Paul Zed

[New Brunswick Election, September 19th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, last night was a great victory for the people of New Brunswick as Shawn Graham and the Liberal Party won a majority government in a tough-fought campaign.

Obviously, the voters of New Brunswick desire change and Shawn Graham's Liberals have undertaken to bring hope and prosperity under the banner of equal opportunity.

Shawn Graham is committed to making job creation a priority again; ensuring that New Brunswick is a leader in energy conservation and generation; strengthening our schools and providing support for our teachers; improving the health and wellness of New Brunswickers; taking real action against poverty; addressing our affordable housing needs; and taking environmental responsibility, starting with the Saint John Harbour cleanup.

On behalf of the entire federal Liberal caucus, I would like to offer sincere congratulations and best wishes to Shawn Graham.

[Government Policies, June 20th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister keeps saying that Canadians voted for change. They got change, but they certainly did not vote for the following:

The Liberal government's commitment for new tactical airlift fleet, at least 16 new aircraft, for the Canadian Forces has been scrapped.

The $3.5 billion promised for labour market partnership agreements with the provinces has been put in fiscal limbo.

Instead of $1.6 billion in funding for affordable housing, which we delivered under the Liberals' Bill C-48, the Conservatives have promised only $1.4 billion.

The Conservatives have cut the $1 billion for housing and infrastructure for aboriginals. They have cut the $1.3 billion for aboriginal health. They have cut the $200 million for aboriginal economic development. They have cut the $170 million for aboriginal accountability infrastructure. They have refused to uphold $400 million in extra funding for water treatment on reserve.

Canada's north has been ignored as the Liberals' northern strategy has not been implemented.

There is no new money for harbour cleanup for Saint John.

[The Budget, May 9th, 2006]

I did not fall asleep. That's not true.

[The Budget, May 9th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest to the hon. member, and specifically to his reference to the $2.83 million allocated for harbour cleanup. I want to ask the hon. member if it is his recollection that the $2.83 million was in fact money for municipal-rural infrastructure and that team Saint John had actually put that money together for projects like the YMCA, waterfront development and the Rothesay regional economic development project.

Regarding the $44 million that is needed for construction this summer for harbour cleanup, there is no money in this budget for strategic infrastructure. Have we not taken money out of one fund and put it into another? In other words, have we not robbed one fund and put it into another fund for political expediency? This is not a partisan issue. In 2004 the mayor and council of Saint John came out for the first time with a proposal that all members of this House were involved with at meetings, including the then prime minister.

I would ask the hon. member about the $2.83 million and that money being taken away from other projects in Saint John. How does he square those two funds?

[The Environment, May 4th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, this is a non-partisan issue because the sewage that flows into Saint John Harbour comes from everyone.

I must tell the House that we worked in this community for three years as a community for team Saint John. The Prime Minister has promised $2 million, not $44 million which he has failed to deliver.

Where is the money? Will he call Premier Lord today and ask him to sign a deal so we can begin harbour cleanup this summer?

[The Environment, May 4th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, this is a non-partisan issue--

[The Environment, May 4th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, there needs to be some accountability for the billions of dollars that went missing in Atlantic Canada in this budget. There is no new money in this budget for strategic infrastructure or for housing.

The Prime Minister and Premier Lord dine at $5,000 corporate tables while six Olympic size swimming pools full of sewage is dumped into the Saint John Harbour every day.

Will the Prime Minister give Saint John some crumbs off his table and clean up the harbour this summer? Will the Prime Minister allow it to start?

[Federal Accountability Act, April 25th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the hon. member that transparency and openness are critical for leadership races. I note that members opposite, perhaps, have not always been as open and transparent about the expenses for leadership races that they might have incurred or who contributors might have been. The short answer is that I favour a full and open transparent disclosure for leadership races.

[Federal Accountability Act, April 25th, 2006]

In fact, Mr. Speaker, the report formed the basis for some of what has happened in the accountability act today. The member might want to check with the hon. member from Saskatoon.

The report talked about ethics counsellors, ethics commissioners and ethics reports coming directly to Parliament. The report talked about some wide sweeping changes that needed to occur, some of the difficulties within the lobbyist industry, and regulating lobbying in this country. The Government Relations Institute of Canada has worked very hard to ensure that there is a lot of integrity within the lobby industry. I think a lot of us would have acknowledged that this is a very important and integral part of public life in this country.

[Federal Accountability Act, April 25th, 2006]

Does the member want me to answer the question, Mr. Speaker?