House of Commons Hansard #43 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was crime.

Topics

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

February 4th, 2008 / 2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC

Mr. Speaker, everyone knows the forestry crisis is nothing new. While the Parti Québécois was mismanaging the forestry in Quebec, the Bloc Québécois said nothing.

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Shame.

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC

In 17 years in Ottawa, has the Bloc ever announced a single agreement to support Quebec's forestry industry?

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC

Before the Conservative Party came along, did the Bloc put an end to the softwood lumber dispute?

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC

Before the Conservative Party came along, did the Bloc allow Quebec's industry to recover a single dollar from the U.S.?

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC

In 17 years in Ottawa, has the Bloc ever implemented a targeted initiative for older workers?

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC

In 17 years in Ottawa, has the Bloc provided $127.5 million to support the long term competitiveness of the forestry industry?

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC

In 17 years in Ottawa, has the Bloc invested a single dollar in keeping even one job in Quebec's forestry industry?

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC

The workers are not stupid. The Bloc raises the volume to disguise its powerlessness.

Fortunately, the Conservative government has the means to take action and adopt measures to support Quebec's forestry regions.

Forestry IndustryStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

Canadian Wheat BoardOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Saint-Laurent—Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Stéphane Dion LiberalLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, never have we seen a more secretive and partisan government in Canada than the current one.

Last week the Prime Minister gave Canadians yet another example. He misled Canadians on an issue as serious as torture. And now there is more partisanship, the latest victim, the vice-president of the Canadian Wheat Board.

Why does the Prime Minister fire public servants for doing their job?

Canadian Wheat BoardOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Conservative

Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, if I understand the Leader of the Opposition correctly, he is making reference to an employee of the Wheat Board who has been fired by the Wheat Board.

I would remind the House that the Wheat Board operates at arm's length from the government. The Wheat Board makes its own decisions in terms of which employees it hires and fires. He should direct his questions to the Wheat Board.

Government Boards, Agencies and CommissionsOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Saint-Laurent—Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Stéphane Dion LiberalLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, those who contradict the Prime Minister or say something he does not like are sent packing.

Gone is Linda Keen, the president of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. Gone also is Arthur Carty, the national science adviser, and so is Deanna Allen, the Canadian Wheat Board's vice-president. These are not coincidences. This is systematic.

Does the Prime Minister realize how much his partisanship is hurting Canadians when he drives away public servants who are doing their job?

Government Boards, Agencies and CommissionsOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Conservative

Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the official opposition ought to check his facts before rising in the House of Commons to ask questions.

He mentioned, for instance, Dr. Carty, a very eminent Canadian. Dr. Carty has retired. He can check with that gentleman.

Government Boards, Agencies and CommissionsOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Saint-Laurent—Cartierville Québec

Liberal

Stéphane Dion LiberalLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is threatening public servants.

Government Boards, Agencies and CommissionsOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Government Boards, Agencies and CommissionsOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Order. The Leader of the Opposition has the floor.

Government Boards, Agencies and CommissionsOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is saying “do what I say, even if it is against your mandate. Say what I want to hear, even if it is wrong”. That is not leadership.

Why does the Prime Minister insist on crushing dissent, on silencing those who dare to disagree with him?

Government Boards, Agencies and CommissionsOral Questions

2:15 p.m.

Calgary Southwest Alberta

Conservative

Stephen Harper ConservativePrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, once again the Leader of the Opposition should check his facts before posing questions in the House of Commons.

He cites the case of a Wheat Board employee over whose employment the government has absolutely no control, and he cites the case of Dr. Carty, an eminent Canadian who voluntarily took his retirement. I would ask the Leader of the Opposition to check that out with Dr. Carty.

The fact of the matter is that the people of Canada have a right to fire any of us when they choose to do so, as they did in the last election with the crowd opposite.