Christian Paradis

[Official Languages, February 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the French language, the French fact, is far too important to just gloss over it as the member is suggesting with his bill. He just threw the bill together without thinking about the consequences.

This is what we are doing: we are putting together a committee of credible people who will make recommendations. Then we will make an announcement in due course, after careful and thorough consideration, and not hurriedly, as is being suggested by the member for Trois-Rivières. That is completely irresponsible; it is far too sensitive an issue.

[Aerospace Industry, February 28th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, I had the opportunity to announce that there would be a review committee made up of David Emerson, Sandra Pupatello, Jacques Roy and Jim Quick, who are all qualified experts. In our 2011 budget, we committed to reviewing every policy in order to optimize the spinoffs from this industry, which generates $22 billion in revenue a year and 80,000 high-quality jobs.

If the hon. member were really concerned about the industry, she would support our F-35 program, which will produce even more benefits, including near her riding.

[Foreign Investment, February 14th, 2012]

No, Mr. Speaker.

It is pretty simple. Following budget 2009, as I said, we introduced a national security review mechanism by regulation in the act. That is what happened. Why? It was to make sure that Canada's national security interests would continue to be safeguarded.

I urge the member to stand up with us in welcoming foreign investment that will benefit Canada, instead of rejecting virtually every single economic opportunity in this country.

[Taxation, February 10th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has a tendency to want to complicate simple matters. I stated yesterday, on behalf of the government, that we are prepared to review the rules; however, this must be done in co-operation with the Governor General. The government does not have complete authority in this regard. The Governor General is an institution, and this matter must be addressed in co-operation with him. My response could not be clearer.

[Flooding in Montérégie, February 10th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, once again, as my colleague was saying, we empathize with the families affected by this flooding. I visited the area with the Prime Minister. I was there twice and what happened is terrible. That is why we are working hard, together with the provinces, to ensure that all available programs will be offered to the victims at the appropriate time.

As my colleague also said, there are disaster mitigation programs that the provinces and federal government are constantly working on and we will continue in that direction.

[Asbestos, February 10th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, for more than 30 years, the Government of Canada has been supporting the safe use of chrysotile. Recent scientific studies have shown that chrysotile can be used safely in a controlled environment.

[Asbestos, February 10th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, for more than 30 years, the Government of Canada has been supporting the safe use of chrysotile. Recent scientific studies have shown that chrysotile can be used safely in a controlled environment.

[Science and Technology, February 10th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I think the word “efficiency” is lost on the NDP. There are ways to be more efficient. I understand that Statistics Canada put an end to those surveys because they were redundant and in order to get the best value for taxpayers' dollars. That is a foreign concept on the other side of the House.

We will not take any lessons from the opposition parties. No other government in Canadian history has invested as much as we have since 2007 in science and technology. And the members opposite were always happy to vote against those investments. It is completely ridiculous and unbelievable.

[Foreign Investment, February 9th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, if the member had followed what happened in 2009, she would know that the national security aspect was included in the law.

We improved transparency and we are still working to make sure that we will have foreign investment with net benefits for Canada.

Instead of fear-mongering, the member should stand with us and make sure we work for economic growth and jobs.

[Census, February 9th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it is strange to hear such questions and judgments that seem to come out of nowhere, knowing that, according to the facts, the response rate for the mandatory census was higher than in 2006. We also succeeded in increasing the rate of participation by using the Internet.

With regard to the long form, the response rate was 69.3%, which is well above the original target of 50%. Statistics Canada's chief statistician stated that the survey would produce useful and usable results—