Gary Goodyear

[Employment Insurance Act, September 17th, 2009]

Madam Speaker, I appreciate getting up to acknowledge that I support this bill. There are a lot of folks in my riding of Cambridge who have lost their jobs. This will definitely help them.

On the one hand, I do want to thank the NDP for coming to its senses, reading a bill for once, and deciding to vote for it. The member for Welland made a comment that Canadians want to work and sometimes they have to collect unemployment. I could not agree more with that.

This government has brought in a number of initiatives outside of employment insurance: economic stimulus programs that are creating jobs. In his own riding, this government made an announcement for the community adjustment fund and the member voted against money for his own area of Welland to create jobs.

The member never once asked me to help get money into his riding. Other members around Welland did that. We were able to help his riding despite his intervention and despite the fact that he--

[Economic Development, September 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the member can yell all he wants. Here is a quote: “It's clear that we're on the right track and our approach is transforming the economy of this region and FedDev Ontario will play a critical role...”.

The rhetoric is up and loud by members of that party, whose intent is to go to an election to find a job for themselves.

This government is focused on creating jobs for Canadians, supporting Canadian businesses in southern Ontario and every community in between, regardless of their selfish priorities.

[Economic Development, September 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to advise the member to pay attention. The door is wide open and it might hit him.

Our government has acted very diligently and responsibly to create jobs and stimulate the economy in this downturn. We have helped communities. We have helped venture capitalists. We have helped industry through IRAP. Money is already flowing. I note there are 12,000 new jobs in Ontario alone in June.

We do not want to interrupt this progress with an unnecessary, opportunistic election. That is not what Canadians need.

[Infrastructure, September 15th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this government put an unprecedented amount of money into science and technology and it did include $2 billion into the knowledge infrastructure program. That $2 billion was matched by provinces and the private sector. That amounted to almost $5 billion into this economy, creating jobs right now in every community with a university or college.

[Points of Order, May 26th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I understand that earlier today the Speaker, while I was in meetings, ruled that a remark I made on May 14 was unparliamentary.

I clearly intended to express my disappointment that the Bloc had consistently voted against new funding to support research at the University of Sherbrooke. However, I did use language that has now been determined to be unparliamentary. That was not my intention, and I unequivocally withdraw the remark.

[Science and Technology, May 14th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the nanotechnology lab did in fact apply for new funding and was awarded $88,700. I want to also mention, though, with respect to the University of Sherbrooke, this Conservative government put forward $33 million for research at the university.

What is very disappointing and, frankly, dishonest is when the Bloc stands in the House and makes these accusations, yet it voted against any funding for research at the University of Sherbrooke. Bloc members vote against nanotechnology funding. They vote against the people in Quebec.

[Science and Technology, May 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, let me repeat that this government respects the decisions of an independent panel. What the government does is makes a decision to put $5.1 billion into our science and technology sector and then an independent panel decides which projects receives that.

I am very excited to say that a lot of the research that has been decided upon is based in marine biology, oceans, the effects of climate change on oceans and so on. That member over there voted against that kind of funding.

[Science and Technology, May 11th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, these decisions are made by an independent panel. I am pleased to announce that that same independent panel announced six new research projects at the University of Quebec in Rimouski. They include research into marine life and the effects of climate change. Is that not Interesting?

[Privy Council, May 8th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, let me remind the hon. member that this government put forward the Vanier Canadian graduate scholarship program for post-secondary education. In fact, I want to congratulate McGill University for getting 11 of these world-class scholars. Laval got 8, L'Université de Montréal got 11, and the list goes on. However, what these universities should know is that member and the Bloc voted no. They did not want them to get any of this stuff. We did.

[Science and Technology, May 6th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the Americans' recommitment to science and technology. In fact, I met with our American counterparts last Friday, who are very impressed with what Canada is doing.

No country in the G7 provides more money than Canada does with respect to basic discovery research. I can tell the House that the Liberals cut $442 million out of science and technology.

Our approach is different. We are putting $5.1 billion in, and on a per capita basis, that is better than most other countries, including the United States.