Martin Cauchon

[Minister Of National Revenue, April 4th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the member actually said that it was the Minister of National Revenue but at the same time I am the secretary of state responsible for Canadian economic development in the province of Quebec.

Based on my duties I have to go to the province of Quebec very often. I go across the province often. As well, very often I have to charter planes, depending on the agenda and depending as well on the commercial flights. I may have to charter planes on a regular basis. It is as simple as that.

[Human Resources Development, March 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat it in English. It is quite simple. We are talking about economic development of all the regions of the province of Quebec and across Canada as well.

I want to tell the hon. member something. We did very well since 1993 in the Mauricie region and across the province of Quebec. As they do not know about economic development and we want to make sure that we keep being involved in all the regions across Canada, my friends and I will campaign in western Canada next time.

[Human Resources Development, March 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I can understand that on the new party side they do not have an inkling of the meaning of “regional development”. But, thank God, on this side we have people who take into account the economic development of all regions.

I will simply say that since 1994-95 we have reorganized our programs. We intervene on the basis of the real needs of all regions. We created the strategic regional initiative program, which applies in the Mauricie region, where we are developing international capacity in the great Quebec City region in the context of technology, and internationally as well, in the Gaspé region, in the eastern townships and we will—

[Human Resources Development, March 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, what they refuse to hear is that since 1993, with the review of economic development programs, we have introduced refundable contributions.

Second, again in 1993, the public sent us a clear message. It wanted the government to be able to position itself according to the real situation and needs of individual regions.

We have developed a program called the regional strategic initiatives program and in partnership with the community we are developing the international tourism capacity of the large Mauricie region of which we are proud in Quebec, and we are going to continue as the government.

[Human Resources Development, March 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, what we are now doing, not just in the riding of Saint-Maurice but throughout Quebec, is making smart investments, investments that will further the cause of all regions.

But first, what is needed—

[Human Resources Development, March 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I think the problem here is not what we are doing. The problem is that they know very well that, since 1993, the Reform Party—I cannot keep track of what they are called, they have changed names so often—or the new party would never have taken into account all regions of Quebec and of Canada.

I am proud to say that since 1993 this Liberal government has built links with all regions of Quebec and of Canada. We have created some wonderful partnerships. We will continue to do so and, during the next campaign, all Canadians will remember the great job we have done.

[Human Resources Development, March 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, the extraordinary thing here is having a party that would have eliminated all regional development agencies criticizing our intervention in regional economic development. It is shameful.

We are acting as a responsible government. Our priority is to create jobs. So long as we have regional development agencies, we will continue to intervene in all regions.

I hope that in the next election campaign, people throughout Canada will remind them that a government is there as well to help the people as a whole.

[Human Resources Development, March 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, in one of the Baluchon files and in other files as well, the Economic Development Agency of Canada intervened to help develop la Mauricie region.

As we know, this region has extraordinary potential for development as a tourist site. What we are doing is developing its capacity to attract tourists internationally.

On this side, based on our Liberal values and on our desire to help in regional economic development, we will continue to intervene not only in the Mauricie region but throughout the Province of Quebec.

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, basically we are dealing with small and medium size enterprises across the province of Quebec.

I would like to add again that we are working with an internal audit on a yearly basis. We proceed with improvements on a yearly basis. I am proud of the work which is done by the agency. We are going to keep working with the regions. Let me repeat that for some years, the main program of the department has been ISO 9002.

I suspect my English is not up to the task, so I shall say it again in French: ISO 9002.

[Economic Development Agency, March 27th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, we have had a new mission at Canadian Economic Development since 1995. We are dealing basically with—