Bob Rae

[Infrastructure, November 20th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I always thought that the Liberal Party, from what I was told, was in power in 2005 when that measure was in fact brought in. We are not resting on our laurels; we are looking forward to the future. What we see in the future is an economy that is slowing down.

Now I know that the Prime Minister is getting his advice from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is leaning over with his comments, but I want to ask him: Does he not recognize that the economy is in fact slowing down and that the municipalities need a clear commitment on infrastructure?

There would be no clearer way of doing that than doubling the gas tax flow to the provinces and letting the—

[Infrastructure, November 20th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the government can take credit for the policy of Mr. Chrétien and Mr. Martin, but the problem remains. The problem is that the economy is slowing down. We see this everywhere. We see it in all the economic figures. The municipalities are responsible for 60% of the country's infrastructure.

I ask the question again: can the government assure us that budget 2013 will include an important announcement about a partnership between the federal government and municipalities concerning infrastructure?

[Infrastructure, November 20th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the finance minister's statement last week showed that the economy is slowing, that revenues are slower and less than before, and that it is affecting all levels of government, the provinces as well as municipalities.

In light of the request from municipalities that there be a clear statement from the government with respect to future plans on infrastructure, I wonder if the Prime Minister would consider giving the municipalities the full flow of the gas tax so that they in fact will be able to plan their own capital investments as time goes on.

[Sir Wilfrid Laurier, November 20th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, Sir Wilfrid Laurier was born on this day, November 21, 1841. When Sir John A. Macdonald passed away, the most eloquent eulogy came from his political opponent, Sir Wilfrid, who said, “...he was also endowed with those inner, subtle, undefinable graces of soul which win and keep the hearts of men”. We can say that Laurier had these same qualities.

Like Macdonald before him, Laurier was a great prime minister and a great party leader. He cared deeply about the country's nature and identity, and he never let divisive regional, racial, religious or partisan policies prevent him from making difficult decisions.

Laurier's eloquence will long be remembered. He reminded us that faith is stronger than doubt and love is stronger than hate. His political motto was always “Canada first, Canada last, Canada always”. A good motto for all of us.

He was, of course, a great Liberal but, above all, he was a fine human being and a passionate Canadian. It is only right that on this occasion we should praise this worthy and famous man.

[Foreign Affairs, November 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, my third question is for the same government.

Can it tell us exactly what it has done with regard to the extremely sad and tragic events in the Middle East to encourage a ceasefire in Gaza in the battle between the Government of Israel and Hamas.

I think it is important for Canadians to know exactly what the government has done to achieve a lasting ceasefire.

[Infrastructure, November 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the minister can call me anything he likes but I am sure he would not want to say the same thing about Mayor Nenshi.

In fact, officials from PPP Canada met frequently with the City of Calgary and encouraged the City of Calgary to continue with its application. They actually approved the application and then on the website of the organization, which the minister can see, it says that permitted projects include sport infrastructure, community recreation and fields and parks. It is the government that changed the rules, not at the beginning of the game and not in the middle of the game, but at the end of the game.

Why did you do it? Will you compensate Calgary--

[Infrastructure, November 19th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, when the City of Calgary applied to the crown corporation PPP for support for its sports infrastructure program and recreation centres in Calgary, the board of the PPP said that it was okay, that it was fine. The PPP website said that sports infrastructure and recreation restructure was included.

Why did cabinet change the rules, not at the beginning of the game or in the middle of the game but after the game was over? In fact, it changed the website in the middle of the mayor's press conference when he talked about how the--

[Correctional Service Canada, November 8th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, my question is again for the Minister of Public Safety. Could the minister tell us what facts and documentation in possession of the government led it to settle out of court with Ashley Smith's family? Does the government still have in its possession other videos and documentation with respect to Ashley Smith going back further than just one year? Will the government guarantee that it will not destroy the other videos and documentation in its possession with respect to the treatment of people who have mental challenges and mental problems who have ended up in Canada's prisons?

[Correctional Service Canada, November 8th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I will not refer to the fact that the minister is not answering the question that I asked him. However, I will ask the same minister, why is he not answering this question?

I am asking him a very specific question. What facts led him to settle with Ashley Smith's family? What videos did the government have in its possession? Those are very clear questions. What other videos does he have in his possession? What other photographs does he have in his possession? What other things does he have in his possession about the mistreatment of mental patients who are in our prisons?

[Correctional Service Canada, November 8th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, with great respect, the Minister of Public Safety is in the House. That is why I asked him the question. He is here.