Anthony Rota

[Business of Supply, April 28th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to follow-up the comments of the hon. member for Sudbury because the question really does affect northern Ontario, an area that I am very close to and, in fact, live in.

We were supposed to have foreign investment. When we think of foreign investment, we usually think of companies coming into Canada and investing capital and doing research and development.

However, what we have in northern Ontario are mines. We have forestry products. We have natural resources. My question for the parliamentary secretary is what do we do in northern Ontario when we basically open up Canada to foreign companies, who want to come in and basically rape, pillage, and plunder our natural resources without putting anything in. We are basically allowing them to come in, take what they want, and leave as they wish.

Maybe the hon. member could tell me what the government is doing? Is it just sitting back and letting anybody in to do whatever they want with our natural resources, while our people are unemployed, waiting for jobs and begging with cap in hand?

[Ethics, April 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, not only are the Conservatives refusing to disclose the documents, but none of these interactions were reported to the lobbying commissioner, as required under the act.

Mr. House was a Conservative Party candidate in 2006 and again in 2008, so he certainly is familiar with the Federal Accountability Act.

Can the minister tell us why none of these activities were registered with the lobbying commissioner?

[Ethics, April 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario admitted this week that Patrick Glémaud, Rahim Jaffer's business partner, had submitted at least three proposals for funding to Andrew House, the former director of operations. These proposals seem to have received preferential treatment and special access to the minister's office.

Will the Conservative government break with its culture of deceit and make Mr. Glémaud's three proposals public?

[Committees of the House, April 14th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, on the last vote, unfortunately I came in as you were reading the motion and I missed the vote. I will not try to vote on that one, but if you could add my vote to this vote, I would appreciate it.

[Softwood Lumber Industry, March 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the softwood lumber industry has been devastated by the recession. Tens of thousands of jobs have been lost since the industry peaked in 2007. Companies have closed. Some communities have lost their biggest source of jobs. And what is this government doing? It is forcing producers in four provinces to pay for its $60 million mistake.

Once again, why is the government making the forestry sector pay for its mistakes, when this sector cannot afford to do so?

[Softwood Lumber Industry, March 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday's budget bill finally saw the results of the government's flawed deal on softwood lumber: a punitive $68 million tax on softwood for producers from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

We were falsely told that the softwood lumber deal would end litigation and penalties and hardship for Canadian companies. Litigation is up, and we are now losing lawsuits instead of winning them.

Why is our lumber industry forced to pay for the government's incompetence through yet another tax increase in budget 2010?

[Gateway Theatre Guild, March 22nd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Gateway Theatre Guild, who took top honours at the Quonta Drama Festival this past weekend in North Bay for their production of Waiting for Godot. Community theatre groups from across northeastern Ontario had the opportunity to showcase their work and win a spot to compete at the Theatre Ontario Festival in London this May.

Director Paul Tessier and assistant director Leslie Stamp picked up the outstanding production award for their work. Also receiving honours from the cast and crew were: Mark Carins, Marlene Campsall, Kristin Shepherd and MacKenzie Willis. The Gateway Theatre Guild began in North Bay in 1948 and more than 60 years later they are still going strong.

On behalf of the people of Nipissing—Timiskaming and the House, I would like to congratulate the Gateway Theatre Guild on their recent success and wish the cast and crew of Waiting for Godot the best of luck in London in May.

Break a leg.

[Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, March 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, Canada now holds the record for the most gold medals in the history of Winter Games. This record could not have been set without the valiant team that has done us proud. This team includes many athletes who have thrilled Canadians throughout the Games. Controversy aside, the Hamelins, Rickers, Bilodeaus, Andersons, Nesbitts, Omischls and numerous others have aroused passion among Canadians. The team we have to thank for this record also includes the families who have been supporting these athletes for years, the communities that have been encouraging them, as well as the coaches, sports psychologists, physiotherapists and many others.

Canada's historic performance was made possible by all these people.

[Rural Postal Service, December 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, mail delivery in our communities is very important to Canadians.

Seniors in particular are suffering because of the Conservative government's approach to this issue. This government is responsible for cancelling service to some 55,000 mailboxes and closing 42 post offices across Canada.

Rural Canadians are telling us that they want this to stop, and we, the Liberals, are protecting their interests and universal postal services across Canada.

In many regions, people have been told that many post offices will not be reopened. That is no way to treat rural Canadians.

People living in rural regions are the backbone of this nation, and universal service is one of the elements keeping this country united.

The Conservative government says that it is a friend to rural regions, but its actions say otherwise.

[Committees of the House, December 7th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology in relation to its study on supplementary estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010.