Lost his last election, in 2008, with 29% of the vote.
Government Expenditures December 7th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I point out that general memberships are a recognized business practice. The financial institutions arrange for partnerships with other financial institutions or with private enterprises. The Business Development Bank has been very proactive in making—
Government Expenditures December 7th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, as mentioned earlier in answer to a previous question—and maybe the member was not listening—the Business Development Bank is a very proactive agency. It operates on a commercial basis. It does a good job at being proactive and arranging partnerships with other financial institutions.
General memberships involve—
Business Development Bank Of Canada December 7th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure the member understands that the business development bank is an arm's length corporation. It operates on a fully commercial basis.
The business development bank brought in $1 billion in loans for small and medium size business and operates at a profit of some $50 million. In fact, it returned $6 million in dividends to the taxpayers.
Canada-United States Days Of Peace And Friendship December 2nd, 1998
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to say a few words on this motion.
I want to first commend the member for Erie—Lincoln for bringing this motion forward. We take many things for granted when we continually cross the border between our two great countries. His motion would have the government designate July 2 and 3, the two days between Canada Day and Independence Day, as Canada-United States days of peace and friendship in recognition of the close and peaceful relations that exist between the two countries and the warm personal links that prevail between neighbouring communities along the length of the common border and the commitments of freedom, democracy and human rights shared by these two great nations.
I am reminded of the work that the member for Erie—Lincoln does. He is responsible for a riding that stretches from the border of Fort Erie, through Port Colborne, Lincoln, West Lincoln and many other small communities. However, he serves not only the border. He also serves two lakes and those two lakes also serve both countries. His riding holds the biggest border crossing of all the Niagara area crossings.
The announcement of the twinning of the bridges in his area is a good indication of the capacity that crosses that border every day. On the U.S. side, highway 219 is being considered for expansion because of the number of trucks and the amount of traffic, as well as the routes that it will have to the eastern seaboard of the United States.
Recently the member for Erie—Lincoln, the member from Niagara Falls and myself met with the Niagara regional council to talk about the mid-peninsula border. That is to make sure that traffic can flow from Toronto and Hamilton to the Peace Bridge area of our great neighbour to the south.
I have worked on both sides of the border. For 30 years I worked for a major automotive company, sometimes known as General Motors. I had the opportunity to work in many plant cities in the U.S. in conjunction with the plant cities in Canada. It was the co-operation of those plant cities on an ongoing basis that made the automotive business very competitive.
I am reminded that the auto pact which was struck many years ago by a member of this government was an indication of the co-operation and work that goes on between our two countries.
It is with this in mind that I wanted the opportunity to speak of the good work that the member for Erie—Lincoln does and the fact that he works with the Canada-U.S. parliamentary group on an ongoing basis to solve problems before they even get into the legislature or house of either country. That is the way we have been able to work for many years. We sit down, talk about the problem, talk about the alternatives and then get on with making a resolution.
I want members to understand that I give strong support to the motion brought forward by the member for Erie—Lincoln. By dedicating these two days, it would give all of us, on both sides of the border, a chance to sit back, relax and really appreciate the fact that we have two great countries, a very lengthy border, and the fact that we have freedom, democracy, human rights and many other things that are taken for granted.
I want to thank the member for Erie—Lincoln for bringing this motion forward to the House today.
Committees Of The House November 26th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Standing Committee on Industry, I have the pleasure and honour to present its 11th report in accordance with its order of reference from the House of Commons of Thursday, October 29, 1998. The committee has considered votes 1(b), 5(b), 20(b), 25(b), 30(b), 35(b), 50(b), 55(b), 70(b), 75(b), 85(b), 90(b), 95(b), 100(b), 110, 115 and 120(b) under Industry in the supplementary estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999 and reports the same.
A copy of each of the relevant minutes of proceedings, meeting 74, is tabled and respectfully submitted by the chair, the hon. member for Essex.
Balanced Budget Act November 24th, 1998
Yes, I did. I do know the automobile industry a little.
We are profoundly aware of the impact the plant closure will have on the Halifax area. As soon as the Minister of Industry learned of the plan to close the plant he wrote to Volvo to express the disappointment of the Government of Canada about the closure.
The mayor of Halifax, Mr. Walter Fitzgerald, created a task force on the future of the Volvo facility and workforce. The mandate of the task force is to market the facility and the workforce worldwide and to ensure that Volvo continues to tranship automobiles through the port of Halifax. The industry minister immediately accepted Mayor Fitzgerald's invitation for a federal presence on the task force by directing that an executive officer of ACOA, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, become a member of the task force.
In addition the minister allocated resources within the Halifax office of Industry Canada and also in Ottawa to assist the task force. Industry Canada personnel have been asked to identify potential leads that would fit in with the mandate of the task force, to bring these leads to the attention of the task force and to assist in the development of these leads as much as possible. Several leads have already been identified which the task force is in the process of investigating, although it is too early to say how they will turn out.
We are all aware of the events of last month where workers of the plant took over the facility and picketed the plant. The workers took these actions out of fear for the future but also in an attempt to force Volvo to address some concerns that the workers have.
In closing, we remain acutely aware of the impact of the closing of the plant on the Halifax area and continue to urge all parties to work together to secure a long term future for the workforce and the facility.
Balanced Budget Act November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, on September 9, 1998, Volvo Canada announced it would close its car assembly plant in Halifax on December 18, 1998. As a result of the closing, I understand that 223 jobs will be lost.
Canada Small Business Financing Act November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I listened intently to the member. He has been valuable as industry critic in the past.
I listened to a number of items. One he mentioned was the contribution of members of the industry committee. Not only his party but all the parties debate intently and make a good contribution to the industry committee.
There was another item he mentioned that I would like better defined. I detected from the previous speaker's words that he would have hoped that the $250,000 limit would be reduced. We had a lot of discussion about this in committee but it was decided to maintain it at $250,000. Maybe he could clarify this item. Was it his hope that this $250,000 maximum be reduced or did I misunderstand his remarks?
Canada Small Business Financing Act November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I listened to the comments of the member for Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière and I know of his contribution to the industry committee.
I want to remind the member, and I will read only a couple of the items, that over the last five years the Small Business Loans Act was involved in 68,250 loans worth $4.2 billion in Quebec. The Société d'aide au développement des collectivités in 2,001 loans invested some $82 million with the SMEs in Quebec. That helped create or maintain an additional 20,045 jobs. I should also bring to the attention of the member that since 1993 the business development bank was involved with some 7,878 loans worth $2 billion which was carried out through the 18 branches in Quebec.
Does the member not believe that as a result of these various programs, the entrepreneur in Quebec has various different avenues to look at to help a new business get started or to help a new small business expand? I would like his comments on that.
Canada Small Business Financing Act November 24th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I believe we are talking about the Canada small business financing act. The Reform Party has complained that it has not had time—