Raymond Lavigne

[Via Rail, April 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the hon. Minister of Transport on the occasion of his announcement of a new set of measures providing $400 million to revitalize VIA Rail over the next five years.

By offering a transportation option that is stable, safe and environmentally friendly, the enhanced passenger service will contribute to lessening highway congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.

As well, VIA has the largest rail maintenance shop in Canada, providing employment to more than 400 people in my riding of Verdun—Saint-Henri, which encompasses Pointe Saint-Charles, an area where unemployment is still very high.

The announcement of this investment brings a ray of sunshine to a still snowy area.

[Petitions, April 13th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a petition signed by a number of my constituents. The petitioners call upon the government to make it illegal for any company operating passenger trains to dump waste water along the tracks in our country. This practice constitutes a health risk to the population as well as an environmental mess. I therefore support this petition wholeheartedly.

[Division No. 1257, March 29th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure the hon. member for Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière noticed that the Liberal members from Quebec voted in favour of his motion.

[Quebec Minister Of Transport, March 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, last Monday I was greatly surprised to learn from La Presse that the Minister of Transport for the province of Quebec did not consider it necessary to have a monorail or LRT on the ice-control structure of the Champlain Bridge in my great riding of Verdun—Saint-Henri. He prefers buses instead.

Can hon. members imagine the pollution, the noise, the heavy traffic that this will mean for most of Nuns' Island, not to mention the loss of the bicycle path, which is used by 125,000 cyclists? Property values on the island may also be threatened.

What a mess and what an insulting gesture coming from Quebec ministers who boast of wanting Montreal to have a good modern public transit system.

[Canadian Economy, March 23rd, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt about the economic vigour of Canada. Once again yesterday, Statistics Canada announced that international trade in Canadian products had reached an unprecedented high. Its January level was $4.53 billion, compared to $2.74 billion in December 1999. Statistics Canada pointed out that the last record high was $4.47 billion in May 1996.

Since we have been in power, we have played a lead role, implementing policies favourable to job creation and attracting investments.

The people of Canada have worked in partnership with the Liberal government. Today we are reaping the benefits of a good government that has made the right decisions.

[Student Summer Employment, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, this is the time of year when students across Canada are thinking about finding summer employment.

The Canadian government is there to give them a hand with this, thanks to its Student Summer Job Action program.

The program offers the opportunity for secondary school, college and university students to acquire valuable experience during their holidays. The program has two objectives: to encourage employers to hire a student and to help students launch their own projects.

We wish all students who are seeking summer employment the best of luck. I would invite all individuals, companies and students in my beautiful riding of Verdun—Saint-Henri to take advantage of this project. Is our Canada not a fine country?

[Committees Of The House, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the first report of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament, which was tabled in the House on December 16, 1999, be concurred in.

This report sets out the mandate of the committee, its quorum and its entitlement to sit during sittings of the Senate.

[Committees Of The House, February 16th, 2000]

Madam Speaker, with leave of the House, I move that the first report of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament, tabled in the House on December 16, 1999, be concurred in.

This report establishes the mandate of the committee, its quorum and its entitlement to sit during sittings of the Senate.

[Committees Of The House, February 9th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the first report of the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament presented to the House on December 16, 1999, be concurred in. This report establishes the mandate of the committee, its quorum and its entitlement to sit during sittings of the Senate.

[Merchant Navy, February 9th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, my beautiful riding of Verdun—Saint-Henri is home to several veterans of the merchant navy. I have made numerous representations to the Minister of Veterans Affairs so that non taxable compensation be paid to these veterans.

Today, I want to congratulate the Minister of Veterans Affairs, who announced last week that the war effort of merchant navy veterans is now recognized by the Government of Canada.

The minister announced a $50 million compensation program for these veterans. This concrete action means that we recognize the importance of the sacrifice of merchant mariners and their contribution to Canada's war effort.

We do live in a beautiful country, do we not?