House of Commons Hansard #7 of the 40th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was riding.

Topics

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

Gord Brown Conservative Leeds—Grenville, ON

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member upon his re-election also. I am glad he took the time to visit Leeds--Grenville.

I spent many years working in the tourism industry and I know that industry intimately.

I am happy to see that our government is continuing to work on border issues. I know the hon. member is very active on the Canada-U.S. interparliamentary group and that he knows the importance of many of the issues to ensure that visitors can cross the border easily.

In terms of his question concerning the ADS with China, I hear from tourism operators in my riding that the number of Chinese visiting Canada continues to increase.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

5:55 p.m.

Bloc

Christian Ouellet Bloc Brome—Missisquoi, QC

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your position in the chair. I would also like to thank my constituents, who have renewed their confidence in me.

Unfortunately, the riding I live in is not like that of the member for Leeds—Grenville. The member surely lives in paradise. He said so himself. How wonderful it must be to live in paradise, where he is unaffected by things that affect everyone else in Canada. He said that tax cuts were just fine. But where I live, tax cuts have not created jobs, nor have they helped manufacturers in my riding, Brome—Missisquoi, stay in business. He also said that Canada must avoid a deficit at any cost. However, every time there has been a crisis, governments have resorted to deficits—small ones, to be sure—to get through hard times.

The Speaker is letting me know that I have to wrap things up. I would like the member to tell me why taxes do not affect his riding.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

Gord Brown Conservative Leeds—Grenville, ON

Madam Speaker, I also want to congratulate the member on his re-election. I am glad he recognizes that I happen to have the honour of representing such a beautiful part of the country that includes the Thousand Islands. I guess he has been a visitor there and I encourage him to go back.

The fact is that this government took action to help companies across the country by bringing in tax cuts before we got into this economic situation. We saw that this was coming and we took action, action that is helping companies across the country to stay in business so they can keep the jobs in place.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

Daryl Kramp Conservative Prince Edward—Hastings, ON

Madam Speaker, I am extremely honoured to rise in the House today to speak to the government's Speech from the Throne.

First, please indulge me for a moment while I take this opportunity to thank my family for all their support during this past election, my wife, Carol Ann, and my three daughters, Kari, Taryl, Shelby, and their significant others for providing unwavering support and encouragement.

I want to thank my campaign team, volunteers, the donors and the riding association executive for all the tremendous work and effort they put into the recent campaign.

Most important, I have to recognize and support the constituents of Prince Edward—Hastings and thank them for reaffirming their trust in me to serve as their representative in Ottawa.

Today, when I look across the House, and during QP, I congratulate all the returning members of Parliament and the new MPs. I look forward to participating with each and every one of them as we hopefully put aside our partisan interests and focus on the real priorities that matter to Canadians.

We recognize it is the economy right now, both globally and nationally, and it is a justifiable worry for all Canadians. Our government has demonstrated its readiness by outlining a five-pronged approach for ensuring Canada's economic security, including the reforming of global finance, sound budgeting practices, ensuring jobs for families, expanding free trade and investment and implementing measures to make government more effective.

The Canadian government is providing leadership in the international financial system by proactively putting in place sound practices that have protected Canadians from the worst of the current global economic crisis. The government has done much in the last few years to create solid fiscal fundamentals by introducing responsible budget and implementing significant debt repayment and tax cuts that have helped the average consumer and kept the Canadian buoyant amid troubled international waters.

Going forward, we are and continue to work with the G-20 leaders to re-examine the rules and institutions that underpin the entire global financial system. Our government has stated its intention to also work internally with the provinces to put in place the common securities regulatory.

As the member of Parliament for Prince Edward—Hastings, I am proud and honoured to represent what I believe to be one of the most beautiful ridings in southern Ontario, and there are many. It is an extremely diverse area though for those who have had the opportunity to travel through. We encompass the rural towns of North Hastings, the urban growth of the city of Belleville, the proud home of the Mohawk First Nations people to the rich fertile farmlands of Prince Edward County, or the county as everybody who is there affectionately calls it.

Within the area there exists a microcosm of Canada representing urban development, manufacturing, small business, industry, farming, tourism and first nations.

I will focus on a few of the priorities outlined in the throne speech and the benefits to ridings like mine and others as we go forward building on our last mandate.

I and the government realize that the economy is not an isolated entity based simply on numbers and figures. The economy is based on a real priority, and that is people. As presented in the throne speech, the government continues to commit itself to helping Canadian families, the communities and businesses that employ them.

I have and continue to believe that education is the key to the success of individuals, their families and their communities. The government has recognized this by proposing a new consolidated Canada student grant program to take effect in the fall of 2009. I am also pleased to see that our government is working to ensure aboriginal people have access to the same educational opportunities as other Canadians.

We are also working hard to respond to the needs of farmers. We know that a state of severe economic hardship exists in the livestock, the cattle and the hog sectors and changes are being made to the agricultural act. I believe they are sincerely going to help relieve the situation. The government is implementing its new growing forward programs aimed at building agriculture for the future to support Canada's farmers and the agricultural sector.

A thriving business environment is also integral to our continued success, not only in Prince Edward—Hastings but in the whole country.

Through “Advantage Canada”, our economic plan and recent budgets, we have made significant progress toward creating a business environment aimed at promoting long-term investment, innovation and job creation across all sectors of the Canadian economy. Our government has already cut taxes to lower costs for businesses, to help them compete and create jobs. By 2012-13 the Government of Canada will have provided more than $9 billion in tax relief to the manufacturing sector.

In the riding of Prince Edward—Hastings, owners of small businesses and people in the tourism business in Prince Edward county have benefited greatly from the reduction of the GST.

Through our government's unprecedented building Canada plan, we are providing long term stable and predictable funding to meet infrastructure needs across Canada, realizing that modernized infrastructure contributes to a stronger economy as well as a cleaner environment.

In Prince Edward—Hastings alone gas tax rebates have totalled approximately $15 million. These are funds that are helping to meet the infrastructure requirements of municipalities across this riding and across the country.

Canada's prosperity depends not just on meeting the challenges of today, but more important, on building the dynamic economy that will create opportunities and better jobs for Canadians in the future.

Our government has stated that it will work with industry to apply the best Canadian scientific and technological expertise to create innovative business solutions.

We have already seen a prime example of our government's commitment in my riding with the biopharmaceutical company, Bioniche Life Sciences. Bioniche received federal funding over the years, including $15 million in repayable funding loans to help develop a breakthrough vaccine for cattle. It will help reduce the proliferation of a dangerous strain of e.Coli.

As a long-time former business owner, I am very aware of how cost effective business practices are an imperative key to success. I am proud to say that our government understands that and is committed to incorporating modern business practices that focus less on process and more on results while keeping government spending prioritized and under control. Canadian taxpayers deserve nothing less.

Canadian taxpayers also deserve to see the future of our true north protected. Our government is committed to the Arctic and is strengthening Canada's sovereignty and protecting our environmental heritage while taking action to address the unique challenges and opportunities we face there through our integrated northern strategy plan.

This is an issue close to my heart, and in June 2008 I introduced a private member's bill designed to further protect the Canadian sovereignty of the Arctic. The motion asked that the water passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans be simply renamed the Canadian Northwest Passage. This term clearly acknowledges our historic and our sovereign heritage.

The government understands that Canada's economic prosperity cannot be sustained without a healthy environment, just as environmental progress cannot be achieved without a healthy economy. The government has committed to reducing Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and is working with the provinces and our international partners to implement realistic and achievable goals toward that end.

One of the benefits of a secured economic future is our opportunity to become homeowners and to have affordable housing. Our government wants to ensure that. Working through CMHC, we have committed to purchasing up to $75 billion in insured mortgage pools by the end of the fiscal year.

I certainly remember when Carol Ann and I built our first home. I know it is an exciting time for young couples, and I am pleased to see that our government is committed to helping Canadians realize their dreams can become a reality.

Our government is supporting many Canadians with housing needs and is fulfilling its commitment to helping those seeking to break free of the cycle of homelessness and poverty, and 505 projects across Canada received funding in the amount of $150 million under the government's homeless partnering strategy. In Prince Edward—Hastings over $2 million were awarded to contributing partners.

Canadians need to be assured that they are safe in their homes and their communities. We will take tough action against crime and work with our partners. The safety and security of Canadians is of utmost priority and, as such, we will continue moving forward on our tackling crime agenda.

As a member of the legislative committee for the Tackling Violent Crimes Act, I was able to see first-hand the government's commitment to the safety of Canadians. Safety also means national security and our security ultimately depends on the respect for freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

We are rebuilding our Canadian Forces. We owe it to our military men and women to make sure they are using effective and up-to-date equipment.

I look forward to working with all members as we strengthen our position and ensure that we as Canadians emerge as a stronger and more united people than before.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:05 p.m.

Liberal

John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON

Madam Speaker, I congratulate the member for Prince Edward—Hastings on his re-election. I do agree with him when he said that it is the economy that is the issue that we are all faced with here in Canada and abroad. I was hoping to hear about measures, and in much more detail, the government is taking to move forward. He and the member for Leeds—Grenville talked about tourism. I want to pick up on that.

I remember when I was parliamentary secretary to John Manley. We brought in the Canadian Tourism Development Corporation. We created it through legislation. I helped pass that bill. What we did is we invested in stakeholders. Our tourism industry was really growing at that time. One of the key elements was the GST rebate for tourists.

The Conservative government came in and eliminated that. Is he prepared, as another stimuli to the economy, to provide some input to the government and the Prime Minister to bring back that program in order to motivate and kickstart the tourism industry? Will he do that?

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

Daryl Kramp Conservative Prince Edward—Hastings, ON

Madam Speaker, I actually can speak with a little bit of authority on the issue of the GST rebate. I have been involved in the tourism sector for over 35 years. As such, there are two elements to this. One is the everyday spending, the $5, $10, $100, and $200 here and there. Quite frankly, it is cumbersome, burdensome, and not cost effective for the government and/or the people to obtain a $10, $12, $15, or $20 refund. It honestly does not accomplish the goal. That really did not interest the people.

However, for the major convention traffic, for the major events that take place, yes, the member has a very good point. I do believe the government recognized that through the consideration and the input of all of the members in the House. We brought forward a motion where the major convention centres and the entire convention business would be exempt from GST.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:10 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC

Madam Speaker, could my colleague explain something to me. After the speeches of the last two Conservative members, I believe that they live in ridings that I will say are made of Teflon: nothing sticks in these ridings. Unless I am mistaken, they have been sheltered from the decline in the manufacturing industry and they are also immune to the forestry crisis. Seniors' issues are not a problem for them; they may have seniors but they all have income security and, I imagine, the GIS as well.

I am trying to understand why they delivered such a Speech from the Throne. There is no mention of food banks, to which more and more full-time workers are turning. They seem to be exempt from all this. There is no mention of poverty in general and the poverty of women and children in particular.

Have I understood correctly that they live in a microcosm protected from the poverty and troubles that affect the rest of us?

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:10 p.m.

Conservative

Daryl Kramp Conservative Prince Edward—Hastings, ON

Madam Speaker, I can assure the member that I am not composed of a surface of Teflon. If that were the case, everything would slide off my shoulders. Quite frankly, I take my responsibilities as a member very seriously, and when comments, considerations or issues that matter to my constituents are brought to me and to my attention, I take them to heart and act responsibly. So, I do take a little bit of umbrage to that.

Just to clarify the situation with the hon. member, though I personally was in the hospitality, service and tourism business, that is only a very small portion of my riding. I have 14% to 16% unemployment in the entire northern part of my riding that depends on logging. I have a manufacturing industry in my riding that is also heavily dependent on the auto sector and the parts plants. I have a food industry in my riding that has seen the demise of the canning industry and the vegetable processing industry.

I can assure the member that I well recognize firsthand the problems, and that is one of the reasons I am here to get results for those people and people like them across this country.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:10 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC

Madam Speaker, I have the honour of sharing my time with the member for Sherbrooke.

I am especially pleased to have the opportunity to speak now. Naturally, I would like to take a moment to thank the people of Chambly—Borduas, who elected me for the third time by a margin of over 21,000 votes. I wanted to point that out because they did not just vote for me; they expressed their confidence in the Bloc Québécois, its work here, and the priorities we champion every time we rise in the House of Commons. I would like to reassure my constituents, who placed their confidence in me, that I will work hard on their behalf, just as I promised.

Recent comments made by two of our Conservative colleagues suggest that the throne speech is out of touch with what is going on in most ridings, including their own. My Conservative colleague's most recent remarks reveal that their ridings have the same problems as ours. Yet the throne speech did not acknowledge those needs.

Two-thirds of the members from Quebec belong to the Bloc. Clearly, Quebec voters wanted nothing to do with the Conservatives' proposals. Yet the Conservatives resuscitated those very proposals in the throne speech even though 78% of Quebeckers rejected them. In addition to the 49 Bloc members I mentioned, there are also 14 Liberal members and one New Democrat. The Conservative Party has lost a member. If this were a football game—these being the playoffs—the score is now 65 to 10. That is what I call a thrashing.

Quebeckers gave the Conservatives such a thrashing because they wanted nothing to do with the Conservatives' proposals. Yet those very proposals are in the throne speech. The Conservatives continue to make cuts to culture. For Quebec, this represents 314,000 jobs, 16,000 in my own riding. They continue to want to impose a repressive young offenders law. Quebec already has a specific law to prevent crime. They continue to want to create a single federal securities commission. They do not even mention the word “Kyoto”. They continue to want to reduce Quebec's weight within the Canadian federation. They promise to interfere further in Quebec's jurisdictions, such as health and education. There is nothing about the fiscal imbalance. Part of the fiscal imbalance was corrected thanks to the Bloc's efforts in this House, but there is still a long way to go. They continue to want to support nuclear energy and unbridled military spending.

All that is in the throne speech, even though Quebec roundly rejected the Conservatives' proposals. What the Conservatives propose for the rest of Canada is their own business. They have a majority elsewhere. But they did not understand Quebeckers' message at all.

We want to be positive. We are going to tell them that if they did not understand, we will come back again with realistic measures designed to work for the regions represented by all the members here. The Conservatives have even strongly encouraged us to give them suggestions. The Bloc has therefore proposed ways of addressing this economic crisis.

We believe it is time to act, and we have the means to act—

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:15 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie

I regret that I must interrupt the hon. member for Chambly—Borduas.

If hon. members would like to hold a meeting, I would ask them to leave the House.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:15 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC

Madam Speaker, what you have just done sets a good example to follow, and I appreciate it.

So, resuming where I left off, the Bloc Québécois is proposing a realistic plan. It would be a recovery plan over two years, into which $23 billion could be invested, and this sum can be spent without increasing the interest-bearing debt and also without creating a recurring deficit. These will therefore be temporary measures to get us through the crisis itself.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:15 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC

Madam Speaker, I am going to ask you to intervene again if this continues, because it is hard to concentrate when others are talking like that.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:20 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie

I have asked hon. members if they choose to hold meetings, to do so outside the chamber. It is very difficult for hon. members to concentrate.

The hon. member for Chambly—Borduas.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:20 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC

Thank you, Madam Speaker. So, the government has, in fact, over $27 billion in leeway, and $23 billion of that could be allocated to the economic crisis, and the other $4 billion—plus several hundred million—to set up a secure reserve fund.

Where would this money come from? First of all, there is the whole business of tax havens. Then there is the business of the oil companies and the privileged treatment they get, as well as savings in the costs of operating the governmental machinery—but with no layoffs.

I will remind hon. members that Ottawa's financial assets, from March 31, 2008 to this point in time, are $176 billion.

In a nutshell, our plan calls for immediate measures with no cost to the budget, measures for business but also for individuals, as I have said a little earlier.

Now, for the surplus. There is a $3.8 billion surplus in 2008-09. A $1 billion deficit is forecast for 2009-10, and a $4.4 billion surplus for 2010-11. This is worth pointing out so that people know just where we stand at the moment.

The surpluses are spread over three years, and the breathing room which once was $16.9 billion—essentially, $17 billion—has decreased to $7 billion, a reduction of $9.7 billion. That is basically $10 billion over the past three years, in part because that the government reduced the GST. The government voluntarily reduced its revenues. We have to start from there.

Bureaucratic expenses could be reduced by almost $7 billion. These expenses reached $74 billion given the increases over the past nine years. The additional rules would also have to be applied more stringently over two years.

When it comes to tax havens, we must again look at the tax situation of the oil companies. There is $6 billion for the next two years. And, as I said earlier, government assets provide significant breathing room in this, as well.

I will stop there, although we could delve even further into the details. If the government had done its homework as it should have, it would have also invested in what I would call the social safety net for the people who are the hardest hit by this crisis, particularly the unemployed—both those currently unemployed and those who will be in the future. And so, we are asking the government to seriously evaluate and analyze the proposal that we have put forward.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:25 p.m.

Bloc

Serge Cardin Bloc Sherbrooke, QC

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my hon. colleague for the attention he gave to the needs of his constituents during the election campaign. Indeed, the members of the Bloc Québécois are in tune with the people, their needs and their aspirations.

During the most recent election campaign, it was clear that there were considerable needs. Some people really are struggling. The government has the means to fix the situation at this time, just as it had the means to fix it in the past. Yet it did nothing. It ignored the demands of Quebec. It has ignored proposals made by the Bloc Québécois since it first came to power. Essentially, the Bloc Québécois has been one of the best advisors the government has had in this House. And we did not even charge a fee.

I would like to ask my colleague the following. After really listening to all the needs and all the hopes of the people of his riding, regarding the problems they faced, for instance, in the manufacturing industry, perhaps less in the forestry sector in his case, but also in terms of culture, I would like to hear him elaborate on what he learned during the election campaign, although I am sure he probably already knew most of it.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:25 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Sherbrooke, who has been, in my opinion, an exemplary member since arriving here in the House. His work with our team and other members of the House has been inspiring. His question is more than relevant.

Chambly—Borduas is all about culture. People from outside the region, who may know just a little about it, can enjoy all manner of artistic expression there. As I said earlier, culture accounts for some 16,000 jobs. For example, we have a theatre company called l'Arrière Scène that specializes in children's theatre. In addition to performing in my riding, throughout Quebec and across Canada, the company even travels around the world, disseminating our culture wherever it goes.

This theatre company has visited every continent, but the Conservative government's cuts will make it impossible for it to perform in other countries. It was scheduled to make appearances in eastern Europe next winter, but now its members will not be able to go because of these cuts.

If every member took the time to look at how these cuts affect their ridings and to talk to their constituents about them, they might be surprised at the impact of the cuts on cultural promotion and how their people tell the world about themselves.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:25 p.m.

Conservative

Bruce Stanton Conservative Simcoe North, ON

Madam Speaker, I know we have very little time left. I was intrigued by the comments of my colleague across the way and his interest in economic development. However, I wonder why it is that he and his party are not supporting a Speech from the Throne that is in fact affirming support for a very robust economic development agency that is important to Quebec, affirming the many measures that the government has taken to strengthen the economy in Quebec. What he is saying is completely opposed to the direction of the government and I do not understand why he and his party are not supporting this speech.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:25 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC

Madam Speaker, I thought the member understood that we have a very clear mandate to not approve measures that are contrary to public interest or the common good. The measures here do not provide concrete support for regional development based on the realities of each region, unlike what the member is saying. He should think about his own riding and analyze the throne speech. Then he can tell us what concrete measures will promote the economic development of his region in order to save jobs and at the same time, protect those who are most in need in our society. Then he can come back to talk to us.

Resumption of debate on Address in ReplySpeech From The Throne

6:30 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie

It being 6:30 p.m., this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 6:30 p.m.)