Gary Goodyear

[Business of Supply, March 20th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleagues across the way, but I have to point out a number of mistakes they have made in their research. First, the member said we reduced funding for industrial research. That is factually incorrect. Originally it was about $83 million or $84 million a year. We added an additional $110 million to that program. The member voted against it. That could perhaps be why she does not know. We also have increased science funding by an additional $8 billion. I know that when I went to school, grade three mathematics suggested that $8 billion was more than not.

However, I also want to mention a couple of names because the member talked about migration out of Canada. We have a net migration of brains in Canada. Let me ask my hon. colleague what she thinks about Marcel Babin, from France, coming here; Ali Emadi, who is a hybrid powertrain expert, one of the world's best, coming out of the United States; and Oliver Ernst from Germany, structural neurobiology, all basic research.

I have a huge list that I would be happy to table of some of the brightest minds on the planet who are desperate to come to Canada to do their research because of our funding.

[The Environment, March 18th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, nothing of the sort has happened. In fact, this government has funded, since 2006, almost $8 billion additional dollars for science, technology and research. We now have more fellowships, more scholarships. We have hundreds of millions of dollars going into climate change research, into research in the Arctic, into funding buildings and research facilities at colleges and universities, all of which the NDP vote against.

I would encourage the opposition to get on side, because we are now considered number four in the world in scientific—

[The Environment, March 18th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, we did make a decision to end the Experimental Lakes project as a federal facility, but we have made other decisions, and those are to fund science and technology in this country at historic levels. That includes hundreds of millions of dollars in climate change research, in water, in freshwater research. All of that funding was voted against by the NDP.

Scientists know who supports research. It is this side of the House, not that side.

[Aerospace Industry, February 27th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Vancouver South for a very relevant, tough but fair question.

It is true. The Minister of Industry announced, today, a $15.8 million contract to MacDonald Dettwiler for the design of a very sophisticated mapping system, demonstrating once again this Conservative government's commitment to Canada's space industry and to jobs, growth and long-term prosperity.

What would be very nice is if the NDP would drop its political games and fearmongering agenda and help do something positive for Canadian industry.

[Telecommunications, February 4th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, our government takes very seriously the fact of consumer protection and consumer privacy. We are working very hard to improve this area in the file. We would like the opposition to get on board and help us do exactly that.

[Co-operatives, February 4th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the government is very proud to support the creation and expansion of co-operatives in Canada. We are doing this through multiple investments, such as facilitating the co-operative investment fund. This project is capitalized by the Government of Canada, as well as the Government of Quebec and other co-op stakeholders.

I can point out that as we put forward such things as $400 million in venture capital, the opposition votes against this type of funding. It should get onboard with the government and help us improve the economy through such things as co-operatives.

[Pensions, February 4th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, we are very sympathetic to those people who face troubles in this regard.

Our government has already acted, and we acted long ago. We recognized that the best way to protect pensions was to make changes at the front end so that pensions are appropriately regulated. That is why we have improved protection for workers. It is why we have changed the wage earner protection program to pay severance and termination pay up to about $3,400 and we have changed the law to ensure that regular pension payments owing are paid ahead of other creditors.

We remain focused on jobs and the economy.

[Pensions, February 4th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, we sympathize greatly with those affected and facing troubles in this regard.

Our government recognized long ago that the best way to protect pensions was to make changes at the front so that pensions are appropriately regulated, and that is exactly what we have done. We have improved the protection for workers. We have changed the law to ensure regular pension payments owing are paid ahead of other creditors. We have expanded the wage earner protection program.

We are focused on jobs and the economy. We will remain dedicated to Canadians, unlike the NDP.

[Ethics, January 31st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as I have already implied, these community futures development corporations have to sign strict agreements on the use of these funds. This is an arm's-length corporation that deals with local level needs in the economic development and in some cases the diversification of very small communities.

The member opposite is making a very obvious reputation denials of these community futures development corporations. He has no evidence of any wrongdoing whatsoever.

[Ethics, January 31st, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, these are local leaders of their communities who provide local economic opportunities for those communities. Prior to receiving project funds, each network has to demonstrate that it meets clear guidelines regarding governance, internal administrative structures, and comprehensive selection and outreach processes to ensure not only the project's success but, of course, respect for taxpayer dollars.

These are arm's-length community futures development corporations that have been around for 25 years and have proven to be successful in creating jobs and economic growth.