Debates of April 30th, 2008

The Economy

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday's TD Bank report said that the Ontario economy faced challenges but the report made it crystal clear that the reasons for this were entirely outside Ontario's control, things like the slumping U.S. economy.

What is a minister called when he kicks his own province in the teeth when that province is struggling with tough economic conditions? He is called a goon.

Will the minister stop sucker-punching his own province?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I did not hear all of the reference but I hope that the term was not being applied to the minister, that it was applied to somebody outside.

The hon. Minister of Finance has the floor.

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, I would be more concerned if the member opposite actually believed a word that he was saying. Then I would be alarmed by the language used. However, I know he does not because that is not what he says in other places when he advocates corporate tax reductions and when he supports what we did in October with the dramatic stimulus.

I hear the braying of the member for Wascana. I hear it every day. It is over, Ralph.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The minister is right. It is over. The hon. member for Markham--Unionville has the floor.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if the minister believed a word he said and went beyond PMO speaking points on the IMF comments, he would know that the IMF also said that the nature of this tax cut was the worst possible tax cut. I wonder if he believes anything he says.

In terms of attacking Ontario, is it the minister's extreme neo-conservative ideology that drives him to this or does he delight in sucker-punching his own province and his own people at a time of hemorrhaging jobs?

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

None of the above, of course, Mr. Speaker.

Here is what the member for Markham—Unionville says in other places. He says that corporate tax cuts are one of the best strategies to attract investment and help manufacturers battered by the high Canadian dollar.

We did that in Ottawa but Ontario has not followed, unlike many other provinces in Canada. If the member for Markham—Unionville and his cohorts want to help Ontario, they should encourage the Liberal Premier of Ontario to reduce those business taxes, because, after all, that is what he really believes.

Forestry and Manufacturing Industries

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is all so simple. What did the forestry industry in the Outaouais get? Nothing.

What did Domtar workers in Hull get? Nothing.

What did garment and textile workers in Montreal get?

[Some hon. members]

Nothing.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

What did Quebec export manufacturers get?

[Some hon. members]

Nothing.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Numbers are not his strong suit, so I will gladly help out. Nothing plus nothing equals:

[Some hon. members]

Nothing.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

So how can he look our workers in the eye and tell them, “I know that you are suffering, and I know that you need help, so here is what I have to offer you: nothing”?

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, we have created over 300,000 new jobs in Canada this year. Look at Quebec's economy. It is very strong. For example, I went to the Peerless factory in Montreal. I also went to the grand opening of the Thales research centre and to aerospace plants. Industry in Quebec is very strong.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a downtown in his riding got $2.1 million from CED for revitalization, but what did forestry industry workers in the Outaouais get?

[Some hon. members]

Nothing.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

An airport, also in his riding, got $2.2 million from CED, but what did airports in Trois-Rivières and Saint-Hubert get?

[Some hon. members]

Nothing.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

The cruise industry in his region and in his riding got millions of dollars, but what did businesses in Mauricie, Montérégie and the Eastern Townships get?

[Some hon. members]

Nothing.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

When it comes to getting help from the government, do we now have two categories of Quebeckers—those who voted for the Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and those who did not, and those who did not can take care of themselves?

[Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, the member forgot to mention that we also gave a billion dollars to support the manufacturing and forestry industries, $217 million of which went to Quebec.

We also set up advisory committees and we are in the process of developing—and have even begun to announce—our strategic plan for 2008-2011, which contains, among other things, a new tool that we are calling Major Economic and Tourism Facilities. We have allocated $67 million over three years to help the regions of Quebec.

Omar Khadr

[Vivian Barbot, Bloc, Papineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, before a parliamentary committee, the officer who is defending Omar Khadr criticized the American military tribunal process, which is designed to ensure convictions. This statement was not made by a member of the Taliban, but by a military lawyer who is a lieutenant-commander of the United States army.

Now that he knows that young Mr. Khadr will not have a fair and equitable trial, what is the Minister of Foreign Affairs waiting for to bring him back to Canada?

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. Bloc Québécois colleague should know that any questions regarding whether the Government of Canada will ask for Omar Khadr's release are premature, given that the legal proceedings and appeals are still underway and not all courses of action have been exhausted. One thing, however, is certain. We have been assured by the American government that Mr. Khadr has been treated humanely.