Debates of Nov. 23rd, 1999

Canadian Institutes Of Health Research Act

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

I will go first to the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I think this is necessary.

When it is said that 16 % of research and development funds go to Quebec, this is absolutely false. The percentage—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Nice try. Does the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands yield?

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

Mr. Speaker, I will defer to my colleague on the other side, as I hope to be the next speaker and I will raise my point then.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, when there is a reference to the notion that 16 % of research and development funds go to Quebec—

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

This is a debate, not a point of order.

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order. Unless you tell me today that you just recognized the hon. member for Outremont for a second time, I want to tell you that what he just said in these few words is a point of debate. He is totally out of context. I would ask you—

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Perhaps I was not clear. I recognized the hon. minister on questions and comments. The hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands did not yield it.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I notice that the statements I am making in the House—

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I ask that you check to see if we have a quorum.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

The hon. member for Rosemont has called for a quorum. I do not see a quorum. Call in the members.

And the bells having rung:

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

We have a quorum.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, let me come back to the point I was making just before all the Bloc members left the House, because when we speak about the truth, about what the Canadian government is doing in Quebec, they do not like to listen and they certainly do not want the people to hear about such things. But I was about to deal with the aeronautical industry.

I mentioned Technology Partnerships Canada, which spends about 50% of its budget in the province of Quebec. The Minister of Industry approached a number of corporations, including Bombardier, CAE Électronique and Pratt & Whitney. So, it was a very significant program that created a critical mass in the greater Montreal area and helped to develop an industry that has made quite an impact not only in Quebec and in Canada, but internationally as well, and the Canadian government is very proud of its contribution to this success story in Quebec.

The Canadian Foundation for Innovation also got involved in the work of several research centres, in order to build a forward-looking, knowledge-based industry.

I recently had the opportunity to be the guest speaker at a breakfast meeting held by the Inno-Centre of Montreal. At this networking breakfast, I announced that the federal government, in collaboration with the Inno-Centre, will be spending $4.5 million in seed money especially to help launch technological businesses. Again—

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would like to know if the minister is taking part in this debate on research institutes or if he is still on questions and comments. I rose to speak when he finished his first question, but the member—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Could I please have the floor, Mr. Speaker?

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

I will take the floor. This is what happened. I am sorry, I will have to do this in English because my French just is not good enough.

When there is a member representing a party other than the party that gave the speech, the other member on his or her feet will be recognized even if it is a second or third question.

In this particular instance the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands rose to ask a question. He decided not the ask the question. The member for Outremont rose and was recognized. Even though it was his second question he was from a different party. That is the reason.

That is always the way it has been done. If other chair occupants choose to do it differently that is up to them, but I would never have recognized a member from the same party to ask a question if there is another member from a different party on his or her feet. That is the reason.

The member for Outremont has 30 seconds to ask a question.

The member for Rosemont will then have two minutes to answer.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I find interesting that the Bloc Quebecois is making statements that are not accurate. It is interesting to see that when we give an answer, they do not really want an answer.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

It is difficult to continue, because of all the shouting on the other side, which obviously means it hurts. They are obviously against any positive action by the Canadian government—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

That is what we are doing and will continue to do even though they do not want us to continue to help the people of Quebec.

Recently, I attended a breakfast with the Inno-centre group, where we have invested—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I listened carefully to the Minister of National Revenue and he did not ask any question. He made a comment to say the Bloc Quebecois did not agree. We never said the Bloc Quebecois was against research institutes.

The minister must understand that we are on questions and comments.