Raymond Simard

[Devils Lake Diversion Project, June 14th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the comments from my hon. colleague on the other side. I know that Lake Winnipeg is very important to him. I wonder if he could expand on the challenges that Lake Winnipeg has already without adding any further challenges from the U.S. We have all attended sessions where we were told of the critical condition in which Lake Winnipeg is right now. If different problems are added, it could be the death knell for the lake. Perhaps the member could expand on that.

[Devils Lake Diversion Project, June 14th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I want to refer back to one of the questions asked by the honourable member's colleague from Saskatchewan with regard to the ruby red remark. We are here in an emergency debate right now. I see my colleagues on the other side laughing at this and I find it sad.

The Red River is in my riding and it goes through Manitoba. Members are making jokes with this in an emergency debate. I would like them to respond. I would like them to tell this House and tell Canadians how they really feel about this. We were told a few minutes ago that the honourable member was very concerned about this, but that is not what we are hearing here tonight.

[Natural Resources, June 14th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, North Dakota turned on the tap to drain Devils Lake into Canadian waters for the first time in over two years.

Two years after Canada and the United States reached an agreement to install an advance filter to prevent invasive species and pollutants from entering our waterways, we are still waiting for the installation to be done. When I asked about this issue in the House last month, the Minister of the Environment laughed and brushed off my concerns.

Why has the government not asked the United States to turn off the tap until it honours its agreement?

[Budget Implementation Act, 2007, June 8th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I am very anxious to ask the member a few questions.

First, the only things that those members seem to be able to brag about are surpluses, low unemployment and a strong economy. Does the member actually think that the Conservatives had anything to do with that? The Conservatives have been riding on the Liberals' coattails on that for the last couple of years.

Second, the Conservatives campaigned on a promise that they would not have a budget that would be higher than inflation. The budget actually was over 6% and the baseline budget had an increase of 11.5%. I would like the member to explain that to Canadians.

The last time the Conservatives had an actual budget that was not attributed to somebody else was in 1923, not during Diefenbaker's time, not during Mulroney's time, but in 1923. When they get up and talk about the prowess of the Conservative government when it comes to budgets, I find it very laughable.

[Main Estimates 2007-08, June 7th, 2007]

Mr. Chair, I would like to ask the President of the Treasury Board if the bill is in its usual form.

[La Francophonie and Official Languages, June 5th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, francophone and Acadian communities are pleased today, but not because of this Conservative government's commitment. The Minister for la Francophonie and Official Languages announced on Friday evening before 700 francophones that she wanted to consult yet again—no commitment, no highly anticipated word of encouragement for these communities.

Journalist Adrien Cantin summed it up well in Le Droit this morning, “What does a government do when it does not know what to do or has no intention of doing anything right away? It consults”.

The community also received the leader of the Liberal Party, who did not disappoint. He made it clear that official languages would be promoted as a valuable resource and an opportunity for growth. He announced that a Liberal government would renew the action plan for official languages, invest in francophone community infrastructure, reinstate the court challenges program, double its annual budget and include linguistic clauses in federal-provincial agreements.

The choice became quite clear for the participants of this wonderful summit. The Liberal Party will always be there for them.

[Summit of Francophone and Acadian Communities, June 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the Summit of Francophone and Acadian Communities will be held this weekend in Ottawa. This initiative by the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada will bring together more than 700 representatives from these communities, to develop a vision for future development.

Francophones in minority situations have been working hard and long to advance their communities and, in spite of the real threat represented by assimilation, enormous progress has been made.

The political, cultural, economic development, communications and education sectors are all evolving very rapidly, and the direction set at this summit will no doubt guide our communities in the years to come.

I wish to congratulate the FCFA and the summit participants, who have clearly understood that networking and the development of a clear and precise plan for the future are essential to the development of their communities.

We are anxiously awaiting the outcome of your proceedings, and rest assured that the Liberal Party will be there to support you, as always.

[Natural Resources, May 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. is planning to channel overflow waters from Devils Lake in North Dakota into Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba. The previous Liberal government had an agreement with the U.S. that a filter would be installed to ensure invasive alien species would not be introduced into the Lake Winnipeg watershed.

Has the government ensured that this filter has been installed, and is there any evidence of alien species being found in the Lake Winnipeg watershed?

[Official Languages, May 18th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, francophone minority communities are feeling targeted by this Conservative government. The last budget cut the funds allocated to the Action Plan for Official Languages by $80 million. The government cancelled meetings of the Standing Committee on Official Languages because it did not like the negative testimonies. It appointed an ombudsman for victims of crime and a chairperson of the National Capital Commission who are not bilingual. Today, we have learned that only one of the twenty-one franco-Manitoban organizations that benefited from the Canada summer jobs program last year has been accepted.

When will the government stop this vicious attack on francophone communities?

[Canadian Executive Service Organization, May 18th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the Canadian Executive Service Organization, CESO, and Ms. Norma McCormick, an inspiring individual who lives in my riding.

CESO is a not for profit organization that has been promoting sustainable economic development in Canadian communities and abroad for 40 years. It does so by pairing skilled volunteer advisers like Norma McCormick with clients to promote development, build economic capacity, and support sustainable businesses to render communities more self-sufficient.

Ms. McCormick joined CESO as a volunteer adviser in May 2004. She recently completed a CESO international assignment in Serbia and Montenegro where she assisted with the harmonizing of Serbian laws with the European Union legislation on occupational health and safety. This is an example to all of us that one person can truly make a significant difference.

Please join me in congratulating CESO and Norma McCormick for their efforts in stimulating development in our country and in disadvantaged economies around the world.