House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 36% of the vote.
Forestry Industry January 31st, 2008
Mr. Speaker, we are very concerned about the forest industry. We recognize our challenges.
If the hon. member wants to support the forest industry, he should stand up and support the budget. Our Prime Minister announced a billion dollar commitment in the community development trust. If they care about the forest industries in our country, then they should stand up and support this budget.
Manufacturing and Forestry Sectors January 31st, 2008
Mr. Speaker, we are very much aware of some of the challenges facing the forest industry. That is in fact why we are so committed to this vital industry and why our Prime Minister recently announced a $1 billion community development trust to work with the provinces to help assist these workers.
In addition to that, since we have taken office, we have put in $72.5 million for the targeted initiative for older workers, we have committed $127 million to help the forest industry on its competitive strategy, including $70 million to promote innovation and $40 million to look at expanding markets. We are delivering for the industry.
Chalk River Nuclear Facilities January 30th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, again, the Liberals do not know what they stand for.
This matter was brought before Parliament. It became absolutely clear that there was not an issue of safety, that this reactor would be absolutely safe, and that we needed to overrule the regulator. Everyone supported that. That is in fact what this Parliament did.
We have to ensure that we are not put in that position again and allow that to happen. That is why we have taken decisive action and we stand behind that action.
Chalk River Nuclear Facilities January 30th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, the only bungling here is the Liberal Party position, because the Liberal members do not know what they stand for. They change their minds every day.
It was very clear. Our government acted responsibly, completely within our authority. We brought all the technical experts from AECL, from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and independent experts, put them before this House until every last question was answered, and every member, every party of this House, agreed that it was the right thing to do, that this reactor could be operated more safely than it was before. It was completely safe.
It was unnecessary to put the lives of Canadians at risk. That was not acceptable to this government and we were not prepared to do that.
Chalk River Nuclear Facilities January 30th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, that is absolute, complete nonsense.
If the member wants to talk about the Auditor General, in fact she was asked about this licensing issue and she said, “With respect to licensing, yes, we would have been informed of that, but we asked those questions and there was no indication that there was a problem with licensing”.
It became very clear that this reactor could resume operations safely and I am very pleased to report to the House of Commons that AECL has in fact completed the upgrades and this reactor is safer than it ever was before.
Chalk River Nuclear Facilities January 30th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, first let me state that our government took full responsibility. That is in fact why we acted.
We followed a number of logical steps in dealing with both of these agencies to resolve this matter, followed by a cabinet directive, and ultimately bringing a bill before this Parliament when it was clear that this reactor should be resumed to ensure that we do not put people's lives unnecessarily at risk.
We acted and every single member in this House supported that legislation, every single party. Now they want to change their minds. That is not responsible.
Chalk River Nuclear Facilities January 29th, 2008
Again, Mr. Speaker, the facts are very clear in this situation. We had to act. The former president had a number of options available to her to resolve this issue. She chose not to act. Those facts were clear.
This matter was brought before Parliament and ultimately it took this Parliament, every party and every single member, to support Bill C-38 so that the reactor could resume operations and Canadians' lives did not need to be put at risk unnecessarily. This government acted and did what it had to do.
Chalk River Nuclear Facilities January 29th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I want to stress that all of my actions were completely within my authority, in concert with officials in my department, to resolve this issue. The facts are that the former president did not want to use her executive powers to resolve this, and ultimately put people's lives at risk.
Ultimately we had to bring a bill before Parliament, which every single member in the House supported, to ensure that Canadians did not need to die. That was not something the government was prepared to accept.
Questions on the Order Paper January 28th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), the federal government has not received a formal request for a loan guarantee for the Lower Churchill hydroelectric project or its associated transmission lines.
In response to (b), the federal government has not made any budgetary provisions for such a loan guarantee.
Chalk River Nuclear Facilities January 28th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, all the facts are on the table. Every member of the House had an opportunity to question myself, the Minister of Health, officials from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and AECL. We stayed here until every last question was answered. I submitted myself before a parliamentary committee. We answered all those questions.
The facts remain that the former president of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission chose not to act even though there were a number of options available to her. There had to be accountability. The government has acted decisively.