House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 49% of the vote.
Science and Technology November 30th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, it is the contrary. I urge my colleague to stop fear-mongering.
We want to continue to give good services to Canadian taxpayers but more efficiently. This is why we are reforming the National Research Council under the leadership of my colleague, the Minister of State for Science and Technology. It is to make sure that we continue to provide good services to Canadians with more efficiency.
Science and Technology November 30th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the responsible thing to do is to ensure resources are used efficiently.
Canadian taxpayers have given us a mandate to ensure we get value for money. That is why we have undertaken to reform the NRC under the leadership of my colleague, the Minister of State for Science and Technology, so that we can provide better services with greater efficiency.
Aerospace Industry November 30th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that my colleague is familiar with the file.
When the council was appointed, Mr. Emerson told a press conference that we must not sit on our laurels. We are ranked fifth in the world, but we have to see where the industry will position itself and where it will be in five, 10 and 20 years. That is why we asked for the report, and we have received some good recommendations.
Recommendations such as the NDP's $21.5 billion carbon tax will kill the aerospace sector, as well as manufacturing. The NDP has no credibility. That is why I do not listen to their recommendations. I prefer to study Mr. Emerson's.
Aerospace Industry November 30th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank David Emerson for his excellent report. We asked him to review the state of the aerospace industry. We are ranked fifth in the world. Mr. Emerson has produced a revenue neutral report that contains good recommendations. My colleagues and I will take the time to examine them properly. The industry also welcomes this report.
Our proposals are very different from those of the NDP, which wants to tax everything and bring in a $21 billion carbon tax, which would kill the aerospace and automobile sectors and manufacturing in general.
We are taking the right approach, and we are very pleased with this report.
International Co-operation November 29th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, we know that that bill would not have improved the lives of the people it purported to help. Let us tackle the real challenges, the real public health problems. We have taken a series of measures that, combined, are worth over $4 billion. That money has been earmarked to pay for medicine for countries in need. This includes the Muskoka initiative under the leadership of our Prime Minister. This has meant a total of $10 billion internationally. Now that is real action.
I hope the NDP will have the courage to support real measures in the future, instead of doing what it has always done: shamefully opposing these measures.
Foreign Investment November 29th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, simply put, we know the NDP has a radical agenda. It wants to block everything: no investment, no trade, and a carbon tax.
This is not our approach. We are a responsible government. We will have foreign investment, but we have to make sure that it does provide net benefit for Canada. Canadians can be assured that all transactions will be fully scrutinized and each decision made will be in the best interests of Canadians.
Foreign Investment November 29th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, my colleague must know that we have our own process. We are in the process of carefully assessing this transaction. Once again, we see that the NDP is trying to do anything it can to block any form of investment here in Canada. It is looking everywhere for arguments to support blocking all forms of investment here in Canada.
We do not have a radical agenda like that. We have a responsible approach. We review transactions based on merit. If they provide a net benefit for Canada, then we approve them.
Foreign Investment November 28th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, the opposition likes to speak light about everything, but to be clear, we will not speak light on any review. This is a responsible approach.
We are open for foreign investment, and these foreign investments have to provide a net benefit to Canada. We will not push the agenda like the NDP, which would virtually block everything: no investment, no free trade. That is not responsible.
We will not rubber stamp any form of investment, as the Liberals would do, as they said last week. Canadians can count on a responsible government on this point.
Foreign Investment November 28th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, it is very clear. Pursuant to section 20 of the act, there are six factors that must be taken into account. These guidelines have been in place since 2007, and some provisions were added in 2009. That is the legal framework we are working under right now.
That said, the NDP wants to block everything, all types of deals and investments, but we do not agree with that school of thought, nor do we agree with the Liberals' approach of blindly approving everything.
International Co-operation November 28th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear: despite its good intentions, the bill will not help the people it purports to help.
First of all, it will not save any more lives and it will not ensure the delivery of any more medicines.
Our government is tackling the real challenges. We are leaders when it comes to funding the shipment of medicine to countries in need. We have invested over $4 billion, which has helped secure $10 billion internationally for the shipment of medicine to countries in need.
We hope the opposition will support us on these important initiatives.