House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 1993, with 66% of the vote.
Air Transport November 27th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the application that the hon. member refers to is one that is being considered by the appropriate authorities in the United States.
The National Transportation Agency has the responsibility as it relates to any activities by the two airlines in Canada. It would be our intention that whichever direction those two airlines desire to take in terms of merging their operations, they will have to respect both the letter and the spirit of the law in Canada.
Public Accounts November 10th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts concerning the Atlantic Freight Assistance Program.
Tribute To Quebec Premier November 1st, 1995
All Quebecers, or just some of them?
Research And Development October 6th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs has repeatedly explained, there are a whole lot of people in the greater metropolitan area of Ottawa-Hull working at research and development centres. Let us leave this aside.
The hon. member should note that, even though the Bloc Quebecois and the Government of Quebec claim 17 per cent of federal funding for research and development goes to Quebec, we contend and are prepared to show proof that approximately 25 per cent of the Government of Canada's funding for research and development goes to Quebec.
Research And Development October 6th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, as regards the DIPP, the hon. member should be aware that, in recent years, nearly 50 per cent of funding has gone to Quebec, to business in Quebec.
We have to be realistic when we talk about the DIPP, because we have long known the size of the defence industry in Quebec. When the transition was made with the DIPP funds, almost 50 per cent of these funds were in fact paid to businesses in Quebec.
As far as research and development is concerned, we acknowledge that the proportion spent in Quebec is approximately 25 per cent, which is still very close to the proportion of the population.
Canadian National Railways October 6th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that the hon. member does not understand.
The restructuring of the debt for Canadian National has to do with the IPO that will be made available to the investment community in November of this year.
As to the order for locomotives for CN's operations in the years to come, those locomotives have not been built yet. They have not been paid for yet. They will not be delivered nor will they become a liability for CN until a number of years down the road.
As to how CN is to run its operations, obviously it needs new rolling stock. Locomotives built in London, Ontario are sold not only to CN but to CP and all around the world. Only last week we had representatives in from the Congo looking to purchase locomotives from the GM shops in London because they are the best in the world.
Canadian National Railways October 6th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is no doubt aware that locomotives are not kept on a lot somewhere like cars are at a Ford or GM dealership. Let me assure the hon. member that the locomotives in question will be delivered to CN long after privatization.
Research And Development October 5th, 1995
Mr. Speaker, surely the hon. member is aware of the efforts made by the government of Canada to ensure the establishment of a very important industry in her own riding.
It always comes as a surprise to hear opposition members ask questions on sectors in which Quebec is undoubtedly the leader among all Canadian provinces. I thought the hon. member would have been pleased by such a success in her own riding.
[English]
Defence Industry Conversion October 3rd, 1995
Mr. Speaker, the whole question of conversion of various defence industries to peacetime purposes has been going on for some time.
The program the hon. member refers to is obviously a very important one in Quebec. Over the years a rather major defence industry has built up in that province and a lot of funds were invested in the defence sector.
The challenge that is facing the industries in Quebec is the same as that facing defence based industries anywhere else in Canada, which is to make that conversion. The Minister of Industry has indicated to my hon. friend on a number of occasions that we are always looking forward to opportunities to be able to assist industries in Quebec and elsewhere to make that conversion from defence production to civilian purposes.
Via Rail October 2nd, 1995
Mr. Speaker, I have already indicated that as the budget called for last year Transport Canada is looking at all its activities and all areas in which we have subsidies.
I am glad to see the hon. member believes we should be eliminating subsidies. I hope he will speak to some of his colleagues who are having second thoughts about some of the subsidies that have been eliminated so far.
I assure the hon. member that we will be taking into account the need to look at the future of VIA.
Now that the province of Ontario, the province of Quebec and the Government of Canada have made public the report on high speed rail, we believe the time has come to look very carefully at what the future of VIA and other passenger services in the country should be. Certainly, as has been the case in the past, we will be looking at privatization as one of those options.