Claude Gravelle

[Economic Recovery Act (Stimulus), November 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Markham—Unionville says that the Liberals are flip-flopping on Bill C-51. First they voted for it and then they voted against it.

The home renovation tax credit is very popular. The first-time homebuyers' tax credit is very popular also. I am not sure if the member has any farmers in his riding, but I know I have, and I know that dealing with drought conditions is also part of this bill.

I would like to know if the member is going to support the constituents in his riding who have renovated their houses and to support first-time homebuyers. Is he going to vote for this bill so they can get the money they deserve?

[Economic Recovery Act (Stimulus), November 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the home renovation tax credit is pretty popular, but there are many small mom and pop businesses in Canada and these small businesses have not been included. I would like the hon. member to tell me, if this temporary renovation tax credit were expanded, should the mom and pop businesses across Canada be included so these businesses could be renovated to be more energy efficient?

[Economic Recovery Act (Stimulus), November 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-51, which I will be supporting, has some very good things in it.

There is the home renovation tax credit, the first time homebuyers tax credit and the income deferral for drought conditions for farmers.

I was elected by the people of Nickel Belt to represent them in the House of Commons and to advance their causes. Perhaps the hon. member could explain to me why the Liberals are not supporting the bill. They were sent here for the same reason that I was, to represent their constituents and to make Parliament work. Why would the Liberals vote against this bill? It seems to be a good bill to me.

[Economic Recovery Act (stimulus), November 6th, 2009]

A small business owner in my riding wants to make renovations, but there are no provisions in here for a small business owner. I would like the hon. member to tell me if this is something that could be added.

[Economic Recovery Act (stimulus), November 6th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague from Vancouver East a couple of questions. One is on the home renovation tax. It says in the bill that this applies only to tax year 2009-10. We are going through a recession right now, and there are many people who would like to renovate their homes, but unfortunately because they have lost their jobs, or for whatever reason, they cannot. Does the hon. member think this should be expanded for a few more years?

Also I would like to ask about small businesses--

[Economic Recovery Act (stimulus), November 6th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I have a question for the Bloc Québécois member. I would like to read one line from Bill C-51:

Provisions for income deferrals for farmers of breeding livestock in drought conditions and designations for regions where this applies.

We do not know when droughts will occur in Canada. We can have one good year followed by two bad ones. It varies enormously from region to region.

Does the Bloc member believe that this program should be permanent?

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 6th, 2009]

Is the federal riding of Parry Sound—Muskoka within the jurisdicition of the Southern Ontario Development Agency or the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor)?

[Death of Three Miners, November 6th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to pay tribute to Marc Guay, Bruno Goulet and Dominico Bollini, the three miners killed tragically at the Bachelor Lake gold mine in Quebec.

We often forget that mining is a very dangerous job. I worked for a mining company for 34 years, and some of my friends died underground. In the weeks to come, Quebec's workplace health and safety commission will investigate this tragedy. I hope that the entire industry will take its recommendations seriously and will do everything it can to prevent deaths in the workplace.

I know that all of the members will join me in expressing our condolences to the family and friends of Marc Guay, Bruno Goulet and Dominico Bollini, and to all of the people of Desmaraisville.

[Business of Supply, November 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, from the outset of the debate in the House of Commons on H1N1, the government has blamed the Liberals and the Liberals have blamed the government. No one wants to take responsibility for what is currently happening.

I would like to ask the member for Verchères—Les Patriotes a question about what will happen in the future. I am thinking about the present and the future, not the past. I would like to know what he thinks the government could do in future to help Canadians.

[Vale Inco, October 28th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we learned that 24 positions from Vale Inco's Sudbury operation would be transferred to Brazil and Toronto. With the layoffs in July and March, this brings us to a total of 342 good jobs lost from my community.

When Vale acquired Inco in 2006, it committed to no layoffs for a period of three years. This was a condition under the so-called review of the takeover by the federal government.

Would the Minister of Industry stand up for Canada and for northern Ontario and hold Vale Inco to account?