Denis Blanchette

[Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2, December 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Acadie—Bathurst for his excellent speech. He is still just as passionate as ever. I enjoy hearing him speak every time.

My colleague has put his finger on some of the problem areas in this budget. I am talking about support for the regions. He spoke about employment insurance, the fishery, pensions and the exodus of young people. Indeed, young people are leaving their communities to work elsewhere, a situation that I personally find tragic.

I would like my colleague to comment on the other shortcomings of the budget in terms of providing both social and economic support to the regions.

[Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2, December 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately we have far too short a day, just one day, to debate this bill. I am nonetheless very proud of the official opposition members, especially the hon. member for Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, who told us that no analysis had been done of the fiscal consequences of this bill. There is also the hon. member for Pontiac, who asked who this budget is for, and the hon. member for Sherbrooke, who targeted some measures. That is what it takes to draft a coherent and effective budget. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be what we are getting with the bill before us.

My question for my colleague from Sherbrooke is quite simple: what is missing from this budget? What would he have liked to see for his riding and what issues would he have liked this budget to address?

[Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2, December 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague. His speech was not just good, it was excellent. Not often do we hear an economic speech in this House that is so on the ball, so well written and so well structured, and I sincerely thank him for that.

He underscored this government's incompetence when it comes to proposing tax measures. He focused on the fact that there was no impact analysis of the tax measures, which I find very worrisome.

Aside from the absolutely horrible and ineffective EI measures, what measures does my colleague think are completely amateurish and appear to have been introduced simply because the Conservatives thought it was a good idea?

[Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2, December 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we are currently at third reading stage of a budget that we will have only one day to debate. I find that very unfortunate.

Once again, we will be unable to look at the impact the measures contained in this omnibus bill will have because too many of those measures have nothing to do with the actual budget. We have learned from that in the past.

What does the parliamentary secretary think about introducing measures in a budget that have nothing to do with the actual budget and that the provinces did not ask for? I am thinking in particular about how the government wants to take social assistance away from some types of refugees.

[Petitions, December 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure and honour to present petitions on behalf of residents in the Quebec City region. They want the Quebec Bridge to be maintained and everyone involved to sit down together to discuss and maintain this infrastructure, which is vital to the Quebec City region.

[Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2, December 2nd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his excellent speech.

He very clearly highlighted what is missing from this budget. Everyone knows that a budget contains revenues and expenditures. This government has made many cuts in order to reduce expenditures.

The hon. member outlined a way to increase revenues and, at the same time, show fairness to those who pay their taxes honestly. He spoke about tax evasion. It is surprising that, on one hand, the government is eliminating the positions of public servants who deal with the tax evasion issue in order to cut down on government expenditures. On the other hand, this government has cut corporate taxes to historic low levels. Tax evasion is a very important issue.

What would an NDP government, with Thomas Mulcair as prime minister, do to restore tax fairness?

[Quebec Bridge, December 1st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, the Minister of Infrastructure put on a big show to let us all know that he was willing to chip in $75 million to repaint the Quebec Bridge, but only if CN did its part too.

No sooner had the press conference ended than CN refused to foot the other half of the bill. No CN, no paint. It seems we are no further ahead than we were before.

What is the minister planning to do next? What is his game plan?

[Quebec Bridge, November 26th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the consensus and mobilization of the people in the Quebec City area is beginning to bear fruit.

The Minister of Infrastructure is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, or at the end of the bridge in this case. He finally decided to pick up the phone and talk to his provincial and municipal counterparts in order to find a solution. Now he has to find the paint brush that Jean Lapierre and the Liberals lost.

Will the minister keep the Prime Minister's promise and ensure that the Quebec Bridge restoration is completed?

[Agricultural Growth Act, November 24th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech.

Agriculture is the reason we live in society. If nobody grows food, we will have serious problems and will cease to exist as a species.

I am from an urban riding, so I am less familiar with certain aspects of agriculture. However, I am very familiar with public administration. Part of the bill is about work to be done at the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Given the government's habit of cutting the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food's resources, and given that this bill gives the department more work, will my colleague opposite ask the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and the President of the Treasury Board to give the department more resources so that it can achieve the objectives set out in the bill before us?

[Quebec Bridge, November 17th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, this weekend, CN paid for advertising in the Quebec media. CN clearly does not plan on painting the bridge. It is even prepared to give it away—yes, to give away the bridge—just to make the problem go away. Once again, CN is demonstrating that it is not a responsible corporate citizen.

Now the question is whether the Conservatives will honour the promise they made to the people of Quebec City. Will the minister ever take responsibility and ensure that the rehabilitation of the Quebec Bridge is completed?