, Quebec television. millions wondering if they can safely give and receive blood in In the lead role in Le Temps d'une paix, which boasted ratings of Canada. over 3 million viewers, she played a strong woman who took control of her family's destiny at a time when women's roles were still The framework and its many lines of platitudes provide no clear generally passive or submissive. targets for measurable success. There are no new ideas, no deadlines for achieving anything. The $4 million in funding is wholly In the theatre, in 1968, Nicole Leblanc had the distinct honour of inadequate to make any real difference, given the size of this acting in the original production of Michel Tremblay's Les Belles- problem. It fails to even mention major concerns, like human-to- soeurs, a revolutionary play that marked a turning point in Quebec human transmission and blood supply risks. modern theatre. In short, the government has wasted a full year and spent untold In the late 1990s she began working in Trois-Pistoles, first acting sums of money to produce a report that is embarrassingly scant, in Abla Farhoud's Maudite machine, and later becoming the director unfocused, and, frankly, disappointing. of the Caveau-Théâtre, the theatre founded by Victor-Lévy Beaulieu in 1992. Canadians expect much better. For the past several years, she had been living in Sainte-Françoise, having made her home in the Basques area during her well-deserved *** retirement. Ï (1410) I want to express my deepest condolences to her family and loved ITALIAN NATIONAL DAY ones. The entire province of Quebec is grateful to her family for sharing this exceptional woman with us. Mrs. Deborah Schulte (King—Vaughan, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Italian National Day, Festa della *** Repubblica. [English] After the Second World War and the fall of fascism, on June 2, TOURISM WEEK 1946, Italians held a referendum to determine their desired form of Ms. Pam Goldsmith-Jones (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast government, either a republic or a monarchy. —Sea to Sky Country, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is Tourism Week and Canada 150 is right around the corner. Super, Natural British The Italian people voted for a republic and ever since Italians Columbia is the best place to start our celebrations. around the world have celebrated Republic Day. Cypress Provincial Park in West Vancouver is home of the first [Translation] downhill skiing in Vancouver and was host to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Visit the historic Hollyburn This year Italian Canadians have another reason to celebrate. May 31, 2017 COMMONS DEBATES 11735 Statements by Members [English] features authentic, traditional, and contemporary music for the whole family to enjoy. I am proud to say that my motion, Motion No. 64, declaring June as national Italian Heritage Month, recently passed unanimously in [Translation] the House. This motion acknowledges the government's recognition This legendary festival was founded by Dr. Louise Manny to give of the contributions that Italian Canadians have made to our society. folk singers and storytellers an opportunity to share their stories Please join with me on June 2 in wishing all those of Italian about everyday life. descent Buona Festa della Repubblica. [English] *** This year that tradition will be honoured by performers who will TOURISM WEEK share their talents at the festival. From Natalie MacMaster, Donnell Mr. Marc Serré (Nickel Belt, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, tourism is Leahy, and family to the Miramichi Fiddlers, there is truly something critical for job creation and is an important economic driver for for everyone. Canada. To recognize Tourism Week, I want to invite all Canadians I want to congratulate festival director Susan Butler and all of to come to greater Sudbury and Nickel Belt to experience all the those involved who work tirelessly to ensure the ongoing success of wonders.