House of Commons Hansard #1 of the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was canadas.

Topics

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Scott Armstrong Conservative Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS

Mr. Speaker, I can tell the House that my riding will support this throne speech. There is increased infrastructure spending, a focus on jobs and growth, a focus on green energy, including tidal energy in the Bay of Fundy, and a commitment to rid this nation of the long gun registry.

Those were the issues that I heard at doorstep after doorstep during the byelection. Those are the issues that this throne speech addresses head-on. I can tell the House that Cumberland--Colchester--Musquodoboit Valley will stand strong behind this throne speech. There are all kinds of benefits for the people in my riding.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC

Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the throne speech, particularly to see whether the government would propose anything to improve the economic status of women in Quebec.

After listening to the speech given by the hon. member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, I realize that I am not the only one who found nothing in the throne speech. Although I listened very carefully, there was absolutely nothing in the speech. Indeed, all this government has done is make pay equity a negotiable right, thereby undermining the status of women, rather than improving it.

How can this government justify ignoring the needs of over half the population and proposing nothing to improve women's living conditions, for instance, allowing female workers covered by the Canada Labour Code the right to preventive withdrawal from work or proposing real proactive pay equity legislation?

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Scott Armstrong Conservative Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS

Mr. Speaker, women in Quebec, just like women across this country, support our crime legislation, legislation that sentences people to life who commit multiple murders. Legislation that has lowered taxes supports all women, not just Quebec women but women across this country, and our focus on jobs and growth has increased employment as well as EI benefits for both women and men across this nation who have lost their jobs during this global recession. We are standing behind all Canadians, both in Quebec and in the rest of this country.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:20 p.m.

NDP

Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON

Mr. Speaker, like many others today, I would like to comment on today's Speech from the Throne.

It is high time the government not only supported but also endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. According to the Speech from the Throne, the government intends to reform and strengthen education in aboriginal communities.

For years now, aboriginal communities have been asking the government to ensure equal access to education for their members. Can the government provide details about the measures it is taking to reform the post-secondary student support program? Is it ready to eliminate the 2% cap on funding increases? Is the government planning to provide the funding needed to build and improve schools in these communities?

Can the government clarify if the wording in the throne speech means that it will adequately fund first nations elementary education, K to 12, comparable to that being funded by the provinces and territories?

More importantly, will the government commit to consulting aboriginal peoples before making any changes to the post-secondary student support program?

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Scott Armstrong Conservative Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS

Mr. Speaker, this government has done incredible things for the aboriginal population in this nation, like the Millbrook reserve in my riding. We have invested billions of dollars in the Department of Indian Affairs, between $9 billion and $10 billion, and that continues to grow under this government.

We are now looking into the Sisters in Spirit program to help find out why aboriginal women are disappearing across Canada. That is an initiative of this government. We are investing billions of dollars into land claims across this nation, settling one land claim after another. This government stands behind our aboriginal population.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:20 p.m.

Prince George—Peace River B.C.

Conservative

Jay Hill ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, as I listen to some of the questions posed to my hon. colleague, it almost makes me wonder if the members of the opposition even listened to the throne speech. Obviously, they did not hear the same message of hope or the vision for the medium-term and long-term future that those of us on this side of the House and Canadians heard during the throne speech.

The Olympics have just been completed. As we look forward to the Paralympics, we know how hard Canadians are working, how hard they worked at the Olympics, and how hard they work across this land from coast to coast to coast. That was reflected in the throne speech. It was reflected in giving Canadians hope for a brighter future.

I do not understand why the opposition wants to be so negative all the time. They do not seem to be in tune with the mood of Canadians. Canadians are looking for hope. They are looking for parliamentarians to work collectively and co-operatively together. What do we see? Unfortunately, we have picked up right where we left off before Christmas, with the opposition nitpicking about every little thing instead of trying to put forward some constructive solutions and suggestions for how this country can move forward.

Why are they not applauding this government? Why are they not applauding this member on a great speech? I want to applaud him. I want to refer him to the fact that there are 16,000 infrastructure projects across this nation. I am sure he could tell us about some of the projects going on in his riding. This government, working co-operatively with the provinces and the municipal governments, has given some hope to Canadians as we work our way out of this recession.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

Scott Armstrong Conservative Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS

Mr. Speaker, in our riding of Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, we have benefited significantly from the economic action plan. We have many stimulus investments, including the Central Nova Civic Centre, and two announcements in Parrsboro, one for the Fundy Geological Museum and one for the innovative centre and the visitors centre for tidal power.

We have had investments in transportation for rural communities. We have had investments in roads. We have had investments in infrastructure, in the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, and the Nova Scotia Community College, both in Springhill and Truro. We have had announcement after announcement keeping people in my riding employed.

However, it is not just Cumberland—Colchester. This throne speech highlights investments across this nation that help young Canadians enter the job market. It focuses on skills, apprenticeships, training and post-doctoral study support, reforming and strengthening first nations education, promoting investment in Canada and opening markets with strong financial centres, along with investments in energy, mining, forestry, fisheries, agriculture and aquaculture.

This throne speech contains something for every riding across this country. It is going to build the future of this country. I am proud to stand up and stand behind this throne speech.

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:25 p.m.

Etobicoke—Lakeshore Ontario

Liberal

Michael Ignatieff LiberalLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the mover and seconder of the address in reply.

I would like to congratulate the member for the lovely riding of Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup.

I thank the member from the beautiful constituency of Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley for his contribution.

I move:

That the debate be now adjourned.

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

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:25 p.m.

Prince George—Peace River B.C.

Conservative

Jay Hill ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That the House do now adjourn.

(Motion agreed to)

Address in ReplySpeech from the Throne

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Accordingly, the House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m.

(The House adjourned at 5:28 p.m.)