Christian Paradis

[Federal Spending Power, June 2nd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that a party that wants to separate Quebec from the rest of Canada will grasp at anything to minimize the Conservative government's outstanding record of achievements. We have kept our promises, and not many governments have kept their word as much as we have.

Who gave Quebec a seat at UNESCO? Who corrected the fiscal imbalance? Who is going to address spending power? The Conservative government. Certainly not the Bloc Québécois, which has never kept a single promise here in the House of Commons.

[Federal Spending Power, June 2nd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, we do not need any lectures from anyone in this House to deliver the goods or keep our promises. We have made commitments and will honour them. In fact, we have already begun to do so.

In budget 2008, we reformed the millennium scholarships, which everyone condemned and which had been invented by our centralizing Liberal predecessors. Now, there is a new program, which Quebec can opt out of. We respect provincial jurisdictions. We want federalism to work. We are giving Quebeckers and Canadians open federalism.

[Beef Producers, May 26th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I can tell hon. members that the government is not waiting for anything. The government has been working on this very serious matter. The markets needed to be reopened and we reopened them. I am not just talking about the United States, but also about Korea and Russia. These are new markets where our producers can sell their products and make money.

In the meantime, the Minister of Agriculture on this side of the House is providing clear direction, whereby safety standards for specified risk material in the United States have been harmonized. Progress has already been made when it comes to water used for cleaning the buildings and other things. This is concrete action.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, May 26th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised to hear that kind of question from my opposition colleague because after 13 long years in agriculture, farmers were left to fend for themselves. We have already invested $4.5 billion more than the regular budget. Supply management, the livestock sector and biofuels are all sectors that drive the agricultural economy.

Those on the other side of the House are trying to cover up their government's inaction, but one thing I can say for sure is that agricultural producers know they can count on the Conservative government.

[Services in French, May 26th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is once again trying to stir up arguments. I want to make it clear. Our approach here is a multicultural one. Every Quebec citizen can be served in his or her language, and francophones will never be denied service in their language.

What we need to understand is that the Bloc is trying to create problems to hide its own powerlessness. It has been around for 18 years. We recognized the Quebec nation, we practice open federalism, and all Quebeckers benefit from that. Quebec is growing stronger.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, May 15th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. We have a balanced approach where everyone wins—the environment, farmers and the regions of Quebec.

With Bill C-33 we will impose biofuel targets of five per cent for gasoline and two per cent for diesel. This is a positive measure that is equal to taking one million cars off the road. When we reach our goal, 95% of Canada's current arable land will continue to be used for food production.

The Bloc has done an about-face and is abandoning the environment, farmers and the regions. Once again, we see that the members from the regions in this party are afraid to stand up.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, May 2nd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, our plan for biofuels permits us to counter the world food shortage. When we reach our biofuel targets, 95% of Canada's arable land will continue to produce food. Biofuels stimulate the economy and they will provide the means to do more for the planet.

Canada is one of the two most important donors to the world food program. This is no small matter.

Therefore, the NDP is wrong, the Bloc has no power and, as for the Liberals, as usual we cannot believe them.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, May 2nd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, in the Levinoff matter, it is very interesting to see that the producers want to reinvest in it.

What is even more interesting, and what I would like to say to my colleague, is that the last budget included an additional $3.3 billion in funding for people in the livestock industry. That money is now in circulation to help people, in addition to the $50 million for hog producers who are in crisis.

What are they doing? Not only have they been absent, but they voted against the budget. Let them tell the producers that and see how they feel about it.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, May 2nd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely false. It is grandstanding.

My colleague knows full well that the minister is working on this. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has been directed to harmonize the SRM policies with U.S. regulations. Progress has already been made. Policies on the buildings and on the water used for cleaning have already been harmonized. If the hon. member was unaware of this, then he is learning it from me. These are significant gains for the industry.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, May 1st, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for her question. It gives me the opportunity to clarify some things.

When the regulations are followed, that is, 5% ethanol in gasoline and biodiesel, no more than 5% of Canadian farmland will be used for ethanol production. As for the other 95%, that will be more than enough to meet the demand and allow for ample exports around the world.