Ms. Monique Guay (Rivière-du-Nord, BQ)

Mr. Speaker, Luc Picard has been named the Richelieu LaSalle Club's Francophonie personality of the year for 2011.

This honour was bestowed on him in recognition of the role he plays in promoting French language and culture and for his commitment to Quebec's young people. In honour of this occasion, a donation will also be made to the Regroupement des Maisons de jeunes du Québec, a group sponsored by Luc Picard.

Without a doubt, his prolific career and his social commitment make this actor a well-rounded and unique human being. He has appeared on television, on stage and in film and is also a director and writer. His first television role in the series Omertà, la loi du silence quickly made him known and loved by the Quebec public. He has been an outstanding personality in the arts world ever since. He is socially involved, supporting the Regroupement des Maisons de jeunes du Québec. He is a staunch sovereignist and was a spokesperson for Development and Peace.

The Bloc Québécois is proud to acknowledge this honour and wants to congratulate Luc Picard.

Ms. Monique Guay (Rivière-du-Nord, BQ)

Mr. Speaker, in Honduras, since the coup in 2009, human rights activists remain in prison, women continue to be raped and teachers are still being assassinated.

How can the Minister of International Trade ignore these human rights abuses and continue to support these unscrupulous leaders by negotiating a free trade agreement with them?

Ms. Monique Guay (Rivière-du-Nord, BQ)

Mr. Speaker, France and Great Britain have recognized the National Transition Council, which is made up of the main forces that are opposing Gadhafi. By recognizing this new political interlocutor, these countries are also giving crucial support to the Libyan people, who are fighting for their freedom.

Will the Conservative government sever all ties with the Gadhafi regime and begin discussions with the National Transition Council?

Ms. Monique Guay (Rivière-du-Nord, BQ)

Mr. Speaker, according to a memo from the Library of Parliament, a number of Canadian laws, particularly the Criminal Code of Canada, already allow assets to be frozen, seized or confiscated in Canada. Library of Parliament experts are therefore confirming what the Bloc Québécois has been saying: the government already has all the tools it needs to freeze the Ben Ali family's assets.

Is the Minister of Foreign Affairs aware that, the way things are going, by the time the government tries to seize the assets of Ben Ali and his family, there will be nothing left?

Ms. Monique Guay (Rivière-du-Nord, BQ)

Mr. Speaker, during the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, Guy Laliberté, who was already a knight of the Ordre de La Pléiade, was raised to officer status. This order was created in 1976 to recognize distinguished figures who promote the Francophonie.

A specialist in contemporary circus arts, Guy Laliberté created Quebec's internationally renowned Cirque du Soleil. He reinvented the circus in a remarkable way by putting the entire spotlight on the performers, whose talents dazzle crowds around the world.

Guy Laliberté has pushed the circus concept even further by making it a real circus of the people. The company helps to fund organizations in some 20 countries on 5 continents. Mr. Laliberté also created the international Cirque du Monde program to help troubled youth.

My Bloc Québécois colleagues and I are proud to congratulate Guy Laliberté on this honour.