Robert Bertrand

[National Defence, November 23rd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member mentioned, the committee produced this book. We still use it in our deliberations and for the decisions we make at the moment.

[Highway Safety, November 22nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, accident prevention and highway safety are of daily concern for all levels of government. Despite the efforts deployed by all governments, far too many people are still falling victim to traffic accidents.

There has, however, been some good news, such as that announced this past Friday by the Minister of Transport in conjunction with the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators concerning a decrease in road fatalities. They are at their lowest level in 43 years.

These results are encouraging, and Transport Canada will continue to work with the provinces in order to make Canada's roads the safest in the world. This is am ambitious objective, but it is attainable.

[Job Creation, November 19th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, there was good news for eastern Quebec this morning. The Government of Canada has announced the investment of $427,000, which will help create 43 secure jobs.

RGB Technologies, founded in 1996, is being given assistance in diversifying its activities in order to meet new requirements in the technology market, thus creating 25 secure jobs in Rimouski.

Also, les Entreprises forestières Dany Savoie Inc. of Bonaventure will be offering wood lot owners specialist forestry services relating to harvesting and development of private wood lots. The Government of Canada has awarded this company $57,000 from the Canada Job Creation Fund.

In addition, $120,000 will be going to the eastern Quebec emergency call centre. This will create 12 secure jobs. The government has invested in this expansion project the sum of—.

[Canada's Economy, October 29th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, more good economic news this morning.

Statistics Canada reported that economic activity continued to grow vigorously during August, by .5%. This is the 13th consecutive monthly increase.

Since October 1993, when the Liberal government returned to office, over 1.7 million jobs have been created.

The opposition parties obviously do not like to hear good economic news for Canada.

We must not lose sight of the fact that governments have, among other things, the mission to create favourable conditions to encourage new investment and promote job creation.

In conjunction with other news along the same lines as the stable and sustainable revival of Canada's economy, the results made public by Statistics Canada confirm one fact: the Liberal government is doing a good job.

[Canadian Health Research Institutes, October 25th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, the Liberal government honoured a commitment it had made in the latest budget by announcing an investment of some $65 million over two years in Canadian health research institutes.

The research institutes will be working to put in place the means to prevent the brain drain to the States, by, among other things, improving support to experienced and new researchers.

The creation of these organizations opens the way to a new era of research and innovation in the health field and to an improved quality of life for Canadians.

In the end, the people of Canada will reap the benefits of the work done by Canadian health research institutes.

[National Defence, October 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 1998-1999 report of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman.

[Jean Drapeau, October 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this past August 17, the people of Quebec paid a final warm tribute to Jean Drapeau, mayor of Montreal for 29 years.

No one could remain indifferent to this man of action. One could oppose him or support him, but never ignore him.

Jean Drapeau was a man of ideas, with dreams of bettering Montreal. He was successful in creating pride in his city, through such concrete accomplishments as Expo and the métro.

The memory of this humanist and man of action will remain forever in the contemporary history of Quebec.

Thank you, Mr. Drapeau, for your great contribution to building the international renown of Montreal.

[Government Of Quebec, June 11th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, it is official: two days ago, the Bouchard government kicked off Quebec's referendum campaign in good Le Hir style with a series of partisan studies on social union.

Not surprisingly, the overall solution proposed was the separation of Quebec from the rest of Canada. Anything less would have been a bombshell. As in the 1995 referendum, the public will obviously be left to pick up the tab for these studies, which comes to approximately $66,000.

Clearly, the PQ government has no intention of working to improve the Canadian social union. Once again, the separatists would rather launch Quebec on a path of political uncertainty, which does not augur well for the coming months. It is a sad road ahead.

[National Defence, June 7th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, in addition to what I mentioned a while ago, the Canadian navy has the Tribal Class Update and Modernization Project for the four destroyers, which has been delivered. As well, towed-array sonar systems for the two destroyers and our 12 frigates, and the maritime environmental protection program, which includes nuclear, biological, chemical and damage control equipment that allows maritime operations and training to be conducted in an environmentally responsible manner, have all been delivered.

[National Defence, June 7th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, let me first say that I totally disagree with the hon. member's preamble.

The Canadian navy currently has 12 new frigates. It has 12 new maritime coastal defence vessels. We are waiting to take delivery of four new Upholder class submarines. We are working on a procurement plan to replace our Sea King helicopters.

The Canadian navy served in the gulf war and it continues to do so.