House of Commons Debates VOLUME 148 Ï NUMBER 194 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, June 14, 2017 Speaker: The Honourable Geoff Regan CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 12643 HOUSE OF COMMONS Wednesday, June 14, 2017 The House met at 2 p.m. [English] PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY Mr. Marco Mendicino (Eglinton—Lawrence, Lib.): Mr. Prayer Speaker, on Monday the Filipino community here in Canada and around the world came together to celebrate Philippine Indepen- dence Day. Ï (1400) I was honoured to raise the flag to celebrate this occasion at City [English] Hall in Toronto, alongside Consul General Prospero, my hon. colleagues the members for York Centre and Scarborough Centre, The Speaker: It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing and Mayor John Tory, as well as many other leaders from the of O Canada, led by the hon. member for Edmonton Centre. community. [Members sang the national anthem] In my riding of Eglinton—Lawrence, we have a vibrant Filipino community, with outdoor festivals ranging from the Taste of Manila, which the Prime Minister attended last year, to the PIDC picnic, to the Victoria Invitational Basketball Tournament, to media outlets like STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Pinoy Radio and Pinoy Dreams, to wonderful local businesses like Cusina Lounge and Sampaguita, to FV Foods service providers. We [Translation] have so much to be proud about when it comes to the Filipino community. QUEBEC NATIONAL HOLIDAY Mr. Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes— I would like to wish all Filipino Canadians and all those Verchères, BQ): Mr. Speaker, Quebec is the emblem of our pride, celebrating around the world a happy Independence Day. and we have good reason to be proud. We are proud to be a creative, Mabuhay. determined, and welcoming people. *** We are proud to be a people who, for over 400 years, has Ï (1405) welcomed anyone who wanted to join us with open arms. CHARITY WORK IN THAILAND We are proud to be nation that continues to speak the most Mr. Randy Hoback (Prince Albert, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I rise beautiful language in the world, that sings in that language, that puts today to draw attention to the international charity work of two of our own stamp on it, and that stands ready to defend it against any my constituents, Dave and Heather Heppner. threat. In 2005 the Heppners took their first trip to Thailand, where they We are proud of our artists who amaze the whole world and who witnessed the terrible refugee situation along the border of war-torn make us dream, laugh, and cry. Myanmar. We are proud of our bold and creative business people and of our On their return to Canada, the Heppners founded the charity workers who put their hearts into what they do. Global Neighbors Canada. To date, Global Neighbors Canada has completed over 30 projects, at a cost of $2 million. These projects We are proud of our tight-knit families and of those who join us include new schools, school renovations, new dormitories, orpha- and make us more diverse. nages, study halls, a safe house for girls, and, most recently, a beautiful 24-bed hospital. We are proud to be Québécois. Their charity also also supports a migrant school in Thailand, On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I want to wish all Quebeckers a teachers at Mae La refugee camp, and a small orphanage in happy national holiday. Myanmar. These ongoing commitments total $70,000 annually. 12644 COMMONS DEBATES June 14, 2017 Statements by Members One hundred per cent of the donations to Global Neighbors SUMMER IN BRAMPTON NORTH Canada goes to projects in Thailand and Myanmar. Not one single cent goes to the charity's administration. Ms. Ruby Sahota (Brampton North, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, summer is right around the corner. For many, summer is a time to On behalf of all members of the House, I thank Dave and Heather go on a long holiday, head to the beach, or start a new hobby. School for their commitment to providing assistance to those in need. May is done for the year, and the barbecues are fired up. For most of us, God bless them as they proceed with this work. summer does not mean a two-month vacation, but it does give us something to look forward to. The weather is great, and people spend *** more time outdoors and get involved in their communities. NATIONAL BLOOD DONOR WEEK Mr. Francis Drouin (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, Lib.): For me, summer means I get to better focus on the people of Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to recognize Brampton North by being in my Brampton office more often, by National Blood Donor Week and the thousands of Canadian blood attending more community events, and by hearing from the residents donors who are the lifeblood of their communities. of Brampton North right at their doorsteps. National Blood Donor Week takes place from June 11 to June 17 A year and a half into our government's mandate, we are working and was officially enacted by the House of Commons in 2008. hard for Canadians. We have cut taxes, improved our immigration As Canada celebrate its 150th anniversary, we celebrate every system, and given young families the support that they need. donor, volunteer, and supporter during National Blood Donor Week. We thank them for representing the best of our country with their However, our work is not done yet. We know there is much more generosity and spirit. Donating blood is a genuine act of altruism and to do and we look forward to re-engaging with the people of a truly selfless gift. It is amazing how such a small act of kindness Brampton North so that we can better serve them. can have such a big impact. *** [Translation] Over 105,000 new donors will be needed this year alone to treat CALGARY STAMPEDE patients in Canadian hospitals. A new donor is needed every minute to save a life. Some 50% of Canadians will need blood products Mr. Pat Kelly (Calgary Rocky Ridge, CPC): Mr. Speaker, soon themselves one day or know someone who will. I encourage all we will rise for the summer, and that means it is almost time for the Canadians to take advantage of National Blood Donor Week to thank world-famous Calgary Stampede. someone— For 105 years, people have gathered from all walks of life and The Speaker: The hon. member for Outremont. from all around the world to take in the greatest outdoor show on *** earth. Most people know that the stampede is a unique celebration of western heritage, culture, and community spirit, attracting over a [English] million annual visitors. The stampede is at the heart of what makes PERSECUTION OF ROMA Calgary such a special place to live and to visit. Hon. Thomas Mulcair (Outremont, NDP): Mr. Speaker, in Italy last month, three young Roma sisters were burned to death The stampede also reaches into my suburban riding of Calgary while they slept. Graffiti celebrating “3 fewer Roma” subsequently Rocky Ridge, where I will attend stampede events hosted by appeared on the walls of the capital. community associations, churches, businesses, seniors' residences, and neighbours, including the annual Ranchlands Community [Translation] Association bike-decorating contest, parade, and breakfast. This is only one example, and certainly a serious one, of the violence, the hatred, and the persecution that the Roma are still There is something for everyone during stampede, so I hope to see enduring today, all over Europe. many of my colleagues. On behalf of my constituents, an early [English] “Yahoo!”, and I will see them in July. Canada still applies policies that turn back Roma travellers when *** other people from the same home countries are allowed into ours with no constraints. Ï (1410) The Canadian Roma community has made repeated appeals to the [Translation] Prime Minister to stand up against the normalization of hate against Roma, to honour Canada's commitment to the International MUNICIPAL LIBRARIES Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and to follow the example of the European Parliament in recognizing August 2 as Roma genocide Mr. Fayçal El-Khoury (Laval—Les Îles, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the remembrance day. city of Laval has nine libraries and one bookmobile. Laval offers its residents a large number of activities during the summer, including Let us hope that happens. free lectures and exhibitions. June 14, 2017 COMMONS DEBATES 12645 Statements by Members Today, I want to turn the spotlight onto this institution that is Excellence. He has produced a powerful Canada 150 project with the showing our young people how to be successful in learning and how Arts Council of Surrey. to learn to be successful by reading. It is a place where a plentiful flow of ideas and intellectual delights bring wonderful moments to Entitled, “Our Time”, the project captures the strength and the families of Laval, who can enjoy it all without breaking the bank. ambitions of 250 young South Asian women through five years of photographs and written narratives. It symbolizes the progress our Louis Aragon said that literature is the face of a nation. How country has made in promoting diversity and equality for all women, eloquent, and how true. We must celebrate this institution that is and ensures this progress is continued in the next 150 years. thousands of years old and whose foundation will always be timeless. I thank Mr. Pelech and all the young participants for their If knowledge builds confidence, reading brings meaningful contributions. Happy Canada 150.