CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 141 Ï NUMBER 051 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 39th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Friday, September 22, 2006 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 3121 HOUSE OF COMMONS Friday, September 22, 2006 The House met at 11 a.m. Foreign Affairs, the actions of the minority Conservative govern- ment are causing the Canadian business community to miss the boat when it comes to trade and investment in China. Prayers The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is calling on the Conservative minority government to bolster Canadian trade and investment in China and encourage Chinese companies to invest in STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Canada. Business leaders are not alone in their desire for a stronger Ï (1100) economic relationship with China. The Asia-Pacific Foundation [English] released an opinion poll last week where Canadians named China, not the United States, as the most important potential export market CANADIAN FORCES for Canada. Mr. Pierre Lemieux (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I recently met with a special family in my riding. The The Conservatives' actions are being noticed by the Chinese Spence family has a long, proud tradition of military service going government, which recently shut down negotiations to grant Canada back several generations. The father, Rick Spence, is a 27 year approved destination status, effectively killing a multi-million dollar veteran who serves in our Canadian air force. opportunity to allow Chinese tourists to visit Canada. His son, Private Michael Spence, is a member of the 1st Battalion China's ambassador has felt the need to say that we need mutual of the Royal Canadian Regiment. Tragically, he was critically respect. The Conservative government— wounded serving on operations in Afghanistan. After meeting with The Speaker: The hon. member for Vaudreuil—Soulanges. his parents, Rick and Christina, I am extremely pleased to report that Michael is in good spirits and responding well to treatment. In fact, *** he is on the Hill today for the rally. [Translation] One thing Michael wanted me to express is that he is only one of MEMBER FOR CHARLESBOURG—HAUTE-SAINT- thousands of brave Canadian men and women serving in Afghani- CHARLES stan today, and that it is his hope that they receive the honour and full Ms. Meili Faille (Vaudreuil-Soulanges, BQ): Mr. Speaker, it is support of all Canadians for the dangerous but important work they another sad day for Quebec when a member of Parliament echoes the are doing. We heard today from President Karzai how essential this words of the journalist from The Globe and Mail, words that anger work is. all Quebeckers. As a 20 year veteran of the armed forces, I salute our brave The member for Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles took the soldiers who are truly making a difference. same shameful position, suggesting that there is a link between the My colleagues and I wish Michael a speedy recovery. We will shootings at the École polytechnique, Concordia University and keep him and his family in our prayers. Dawson College and the integration problems experienced by immigrants to Quebec. Even worse, he added fuel to the fire by *** stating that the gun registry should be abolished and that the billion CHINA dollars spent on the registry should have been used to educate and integrate immigrants. It is scandalous. Hon. Bryon Wilfert (Richmond Hill, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, China is the fourth largest economy in the world, boasting unprecedented Yet the journalist's column was decried and denounced by the economic growth and providing tremendous trade and investment Prime Minister himself, the Premier of Quebec, all the other opportunities for Canada. Yet the Conservative government has all members of Parliament and people throughout Quebec. but ignored this economic powerhouse. A member who claims to represent Quebec's interests should From the damaging allegations about industrial espionage to the formally apologize for his unworthy and unacceptable remarks in the snubbing of China's ambassador to Canada by the Minister of wake of a tragic event. 3122 COMMONS DEBATES September 22, 2006 Statements by Members Ï (1105) The people behind the celebrations deserve all the praise they will [English] receive in the coming year. People like them become models for an entire community and inspire it to achieve excellence. POVERTY I would therefore like to congratulate the volunteers who planned Mr. David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre, NDP): Mr. the 40th anniversary festivities: chair Gisèle Richard Chiasson, as Speaker, I recently organized a round table meeting with some of well as Nicole LeBrun, Suzanne Matte, Françoise Gallant, Jeanette the leaders of Hamilton's immigrant support organizations to discuss Rioux, Pierre Raymond, Patrick Maltais, Marc-André Savoie, Jean how we can better help settle new Canadians into our community. Soucy, Gérard Fallu, Michelle Dion, Gaëtan Cormier, Léonard One of the key priorities raised is the chronic high unemployment Poirier, Jacqueline Bard, Georges Giroux, Lucien Chiasson and and increasing poverty among immigrant families. Fifty-two per cent Judith Thibodeau. of recent immigrants to Hamilton live below the poverty line, a I would also like to thank the mayor, Raymond Lagacé, who shocking and shameful figure that belies the government's claim to hosted the activities on that special day. support new Canadians. This is not the first time Hamilton's poverty has been identified. *** Last spring the Hamilton Income Security Working Group reported [English] to a United Nations meeting in Geneva that tens of thousands of NOAH'S RIDE FOR THE CURE Hamilton's children are living in poverty. That report made it clear that the responsibility for this urgent and desperate crisis falls to our Mr. Ken Epp (Edmonton—Sherwood Park, CPC): Mr. governments which refuse to help with sufficient affordable housing, Speaker, my wife and I are incredibly proud of our nine year old promised job opportunities and effective child benefit programs. grandson. Poverty is a cancer in my community and across our country. We After seeing a family friend go through a very difficult time owe it to all Canadians current and future to work to eliminate it. fighting cancer, Noah came up with the idea of raising money for cancer research by riding his bicycle from Calgary to Edmonton. In *** August, Noah and his dad, my son Brent, did the ride. They rode 328 CANADIAN FORCES kilometres in two days. I had the privilege of driving one of the pilot cars and in the mirror I observed the grit and determination which Mr. Bruce Stanton (Simcoe North, CPC): Mr. Speaker, this marathon exacted from both of them. commemorating the men and women who are serving, being injured and dying for their country and their mission in Afghanistan is an This nine year old is an inspiration to us all. In the shadow of unceasing reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the members of Terry Fox, whose picture is on the wall in Noah's room, he did the the Canadian Forces and their families at home. impossible. He has almost met his fundraising goal of $30,000. Anyone who would like to contribute may still do it. Just go to www. The mother of one injured soldier from my riding inscribed in her NoahsRide.ca. letter to me, “Do not let our members of Parliament forget what these soldiers have died for and have been injured for....There is still much Way to go, Noah. work to do over there”. *** On Wednesday I learned that another of my constituents, Private [Translation] Mike McTeague, was seriously injured in Monday's suicide bomber attack. Mike's father, Sean, has joined him at the U.S. military JEWISH NEW YEAR AND RAMADAN hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. Mike's brother will join him there in Ms. Pauline Picard (Drummond, BQ): Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the days ahead. night marks a very important religious event for the people of Israel I invite all members to join with me in expressing our best wishes and followers of Ishmael. Jews everywhere will celebrate the Jewish for Private McTeague's full recovery and our thanks to his family, New Year, while Ramadan will begin for Muslims. including the family of the member for Pickering—Scarborough For Muslims, Ramadan marks the anniversary of the revelation of East, for their unyielding courage and support. the Quran to the prophet Mohammed. For Jews, tomorrow marks the *** anniversary of creation. [Translation] These important celebrations represent a special time for people to get together, renew old acquaintances and celebrate the strong ties ATHOLVILLE that unite these communities. Mr. Jean-Claude D'Amours (Madawaska—Restigouche, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, on September 9, I had the honour of attending Let us hope that these moments of prayer and reflection will lead the celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of the municipality of all people of the world towards peace, tolerance, justice and mutual Atholville. understanding. In every respect, the village of Atholville is second to none. The We in the Bloc Québécois extend our best wishes to the Jewish community has a history marked by one success after another. and Muslim communities during this time of celebration. September 22, 2006 COMMONS DEBATES 3123 Statements by Members Ï (1110) Thousands more are wearing red from coast to coast to show solidarity for those who risk their lives serving Canada abroad every [English] day. AFGHANISTAN Mr. Barry Devolin (Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, you made an honourable decision to CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am one of many Canadians who has been allow the staff on Parliament Hill to wear red ribbons to support our treated well abroad simply because I am Canadian.