Arnold Chan

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, January 26th, 2015]

With regard to government’s loans and grants to businesses since 2006: (a) what are the names of the companies that received grants and loans, including (i) the program that the loan was granted under, (ii) the amount of the loan, (iii) the amount that has currently paid back, (iv) the amount that is currently outstanding, (v) the amount that was originally announced, (vi) the reason for any write down or write off, (vii) the number of jobs that were supposed to be created by the loan, (viii) the number of jobs that were actually created after the loan was issued, (ix) the number of jobs that were committed to be maintained because of the loan, (x) the number of jobs that were actually maintained; and (b) for companies that failed to meet their job numbers, what action has the government taken to address the missed target?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, January 26th, 2015]

With regard to the visit to Canada of the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission on September 26, 2014: (a) when was the invitation first sent by the government; (b) what was the planned agenda for the visit; (c) which department was responsible for the visit; (d) what was the budget for the visit, broken down by department; (e) when was the Toronto portion added to the visit; (f) which department added the Toronto portion; (g) who was on the guest list for the Toronto event, including the name, the company or organization, and which department or Minister’s office placed them on the list; (h) what was the cost of the Toronto event, broken down by (i) food, (ii) room rental, (iii) staging, (iv) other costs; (i) did the government do a value for money assessment for the Toronto event and, if so, (i) what is the tracking number, (ii) what are the conclusions; (j) how much did the flight for the Presidents to Europe cost; (k) did the government look at other options than the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) flight and, if so, (i) which options were reviewed, (ii) why were they rejected; (l) what was the passenger manifest for the trip; (m) did the flight make any stops on the way to or from Brussels; (n) if the answer in (m) is no, how did the Prime Minister travel from Toronto, including the cost of this trip if not included with the trip to Brussels; (o) has the government offered the use of RCAF planes for travel of other visiting dignitaries since 2006 and, if so, for which visitors; (p) was the venue for the Toronto event tendered, (i) if so, what was the Request for Proposal reference number, (ii) if not, which exception from the procurement directive was invoked and when did this receive approval from cabinet; (q) which government officials attended the Toronto event, including their travel method and cost; and (r) were there any passengers on the RCAF flight to Toronto from Ottawa who were not government employees and, if so, what are their names and their reason for being on the flight?

[Liberal Party of Canada, December 11th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, after eight long, suffering years under the Conservative government, the hard-working middle-class families of southern Ontario are excited about the prospect for change.

Next year, the voters of this region will have a clear choice. They can support a party that slashed VIA Rail service to Kitchener, London, Sarnia, and Windsor; they can choose a party that cut the budget of the Federal Economic Development Agency for this region by $80 million; they can vote for a party that has failed to approve a single project under its much-hyped but under-delivered advanced manufacturing fund; or they can choose the Liberal Party that will invest in infrastructure, that will support our hard-hit manufacturing sector, and that is focused on improving the lives of the hard-working middle-class families of southern Ontario.

After a decade of cuts and neglect, the choice is clear. The people of southern Ontario want change. They want a new Liberal government.

[Chelva Kanaganayakam, December 8th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, on November 22, Canada lost more than a scholar and a gentleman. Professor Chelva Kanaganayakam was a well-known academic, respected by his peers, a professor admired by his students, a philosopher, a guide to many, and a shining beacon in the world of Tamil poetry.

This proud Tamil Canadian was appointed as a professor of English at the University of Toronto in 2002. There he was instrumental in establishing the Asian Institute and the annual Tamil Studies Conference. He also served as the director of the Centre for South Asian Studies. The academic world acknowledged him as a leading scholar and critic of post-colonial literature. The literary world recognized him as an important translator of contemporary and classical Tamil poetry.

Professor Chelva passed away on the day that he was inducted into the Royal Society of Canada for his extraordinary contributions. He was just 62. I wish to extend my condolences to the family and the friends of Professor Chelva during this difficult time.

[Canadian Tourism Commission, November 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the government's blind slashing of budgets is having a profound effect on Canada's tourism industry. Since coming to power, the government has chopped the budget of the Canadian Tourism Commission by almost half. Two years ago the commission pulled out of its biggest market, the U.S., due to these cuts.

Now even the minister is suggesting that this was mistake and is asking for help from the Prime Minister for greater funding. When will the government listen to its own minister and restore funding to the Canadian Tourism Commission?

[Warden Full Gospel Assembly, November 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, my spouse Jean and I recently had the pleasure of joining Warden Full Gospel Assembly in celebrating its 60th anniversary. As the church reflects on its past, present, and future, Warden Full Gospel Assembly represents the best of Canada.

Dating back 60 years, the church was founded by a group of German immigrants who desired a spiritual home and a place of worship in their own language. Today the church's open doors welcome people from across the world. The church embraces and cares for a diverse group that is both multicultural and intergenerational.

The church's commitment and dedication to the community enrich the local neighbourhoods of Scarborough—Agincourt, whether it means running weekly sports programs for young individuals or supporting the local food bank.

I want to thank Warden Full Gospel Assembly, Pastor Trevor Moss, and the entire congregation for their ongoing commitment to our community. I wish them continued success in the years to come.

[Agricultural Growth Act, November 19th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I rise with reluctance to join this debate on the time allocation motion because it really is sad. As a new member in this place, I have only had a short time to observe the practices of the House and at committee, but I have seen already a pattern of bringing in time allocation motions.

It reminds me of another government where I had the privilege of spending some time, and that was at Queen's Park. The Minister of Foreign Affairs was there at that time. It reminds of the time that government brought in the use of time allocation motions hundreds of times.

It reflects ultimately on a fundamental disrespect for this place and for places of parliament with respect to allowing for a fulsome debate.

I want to ask the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Foreign Affairs why they feel they do not want to allow fulsome debate to take place. As the Minister of Agriculture has already noted, this matter has been around for 23 years. Why not simply allow sufficient time for all those members who want to speak on the bill to speak to it?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, November 17th, 2014]

With regard to government office space from 2008 to present: (a) what is the occupancy rate for government-owned buildings both in percent and square feet; (b) by ministry and agency, what is the location and occupancy rate of each government-owned building; (c) by ministry and agency, what is the location and occupancy rate of each privately-leased office space, and for vacated buildings, what is the date the government vacated the space; (d) what is the lease cost and what is the length of the lease; (e) what was the intended use of the space; and (f) who is the owner of the property?

[Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve Act, November 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Timmins—James Bay, and I note that he comes from an area that has some of the most beautiful, pristine provincial parks certainly in Ontario.

I think of the particular instance dealing with the ancient red pine forest, the old growth forest that we find, I believe, either in his riding or in the adjacent riding. I would like to get the member's comment with respect to how Ontario dealt with that particular situation as compared to the situation that is before us here on this proposed national park.

[Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve Act, November 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciated my friend's comments with respect to the development of this proposed new national park. He raised a really important concept with respect to ecological boundaries. I would like him to expand on what was missing, which would have been of ecological significance in the larger park proposal that should have been included, and why the larger park boundary is of importance.