Gary Goodyear

[Science and technology, March 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I accept the opportunity to clarify, because I know the member has difficulty reading.

I do in fact believe in evolution, full stop, but what is important is what this government is doing for our science and tech community. We just surpassed the $10 billion per year mark for our scientists.

This year alone, we put $5.1 billion into our science and tech community, and that member and his party voted against every bit of it.

[Science and Technology, March 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we have invested quite a bit of money in all types of research, from discovery all the way through to applied. In fact, let me read one example. Last month alone this government announced $100 million for 134 research chairs, including Dr. Reinhardt at McGill. He wants to discover answers to connective tissue disease and disorders. This Conservative government supports the good doctor.

[Science and Technology, March 23rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the member for the opportunity to say, once again, that the $2 billion going into our colleges and universities and for hospital research is actually meant to go toward increasing the functionality of the laboratories. That is exactly what our scientists need. They need the right facilities to do the best job they can. The member is correct that this is included in the $5.1 billion.

[Science and Technology, March 12th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this government has supported science and technology in a capacity that has never happened in the history of this country. We are doing that because it creates jobs for the future. It stabilizes and diversifies our economy going forward. It improves the quality of life for Canadians.

That is exactly why we are doing it. This particular year, we put $2 billion into the universities and colleges, because that was their number one ask. That is what they asked for, and it does create jobs right now. It is a brilliant idea, and I want to thank the member for voting for it.

[Science and Technology, March 12th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank the member for voting for those kinds of initiatives. I would also like to point out that this government has put more money into the science and technology sector than that government ever has: $5.1 billion.

I want to mention that the IMF actually said that this is the right economic stimulus for this country at this time. It is certainly a lot better than a carbon tax.

[Science and Technology, March 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is very clear that the member and many of the members opposite have not read the budget clearly. This government has increased the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council budget by 50%. On top of that, in this budget we added $87 million for more scholarships. In fact, the NRC received an additional $200 million for IRAP which helps whatever industries want help in and whatever area of research they deem to need it.

That is what this government is doing. I wish--

[Science and Technology, March 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, once again I want to remind the member opposite that this government put $5.1 billion of new money into science, technology and innovation. Everything for the Canadian Space Agency, this member voted against. There is money for the Canada Health Infoway. This member and his party vote against that stuff.

There is money for cancer research. There is money for health care information. There is money for Internet and telecommunications. There is money for everything to do with improving this country's innovation. That member, along with the NDP, votes against that stuff.

[Scholarships, March 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, what the member is failing to do is to consider the fact that there are pre-existing scholarships. Those scholarships continue. The member laughs, but in fact the member just did not read the budget in totality.

These are new programs. The pre-existing scholarships and internships remain, and they continue every year from now on. This year we created 2,500 new scholarships and 600 new industrial internships, because that is what we were asked to do by Canadians and this—

[Science and Technology, March 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, in just this budget alone, this government has put in $5.1 billion: $50 million for the Institute for Quantum Computing, the next generation of computer language; $80 million for transformative technologies; $87 million for Arctic research of all kinds; $3.5 million for internships; $87.5 million to the Canada graduate scholarships program; $250 million to modernize federal labs; $500 million for Canada Health Infoway.

I would go on, but I am losing my voice.

[Science and Technology, March 10th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the member is absolutely incorrect. This country is first in the G7, and second only to Sweden in the OECD.

In the previous three budgets, this government supported the granting councils with over $200 million in new funding that is ongoing every year, and I am glad the member supported those budgets.