Maxime Bernier

[Industry, March 29th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, it is very simple. We listen to all Canadians. All Canadians said last December that they wanted deregulation, they wanted better prices, they wanted competition, and they wanted good service and lower prices for Telecom.

The deregulation project we have in front of members right now is a project that will be good for all customers and all Canadians. We are listening to Canadians.

[Industry, March 29th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member must know that it would be inappropriate for me to comment on any speculation in a newspaper. On a future possible merger or something like that, I will not comment on any speculation nor any rumours.

[Aerospace Industry, March 29th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, in our last budget we set out specific measures to foster investment so that we can develop competitive businesses and create employment in this country.

Investment in the country is important. We have measures enabling the private sector to increase its investments in machinery and equipment and that is why the Bloc Québécois supported our budget.

[Aerospace Industry, March 29th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, we have already taken action in the aerospace sector. I would like to remind my colleague that we have committed to billions of dollars in military procurement that will benefit Canada's entire aerospace industry. The Bloc Québécois could never have done as much because it is destined to remain an opposition party forever.

[Manufacturing Industry, March 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, what I am aware of is quite simple. The Bloc Québécois has spent 13 years fighting for the manufacturing industry. During those 13 years, the Bloc Québécois has been useless in its efforts to defend the interests of Quebec. The Bloc Québécois has shown for 13 years that Quebec's interests are best protected by the Conservative Party and by this government.

I am proud that the Bloc Québécois supports our budget, but at the same time it is showing Quebeckers that the interests of Quebec and of the manufacturing sector are best protected by a Conservative government.

[Manufacturing Industry, March 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of our latest budget, because we have included measures that reflect what Canada's manufacturing sector and entrepreneurs have asked us to do.

I would like to quote Jean-Michel Laurin, the vice-president of the Quebec manufacturers and exporters association. In reference to our budget, which helps the manufacturing and textile industries, he said that the government had heeded the call of the manufacturing sector. He added that, “targeting investments is precisely what needs to be done”.

And this is what we have done.

[Manufacturing Industry, March 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues in the Bloc Québécois, who, along with my colleagues from the government party, voted unanimously in the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, to propose a solution to the government to help the manufacturing industry.

The solution that we have put forward will enable Canadian and Quebec companies to write off their investments in machinery over a period of two years. My colleague in the Bloc Québécois supported the budget. I thank him for that. What is also important is that we have received many messages of congratulations from the manufacturing sector for this budget measure.

[Automobile Industry, March 22nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I know it has taken four days for NDP members to remember that they care about the automobile industry.

I can assure the House, in the budget we care about the automobile industry. We care about families. We care about children. We care about seniors. We care about manufacturing. That is why it is a good budget and that is why those members must vote for the budget.

[Automobile Industry, March 22nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, maybe the hon. member did not hear what the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association said about our budget. It is very simple. It said that Canada's auto industry got the most important thing in the budget.

Also the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association said that there were some very good things in the budget for the automobile industry.

That is what we did, and I am very proud of that.

[National Defence, March 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I am once again surprised by the sudden interest of my colleague from Bourassa when we talk about economic spin-offs in Canada from military contracts. When he was at the cabinet table the first thing he did was cancel the contract awarded by the former government of Brian Mulroney for procuring helicopters to replace the aging Sea Kings. That was the first thing he did.

What was the fallout? Zero benefit for Canada, a loss of $3.8 billion in economic spin-offs and $570 million in penalties.