House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2021, with 54% of the vote.
The Economy April 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, another week is drawing to a close, and it was a very bad week for many workers in Quebec.
In Beauce, more than 650 jobs disappeared in the past week.
In Saint-Félicien, in the riding of the regional economic development minister, SFK Pâte laid off 225 employees.
By the end of the year, more than 1,800 people will lose their jobs at Bombardier in Quebec.
Does the Minister of Industry still feel like saying we should “celebrate this great victory”?
Mr. Speaker, I would just like to remind my colleague that the softwood lumber agreement has not yet resolved anything. The matter is still before the courts. Quebec and Ontario are now subject to a productivity surtax.
I should also point out that what the industry wants now is help with innovation and exporting, but they are not getting that kind of help.
That is what I am asking the government. When will it follow through on the promises it made in Canada's economic plan?
Mr. Speaker, I rise here in the House again this evening because I would really like to understand why, after more than three years of this Conservative government, Canadians have seen the loss of over 20,000 jobs in the forestry sector. Small communities in Quebec, Atlantic Canada, Ontario and British Columbia have been hit the hardest.
At present, even the giants of the forestry industry, such as AbitibiBowater, are suffering from this government's mismanagement.
On March 10, 2009, the House passed a motion to help the forestry sector in Quebec and elsewhere. As we all know, the Conservatives opposed the motion.
This government continues to talk about measures introduced in its 2009 budget, measures that would provide $170 million over two years. Unfortunately, that money only serves to extend programs that are obsolete and ill-suited to the needs of the forestry sector in this crisis period.
The forestry industy does not expect the government to come up with a magical solution. It merely wants a responsible government that will save jobs today and create jobs for tomorrow. The forestry sector also wants the government to ensure that any aid that is provided is shared equally among the regions, does not create more debt and protects this already vulnerable industry.
Forestry industry representatives are not asking for a bailout. What they want is help to break into new, lucrative markets in China and India, and funding to support research and development on new products.
Liberals believe in delivering a real plan for Canada's forestry sector. We believe in a national plan that serves all communities and workers equally. The government currently has no plan and no vision for this struggling sector.
In 2005 a Liberal government announced a real plan for the forestry sector that addressed the issues at the heart of what the forestry sector is looking for: loans, support for research, new technologies, skills development, and community adjustment. The Conservative government cancelled that plan upon forming government in 2006.
Three years later, the Conservatives still have no plan. The government's inaction, its inability to come up with a complete plan for the struggling forestry sector, is forcing the provinces to go it alone, with no promise whatsoever of help from Ottawa. Worse still, this government is now accusing the opposition of not having proposed either an action plan or any ideas. We had a plan, we had a project, and the present government, for political and ideological reasons, cancelled those initiatives and left the forestry sector in danger.
The Conservatives' lack of perspective has led to the crisis, which has deprived a very large number of Canadians of employment. The Conservatives continue to defend their failed softwood lumber agreement. The Conservative government had stated that this agreement would put an end to disputes and yet Canada is once more before the courts.
What will it take to make the government see that the forestry sector is in crisis? Jobs are being lost, businesses are closing, and communities are suffering.
We no longer need to ask that question, “If a tree falls in the forest does anybody hear?”, because there are no more trees falling. Plants are closing, and a flourishing industry rooted deep in our history and our identity is in peril.
The forestry sector is an integral component of our history. We need go no further than the foyer of this place and look up. The ceiling is decorated in each corner with motifs representing mining, agriculture, fishing and forestry. Many governments prior to this one deemed it necessary to underscore the importance of the forestry sector. But this one no longer believes in it and will do nothing to maintain and strengthen this essential part of our heritage.
Does the entire industry have to collapse before this government reacts? The time for action is now. We need leadership urgently. It is time to take action.
Forestry Industry April 2nd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the initiatives the government is talking about do not benefit the forestry industry. Witnesses heard today by an industry subcommittee told us that they had no access to credit, research and development assistance or other federal programs. Plants continue to close, communities continue to be hard hit and families are losing their livelihood.
Why have the Conservatives not tabled and implemented a clear forestry strategy?
Forestry Industry April 2nd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, it appears that AbitibiBowater will not be able to reach a restructuring agreement. It also appears that this global forestry giant is headed for bankruptcy.
Will the Conservatives admit that the forestry industry is in crisis and that a clear strategy to support AbitibiBowater and the entire forestry industry is urgently needed?
Madam Speaker, the problem is that the money has not been flowing. That is the whole point. We are asking the minister why the funds budgeted in previous budgets have not been allocated and actually spent. That is the question. The three previous budgets already allocated this money. Why has it not been used? More specifically, the building Canada fund has not in any way been spent the way it was meant to be spent.
Madam Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to clarify my question about the housing crisis in our country.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation announced a significant decrease in housing starts in January 2009, compared to January 2008. This trend is continuing, especially in urban areas. The slowdown has led to major job losses in the construction industry.
In responding to my question, the minister hid behind his government's recent economic action plan and said that the money would flow. The government actually had the means and the money to take action earlier, but did nothing to prevent the collapse of the housing market. The current government makes repeated announcements about funding for infrastructure projects. However, in reality, it has not lived up to its commitments and has not provided the funding for tangible assistance to the housing sector.
This is confirmed by the federal government's public accounts records, which indicate that there is more than $2 billion in unused infrastructure money. This unused amount will undoubtedly increase during the 2008-09 fiscal year. Only a fraction of the $926 million earmarked for infrastructure programs under the building Canada fund for the current year has been allocated. An additional $1,141 billion in funding for infrastructure programs from previous Liberal budgets will expire.
In 2007 the Conservative government launched its $8.8 billion building Canada fund. In its first year however, the building Canada fund flowed zero funding to infrastructure projects. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities estimates that the BCF has flowed less than $300 million of the $1.5 billion announced in its first two years of budgeted spending.
The money is in the bank and the housing industry is in crisis, yet the government will not let the money be spent. Why?
Since coming to power in 2006, and up to March 31, 2008, the Conservatives' chronic inability to keep their word when it comes to helping our economy resulted in the disappearance of $3 billion in economic stimulus that was wholly financed and has prevented the creation of jobs.
Job losses continue to mount in the construction sector. In early November 2008, when the Conservatives finally realized that there was an economic slowdown and that our stock market was in a free fall, they began to speed up funding for infrastructure, particularly the housing sector. Their promises have not resulted in spending or assistance for the housing industry.
Furthermore, the government has done nothing to address its own ongoing mismanagement of previously allocated funds. Conservatives have committed to throwing more money at this problem in budget 2009, but will the money ever get spent or will we simply see more mismanagement on behalf of the government?
Why is this government not spending the money? We know that there was money for housing in the last budget. Why is this money, already approved by this Parliament, not being immediately turned over to a housing industry in serious trouble?
Forestry Industry March 24th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, this is clearly not enough. AbitibiBowater, the world's largest newsprint producer, has until Wednesday evening to find a way to refinance its debt.
Once again, we see the Conservatives giving consent by remaining silent and putting off stopping the attacks on another Canadian industry.
Will the industry have to collapse to get the Conservatives' full attention?
Forestry Industry March 24th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are doing nothing to help the forestry industry, yet the Canadian auto industry is getting close to $4 billion in loans. In the past two years, 25,000 jobs have been lost in Canada's pulp and paper industry.
AbitibiBowater is in the 11th hour. We could see massive layoffs and plant closures in Quebec and Atlantic Canada while the Conservatives have remained silent on the issue. After months and months of crises, why is the forestry industry still waiting for much needed help?
Rural Regions March 12th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the rural exodus is a vicious circle. The lack of opportunities causes many of our young people to leave their region to try their luck in the city. Labour is in shorter and shorter supply, and businesses locate where it is available, which in turn further limits opportunities in the regions, and the cycle continues.
What do the Conservatives intend to do to put an end to this vicious circle?