David Emerson

[The Environment, February 2nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the government has done more for the automotive sector in this country than any government in many, many years. We have saved thousands and thousands of jobs in the automotive sector and there will not be jobs lost in the automotive sector due to Kyoto.

[Aerospace Industry, February 2nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, every province in this country would like to come in and ask for a certain number of jobs as their quota allotment. That is not the way the economy works. We are driving to have a strong aerospace industry in all of Canada. It will be strong in Quebec. It will be strong in Ontario. It will be strong in Atlantic Canada and it will be strong in the west.

[Aerospace Industry, February 2nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we are in discussions with Bombardier. We have not reached the point of discussing the number of jobs or where they would be located. Those matters will come, and it will be largely determined by private sector consideration as to where those jobs are best situated for the economy of Canada.

[Aerospace Industry, January 31st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, this is not a centrally planned economy. That is going to be a private sector decision as to where those jobs are.

[Aerospace Industry, January 31st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I spoke to the President of Bombardier last Friday. We sent a letter on Friday. We have been in communications. We are having specific discussions. We are working on an aerospace strategy for all of Canada. We will continue to do that in consultation with industry members from across the country.

[Technology Partnerships Canada, January 31st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we are doing the review and we will make it available as soon as we are satisfied that we have it right.

We have said continuously that the technology partnerships program is based on long term recovery of investments in technology; as much as 20 years. It will not happen in five years. We are not a chartered bank. We are not out there to make profits off small companies. We are out there to incent the adoption of technologies.

[Technology Partnerships Canada, January 31st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I think every research study that has been done by independent, arm's length research organizations indicate that we have a technology deficit in Canada. We are not doing enough research and development in Canada. Technology Partnerships Canada is a way to encourage small and medium size firms.

Incidentally, 88% of TPC contributions go to small and medium size companies. That is the way to ensure the Canadian economy maximizes its potential.

[Aerospace Industry, December 14th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, we are well along in the development of a national aerospace policy. Bombardier has been having troubles that are a fallout from the crisis in the airline industry. It has been going on for several years.

Paul Tellier has done a great job. I would like to pay tribute to the good work he has done. We look forward to a stronger, healthier aerospace industry going forward, and a healthier, stronger Bombardier. We will be there to support the industry.

[Commercial Bankruptcies, December 14th, 2004]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Labour and Housing and I are working on Canada's bankruptcy and insolvency laws. We will have some changes to propose in the new year.

[Patent Act, December 13th, 2004]

moved that Bill C-29, an act to amend the Patent Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.