Lost his last election, in 2006, with 38% of the vote.
Transitional Job Creation Fund March 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I am extremely happy that we were able to help save the Matane shrimp plant and I am astounded to hear the Bloc Quebecois accuse us of doing a poor job in this case.
I am continually astonished at how they are prepared to grandstand with their charges that we are scraping the bottom of the barrel as soon as we make strategic investments in regions where unemployment is too high. I am not interested in grandstanding.
Transitional Job Creation Fund March 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I welcome the Bloc leader's congratulations on the good work we have done with the transitional job creation fund.
It is indeed a very dynamic tool, which has helped thousands and thousands of unemployed workers. Ninety five million dollars, or 30% of this fund, is earmarked for Quebec, and I think this is extremely beneficial to Quebeckers living in regions with a particularly high rate of unemployment.
Transitional Job Creation Fund March 30th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, our commitment to the transitional job creation fund was for three years. There is one year to go. It is true that certain amounts have already been spent over the previous year, but we are extremely pleased with what the transitional job creation fund has accomplished.
We are certainly pleased to see real jobs being created by attracting more private sector investments. It has been a useful tool in the past. However, the transitional job creation fund was established for a three year period, and there is one year to go.
Youth Employment March 25th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, we are very preoccupied by the situation of the young unemployed in Canada. Even though the situation has improved substantially in the last few months, it is still much too high at over 15%.
This is why we have brought forward our youth employment strategy which has the precise aim of eliminating the conundrum of no experience, no job, no job, no experience. It will provide thousands of young Canadians through Youth Service Canada and Youth Internship Canada with summer jobs and good advice in order for them to have something on their CVs to break the conundrum.
The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy March 25th, 1998
As I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, TAGS will continue until the end of August 1998. As for the other recommendations of the report, my officials are looking into them right now and are taking them into consideration.
We will be addressing the post-TAGS environment in eastern Canada in a responsible way.
Fisheries March 25th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to see that our friends in the Bloc Quebecois are taking an interest in the adjustment program. We have often talked about the transitional job creation fund. It is one of the effective tools used by this government and we certainly intend to continue providing assistance to the unemployed in this way.
We are going to respond to the committee in due course. The TAGS program will wind up in August, as we have already announced in the House, and we are looking at the post-TAGS environment in a completely responsible fashion.
Fisheries March 25th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to have a Prime Minister who is concerned about the situation of fishers in eastern Canada as well as of those in British Columbia.
The Prime Minister asked me, in my capacity as Minister of Human Resources Development, to look at the situation of fishers and of fishery workers as well, which is of very great concern to us. This is why we are now looking at ways of making the transition to a post-TAGS environment in eastern Canada.
Millennium Scholarships March 25th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, this government has a vision. It wants to help young people gain the knowledge they will need in the economy of the future.
The reason we established a millennium scholarship fund instead of building new concrete structures or monuments is that we have a vision.
The foundation does have a structure, but it also has a responsibility to get money from the private sector. Indeed, we hope that the private sector will contribute to the millennium fund, so as to promote knowledge and prepare Canada for tomorrow's economy.
Millennium Scholarships March 25th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, the foundation will operate at arm's length from the government and will work with the appropriate provincial authorities to avoid any duplication of existing services. It will complement what is already provided by provincial governments.
The foundation will be in charge of the first selection and awarding of the fellowships and it could even sign contracts with the approriate provincial authorities.
Millennium Scholarships March 25th, 1998
Mr. Speaker, any little snippet can be distorted when taken out of context. It is absolutely ridiculous.
I have already met with the Fédération des étudiants universitaires du Québec. I have spoken with a number of stakeholders in the education sector in recent weeks because we want this project to be a success for Quebec's students.
We are going to see that this project benefits the students, who will decide which institutions they wish to attend, but they will have this access. We are going to implement the project in a manner entirely consistent with the existing systems in Quebec, which we are already funding through the Canada student loans program.