CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 144 Ï NUMBER 013 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 40th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, February 11, 2009 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 667 HOUSE OF COMMONS Wednesday, February 11, 2009 The House met at 2 p.m. SRI LANKA Hon. John McCallum (Markham—Unionville, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the suffering of the innocent men, women and children who have become the victims of violence Prayers in Sri Lanka. In my riding I have heard from hundreds of diaspora Sri Lankans, Ï (1400) both Sinhalese and Tamil, and I can say that they are united in their [English] desire for their home country to finally achieve the peace that has eluded them for so long. If the past few decades have proven anything to the outside world, The Speaker: It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing it is that violence will not solve this conflict. A political solution of the national anthem, led by the hon. member for Halifax. must be brokered which protects the fundamental rights of all Sri Lankans. That must begin with an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. [Members sang the national anthem] Countries such as the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland have already called for this so that innocent civilians can leave the conflict zone. STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS I call upon the Government of Canada to join them and to press the United Nations to appoint a special representative, backed by the [English] full weight of the UN, to help end the violence and protect human life in Sri Lanka. HOCKEYVILLE Mr. Harold Albrecht (Kitchener—Conestoga, CPC): Mr. *** Speaker, today I congratulate my constituents in the township of Woolwich. Woolwich was selected as a top five finalist in the 2009 [Translation] Kraft Hockeyville competition this past Saturday. Woolwich has the KARIM FAYED spirit, passion and pride required to be a serious contender in this national competition. Ms. Nicole Demers (Laval, BQ): Mr. Speaker, despite an injury with the potential to harm his performance, a young man from Laval This enthusiastic bid to become Canada's top hockey community has succeeded in going for gold in his sport. is spearheaded by Graham Snyder. I thank Graham for the thousands of hours he and his team have invested. I thank him as well for his Last November, the Toronto tae kwon do open attracted heroic efforts in bringing our community together to raise over $5 international level athletes from the national teams of a number of million toward the construction of the Dan Snyder Memorial Arena. countries. This event was particularly special for Karim Fayed of the Laval tae kwon do club. Dan Snyder is one star among many that Woolwich has produced. Members may recall other NHL stars, like Daryl Sittler and Rod This was the first time he had taken part in an international level Seiling, who are proud to call Woolwich their home. competition, and the 16 year old came away with a gold medal in the under-73 kg category. Despite an injury in his last match, which Our community has a love for hockey, from the young to the nearly led him to pull out and settle for silver, his excellent physical young at heart, from the pond to the arena. I am honoured to stand condition, coupled with courage and determination, made it possible beside the parents, grandparents, coaches, players and referees who for him to achieve the top medal instead. make Woolwich Hockeyville. My colleagues in the Bloc Québécois join me in congratulating All Canadians will soon learn what my constituents already know. Karim Fayed for his remarkable determination and for his gold Woolwich is Hockeyville. medal. 668 COMMONS DEBATES February 11, 2009 Statements by Members FRANÇOISE DAVID The story of Mr. Di Lillo and his family is truly exemplary and Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP): Mr. shows the possibilities that our great country offers. Mr. Di Lillo Speaker, on January 26, a full scale attack against feminism was represents those immigrants who, through hard work, courage and launched by Quebec CIty radio station CJMF and on-air personality know-how, are able to be successful in life. Sylvain Bouchard. He launched that attack on high profile Quebec feminist, Françoise David, who is mentioned in the text book for an As the member for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, I would like to ethics and religious knowledge course. offer him my respect and my most sincere congratulations on his company's 50th anniversary. People like Antonio Di Lillo make it Françoise David, who is also the spokesperson for Québec possible for us to achieve great and wonderful things. Solidaire, was the organizer of the celebrated bread and roses march as well as the world march of women against poverty and violence, *** in which more than 20,000 people took part. Ms. David has made, [English] and continues to make, an enormous contribution to equality between men and women in Quebec. VISION IMPAIRED CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP Today I would like to express our solidarity with Françoise David Mr. Ron Cannan (Kelowna—Lake Country, CPC): Mr. and all those who strive for equality between men and women. We Speaker, I am honoured to stand to salute the competitors of the salute these women's struggles. We salute the accomplishments of 2009 Canadian Vision Impaired Curling Championship which took these women in a battle that is not yet over, but where gains continue place last week here in Ottawa. to be made, thanks to their courageous efforts. I am proud to announce that Team Canada, represented by the *** Kelowna rink, remained undefeated, winning its fifth consecutive Ï (1405) championship. [English] Coach and skip Dean Martell, lead Bob Comba, second Frank CANADIAN EXECUTIVE SERVICE ORGANIZATION Costello, third Sandy Neddow, designated sweeper Darren Stall- Mr. Dean Allison (Niagara West—Glanbrook, CPC): Mr. necht, and guide Barbara Hansen-Comba are ambassadors for Speaker, I would like to draw to the attention of the House a Canada and the sport of vision impaired curling. They will make us constituent in my riding, Mr. Douglas Johnson, who resides in the all proud as they go on to compete at the world championships later town of Fenwick, Ontario. Mr. Johnson recently completed an this year. assignment with the Canadian Executive Service Organization, or This is yet another success story in a year when Canadian athletes CESO, in Serbia. are doing so well. Like our winning athletes who are preparing for CESO is a non-profit organization that works to build strong the 2010 Winter Olympics, Kelowna's Team Canada will be independent communities around the world. Over 2,700 volunteer defending its title next year and going for six. advisers at CESO work to foster economic development by serving as mentors, advisers and trainers to their clients and partners at home *** and abroad. [Translation] As a CESO adviser, Mr. Johnson spent his time identifying MUNICIPALITY OF SAINT-ÉTIENNE-DES-GRÈS potential export marketing plans and distribution networks in the U.K., Bulgaria and Romania for Serbian businesses, as well as Mr. Guy André (Berthier—Maskinongé, BQ): Mr. Speaker, proposing several structural changes to increase management when the municipality of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès celebrates its 150th effectiveness. anniversary this year, honour and pride will feature prominently. Everyone will be invited to many festivities recounting the birth and As a small businessman myself, it gives me great pleasure to development of this vibrant community in La Mauricie where people congratulate Mr. Johnson for his efforts to promote the economic stand together through tough times. I can picture the town's development needed in these tough economic times being felt evocative surroundings: the stately Saint-Maurice and the La around the world. Gabelle hydroelectric power plant, fields as far as the eye can see, the park and the forest. *** [Translation] I would like to congratulate the municipal authorities, the organizing committee, municipal organizations, private-sector part- DI LILLO CONSTRUCTION ners and volunteers who are working together to put on a worthy Mr. Massimo Pacetti (Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, Lib.): celebration. I would especially like to mention René Grenier, chair Mr. Speaker, on October 4, 2008, I had the pleasure of attending a and coordinator of the 150th anniversary festivities, Alban gala at the Club de Golf Métropolitain to celebrate the 50th Bournival, honorary chairman, and Robert Landry, mayor of the anniversary of Di Lillo Construction. During this event, a vibrant municipality. tribute was paid to the company's founding president, Antonio Di Lillo. This humble, approachable and unique man is known for his The people of Saint-Étienne-des-Grès should be proud. They have contribution to his community's development and growth. every reason in the world to let everyone know how excited they are. February 11, 2009 COMMONS DEBATES 669 Statements by Members [English] CANADIAN FORCES RESERVES Mr. LaVar Payne (Medicine Hat, CPC): Mr. Speaker, Canadian GEORGES DEVLOO Forces Base Suffield is in my riding of Medicine Hat and I am Mr. Chris Warkentin (Peace River, CPC): Mr. Speaker, Canada pleased to inform the House that in my home province of Alberta, has lost one of its truest friends with the passing of Monsieur the first bill being introduced into the new sitting of the legislature is Georges Devloo, a resident of Vimy, France. a bill to amend the employment standards code to protect jobs of Alberta reservists. Monsieur Devloo was an exceptional man who, for many years, gave generously of his time helping hundreds of Canadians to visit The federal government acted on this a year ago when we brought the Vimy Ridge National Historic Site.