Raymond Lavigne

[Economic Development, March 18th, 1998]

Mr. Speaker, Sunday, March 15 was the launch date for “La Dame, votre nouvelle carte d'affaires”, a contest to revitalize rue Notre-Dame ouest, a shopping street located in my beautiful riding of Verdun—Saint-Henri.

Congratulations to Andrée Alepins, Rhéal Lanthier, Pierre Trudel and all those who supported them. I am sure they will reap the rewards of their hard work.

I might add that the Government of Canada contributed to this project by providing a $15,000 grant from Economic Development Canada and a project coordinator, at the cost of $16,000, through Human Resources Development Canada.

I wish them all the best of luck.

[Municipal Election In Verdun, November 4th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, last Sunday was municipal election day in Verdun—Saint-Henri. I would like to congratulate those who won and praise their courage in running for jobs that are so very challenging.

I particularly want to congratulate our mayor, Georges Bossé, who was re-elected by a wide margin as mayor of Verdun, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish him a very happy birthday one day early.

[The Budget, February 19th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Minister of Finance confirmed that our deficit reduction objectives have not only been reached but exceeded. Indeed, the deficit is a little over $5 billion less than expected.

Yesterday, the Minister of Finance announced that his budget does not include any tax increase or new tax affecting individuals or corporations.

Yesterday, the minister also showed that it is possible to manage public finances effectively, while also helping the poor in our society. And I do mean the poor in our society.

Our government has once again demonstrated that the solution to our country's economic and social problems does not lie with extremists, but is based on a good Liberal government establishing a balance between economic and social needs.

[The Budget, February 18th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, in a little over two hours, the Minister of Finance of Canada will bring down his fourth budget.

Since our government was elected in 1993, much has changed in this country, mainly for the better. Inflation is at its lowest level, interest rates and mortgage rates are at levels that are reasonable for consumers and more than 700,000 jobs have been created in Canada.

The deficit we inherited from the previous government has dropped considerably, and all major international institutions expect Canada to experience the strongest growth rate of all G-7 countries.

Canadians again have confidence in their government, and that is due to the excellent work done by the present Liberal government.

[Job Creation, February 11th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Government of Canada announced it was granting $1.3 million to the Société nationale des communications du Québec. This amount will come out of the transitional fund for job creation, which includes $90 million for Quebec.

Thanks to this financial assistance, the Société nationale des communications du Québec will be able to establish a call centre that will offer business and residential customers a wide range of telephone services.

This is another way for the government to make a tangible contribution towards job creation and economic recovery in Montreal.

[Housing Construction, December 10th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, in November we saw an impressive increase in the number of construction starts in Quebec.

Our government is delighted that its economic policies have produced results. Thanks to the lowest mortgage rates in the last 30 years, Canadians who want to buy a home can now make their dreams come true.

In the Montreal area, there were more than 748 active construction sites, 54 per cent more than last year during the same period. Construction starts have increased by 288 per cent in the Sherbrooke area and by 108 per cent around Chicoutimi.

If it were not for the political uncertainty in Quebec today, all these figures would be twice as high.

[Job Creation, December 9th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, on December 6, Statistics Canada released its employment figures for the month of November.

From September 1995 to October 1996, the private sector created 220,000 jobs in our country. Since 1993, total employment has increased: 664,000 net new jobs were created, the majority of them being full time jobs, while unemployment rates have fluctuated.

We are also just starting to feel the positive effects of our basic economic factors, namely the lowest interest rates in 40 years, and the lowest mortgage rates in 30 years.

Contrary to what Louise Harel said last week, Quebec's employment situation did not deteriorate because the "no side" won, but because of the political instability that prevails.

[Quebec Week Of Disabled Persons, December 3rd, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, this week we are celebrating, in Quebec and in my beautiful riding of Verdun-Saint-Paul, the disabled persons week.

In Quebec alone, there are over 900,000 people suffering from a physical handicap. Beyond the physical limits they have to live with every day, disabled people primarily need support to overcome social barriers and obstacles to employment.

The majority of disabled people would like to enjoy greater autonomy and, above all, to be able to play an active role in our society.

The disabled persons week is an opportunity to reflect on the need for solidarity. Our government is very aware of that need, and this is why we are intensifying our efforts and our actions in this sector.

[Credit Cards, November 27th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to announce in this House that yesterday,

members of the Quebec National Assembly passed a resolution urging banks and department stores to reduce credit card interest rates.

Last week, a group of more than 80 members, including myself, representing the majority of federal political parties, came together to put pressure on banks and department stores to bring down their interest rates.

At a time when interest rates are at their lowest level in 30 years, it is inconceivable that rates charged on credit cards are still at 16 per cent and 29 per cent.

Banks and department stores should also make a contribution to the economic renewal of our country, and we are confident that, with the support of the other provincial legislatures, we will convince them to do so.

[The Economic Recovery Of Southwest Montreal, October 30th, 1996]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the chamber of commerce as well as the four commissioners and the mayors of Verdun, LaSalle, Lachine and Montreal for organizing the business opportunity fair for the southwest end of the Island of Montreal.

This fair was held on Monday and Tuesday in my wonderful riding of Verdun-Saint-Paul. It was designed to introduce buyers from major public institutions in such areas as health, education, housing and municipal services to local business people. Let us hope that this event will become a driving force in the economic recovery of the southwest end of the Island of Montreal.

My congratulations to the organizing committee and the whole team for this successful event. See you next year.