Raymond Simard

[International Day of Disabled Persons, December 3rd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, this year, the theme chosen by the United Nations for the International Day of Disabled Persons is “Nothing About Us Without Us”.

This principle of participation and integration reflects the will of persons with disabilities to actively participate in the planning of the strategies and policies that impact on their lives.

The key word for the government's social policies is “integration”. The Government of Canada is committed to improving the labour market for persons with disabilities, through the following initiatives: federal-provincial agreements on the labour market that target disabled people, the opportunities fund and employment benefits, and the support measures.

“Partnership” is another word that I want to mention. The progress that we have made in this area is largely due to the commitment made by the provinces, territories and numerous organizations and individuals working tirelessly to uphold the principle of equal opportunity.

I invite hon. members and all Canadians to take a moment to reflect on what else they could do to bring us closer to full integration.

[Motions for Papers, December 1st, 2004]

I ask that all notices of motions for the production of papers be allowed to stand.

[Questions on the Order Paper, December 1st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[Committees of the House, December 1st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and I think you would find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That, notwithstanding Standing Order 83.1, the Standing Committee on Finance be authorized to present its Report on the Pre-Budget Consultations 2004 between December 3 and December 17, 2004; and

That, on any day that the House is not sitting in December 2004, the Standing Committee on Finance be authorized to deposit its report with the Clerk of the House, which shall thereupon be deemed to have been presented to the House.

[Canada-U.S. Trade, November 30th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the visit of the President of the United States of America today gives us an opportunity to recall the vitality of our trade relations with our partners and neighbours to the south.

During the 1990s, Canadian exports to the United States more than tripled. They reached $359 billion in 2000, compared to $108 billion in 1989.

Canada's total exports amount to $400 billion a year; demand by our American partners accounts for nearly 85% of these exports.

Today, one in three jobs in Canada is directly related to exports to the U.S. market. That shows how intimately our economic health is linked to that of our neighbours and friends in the United States.

For decades, the mutual friendship between Canadians and Americans has been a guarantee of prosperity. Let us hope that this friendship, based on the democratic values of respect for rights and freedoms, continues for a long time.

[Question No. 19, November 29th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I can tell the hon. member that we will take it under advisement and get back to him as soon as we can.

[Question No. 19, November 29th, 2004]

I ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, November 29th, 2004]

If questions Nos. 15, 16 and 19 could be made orders for return, the return would be tabled immediately.

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 29th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 17 and 18.

[Government Response to Petitions, November 29th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to one petition.