Frank Valeriote

[Automotive Industry, September 30th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we learned today that the Canadian Secured Credit Facility, which the finance minister promised in December, January, April, May and then again in June, has yet to offer Canadian car purchasers, lessees and dealers any chance to get the loans they need. It is not working. The money is not out there.

Lending money to GM and Chrysler is only half the equation. Helping car sales and leasing by loosening up credit is the other half: no sales, no industry.

We cannot rely on the minister's promises at all. Will he ever keep his word?

[Industry, September 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the government has stood by while Nortel is sold piece by piece, bringing Canada's leadership in wireless technology to an end and costing Canadian families their livelihoods and pensions, including 400 job losses today alone.

It has turned its back on Research in Motion, a made in Canada opportunity to save and create thousands of jobs in hard hit southern Ontario, by not stopping this sale. Again, the government refuses to fight for Canadian industry and the jobs they create for families.

Why has the government turned its back on the people of southern Ontario?

[Economic Development, September 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the minister knows he is misstating the facts.

I have just spoken to Community Futures in Wellington, Waterloo, Simcoe, Bruce, Collingwood, Orillia, Welland, Niagara, and they expressed overwhelming concern, frustration, and a lack of communication or direction from the minister. There is no money, no ability to staff their offices to receive applications, and if the money finally comes they feel they would be forced to rush it out, compromising the opportunity for meaningful results.

They urge the Liberal opposition to shake money out of the government. How does the member answer the accusations from the--

[Economic Development, September 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the depth of the economic crisis is touching every industry and every household, with the loss of 269,000 jobs in southern Ontario alone.

Seven months have passed since the announcement of the southern Ontario development agency to help small and medium business survive or start up. Not one penny of the billion dollars promised has flowed from it into southern Ontario. No criteria has been set up and there are no application forms.

The SODA program is nothing but an empty storefront with hundreds of business owners trying to create jobs for Ontario families knocking at the door facing unfilled promises. When will the door open?

[Motor Vehicle Safety Act, June 19th, 2009]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-432, An Act to amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (brake pads).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to introduce this private member's bill on brake pads. The bill amends the Motor Vehicle Safety Act to protect the manufacturing or importation of brake pads for installation on passenger cars unless the brake pads meet the standard established by the recommended practice of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

It is imperative that after-market brake pads meet acceptable safety standards. I believe this bill is a step forward to address the problem of shoddy brake pads and I ask for the support of the House for this private member's bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Petitions, June 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to present two petitions signed by numerous residents of my constituency of Guelph who are seeking federal action to protect animals from cruelty.

Specifically, the petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to support a universal declaration on animal welfare and for Criminal Code amendments to protect animals from cruelty.

[Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement Act, June 1st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciated the comments made by the member for Halifax about the matter of fair trade versus free trade. She did mention a particular coffee trading company in Halifax. I am curious. Can she explain why, under the former Liberal government, when the member for Kings—Hants was attempting to secure $300,000 for Just Us! Coffee Roasters Co-op from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, her party, the NDP, would not support the application for funding?

[Automotive Industry, June 1st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said “no recession”. There is one. The Minister of Finance predicted a surplus. Wrong again. Then he said we would have a $34 billion deficit, and it is now over $50 billion.

The government has lost all credibility when managing Canada's financial crisis. Is the Minister of Industry any better at math than the rest of the Conservative bench?

Canadians now have $9.5 billion on the line with GM. Can the industry minister assure Canadians that he will keep his promises, get every penny back and that the deal protects Canada's fair share of jobs and 20% of production?

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2009]

Mr. Chair, I am with the member for Vancouver Quadra and the member for Charlottetown. Do I have one more question?

[Business of Supply, May 14th, 2009]

Mr. Chair, I am reading the very numbers that the minister himself produced in his own budget.

A question asked earlier by one of our colleagues from Quebec was skilfully evaded by the minister, so I will repeat the question in the hope that he will answer it directly.

During the 2008 election campaign, the Prime Minister committed $500 million over four years to create an agriculture flexibility program to help farmers build flexible programs to meet their local needs, but once elected, in budget 2009, the Conservatives only announced $190 million over five years. Why did the government break its promise?