House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2006, with 45% of the vote.
Fisheries and Oceans May 27th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for his question. I will also be doing everything I can on behalf of Quebec fishers.
We have added $31 million in permanent funding for small craft harbours. We have added $45 million for the divestiture of unneeded ports which has helped us put money into the real needs. We have identified new resources. We are helping them reduce their expenses. We will not add a carbon tax to their fuel to put them out of business.
Canadian Coast Guard May 15th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member's concern, but let me say to him he has absolutely no reason to worry. He can check that out, not with politicians but with the people directly involved, the people who work in the Coast Guard. There was no political involvement here whatsoever.
The Canadian Coast Guard College has over 30 boats that it uses, two similar to the ones that have left and almost the same size. This boat was a spare that was used to do some training. We have many boats. The training is not affected by any stretch of the imagination. That boat is going where it is badly needed, where it can save lives, with no affect at all on the--
Canadian Coast Guard May 15th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, first, let me remind the House that when we took over government, the Coast Guard infrastructure was rusting out. Boats that they had were tied up to the wharves with no money for fuel to do surveillance.
The Coast Guard College did not even have an entry class because it did not think that it would exist because of attrition. I inherited a major mess and I inherited it from that member.
Points of Order May 14th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, let me remind the member that there is no graduation at the college this year simply because there was no registration three years ago. The college had been downgraded so much, plans were made to shut it down, and he well knows it.
Canadian Coast Guard May 14th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, the boat the member is talking about is one of several associated with the college, a college that the Liberals were going to close down. Where it was used for training, it will now be used to save lives.
Where was the minister from Nova Scotia? He was around the table supporting $1.5 billion to improve the Coast Guard. He was here to support money for not only the infrastructure but to keep the boats at sea. The previous government left them tied up to the wharves.
Fisheries May 12th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, no one is more concerned about the salmon and the effect on their area more so than the people of British Columbia. The different groups and agencies and the first nations all have come around the table and they know the crisis that we face in the fishery. They are not just sitting there complaining; they are doing something about it, and we are helping them.
There is a chance to make sure that we bring back the great salmon, but we all have to work on it collectively.
Fisheries and Oceans May 8th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is right, as he always is.
First let me say that within the last two years the first thing we did was reform NAFO in relation to enforcement and then we modernized the convention.
Working with the NGOs and the fishing industry, we have enabled NAFO to go in and protect marine sensitive ecosystems, not on the high seas where we have no control or cannot do anything about it, except to pay lip service, which we were asked to do in the past, but within the NAFO regulated zone where we can do something. We are getting the job done.
Sealing Industry April 14th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, Canada has laws in place to ensure the safety of our citizens. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society broke those laws and in so doing, put the lives of our sealers at risk. Laws have broken. Action has been taken. A boat has been seized. Charges have been laid. It is that simple.
Paul Watson can continue with his PR exercise to siphon more money from the unsuspecting public. In the meantime, I will stand up for our sealers and our laws.
Fisheries and Oceans April 9th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, let me assure the hon. member that, first of all, we have worked very closely with the minister of the environment from British Columbia. We originally carried out a very successful plan to survey the damage that had been caused. We will make sure that we will continue to monitor and do the right thing.
Sometimes trying to remove things such as the tanker can do more harm than good and we are not going to do that.
Transport April 7th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, the member well knows and I will say again, that thorough investigations are under way. It would do the member well, if he wants to represent his people properly, to let the committees get on with their work so that the truth of whatever happened comes out. We will assure him and assure the people that whatever happened in relation to this accident will not only be brought forward but it will be made public.