House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2019, with 47% of the vote.
Literacy November 9th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, we are going to focus our efforts on literacy education, unlike the previous government. It paid literacy groups $34,000 simply for media consultants. It paid for travel budgets. It paid $34,000 for a group to develop a logo. That does not help people who want to learn to read and write.
Today I announced five new programs that will help Canadians learn to read and write.
Literacy November 9th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, as I explained to the literacy groups at lunch today, we are going to be honouring all our existing commitments for literacy projects with them. I have said that many times in the House.
I might also point out that we are not cutting literacy training. However, we believe Canadian taxpayers expect us to spend money on literacy education, not on supporting websites and overblown travel budgets for a literacy industry.
Guaranteed Income Supplement November 7th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I am surprised that the hon. member would be criticizing the department for following the same procedures that the hon. member's own government put in place. Nothing has changed in the way the programs were administered in the last several years. They are being done in the same way the previous government did.
That is why I have asked my officials to go ahead and try to find ways to prevent people from falling through the cracks.
Literacy November 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, as I explained at some length and very often to the member last night, the existing programs and existing commitments are all going to be honoured.
Going forward we are going to realize savings for Canadians by focusing on programs that deliver measurable results in helping people learn literacy and numeracy skills.
Government Programs November 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I would still like to know why that member tabled a motion asking for $2 million to be cut from social development spending.
Government Programs November 2nd, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is complaining about cuts to programs and yet he himself just tabled a motion to take $2 million of spending out of social development. Why is that?
Government Programs November 2nd, 2006
Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I am absolutely and thoroughly confused by the member for Sault Ste. Marie because--
Business of Supply November 1st, 2006
Mr. Chair, I am sorry if the hon. member did not hear earlier when we were talking about it. I know I was and I thought I heard other members in here as well.
I come from a rural area where there is a lot of agriculture. It had a huge fishing industry for a number of years as well. I know about seasonal work and the challenges that are faced. That is why we brought in our five weeks pilot program to help bridge the gap for seasonal workers so that they will be entitled to another five weeks of EI to help them through the cycle and help them stay solid between their seasonal work.
Business of Supply November 1st, 2006
Mr. Chair, we are honouring all existing commitments. We recently had a call for proposals. We are processing those applications. We are going to be focusing on giving the money to programs that will deliver actual measurable results for literacy and numeracy.
Business of Supply November 1st, 2006
Mr. Chair, the existing spaces were created by the Ontario provincial government, not by the previous Liberal government, and it is up to the provincial government to be responsible for these spaces.
Our new child care initiative is designed to create the spaces. That is why we are working with so many groups to make that happen.