Gary Goodyear

[Points of Order, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, when I spoke about 3,100 new scholarship programs earlier, I should have probably broken that down. It is 600 internship programs and 2,500 brand new scholarship programs, for a total of 3,100.

[Steel Industry, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, first, the government's thoughts are with the families and workers who have lost their jobs and, indeed, the entire community. The minister has met with representatives of Stelco and spoke with the mayor of Hamilton, all levels of government and the local governments, in fact.

This government fully expects companies to honour the commitments and obligations they have made with the Government of Canada and the people of Canada. We expect nothing less.

[Automotive Industry, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder what the hon. member wishes us to do when most of the cars that we build here in Canada are sold in the United States. The member may not know this, but the United States is in a serious recession right now and it is not buying cars.

We have created the environment to move forward. We have put forward massive infrastructure to create jobs right now. As well, we are investing in innovation and research and development to create jobs in the future.

As far as the member over there is concerned, he quoted $60 billion this morning from the Obama package, but it is actually $21 billion. The member does not know what he is talking about.

[Automotive Industry, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, let me just bridge across for the member, who is the critic for science and technology.

This government has put $5.1. billion into science and technology and innovation. The reason we did that is we know that companies have to be innovative.

We have put $1 billion into green technology. There is a $250 million auto innovation fund, so that the automotive industry can become more innovative, because when it does, that creates more jobs and it strengthens our economy moving forward. That is good for Canadians. It is good for Canadian families and businesses. Frankly, it is good for our economy going forward.

[Culture, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have to tell the member again, there have been no cuts to the core funding on any of these programs.

If the member would slow down and read the budget, she would see $5.1 billion of additional new funding. That is on top of the core programs. Why did we do that? Because that is what we heard from Canadians. That is what we heard from university professors, college presidents, researchers and industry across the board.

On this side of the House, we listen to Canadians and we do what we need to do for them.

[University Research, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I mentioned it earlier, but the member was probably not listening, so I will say it again a little bit slower this time.

We have increased funding to the science and tech communities. Out of the $5.1 billion for science and technology, $2 billion is actually going to our universities and colleges. We are proud of that, because under the previous government, that infrastructure was left to dilapidate.

We have added more money to scholarships, more scholarships for more students, more research money, good quality buildings and good equipment. That member has voted against all that.

[University Research, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the member is absolutely incorrect. I suppose that is okay because that member has voted against the budget anyway, a budget that we have increased every single year that we have been here.

There is a 50% increase in the social sciences scholarship programs. What we heard in prebudget consultations from universities, colleges and researchers was that we actually needed more. So we put more in, almost 3,100 new scholarships across the board, with no reduction in existing scholarships. There are 3,100 new ones which the member voted against.

[Automotive Industry, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the first thing I would like to do is welcome the member to the House of Commons here in Ottawa. Obviously he has either not been here or has not been paying attention.

For months this government has been working with the Americans. This government has been down to the United States and has met with the people down there who are current to this integrated industry.

While we are very pleased that GM and the CAW are working closer together these days, the fact is that we still have to do our due diligence. We are working hard. We are committed to finding a strong future for this industry and protecting Canada's portion of this market.

[Automotive Industry, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Industry was out way ahead of this game. In fact he was out before the Americans. We have been working in partnership with the Americans on this integrated auto strategy. The member may not know but the auto industry spans the entire continent and we have been working well with the Americans.

I want to assure the House that once we have all the conditions in place and all the right due diligence is done, we will work with the auto industry for a strong future. We will find the balance between protecting the taxpayers and supporting this industry.

[Automotive Industry, March 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the member is absolutely wrong. This government has done a number of things, starting in 2007, to help the Canadian economy. In fact, the 2009 budget put forward easier access to credit. We have provided measures to help purchase new machinery and equipment. Those guys just cannot get it that we are getting it done for Canadians. We have enhanced skills training. We have support for workers and their families. We have a 100% capital cost allowance for new computers. That group down there is voting against all of it.