Debates of May 7th, 2010

Ted Menzies Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, it is nearly 109,000 times better because the Liberals want to raise taxes in many different ways.I will refer to one. Their suggested raising of the GST by 2%, according to Informetrica, would cost 162,000 lost jobs. I do not think we want to do that in this country. They want to raise business taxes and put in a carbon tax. That is not the way to secure a recovery, and that is what we are seeing. The economic action plan is working. Lower taxes for Canadian families and businesses is working and April's record job numbers prove it. Over 100,000 more Canadians are working.

Marcel Proulx Hull—Aylmer, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative members of Parliament from Quebec have decided to fall in line like sheep behind the Prime Minister, regardless of consequences to Quebec. On the registry like on the women's group issue, they are ignoring the voters from Quebec.

After intimidating women, diplomats and Steven Guilbeault, will the Prime Minister now intimidate his new senators from Quebec, Jacques Demers and Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, to force them to deny the importance of the French language at the Supreme Court of Canada, or will he let them vote with their hearts?

Christian Paradis Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, the criterion for selecting judges remains merit. Our position has not changed, and we continue to be guided by legal excellence to ensure that the best legal minds sit on the Supreme Court bench.

Nicolas Dufour Repentigny, QC

Mr. Speaker, when it is time for a photo-op with Paralympic athletes, Conservative MPs are veritable sprinters. However, when the time comes to treat Paralympic athletes fairly, the government drags its feet.

How does the government explain that Paralympic athletes do not receive the same bursaries that Olympic athletes receive for winning a medal?

James Moore Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

Mr. Speaker, this policy decision is completely independent of the government. It is not the government that decides, but the agencies who give financial support to the athletes. I know this is currently being discussed with the athletes and there will be a commitment. Our government is proud of its latest budget and the hon. member voted against it. We made the largest investment in our athletes in the history of Canada.

Megan Leslie Halifax, NS

Mr. Speaker, clauses in the Canada-EU trade agreement that the Conservatives are negotiating, would entrench the rights of patent holders of genetically engineered seeds. The interests of the multinational seed companies would be protected but what about the interests of farmers?

Under the terms of that same agreement, the rights of family farmers to save and reuse their seed will be virtually extinguished.

Will the Conservatives protect the interests of family farmers and promise not to trade away their seed-saving rights during the negotiations with the EU?

Pierre Lemieux Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture

Mr. Speaker, the EU trade negotiations are in the best interests of our farmers. We are taking measures to ensure that our export markets are better for our farmers and that they have more places to sell their product. We are working in their best interests.

Gail Shea Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, nearly 6,000 British Columbians are employed in the aquaculture industry, which contributes over $400 million to the provincial GDP. This proposed NDP bill would put all of these British Columbians out of work and deliver a severe blow to the province's economy.

Last week, the Steelworkers Union called the actions of the member for New Westminster—Coquitlam irresponsible and motivated by political expediency and personal bias.

While our government continues to work on our economic recovery, and I will note, since July of last year, Canada has created over 285,000 jobs--

The Speaker Peter Milliken

Order, please. I am afraid the time allotted for question period has now expired.

Shelly Glover Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages

Mr. Speaker, we do not hear this very often in the House, but we are hearing it more and more this week.

I am very proud of all Quebeckers here in the House, no matter where they sit. Mr. Speaker, I know you are currently considering another point of order regarding an expression used in the House by the hon. member for Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, specifically, the expression “token Quebecker”, which, frankly, is unparliamentary.

All Quebeckers in the House deserve the same respect, no matter what side of the House they sit on, and personally, I quite like having Quebec in Canada. Once again I ask that you consider that expression, Mr. Speaker, and that you ask the Bloc Québécois member to withdraw that remark, because it is unparliamentary.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

I will take the point of order under advisement as I have already.

John Baird Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, during question period I quoted from documents pertaining to a relationship between the member for Scarborough—Rouge River and a group entitled Paradise Forever and a Mr. Muhammad Heft with respect to lobbying and advocacy activities that the member was undertaking in the United Arab Emirates. I would like to table those documents here in the House.

Tom Lukiwski Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I am honoured to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 62 petitions.