Jane Stewart

[Government Grants, December 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, let us look at this another way. In terms of these projects only 10% of the funding came from transitional jobs funds. The rest came from private sector investors, from private and public financial institutions, from local communities and even from a union investment fund.

Is the hon. member suggesting that these people did not know what they were doing or who they were partnering with? Is he suggesting that they did not believe these projects were the right thing to do in this region? They agreed that investments by the federal government along with their investments was the right thing to do to help create jobs in this area of very high unemployment.

[Government Grants, December 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, let me remind the hon. member again about the people in the community that supported these programs, such as the mayor of Shawinigan; the provincial member, as I pointed out; members of la Société québécoise de développement de la main-d'oeuvre; and members of the caisses populaires. Yes, they know their region. Yes, they know what undertakings will create jobs in their region. Yes, they wrote to our department and confirmed that this was an appropriate investment.

[Government Grants, December 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to see again that the hon. member is absolutely wrong. What we have here is an undertaking in an area of high unemployment with projects that have actually created jobs.

Let me just quote local MNA Mr. Pinard, a député provincial péquiste, who said:

I find it deplorable that rocks are being thrown at Mr. Chrétien for having worked within government programs.

[Transitional Jobs Fund, December 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I can give a list of a number of people and organizations who have supported these programs.

What is clear from the questions of opposition members is that they do not accept that there are areas of high unemployment in this country. They do not accept, as Canadians believe, that we have a duty to work with those areas, whether it be in Atlantic Canada, in Quebec, in Ontario or even in northern British Columbia.

They do not accept that there is a way for the people of Canada to help those who are less fortunate to benefit from the success of this great nation, but we do.

[Transitional Jobs Fund, December 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, let us look at the people who supported these programs: the mayor of Shawinigan; the provincial member, Mr. Pinard, a péquiste and no friend of the Government of Canada; members of the Société québécoise de développement de la main-d'oeuvre; and the Quebec minister of employment.

Is the hon. member suggesting that these people are shady characters?

[Transitional Jobs Fund, December 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is absolutely false in the assertions he is making.

Let us look at the whole story here. The transitional jobs fund is there to help create jobs in areas of high unemployment. This was an area of high unemployment. These projects had broad public support. No moneys flowed until the appropriate approvals were in place. Jobs were created.

That is the story. That is what this is all about.

[Government Grants, December 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, let us look at the particular project. First, it occurred in an area of high unemployment. The project was recommended and supported by all local partners: the provincial government, the local caisse populaire, la Fédération des travailleurs du Québec solidarity fund, the group forces of private sector investment and the Banque de développement du Canada.

All these partners supported the investment of money which did not flow until the appropriate approval process was undertaken. Nineteen jobs were expected to be created and nineteen jobs are there.

[Transitional Jobs Fund, December 13th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I remind the hon. member that the unemployment levels in that area are very high. I also would remind the House that this project was contracted in good faith based on a business plan and on the advice and support of the whole community. In support of this project, we were with the provincial government, Caisse Populaire Le Rocher, the Fédération des Travailleurs du Quebec's solidarity fund, the Groupe Forces, a private sector investor and the Business Development Bank of Canada.

[Transitional Jobs Fund, December 13th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, while the majority of Canadians are celebrating the lowest unemployment levels that we have had in almost a decade, 6.9%, there are areas in the country that are not benefiting from this.

The opposition would have those regions suffer due to a lack of employment opportunities. That is not our approach. We have supported the transitional jobs fund and the Canada jobs fund.

[Employment Insurance, December 2nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that the hon. member and her party are supportive of our approach of extending parental benefits to a year. We are looking forward to having this implemented, as the Prime Minister has indicated, before the beginning of 2001. I am glad to see that they will be supportive as we proceed with that initiative through the House.