Lost his last election, in 2004, with 35% of the vote.
Government Loans February 22nd, 2002
Mr. Speaker, Technology Partnerships Canada is one of Canada's best programs to promote research and development and to allow Canadian businesses to develop and thrive.
All sorts of allegations are being made, but I want to say that a report is being drafted and it should be tabled soon.
Government Loans February 22nd, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I am taking note of the hon. member's question and I will give him an answer next week.
Health February 21st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, instead of constantly rehashing ancient history, it seems to me that it would be far more normal for the hon. member to focus more on positive things.
For example, in January unemployment in Canada decreased. This very clearly reflects the actions taken by the Government of Canada in connection with economic renewal.
Health February 21st, 2002
The same reply, Mr. Speaker: the industry has confidence in the Minister of Industry. We shall continue to intervene in these matters in a professional manner.
As I have already said, we have proven ourselves as far as intellectual property is concerned, and intend to continue in the same way.
Health February 21st, 2002
Mr. Speaker, I will simply say that this is ancient history. Our government has proven itself as far as intellectual property is concerned. We acknowledge the necessity of protecting patents in order to encourage innovation and research.
Infrastructure Program December 11th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, allow me to speak once again today about an important matter for Quebec and for the greater Montreal area, the matter of highway 30.
Quebec Liberal caucus members can be proud of the fact that through their hard work and solidarity, they managed to make significant progress towards fulfilling their election commitment made one year ago, to build the bridges and 14 kilometers of highway to allow for the completion of highway 30.
The $2 billion infrastructure fund announced by our colleague, the Minister of Finance, is news that all of the Montérégie can greet with much enthusiasm.
My colleagues from the Quebec caucus and myself are particularly proud to have been heard. In one year, the Government of Canada has done more for highway 30 than the PQ government in power in Quebec has done in seven years.
My Quebec colleagues join with me in asking the government of Quebec to do its part immediately and to start its work, as set out in the transport plan, as soon as possible. It is time that the government of Quebec make good, in concrete terms, on its promises.
The Budget December 11th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, one thing must be said. When a country is going through hard economic times, people are of course entitled to ask their government to examine its priorities.
Where must we place our priorities? Programs are examined and analyzed. What has to be kept is kept, and what is less important is cut.
This same exercise has been carried out in all provinces of Canada, as well as at the federal level. A result has been arrived at. Yes, of course, the present economic progress and wealth is the result of sacrifices by the entire population.
One thing must be said: we have put an end to 28 years of deficit. Here in this country we have had non deficit budgets for four years now. This one is the fourth, or the fifth. I find that a decision has been made, action taken, by a government—
The Budget December 11th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I was talking about bridges. We cannot talk about highways as such because, under the Canadian constitution, construction of highways comes under provincial jurisdiction.
But the construction of bridges over the St. Lawrence Seaway is a federal responsibility. We cannot put money into the construction of a highway which does not belong to us, but we can, at the request of a province, put money into a sector over which the Canadian government has jurisdiction.
We are talking about highway 30, but we could just as easily talk about the ice control structure, which is also a major public transit project. We could talk about other highway projects throughout Quebec, which have been put forward in recent years by government members and also by the provinces.
As for how the foundation would work, I have no more information than the hon. member, because the announcement was made only yesterday. A foundation will be created, with a board of directors and a president. It is clear from the budget that the emphasis is on projects with provincial and municipal governments. Obviously, no private concern can stick its neck out and say that it will build a road between two particular villages without the approval of Quebec or the province in question. This falls under provincial jurisdiction.
I am certain that the primary purpose of this foundation was to guarantee annual amounts, as well as ensure that this fund would grow. Its purpose is also to ensure the development of a greater sense of partnership, both with the provinces and with municipalities and private enterprise.
The Budget December 11th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to participate in this debate on the budget that was brought down yesterday by the Government of Canada. We are well aware that, when a government brings down a budget, it is analyzed and criticized positively or negatively.
I am analyzing the budget, wondering what more we are getting, compared to previous years. Does this budget cut services? Does it increase taxes, compared to last year? Given the present economic situation, there are numerous question that parliamentarians must focus on.
On the face of it, I find that, compared to last year, this budget is a marvellous plus, because the government is maintaining what it had announced for the next few years. In health, the government had announced $23 billion over five years. Given the economic situation, was the Government of Canada able to maintain his commitments to the provinces, its commitment to hand over $23 billion to the provinces? This sector could have been affected.
When they are faced with a crisis, an emergency or a difficult situation, governments act like they did in the 1990s. To lower their deficits, the federal government as well as its provincial counterparts analyzed all their programs, dropped the least effective ones and cut services. But no, the amount of $23 billion is maintained, which is a plus. This means that in the next four years, $23 billion will be handed over to provinces.
The same thing applies to housing. We had announced $685 million for housing for the next five years. Is this program at risk or is the government trying to maintain it at the same level? All the funds already pledged for subsequent years have been maintained in this budget.
As for the tax cut, it has been in effect only since January 1, 2001. Therefore, it is the first year of the five year $100 billion tax reduction program. Such a big tax cut had never been seen in the history of Canada. It too has been maintained.
We now realize that all the commitments made last year by the Government of Canada have been maintained. It is staying on course. There is no coming back. On the contrary, almost all the commitments have been increased.
The good thing is that tens of billions of dollars will be invested in the economy as such. When there is an economic downturn, the government must create a positive environment for businesses to be competitive and to generate wealth, so that services can be paid for.
The stronger the economy, the more revenue the government can collect, which allows for more and better services for the public, such as health care, social services and so on. The government is involved in the economic environment precisely to allow businesses to be more competitive.
The proposed budget is extraordinary in this regard. We will invest in the security infrastructure for all Canadians, just as they requested. The people told us what they wanted. The psychosis of terrorism was making its way into Canadians' lives. The public asked the Canadian government to introduce new security measures, at least domestically.
The measures proposed in the budget reflect this clearly. Several billion dollars will be invested in infrastructures relating to security and border crossings. There are several border crossings in my riding. We will act in this area. We responded to the public's requests.
A government is not there only to do what the opposition parties want. The government is there to represent all Canadians, to listen to them and to meet their needs.
What is also fairly important, is that above and beyond all of the announcements made in last year's budget, beyond the new infrastructure programs between Canada and Quebec, or rather Canada and the provinces and municipalities, providing almost $2 billion over five years, now there are resources allocated to the environment, green funds for the municipalities that will be doubled, and a new infrastructure project which introduces an obvious idea: that we can now also act in concert with the private sector.
I would like to talk further about Quebec and about the greater Montreal area to demonstrate that the implementation of this strategic infrastructure foundation will indeed have an major impact on Quebec, all of Canada too, obviously, but particularly on Quebec and the greater Montreal area.
When referring to the deficits run up by greater Montreal area businesses due to delays shipping to the U.S. market, it is important to recall that 85% of Canada's exports go to the United States, and that our market really is the U.S. We do more than $2 billion in trade every day with the United States, with Americans. Our market is in the U.S. Where are our competitors? They are in the United States and Mexico.
The Government of Canada's responsibility is therefore to help Canadian business be more competitive on the U.S. market and with our other competitors.
In 1999, the greater Montreal area alone lost more than $500 million due to shipping delays. What can we do to help our businesses respond more quickly to the market? We can equip them with infrastructure that will give them access to the market. We are therefore finalizing plans for a major project, highway 30, as part of a proposal made by the firm Roche to the Federal Bridge Corporation. On January 19, 2000, Mr. Chevrette asked the Government of Canada to build the bridges that span the seaway.
All I can say is that I am delighted the government is going to invest a minimum of $2 billion in a foundation that will enable Quebec and the other provinces to put forward projects and fund them, not just with the provinces and municipalities, but with the private sector as well. This is a totally different approach, a brand new one, and I am delighted to hear it announced.
The $2 billion can be renewed annually. At the end of each fiscal year, surpluses may be invested in this foundation. It means that, in years of huge surpluses, there could be more and, in years where there are not any, well there will not be any. We can say, though, that we at least have announced an immediate investment of $2 billion.
I think all businesses and the mayors of Quebec—we got their reaction yesterday—are very pleased at this announcement. This morning I was speaking with people from the Conseil du patronat, who were positive about a budget commitment of this size.
It is something else to take a country with an operating deficit of $42 billion and a very large debt and, in the space of barely eight years, totally eliminate the operating deficit, lower the debt by over $36 billion and save over $2.7 billion annually in interest that does not have to be paid and can be used for other purposes, such as job creation and support for the economy, do all that and return $23 billion to health care and invest $2 billion in infrastructures and housing. It took a government that had courage and vision. Today, we have positive results and a positive budget for Canadians and Quebecers.
Highway Infrastructure December 5th, 2001
Mr. Speaker, on January 19, 2000, the Quebec minister of transport repeated, as he had on a number of occasions, “I extend my hand today to the federal government so it will participate in the completion of Highway 30. If it wants to take over the construction of the bridges over the St. Lawrence and the Seaway and 14 kilometres of road, we can move up the timetable for the work”.
The Liberal members from the Montérégie are today wondering when the work on the Candiac and Sainte-Catherine leg will begin.
What stage has the work for the completion of the road from Châteauguay to Highway 20 and Highway 540 reached? When will the construction work begin? The public hearings office approved this leg in 1998.
Why, in order to complete this leg, does he not make immediate use of the $108 million the federal government is making available to him as part of the federal-provincial program on highway infrastructures?
Mr. Chevrette should stop making a production out of this matter and make his intentions clear by starting construction on this road right now. This project is of major economic importance for the development of the economy of greater Montreal and Quebec as a whole.