House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 49% of the vote.
Bill C-38 June 12th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, since our economic action plan was implemented, 750,000 net new jobs have been created across the country. Quebec has obviously benefited from that. We are now continuing to move forward with the 2012 economic action plan. Our focus is on job creation and economic growth. Our measures will have tangible benefits for the economy of Quebec and Canada. I encourage the hon. member to join us in supporting Bill C-38.
Employment June 6th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, our government has a plan, the economic action plan, which is responsible for the creation of over 750,000 jobs since the recession in 2009. We have introduced measures that foster a healthy investment climate, create jobs and drive economic growth. We have reduced taxes, eliminated tariffs on machinery, and introduced a hiring credit to help businesses recruit employees. We have implemented measures to stimulate the economy and safeguard our industries in a climate of healthy competition. The NDP could have voted for those measures. That would certainly have helped.
Agriculture and Agri-food May 30th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, it is well known that, historically, our government has always provided solid support to the Levinoff-Colbex slaughterhouse. Its closing is of course a business decision, and our thoughts are with the employees and the families affected.
However, I would like to point out that we provided the company with $4.6 million in funding to help it cope with the negative impact of the difference between its costs and U.S. costs. Our door is always open to working with producers to examine issues of competitiveness.
At the time, large amounts of money had been earmarked in the budgets, which could have gone to help the slaughterhouse, but which the Bloc voted against, I remember.
Aerospace Industry May 30th, 2012
As I have said on many occasions in this House, we know that the 2010 budget, which the NDP voted against, allocated $497 million to the RADARSAT Constellation mission, and the 2009 budget, which the NDP also voted against, allocated $110 million for space robotics.
I will say it again: we are committed to this project and we will endeavour to deliver it in a cost-effective way.
Co-operatives May 30th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, Canadians gave us a clear mandate to focus on economic growth and job creation. That is the direction we are taking with the 2012 economic action plan. No fewer than 750,000 net new jobs have been created in the private sector. Co-operatives are obviously an important part of the economy. This is an important sector that we have always supported vigorously.
Aerospace Industry May 16th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. RADARSAT has existed for quite some time. Considerable funding for that program was included in budget 2010, but the NDP voted against that. If it were left up to them, there would be no RADARSAT.
We have said that we are committed to this project and we would deliver it in the most cost-effective way.
That being said, I would remind my hon. colleague that we have launched a review of our aerospace and space sectors, to be led by David Emerson. That work is under way. Why? Because we want to remain world leaders in this key sector.
Aerospace Industry May 16th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, we are fully committed to the RADARSAT project. It is an important project, but we want to deliver it in the most cost-effective way. That is what we will do.
I would like to remind the member that for the first time we have launched a review of space and aerospace because we want to remain the leaders in this sector.
This is real action, not just talk.
Copyright Modernization Act May 15th, 2012
moved that the bill, as amended, be concurred in.
Copyright Modernization Act May 15th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, once again, taking Bill C-11 and Bill C-32 together, at second reading alone, we had 29 hours of debate and 31 meetings lasting a total of over 65 hours, and we heard from over 110 witnesses.
Yes, Bill C-11 is the same as the former Bill C-32, with 11 amendments made following consultation. What people do not want is an iPod tax. That is clear. Yet that is what my colleague is recommending and he is starting to sound like a broken record.
We need to move on. What we want to eliminate is piracy. When people try to cheat and pirate material in the digital era, it will be prohibited. This legislation will comply with the international standards of the World Intellectual Property Organization. People expect that. The legislation needs to be updated. After so many hours of debate, it is time to move on.
Copyright Modernization Act May 15th, 2012
Mr. Speaker, again, it is not reasonable for hon. members to rise in this House and say there has been no debate on this bill. On the contrary, there has been a tremendous amount of debate on it.
We reintroduced the same bill from the last Parliament in order to continue the debate that was held on Bill C-32 and on Bill C-11. We have been debating this for two and a half years. More than 10,000 consultations have been held across Canada.
My colleague, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, can confirm that. He and the President of the Treasury Board were in charge of this file in the previous Parliament.
It is time to move into the digital age. What we are hearing in this debate is a skipping record. Vinyl records that skip are a thing of the past. We have to move toward the digital economy. We have to move on to something else and update the legislation.