Denis Lebel

[Forestry Industry, February 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, while respecting our agreements, we have put in place a number of programs that allow workers to have a future: through training; through shared work—we will add 14 benefit weeks; through renovation grants—we will increase the sale of wood in this country; and through an additional five weeks at the end of employment insurance benefits. We have also implemented significant programs for social housing, a freeze on contribution rates and many others.

While the Bloc Québécois keeps on criticizing, we, the government, are taking action.

[Forestry Industry, February 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, Avrim Lazar, the president of the Forest Products Association of Canada said that it is not perfect, but that anything the government does could risk new problems at the border. That is the industry talking. In his opinion, any direct aid would endanger the industry's access to the American market, which must be avoided at all costs.

Even the industry is saying it. I hope that the Bloc will understand.

[Forestry Industry, February 5th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, our government, as always, will continue to implement measures to address this forestry crisis, which has been going on for many years, as we know. It is a matter of supply and demand. Our government has brought forward a number of measures to make some headway on this file, including $170 million that will allow the industry to do as much as possible, to diversify our markets and to develop new products. Once again, as always, the Bloc Québécois is looking for ways to undermine others. When will the Bloc work to move Quebec's files forward?

[Infrastructure, January 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as I just said, the programs will be unveiled in the coming days, and we will respect our partners, as usual.

[Infrastructure, January 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, programs that are put in place have always respected the municipalities, stakeholders in Quebec and all the provinces. Let us wait and see what the new programs involve. The budget has been tabled, and we are working on these programs.

[Industry, January 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the facts are that the automobile industry is supported by loans whereas the forestry industry is supported by monies provided for marketing, breaking its dependence on the market and investing in new forest products, which will allow the industry to recover.

[Industry, January 29th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as usual, today we are still setting the record straight. The automobile industry in Ontario is receiving loans whereas the forestry industry in the rest of the country is receiving grants and financial support.

We have honoured agreements made with our American partners, which was very important in order to prevent what they want to happen, that is further job losses.

[Regional Development, December 2nd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps my colleague, who has often flown into space, does not have his feet on the ground in our regions. We have done our work. We have 14 development offices in the various regions of Quebec. All applications go through the regional offices. They are analyzed by a formidable team of professionals who make their recommendations and there has never been any patronage in that process, at least not under our government; maybe before.

[Regional Development, December 2nd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. It has taken more than 10 oral question periods for a Liberal Party MP to notice that there was economic development in the regions of Quebec.

We will continue to do our work on economic development in the regions of Quebec. Yes, the challenge is enormous, because of the job losses, but we will continue to do our work.

[The Economy, December 1st, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to come from a region in Quebec, and I understand today that, thanks to the Bloc Québécois, no one from the regions of Quebec will have access to cabinet anymore if what we hear is going to happen actually does come to pass. I will continue to work to effectively represent the regions of Quebec and promote the economy throughout that province.