Lost his last election, in 1997, with 41% of the vote.
2002 Winter Olympic Games May 6th, 1994
Quebec 2002 is the perfect opportunity to revitalize regional economies and will provide a forum to promote these areas of Quebec throughout the world. We demand nothing less than a fair distribution of the Olympics' spin-offs between Quebec City and the surrounding areas.
2002 Winter Olympic Games May 6th, 1994
Go ahead. Laugh. We are the only defenders of the regions, you know.
2002 Winter Olympic Games May 6th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, Quebec City is about to present a bid to host the 2002 Olympic Games. If its bid is successful, investments totalling hundreds of millions of dollars will be required from the various levels of government, including the government of Canada.
The mayor of Quebec City should be required to commit to investing or spending 20 per cent of the olympic budget in rural areas of Quebec.
For example, men's and women's downhill racing events should be held in the Gaspé Peninsula, because the railway and airport facilities required to welcome athletes and visitors are already in place.
Supply May 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, this government has presented its job creation program in its Budget and, these last few weeks, through the Minister of Human Resources Development. New technologies are the order of the day, of course. The government would like Canadians and Quebecers to get more involved in sciences.
I believe that diversification is in the cards for the near future. We know all about the defence industry, or rather its sorry state brought about by the end of the cold war. Since 1989-90, we have been living in a new world, a different world, and I believe that the government is committed to bringing about a greater diversification of Canadian industries to increase our competitiveness. I think that what we have achieved in the past six months-we have been in office six months already-for instance, the infrastructure program, the job creation program, the youth programs, the budget cuts, shows a certain maturity and exemplary fiscal responsibility. I believe that we are going to stay the course with regard not only to the military sector, but also to the Canadian industrial sector as a whole.
Supply May 5th, 1994
Yes, Mr. Speaker.
Supply May 5th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be given this opportunity to rise on this issue which is extremely important for many Quebecers.
I would like to thank the hon. member opposite for drawing attention to the future of defence industries. Over the years, these industries have been creating many jobs in our province and will continue to do so.
The future prosperity of defence industries is essential to Quebec's future prosperity as a part of Canada and North America. Quebec and its industries can adapt to technological changes and developments that are occurring in the world.
Once again, I congratulate the hon. member for the interest that he is showing in asking this question, and I would like to speak on that major issue for a few minutes.
In defence industries in Quebec, there are many small businesses and less than 20 medium or large businesses. These industries are very concentrated and the majority of sales are made by medium and large businesses.
All these businesses, regardless of their size, have seen their defence product sales progressively decreased over the last years. And, in view of the shrinking of international military markets that is projected, we can assume that this trend will continue.
Sales of defence products on European markets have radically decreased, causing the loss of 150,000 jobs in the last three years. This represents 10 per cent of the labour force in the aerospace and defence sector.
In America, the experience is similar with large reductions in military procurement matched by significant job losses, more than 3,000 in the last three years. Both European and American industries have been faced with a serious industrial adjustment problem. In various countries, the government has responded in various ways. It is tempting to look to solutions such as those proposed in the United States for the problems facing Quebec's aerospace and defence industry.
I believe we can learn from others. I am confident that some of the lessons we might learn from others in defence industry conversion are universally acceptable. For example, there are a number of internal and external obstacles to defence industry diversification and conversion. These include a narrow client base, lack of experience in export or commercial markets, over-engineered products and small product runs. External obstacles include shrinking global defence markets, difficulty in attracting capital and market protectionism among others.
The various approaches adopted worldwide by governments to deal with their defence industry conversion problem all address these common elements but the approaches are often tailored to the particular circumstances unique to their defence industries.
As a general rule, none of these programs envisage getting out of military markets. Instead the first goal of diversification is normally to retain a viably industrial base. Many governments have dealt with this issue in a regional or community perspective and have given their support accordingly.
Many of them have set up committees where all parties concerned are represented, including governments, unions and the industry. The so-called dual use technologies-that have both civilian and military applications-are often a criterion on which governmental assistance for research and development is based.
One of the key objectives of all those programs consists in maintaining knowledge-based industries and quality jobs related to the high technology which is part of those industries. The efforts we are making to help in the conversion of the defence industry in Quebec are within the spirit of that objective.
Even though several of the approaches that I have just described could apply to the Quebec defence industrial base, I think that it would be wrong to use, for example, an American-style solution in Quebec. There are some noteworthy differences in the conversion of the defence industrial base in Quebec, in the United States and in other parts of the world like Europe.
Basically, the conversion of the Canadian defence industrial base in Quebec is different and unique. Many Canadian defence industries in Quebec could be described more appropriately as aerospace and defence industries because, unlike many other countries, Quebec has diversified a lot of its production. It produces a great variety of commercial products and, of course, defence materiel.
The Quebec industry is different, too, in another important area. The aerospace and the defence industries sell many of their products and services to world markets. Therefore, in order to succeed, it must produce first quality materiel at competitive prices. Like other Canadian industries in the aerospace and defence area, Quebec industries are looking for a ready market for high-tech products. They export sub-systems and components that are sold mainly to principal contractors in the aerospace and defence materiel area all over the world.
This is remarkable. A country as small as Canada is sixth in the world for the sales of the aerospace and defence materiel sector, which exports between 70 and 80 per cent of its total production. We should be proud of those dynamic firms and their workers who bring a high contribution to the economy of the province of Quebec and of Canada.
As my remarks show, Quebec industries in the area of aerospace and defence materiel are different in several regards from similar industries in other countries. I realize that several aerospace and defence materiel industries are facing an uncertain future in the years to come. Nevertheless I have reasons to believe that because of their achievements, the aerospace and defense materiel industries in Quebec are able and willing to meet that challenge.
I hope I have clearly explained today the significance of recognizing the unique character of Quebec industries in the aerospace and defense materiel area. By building upon their relative force compared to the majority of the industries in the rest of the world, Quebec industries are well on the way to the diversification of their production and the conversion of their technology.
As was announced recently in the budget, the federal government intends to change the Defence Industry Productivity Program in order to support the changes that the Quebec industry of aerospace and defense materiel is carrying out. I am confident that support from the federal and provincial governments for Quebec's aerospace and defence industry will help create the proper environment for the changes to continue.
As I said before, given the very unique situation existing in Quebec, it is probably not appropriate to think about implementing solutions adopted in Europe and the United States. We all recognize that production diversification in the defence equipment industry presents many challenges. As we said earlier today, the task is not an easy one and there are no miracle cures. But it certainly does not mean problems are unsolvable. There is a solution and there will always be one.
Some major efforts are being made in the private sector in Quebec and they benefit the aerospace and defence equipment industry. The government will continue to fully support those efforts to make sure this industry can continue to face the challenges and seize the opportunities which will arise in Quebec, in Canada and all over the world.
National Forest Week May 4th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, this is National Forest Week. The aim of this national event, which is celebrated each year across Canada, is to heighten public awareness of the importance of our forest resources.
Our forests are a key part of our country's economy. No one knows the value of our forests better than the residents of Quebec's rural areas. I am thinking here, of course, about the residents of the Gaspé region. For generations, sawmill operators, Canadian forestry workers and their families have earned their living from our forests.
Throughout our history, an entire people has benefitted from the use of this great Canadian natural resource. Efforts to develop and regenerate our forests must continue.
Therefore, I call on Canadians to reflect upon the importance of our forests, Canada's treasured heritage.
Income Tax Act April 26th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, the federal government, like the Government of Quebec, is committed to investing in Canada's youth, especially by providing our young people with the knowledge and skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow.
In so doing, the federal government does not intend to question provincial jurisdiction over education. It is the government's intention to help young people in this country through programs that complement, and I do mean complement, those that the provinces offer.
In fact there have been ongoing discussions with all the provinces on all four components of the youth employment and learning strategy.
The federal government's role is more that of a presenter. The provinces will take part in implementing pilot training projects for young people. These projects will be based on current provincial programs and will respect provincial priorities.
We will also encourage the provinces to establish, adjust or propose mechanisms in addition to the three which already exist in the youth training program, namely sectoral initiatives, work-study co-op program and project-oriented training.
With regard to internship in Quebec, we have received very positive feedback from the province and the provincial education ministers on youth internship programs.
Our government wishes to harmonize its training initiatives for young people with those of Quebec and other provinces. We will pursue productive and effective discussions with the provinces to find the best ways to help all young people wherever they live in Canada.
Irving Whale April 25th, 1994
Mr. Speaker, today the hearings on the Irving Whale open in Charlottetown.
These hearings could not have happened without the combined efforts of the population of les Iles-de-la-Madeleine and P.E.I., and the Minister of Transport. In addition, I wish to single out my colleague, the hon. member for Malpeque, who played a pivotal role in bringing about today's hearings.
Mr. Speaker, we will finally eliminate the environmental threat represented by the Irving Whale . There is no doubt that the Gagnon-Easter committee played a major role in the decision to refloat that wreck. I want to tell this House that before taking action we consulted the public and listened carefully to the representations made, as is the custom with our government.
In conclusion, I thank the residents of the Magdalen Islands, as well as Prince Edward Island, for supporting the Gagnon-Easter committee in its efforts to solve the Irving Whale issue. This should be a lesson for the opposition.
Job Creation April 22nd, 1994
Mr. Speaker, these past few days, I have had the pleasure of taking part in the announcement of the first phase of a $4.5 million infrastructure project in the Kamouraska-Saint-Jean-Port-Joli area. Sixty direct jobs will be created and, better yet, according to the mayor of Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, the program will ensure the survival of a construction company located in his community.
This confirms that our government lives up to its commitment to economic recovery and job creation. With this infrastructure program, we are finally giving Canadians hope in a lasting recovery, instead of fostering political and economic uncertainty across the country, as the members opposite do so well. Canadians want jobs, and we are delivering.