House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 57% of the vote.
Health March 26th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the pretext of the hon. member's question comes from an anonymous report that there are changes being considered to the Canada Health Act. Let me say very clearly that the Canada Health Act will remain public, comprehensive, universal, portable and accessible, the five pillars. It will remain so.
International Transfer of Offenders Act February 24th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I wish to ensure that I am recorded as voting with the government on this motion.
Fisheries February 4th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, we certainly are setting the tone here for the third session of the 37th Parliament, because there is a great debate occurring in the House. I want to thank and applaud the hon. member for St. John's West, for on the third day of the third session of the 37th Parliament we are debating an issue which is of vital importance to Atlantic Canada. He has used his time and energy to craft this motion. This debate suits the House very well. It is setting the tone.
I want to say to the hon. member and to all members of the House that we certainly have a big issue but we also have a big opportunity and it is up to us to seize this opportunity. We have a growing basis of support not only from colleagues within the House but internationally as well. As my colleague from Burin--St. George's pointed out, there is a growing understanding that we have a responsibility not only as those who are patriots of a nation, but those who are stewards of a resource internationally to protect and to conserve.
That is not occurring on the Grand Banks. It is not occurring on the nose and tail. It is up to us as international stewards to take ownership, to use the law of the sea, to use whatever instrument is available to us. I will be supporting this motion when it comes time for a vote.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency November 5th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, for the third time, the hon. member is very consistent, I will give him that, on certain things, but where he is inconsistent is on the fact that I have explained to him on numerous occasions, again and again, that certain projects do not fall within a geographic constituency. They fall within a pan-provincial basis. They sometimes encompass the entire Atlantic region.
If he goes to the website, he can provide himself with some very valuable information. If he does not quite get it right, let me help him out in the process. No, Mr. Speaker, do not cut me off--
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency November 4th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, regrettably, there is a serious problem throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and Atlantic Canada, and that was the closure of the cod fishery, which created a great negative economic impact.
Those impacts, particularly on the northern peninsula, have been very severely acute. Of course we put in place an assistance program to provide some level of assistance based on those impacts.
That is exactly what occurred and that is exactly what will continue to occur.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency November 4th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, a lot of projects do not occur distinctly in a particular riding. In fact, I pointed out yesterday in the House of Commons that several initiatives were on a pan-provincial, pan-regional point of view. This information cannot be compiled on a riding by riding basis.
However if he would like some further instruction as to how to access the website or anything else I would be more than happy to provide it to him.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency November 4th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Langley--Abbotsford is promoting an interesting proposition.
Fisheries assistance is provided to those who need it on a proportional basis. If the hon. member is suggesting, for example, that funding for forestry compensation through the community economic development initiatives related to the softwood lumber agreement should be given to everybody in the country, whether or not they have actually been impacted, that is a ridiculous proposition.
We target funding to where the impacts occur on a proportionate basis and that is exactly what is happening in this particular case.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency November 4th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, information is available to all people, including members of the House, citizens of Newfoundland and Labrador, citizens of Atlantic Canada and members on the opposite side.
One of the things that the hon. member is alluding to is the fact that assistance has been provided to those who have been negatively impacted by cod fishers on a proportionate basis. I am delighted that we were able to provide that assistance. That information is available.
Fisheries November 3rd, 2003
Mr. Speaker, with the new innovations in the House the member can get that information right from his chair in the House of Commons because it is all on the Internet, which we have now introduced into the House.
The fact is that the hon. member is very aware of all the projects that are occurring in his riding, despite the fact that he said that there was an air of secrecy around them.
I remember not too long ago telling the hon. member about a particular project in Little Bay Islands, one that all of a sudden, when asked by the media, he had no knowledge of whatsoever.
That $575,000 will be of great benefit to his riding, but most important, to the people of his riding.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency October 30th, 2003
Mr. Speaker, perhaps he did not understand the answer to the first question.
This is an entity that provides benefits throughout the entire region. The forestry sector is extremely important to all Atlantic Canadians. The fact of the matter is that this was a joint research and development and commercialization initiative that went beyond the boundaries of just J.D. Irving and sons. It went to other entities, other research institutions. The benefits are very, very real for all Atlantic Canadians.