Debates of Nov. 23rd, 1999

Canadian Institutes Of Health Research Act

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

This is the period for questions and comments. That was a comment. Perhaps it will be a question at another time.

The hon. member for Rosemont has two minutes left for his answer.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

There is ten minutes for questions and comments. The hon. member now has a minute and a half left.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. We had some time to reply. I wanted to use that time to reply on behalf of the government, on behalf of my team. It is obvious that I was not able to reply in a satisfactory manner because—

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The hon. minister in another minute can stand to respond for the government on debate, but this is questions and comments. If the hon. minister would like to pose a question, please go ahead.

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I believe there is a rule here in this House, to the effect that a minister or member of parliament may ask a question to the hon. member who just made a speech, but that person should be given sufficient time to reply.

The minister has a lot to say, I see. He simply should have his name put on the list of those who want to speak for 20 minutes, like everyone else in this House, and not take up the time of the member who is making a speech in reply to the outrageous claims made the minister.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

All right, that is enough. We are finished. There are no more points of order. The hon. member for Rosemount has two minutes.

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it seems that facts are upsetting to that side of the House. The fact is that 16% of federal research and development money goes to Quebec, while the province accounts for more than 25% of the country's population.

[An hon. member]

This is not true.

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I could have gone further. I could have provided some statistics that show precisely that Montreal, which is represented by the secretary of state and member for Outremont, among others, does not get its fair share of goods and services from the federal government. We are talking here about productive spending, about federal spending that creates jobs. Quebec comes up short, on this score.

If the minister does not agree with these figures, let us hear him say so. These are the facts. The secretary of state responsible for the Canada economic development for Quebec regions agency, who is a member of parliament from Montreal, should be in a position to challenge what I am saying. I tell him not to start listing various small projects, but to look at the overall actual results and to assess them.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order dealing with consultations between House leaders. There have been consultations and I think you would find consent in the House to adopt the following order dealing with the televising of a committee of the House:

That the House, pursuant to Standing Order 119(1), authorize the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development to televise its meetings on Wednesday, November 24, in the afternoon and on Thursday, November 25, in the morning during its study on Bill C-9, an act to give effect to the Nisga'a final agreement in accordance with the guidelines pertaining to televising committee proceedings.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary has put a motion before the House. We will do this in two phases. Does the hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons have consent of the House to put the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Is it the pleasure of the House to accept the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Some members opposite may treat this matter a little lightly, but I would point out that all House leaders have agreed to this order. If members of the—

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

I am sorry, that is not a point of order. We asked for consent and we did not get it. That is something to be taken up behind the curtains.

[Gary Lunn, Reform, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I have been sitting in the House for the last half hour listening to this debate and to questions and comments. I have been listening to the members of the Bloc—

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

That is not a point of order, either. We have two minutes left on debate.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)]

Mr. Speaker, I want to continue to explain to the people of Quebec as a whole the action the Canadian government has taken.

As I said before we just intervened with Inno-centre, to the tune of $4.5 million; this is very critical and very important for the greater Montréal area, since we are talking about action targeted at the pre-start-up level in the high technology sector, in other words the knowledge-based economy.

Of course, the people opposite do not want to hear or understand that the Canadian government plays a major role in Quebec. I want to outline the Canadian government's action strategy for the greater Montreal area, a strategy that was introduced in 1996 and involved the intervention of Team Canada as a whole in the greater metropolitan area.

Today the results of this strategy are remarkable. We are talking about close to 1,800 projects which have been approved since 1996 under our strategy for Montreal. These investments have a leverage effect and total more than $3 billion. The contribution of Economic Development Canada alone, my department when it comes to economic development, is in the order of $785 million. In terms of jobs created or maintained by this, we are talking of almost 20,000 jobs in the greater metropolitan area.

The Canadian government is proud of what it is doing in Quebec and in greater Montreal.

[Jocelyne Girard-Bujold, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question. Are we still at questions and comments?

[Some hon. members]

Or is the minister making a speech?

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

We should normally be resuming debate, but unfortunately the time allocated for the bill has expired.

Pursuant to order made Thursday, November 18, 1999, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded divisions as listed on today's order paper.

Call in the members.

And the bells having rung: