Speeches

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to participate in today's debate on the Conservative government's budget.

While budgets are always important events in the life of a government, I would suggest that none in recent memory should have been as important as this one.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker,

I am delighted to participate in today’s debate on the Anti-Scab legislation brought forward by the Member for Argenteiul-Papineau-Mirabel. As Members here will know, I introduced a similar bill, C-337, even earlier than the one that we’re debating here today, but the lottery system that assigns our days for debate means that we’re debating C-386 first.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker,

I am delighted to participate in the debate on our NDP opposition day motion calling for a public inquiry into prisoner torture in Afghanistan.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

In this place which so often generates more heat than light, I want to pay tribute to the thousands of Canadians who act where government fails.

One area where this is painfully obvious is in our response to HIV/AIDS. Organizations like the Hamilton AIDS network are doing incredible work in preventing HIV transmission, and recognizing and responding to the stigma and challenges posed by HIV/AIDS. But instead of partnering with NGOs on their essential programs, the government is forcing them to do more with less.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to a motion that seeks to limit, in a very draconian way, the length of time the House of Commons can deal with a bill that we have not even seen yet. This is not only absurd but it shows contempt for the institution of Parliament, for members of Parliament, for labour laws in this country and for the safety of both locomotive engineers and Canadian rail passengers.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker,

I am pleased to participate in the first day of debate on Bill C-51, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on January 27, 2009 and to implement other measures.

It won’t surprise anyone in this House that NDP Members will be voting in favour of this bill. The entire first part of the bill implements the Ways and Means motion that we supported in this House just last month.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker,

I am delighted to rise in support of Bill C-304, an important piece of legislation brought forward by my NDP colleague, the Member for Vancouver East.

Truthfully, at first I hadn’t fought my way onto the speakers list for this bill. Not because I didn’t think it was absolutely vital for communities like my hometown of Hamilton, but rather because I couldn’t see any way that this Bill would not be passed unanimously by this House.

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to participate in the debate on this last supply day of the session. I can imagine viewers at home asking themselves “what the heck is a supply day and what does it have to do with me?”, so I thought I would begin by trying to take a stab at answering both questions.