Joe Comuzzi

[Economic Development, October 29th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, about a year ago we met with community leaders from eastern Ontario. They were very concerned about the layoffs in the high tech industry, the absence of working capital for small economic enterprises, and the layoffs in the manufacturing sector.

After the work of many committee members, the announcement made on Monday was for a $10 million program to be dedicated exclusively to eastern Ontario.

If I can clear this up once and for all, the program will be administered by FedNor and there is no--

[Points of Order, October 22nd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I referred to my colleague from Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington as being a new member. I apologize. He has been here since around 2000. I apologize that I have never met him and I do not know what he has done.

[Economic Development, October 22nd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I will respect that this is a new member of the House. Those accusations are completely unfounded. The premise of his question is wrong. His accusations are wrong.

He should know full well that the community futures programs in this province are among the best administered. They are absolutely transparent and they are a credit to every Canadian in Ontario.

[Economic Development, October 22nd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I will respect that this is a new member of the House. Those accusations--

[Economic Development, October 22nd, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, this is in reply to a question that the hon. member asked on that very subject last week.

Eastern Ontario has 15 community futures programs. He will be very interested to know that this coming Monday the $10 million that was requested by these 15 communities is going to be announced. Every Community futures program in eastern Ontario is very happy.

I invite the hon. member to participate in that opening announcement Monday morning.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, October 19th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to compliment the member for Kenora on his maiden speech. He was very accurate when he explained his territory and the area it represents so well. It is in the centre of Canada and it is truly, during the summertime in particular, a real tourist attraction, as are the winter activities. He comes from one of the largest, nicest and most scenic areas in all of Canada.

I was interested in his remarks with respect to long distance health care. Having visited with the member, I wonder if he would expand on what it is that long distance medicine is able to do in an area like Kenora which has 10,000 people. How does it facilitate our medical system to offer diagnostic services in all the small regions of the area that he represents?

[Economic Development, October 15th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I want to point out to the hon. member that the eastern section of our province was granted a $10 million economic development program.

I am pleased to report that before 9 o'clock this morning that program was well on its way. My colleagues and the colleagues on that side of the House are in the process now of being advised where those moneys are being spent.

[Quarantine Act, May 14th, 2004]

moved:

That Bill C-36, An Act to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases, be referred forthwith to the Standing Committee on Health.

[Softwood Lumber, April 1st, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity for this intervention. I just wanted to shed some light on the assistance that the government has provided to the communities that are involved in the softwood lumber field and are affected.

The money, in excess of $300 million, was primarily set aside to assist all those communities suffering the effects of the softwood lumber dispute. We extended that program because the money that had been apportioned had not been allocated and had not been spent.

We extended that program for a year, but the onus and the impetus should come from the communities that are affected. If we get the communities involved and pushing forward on this, the money that is sitting there is there to help each and every community.

[Federal Economic Development, March 25th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for that question because it concerns women entrepreneurs and their ability to enter our economy in greater force than they have been able to do up to this point in time.

The Minister of Finance stated in his budget that he was looking for innovative and different ways to enhance this program. We intend to do it. We intend to offer women in our country more opportunity for business guidance, and more important, access to the capital that is necessary for every entrepreneur.