With regard to the Joint Supply Ship program: (a) what is the total amount of spending to date on the project; (b) what is the current staffing level of the project; and (c) what are the expected costs of a possible cancellation?
House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 51% of the vote.
Questions on the Order Paper September 14th, 2009
With regard to the Joint Supply Ship program: (a) what is the total amount of spending to date on the project; (b) what is the current staffing level of the project; and (c) what are the expected costs of a possible cancellation?
Agriculture and Agri-Food June 19th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, we need confirmation that this aid is going to come immediately and not months down the road.
That is the problem that we are facing today. It is going to be a long, dry summer for farmers in western Canada. Grain producers are watching their crops die in the fields. Cattle producers are looking at dried-up water holes and pasture land. Groundwater sources are almost gone.
Farmers are not only asking where the rain is, but where is the government? Will the government provide the funds that western farmers need to get through this drought and ensure that aid programs have the staff and resources to get claims processed quickly?
Pulp and Paper Industry June 17th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, will the minister guarantee that no jobs will be lost at all as of today? That is the question. The U.S. black liquor subsidy has hammered our pulp and paper industry and it needs help today or 100,000 jobs are on the line. The failure to negotiate an end to the U.S. subsidy has brought our industry to the brink of extinction.
As the manager of Zellstoff Celgar in Castlegar said today, a three or four month delay will be too late. The mill will no longer be viable.
Will the minister commit today to immediate funding that will arrive in time to save the pulp and paper industry?
Questions Passed as Orders for Return June 10th, 2009
With respect to the Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization (CAIS) program and the AgriStability program in each of the participating provinces and in each of the program years from 2003 to 2007: (a) what were the number of applications received; (b) what were the number of payment files; (c) what was the average of all benefit payments below $500,000; (d) how many payment files were greater than $500,000; (e) what percentage of applicants received actual payments; (f) what was the farm type associated with each recipient of a payment of $500,000 or greater; (g) what was the average reference year margin of all participants by farm type; (h) what were the contributing reasons for the reduced payment percentage in 2007; (i) what were the contributing reasons for the reduced average reference year margins in 2007; and (j) what was the rationale or intended purpose of implementing the mandatory accrual reference year margin?
Business of Supply May 14th, 2009
Madam Chair, with regard to Bill C-29 and added help with credit, we have consulted with some stakeholders and we basically support the bill.
The Credit Union Central's only request is “to have the government confirm that it intends to retain current practices under the FIMCLA program in relation to the definition of the prime rate for purposes of the program. Currently, the prime rate for purposes is understood to be the prime set by financial institutions themselves. Credit unions wish to see this current practice continue”.
Does the minister have a comment on this?
Business of Supply May 14th, 2009
Madam Chair, with regard to that, do we have an idea of what the average of all benefit payments below $500,000 would be? Do we have any figures on the average payment with AgriStability?
Business of Supply May 14th, 2009
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I am getting some letters with respect to programs. People are concerned about the amount of money going to farmers from programs like AgriStability and the former CAIS. In one letter, a person wrote to say that AgriStability is presently only paying benefits on approximately 50% of the applications. Apparently the program has been designed to ensure that the biggest payments of $500,000 and over are going to very large farming operations.
That does not sound like a lot of people are getting help. I am wondering if that is accurate and whether the minister has any comments on that. Does he have any figures as to what percentage of people who apply are able to tap into AgriStability and the former CAIS program?
Business of Supply May 14th, 2009
Madam Chair, how much time do I have?
Business of Supply May 14th, 2009
Madam Chair, could the minister give me a rough timeline, so that when I answer these letters, I can say two months, three months, roughly half a year.
Business of Supply May 14th, 2009
Madam Chair, pursuing that for a couple of minutes, it is my understanding that Mr. Paul Mayers, in appearing before committee, said that work was continuing with colleagues at Justice to prepare regulatory amendments for consideration and ultimate publication in part 1 of the Canada Gazette that it would provide for formal consultative process.
I would like to know where we are in this process right now.