House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 69% of the vote.
Natural Resources May 5th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, each of the provinces across the country chooses its own energy mix. We have worked well with every province. We look forward to working with the provinces in the future in terms of their energy development and energy efficiency programs.
We are very thankful, and I think they are as well, to have a government that can work with the provinces rather than one with which they always fight.
Renewable Energy May 5th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, it is very nice to see the Bloc members so concerned about Canadian national programs. They seem to be defending them left, right and centre. We are proud to defend what we have done on renewable energy.
Our programs have helped families across the country increase their energy efficiency. They have put money into pilot projects on geothermal, solar and those kinds of things. They have subsidized biofuels. We are proud of what we have done in the eco-energy field and we look forward to doing more for Canadians in the future.
Nuclear Energy May 4th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the member knows full well that there is a five year ban on lobbying for PMO staff.
More important, on the issue of AECL he also knows that it needs new investment if it is to continue to be competitive around the world. Would he rather lose all of the jobs in Canada by not making a move on this?
He knows full well that we need investment, that we need to restructure and that is what the government is prepared to do. His government did not have either the leadership or the guts to do that when it needed to be done in the first place.
Nuclear Energy May 4th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the member should probably be doing his job a little bit more carefully rather than reading the newspapers in the morning. He knows full well that last September we announced a key step in the restructuring process and that we would be taking proposals from investors.
We said at the time that we were open to arrange investment options up to and including 100%. He knows that and he knows that we are moving ahead.
He also knows, from testimony that we heard at committee, that AECL needs this new investment to be able to compete around the world.
Oil Industry May 3rd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I do not think the Liberals should be talking about deceit. The member has never raised a question on that issue in the House before. Clearly, the drilling is being done in a difficult and sensitive environment. That is why it is important that there is a strong safety regime. That is one of the reasons why the NEB is currently reviewing its policies.
Oil Industry May 3rd, 2010
Mr. Speaker, drilling is not going to occur until and unless the National Energy Board is clear and satisfied that the drilling plans are safe and that they do protect the environment. The review is currently under way. We will put a safety regime in place that is going to protect Canadians and the Canadian environment. We will work with industry and Canadians across the country to do that.
Economic Development April 30th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, this is a very unusual question today when yesterday the Liberal leader was holding a round table and he basically took our policy and tried to present it as his own. He said that we need to work toward trade opportunities, we need to work toward new markets and we need to work toward developing new products. That is exactly what the government has done and that is exactly what we will do in the future, and the forestry industry will thrive once again.
Nuclear Industry April 30th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows what he is saying is just plain rubbish. He has been at committee when we heard clearly that AECL needs to restructure in order to remain competitive. As part of that ongoing restructuring, investors were invited to submit proposals for AECL's commercial reactor division.
It needs strategic investors to seize new opportunities here at home and around the world. We are prepared to see it through so that it gets that opportunity.
Nuclear Industry April 30th, 2010
Actually, Mr. Speaker, the fiasco was the Liberals in government for 13 years and refusing to fund AECL properly.
Our government is restructuring AECL as part of an effort to strengthen Canada's nuclear industry, and position it to retain and create highly skilled jobs. We are investing $300 million in its operations to help strengthen Canada's nuclear advantage.
Employment Insurance Act April 29th, 2010
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member opposite was one of the people who wanted other speakers to be relevant here but he has insisted on launching ridiculous personal attacks on members of Parliament on this side of the House who have been doing tremendous work for the people of Quebec, while he in turn would divide the country rather than bring it together.
I think the member should probably get back to discussing the bill and, if not, perhaps you, Mr. Speaker, could read the standing orders to him, which he wanted to hear so much earlier.