Jean Lapierre

[Air Transportation Security, November 18th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I am convinced the hon. member wants the Canadian air sector to be the safest in the world. We simply want to be sure that passengers can travel in safety and feel secure with this means of transportation. Consequently, this tax will continue to be used to guarantee their security. We have high technology equipment being purchased and installed every day all across the country. Until that is all done we will, of course, continue to collect the tax. We have already reduced it in keeping with requirements. However, the work is not complete. We will not stop until—

[Air Transportation Security, November 18th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his question. Perhaps his colleague would like to listen to the answer. It is simple: we collected this tax, but not all the money was spent at the beginning, because the security system had to be created. Some equipment was not delivered the first year or in 2003 but the figures will even out over a five-year period. We do not want to do everything the first year. There are still many airports in Canada where things are being installed. So this money will be used for air security in Canada, one of the safest countries in the world. No one will make—

[Mirabel Airport, November 17th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if signing a lease has any meaning for the hon. member. For us it does. A lease for 60 years was signed by the Canadian government of the day.

Now, the people who occupy the land have been offered a lease extension until 2023. That gives them a long period of certainty.

We are convinced that Aéroports de Montréal, when it reviews its master plan in 2023, will be able to see things more clearly. Still, at present, we are keeping the future open, because, perhaps, in a few years, they will say thanks to—

[Mirabel Airport, November 17th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, as we know, the Government of Canada has leased all Aéroports de Montréal properties to the ADM corporation until 2053. In the meantime, other offers have been made to everyone who now occupies the land, to extend their leases until 2023.

I believe that will give those who are occupying the land, for which they have already been paid, an opportunity to continue their agricultural and other uses of that land until 2023, while keeping all options open regarding the future of Mirabel airport.

[Aerospace Industry, November 17th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, it is rather easy for the Bloc Québécois to come up with a so-called aerospace policy, when it knows that it will never have to implement it, because it will never be in office. Bloc members will always be irresponsible.

The truth is that this government will support the aerospace industry, as it has always done. If there is an aerospace industry in Quebec, it is thanks to this government and definitely not the Bloc Québécois.

[Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act, November 16th, 2004]

moved:

That Bill C-6, in Clause 6, be amended by replacing lines 18 to 20 on page 2 with the following:

“performing his or her duties and functions, the Minister may”

[Competition Act, November 16th, 2004]

moved:

That Bill C-19, an act to amend the Competition Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts, be referred forthwith to the Standing Committee on Industry, Natural Resources, Science and Technology.

[Transport, November 5th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I think the member has to realize that we are working at the drawing board right now. What we are trying to do is make sure that the ports in Canada are safe and secure. We are going to work at it, but we are not going to protect any criminals that would be working and putting Canada's security at risk. We are not going to accept that at our ports.

We are working at it. We are at the drawing board and we will make sure that we protect our borders and our ports. Perhaps the hon. member does not like it, but we have to make sure that we have a safe process, and we will get it.

[Transport, November 5th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, we are developing this process for background checks. We want to make sure our ports are secure. We will do whatever we have to do to make sure that the personnel working in those installations are of good background and in good standing. We are consulting with the unions. I want to report to the House that I met the president of the Teamsters, for example, and he assured me that his members are going to collaborate with this background checking. We are very happy that this file is progressing very well.

[Mirabel Airport, November 5th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. As far as the expropriations that have taken place in Mirabel are concerned, it will be possible, of course, to find alternate use for the land and the airport. Cargo traffic is handled through Mirabel and is a great success. Bombardier has facilities in Mirabel and is successful. We hope that it will be even more successful in building and testing its aircraft.

The Montreal airports authority has a master plan taking us to 2023, and we do not plan to dispose of any land—