House of Commons Hansard #1 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was jobs.

Topics

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Order. The hon. member for Hamilton Mountain has the floor.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:25 p.m.

NDP

Chris Charlton NDP Hamilton Mountain, ON

Mr. Speaker, he was opposed to these measures in the House, in the last election campaign and even in his economic update just seven weeks ago. How can the government be trusted to do what it says it now believes?

Let me offer just one example: infrastructure. In the 2008 budget, the Minister of Finance announced, in his words, “the largest single federal investment in public infrastructure since World War II”. The problem is that the money just did not flow. Provinces and municipalities desperate for that money are still waiting for it today. Why should we have confidence in the government this time around when it announces and reannounces the same promises over and over again with no intention of keeping them?

I ask the member for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar why any voter should believe her now, why any Canadian should trust her, and why any MP should have confidence in her government.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:25 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK

Mr. Speaker, these are unprecedented times that need to be taken care of in an unprecedented way. I can reassure the hon. member that Canada will be taking serious, substantial and multi-year action to protect workers, businesses and families during this global recession. The Minister of Finance will provide more detail on our action plan when he introduces a new federal budget in the House tomorrow.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:25 p.m.

Conservative

Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar for her speech, which so eloquently outlined the challenges Canada is facing during these uncertain economic times.

Could the hon. member point out some of the measures she believes will be beneficial for Canada in helping our economy during these challenging times?

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:25 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK

Mr. Speaker, the throne speech states:

Acting on the constructive thoughts and suggestions that have been received, our Government will tomorrow present Canada's economic stimulus plan.

The economic stimulus plan will be a plan of action.

Our Government is taking immediate action to build Canada through new investment in infrastructure.

Our Government is acting to protect the stability of our financial system.

Our Government is acting to ensure access to credit for businesses and consumers.

Our Government is acting to support Canadian industries in difficulty--including forestry, manufacturing, automotive, tourism, agriculture--and to protect the families and communities who depend on those jobs.

Our Government is acting to protect the vulnerable: the unemployed, lower-income Canadians, seniors, Aboriginal Canadians and others hit hardest by the global economic recession.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, the answer the member just gave and the throne speech mentioned specific industries, but there is no mention of the north, no mention of the Arctic, and no mention of one of its biggest industries, mining. Why is that?

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:25 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK

Mr. Speaker, as I am sure the hon. member is aware, it would be inappropriate for me to speculate on specific items within the budget that are to be announced by the Minister of Finance tomorrow. However, I can reassure the member that Canada will be taking serious, substantial and multi-year action to protect workers, businesses and families during this global recession throughout all of Canada.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:30 p.m.

Bloc

Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am a little surprised to hear my colleague opposite say that she cannot talk about the upcoming budget, which will indeed be introduced tomorrow.

Aboriginal communities have been waiting exactly eight months to receive over $300 million. Can my colleague opposite tell me this: where is the money? Where is the $300 million that aboriginal communities have been waiting eight months to receive?

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK

Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that our Conservative government has done more for first nations and aboriginals in this country than any other government did.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:30 p.m.

NDP

Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is astounding to hear the member say that she has been listening to Canadians and that the government will deliver. One just needs to look at what has gone on in our large cities with the infrastructure deficit and the lack of housing. What happened to the child care promise? It is beyond belief. Since the government has failed to deliver on any of those questions in all of the time it has been in power, why should we have any confidence that it will deliver this time around? It will yet again let down the people of Canada.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK

Mr. Speaker, over the past six weeks our Prime Minister, our ministers and MPs have participated in prebudget consultations right across the country. It has been the most comprehensive and inclusive prebudget consultation process in Canadian history. The Prime Minister himself has held round tables right across the country. He and government ministers have made over 84 separate visits to cities across the country. We have heard the concerns of Canadians. We have heard the concerns of our communities and of those individuals who are leading communities when it comes to infrastructure. Members will have to wait until tomorrow so they can hear the rest of the budget.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:30 p.m.

Etobicoke—Lakeshore Ontario

Liberal

Michael Ignatieff LiberalLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to compliment the member for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar and the member for Miramichi for very spirited contributions to our debate.

Before I move adjournment, I simply want to make one observation. The Speech from the Throne speaks of open and non-partisan cooperation, which are touching words.

Yet I cannot forget that, just six weeks ago, the government was singing a different tune when it introduced its fall economic update. Back then, its refrain was provocative and partisan, and it had no plan, nothing at all, to protect society's most vulnerable, to protect jobs, or to create the jobs of tomorrow.

That is why there is a problem of trust with the government. We do not know which discourse, which language, to believe. It has a split personality, if I may say so. We will have to wait until tomorrow to see whether the government has resolved this conflict of personality and whether it can present a budget in which this side of the House has confidence.

In the meantime, I move:

That the debate be now adjourned.

(On motion of Mr. Michael Ignatieff the debate was adjourned)

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Just before I recognize the government House leader, I wish to invite all hon. members to take the opportunity to renew acquaintances in room 216 immediately following the adjournment of the House, which I think is imminent. I invite all hon. members to come back there.

It is a pleasure to welcome you back to the second session of our 40th Parliament.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:35 p.m.

Prince George—Peace River B.C.

Conservative

Jay Hill ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Indeed, Mr. Speaker, I do hope that it is imminent. Therefore, I move:

That the House do now adjourn.

(Motion agreed to)

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

This House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m., pursuant to the order adopted earlier this day.

(The House adjourned at 3:37 p.m.)