Bev Shipley

[International Trade, November 7th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government's ambitious pro-trade plan is opening up new markets like the fast growing economy of Panama. Unbelievably, the members opposite do not seem to mind that Canadian exporters face tariffs of up to 70%. In fact, the member for Malpeque yesterday called our efforts to bring this legislation to a quick vote “absurd” and then stood with his NDP friends to vote against bringing this forward.

Will the parliamentary secretary explain how and why our government is defending Canadian interests with this great agreement?

[Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, November 5th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP spent this past weekend debating policy positions, but oddly, what was not discussed was the NDP leader's plan to impose a $20 billion carbon tax on gas, groceries and electricity.

On page 4 of its costing document from the last election, it is written in black and white that it has a plan for this new tax.

During his leadership race, the NDP leader laid it out clearly that he wanted to impose this job-killing carbon tax to generate billions of dollars in new revenues.

It is curious. The NDP could have spent the whole weekend on inward-looking policies, but it refused to talk about its billion-dollar job-killing carbon tax.

While the NDP leader continues to try to hide behind his new job-killing carbon tax for Canadians, our Conservatives will continue to oppose this new tax on Canadians.

[Jobs and Growth Act, 2012, October 30th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Brant County. I know that his background is in small business.

The statistics that the member has talked about in Brantford speak exponentially about not only the policies and legislation that has been brought forward by this government. If we follow this man back to his riding, members would understand the commitment he has had to rebuilding part of his county, Brantford, and I thank him for that.

I am going to follow up on the question from a colleague across the way because it was sort of minimizing of the significance of small businesses. We know that 98% of the businesses in this country are small businesses and they hire over 50% of the people.

I wonder if my colleague could expand a little beyond what the extension of a tax credit for small business is about. What has happened over time that it has built? This government builds continually from one budget to the other. What can the member help us with in terms of small businesses?

[Jobs and Growth Act, 2012, October 29th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Palliser for his great intervention on Bill C-45, which follows through on the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act.

Having been an educator, one of the things we need to do is continually focus on providing resources for post-secondary education in terms of skilled workers. In this new world, it seems most countries are in financial despair and yet Canada is strong and healthy. What we are doing in our budget for post-secondary education to help us maintain that through our skilled workers is of significance.

[Lambton County Businessman, October 29th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to recognize Russ Hazzard, from my riding of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, who was recently inducted into the Lambton Agriculture Hall of Fame. After World War II service, Russ consistently observed and solved the needs of farmers through innovation and education. His feed mill business, established in 1947, has since evolved into Southwest Ag Partners Inc., a leading business in agriculture inputs and grain-marketing solutions.

Hard work, smart work and consideration for his wife Marg and his family of 12 children and those around him were a way of life, not a duty. Russ Hazzard is truly a local businessman who went above and beyond to help others in his community.

It is indeed an honour for me to stand today to recognize and to thank him for his contribution to Lambton County and to agriculture.

[Jobs and Growth Act, 2012, October 29th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my great colleague from Medicine Hat, Alberta, for his thoughtful comments regarding the implementation of Bill C-45, which is really based on our budget. I have to say that in my riding of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, it was accepted almost unanimously, with the prospects it has for Canadians.

In Medicine Hat there is a lot of agriculture. Can the member talk a bit about what his constituents have said about this budget but also the implementation of Bill C-45?

[Privilege, October 25th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment now to respond to a question of privilege that was raised by the hon. member for Vancouver Kingsway today.

The member does rightly point out that there have been letters on this issue. My office decided to send these letters to the member across the way so that he was quite honestly aware of them.

I learned earlier this afternoon that unfortunately and accidentally, when the email address was entered, the personal account instead of the public MP account was selected. I am sure those who have used Outlook email would know from experience when dealing with several similar addresses that this could happen.

That the emails were sent to his personal account was not intentional and certainly far removed from anything resembling a malicious intent. It was simply to make sure he, through his office, was aware of these Canadian messages.

Nonetheless, I want to extend my apologies to the hon. member. I am disappointed, quite honestly, though, that he chose to make a bit of a public spectacle out of an administrative error instead of just coming over and asking me for an explanation.

While I support the submission made earlier by the hon. government House leader, I trust my apology will settle this matter in the finest traditions of this House.

[Jobs and Growth Act, 2012, October 25th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Minister of State for Finance for taking the time today to be part of this great discussion. I agree that we need to focus on what is really going to be important in this bill.

In my riding of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, it is basically rural and small businesses. Small businesses employ around 50% of the people in Canada. What are most of the businesses in Canada, in the high 90%? They are small businesses. In budget 2011, we brought in the hiring credit for small businesses. It is deemed to have been successful and in this bill there is an extension of that hiring credit for small business.

I know you have talked about it, Mr. Minister, and I am wondering if you could again talk about the significance of it in this country, not only in Lambton—Kent—Middlesex but for small businesses that are, quite honestly, the engine of this country.

[Youngest Lake Ontario Swimmer, October 24th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Annaleise Carr from the riding of Haldimand—Norfolk. Last August, Annaleise, at age 14, was the youngest swimmer to make the 52-kilometre journey across Lake Ontario.

A strong heart was needed for Annaleise's 27-hour journey through high waves and cold currents. An even stronger heart is one that undertakes this journey for the benefit of others. Her mission to raise $30,000 for the great work that Camp Trillium does to help children with cancer and their families improve their quality of life turned into an amazing $230,000, and still counting.

Annaleise, a true ambassador for Canadian youth, recently earned the Spirit of Sport Story of the Year award.

Annaleise is here in Ottawa today. Please join me in saluting this incredible young woman and those around her who helped make the trip possible.

[International Trade, October 23rd, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, our government has committed to an ambitious pro-trade agenda. Since 2006, our government has concluded new free trade agreements with nine countries. Today, to expand the scope of the existing trade agreement with Chile, an agreement to amend the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement was tabled in the House. Canadians know that the NDP has consistently opposed our efforts to bring new opportunities to Canada's exporters.

Would the Minister of International Trade please share with the House how this modernized agreement will deepen commercial ties between our two great countries?