David Collenette

[Canada Post, January 29th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, I am one step ahead of the hon. member. When the report was published in the newspaper around Christmas I asked my officials what the truth was of this.

The fact is this was a commercial arrangement that was sanctioned by the board of Canada Post. It will stand the light of scrutiny. There is no intention whatsoever to do anything nefarious to other companies. It is simply a matter of having a competitive process and following all the rules.

[National Security, January 28th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister has answered the question with respect to the user charge on the airlines.

What the hon. member fails to inform the House of and consistently ignores are the security improvements that the government has put in place since September 11, 2001, not just in aviation, but look at the announcement we made last week with the ports.

The member should be focusing on that and reassuring Canadians and not alarming them.

[Airline Security, January 27th, 2003]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that Canada has one of the most secure aviation regimes in the world. It has been enhanced with all the improvements that have come in since September 11, 2001. I believe that Canadians understand that we do have a secure regime.

With regard to the Senate report, we have had a chance to look it over. It makes some useful recommendations. Much of that report is based on anecdotal evidence and many of the recommendations are out of date. I would have thought better of members of the Senate and the opposition that it came forward with alarmist, irresponsible recommendations.

[Transport, December 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I have discussed this matter a number of times with the mayor of Oshawa, Nancy Diamond. She understands the federal government' s position.

The Oshawa Harbour Commission has jurisdiction over these lands and has come to the decision that the contamination is such that it is unsafe to continue the marina operation. It is hoped that the matter can be resolved over the winter months with the restoration of marina services next year.

This issue is proceeding in a normal way and I have hope that the marina will once again be open.

[Highway Infrastructure, December 12th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member asked this very same question yesterday and I gave an answer. In case the answer was not clear I would direct his attention to Hansard and perhaps he will be edified.

[Highway Infrastructure, December 11th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we have the strategic highway program which calls for $600 million to be spent across the country. New Brunswick has a portion of that. The financing is fifty-fifty between the province and the federal government. Some expenditures have been announced.

In addition, I might say that under the strategic fund in the last budget there was an announcement by the Prime Minister and the premier earlier this year on another highway in New Brunswick.

It is quite obvious that these programs are working. The people of New Brunswick, along with people in other parts of the country, are benefiting from this government's investment in highways.

[Highway Infrastructure, December 9th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, there is a program in place to improve the highway system across the country. We have signed an agreement with New Brunswick. There are plans to improve the highways. I will review the situation and see if the hon. member is right.

[Government Contracts, December 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, when we are dealing with accusations of this magnitude and when we are dealing with people's reputations, we have to be extremely careful.

I note that Mr. Wilson is quoted today in the newspaper as saying that he wants his officials to make sure that the hon. member's complaint “is not vexatious and frivolous...”. He is doing his job to protect everyone's reputations.

[Government Contracts, December 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, some weeks ago, before the November break, this matter was debated in the House in question period.

The ethics counsellor said that he was looking into the matter and that he would make that report public at the appropriate time.

[Violence Against Women, December 6th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I am glad the hon. member recognizes the fact that the country has a gun control law that works and is effective, and no greater rationale for it is, of course, the ceremony that we have marked earlier, with the tragic deaths of women in Montreal and the ones that have occurred in Vancouver.

I have to underscore the fact that the gun control law is there. It will stay, as will the registry.