Gordon O'Connor

[Budget Implementation Act, 2009, February 9th, 2009]

moved that Bill C-10, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on January 27, 2009 and related fiscal measures, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very important bill in this Parliament. It contains many measures. It contains measures related to infrastructure, tax changes, training, and all sorts of things that will help stimulate the economy.

With regard to infrastructure, many of the experts the finance minister consulted believe that the best way to help stimulate employment is through infrastructure. That is why we made arrangements with all the provinces to work with them to build the basic infrastructure of this country: roads, sewers, water plants and even a RInC program. We will provide $500 million in the budget to help restore the quality of the various RInCs around the country, most of which were established in 1967.

Beyond that, we are now working with the provinces to ensure there is sufficient training for our citizens because unemployment is starting to rise. Recently, it was 6.2% and it has now moved into the 7% category.

Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.

Training is required because unemployment is starting to rise. This rise in unemployment was basically caused by the worldwide recession. As we know, the worldwide recession began in the United States where there was a very weak housing situation. Millions of houses had been sold to people who could not pay their mortgages. They defaulted on their mortgages, causing many banks and trust companies to default. The banks which defaulted caused a ripple effect through the rest of the economy and banks around the world began to default. This has forced many nations to inject large amounts of capital into their systems to try to restore order within the banks.

The ripple effect began to affect companies, which in turn began to lay off people. This has affected Canada because Canada--

[Canada–EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, February 5th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I believe that if you were to seek it, you would find that there is unanimous consent to apply the results of the vote just taken to the motion for second reading of Bill C-2 with Conservative members voting yes.

[Situation in Sri Lanka, February 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, my colleague from Scarborough—Agincourt has referred to one of our members as smoking dope. I want an apology from him right now.

[Privilege, February 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite in his statement has never referred to any member of Parliament. He makes references to party members. He even said “the government” at one point. However, he has not referred to anyone in the House. In fact, I do not believe it is a matter of privilege for the House. We have no knowledge of these matters. The first time I was made aware of it was when he rose to speak.

To me, this is a personal statement and not a matter of privilege.

[Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, February 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I want to explain budgeting very quickly. Starting in 2006, and through 2007 and 2008 our government committed billions and billions into the shipyards. They may not show up in this budget, all these billions, but they have been committed by the government. Therefore, all those DND projects are there. The money is there and it will be spent. It just does not show up in this budget. The member has to go back and do the research.

[Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, February 2nd, 2009]

You obviously do not understand government or how the process works.

We have so much work for our Canadian shipyards that they will be busy for more than a decade.

We have to look at the cost, the capability and the schedule. If a shipyard cannot build something, or none of our shipyards can build a specific vessel, then we will have to go offshore. For anything offshore, we are committed to 100% industrial benefits in Canada. If somebody in a foreign country receives one of these contracts, the company would have to invest the equivalent of $1 for every $1 we spend—

[Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, February 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, if the member would let me finish, he can then answer.

On the order books right now are four submarines will be upgraded, 12 frigates will be upgraded, 6 to 8 Arctic vessels will be built, 3 support ships will be built and 98 Coast Guard vessels will be built. They have not been cancelled. The first round of bids on the support ships were not acceptable, so they are going to try again—

[Canada-EFTA Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, February 2nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I do not normally get involved in these debates, but I can only take the NDP's dire prediction of the shipyards for only so long. I want to lay out what is really happening.

In Canada we have shipyards in the Atlantic region, in Quebec, Ontario and B.C. All of these shipyards at this moment are doing good in their commercial business. For example, the Lévis yard, which was going to go out of business a few years ago, was bought by the Norwegians. It is producing the various rigs for oil and gas. All the other yards are operating.

I want to clarify what the government policy is with respect to ships and shipbuilding. With respect to government contracts, the DND or the Coast Guard are compelled to start with Canadian shipyards and deal with them. They are—

[Points of Order, January 30th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member for Winnipeg Centre, in one of his questions, used inappropriate sexist language, I would ask that he apologize to this House and anybody else watching this on television.

[House of Commons Calendar, January 26th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and I believe you will find consent for the following motion. I move:

That notwithstanding the calendar tabled by the Speaker pursuant to Standing Order 28(2)(b), the House not sit on Friday, May 1, 2009; that, notwithstanding the Standing Orders and usual practice of the House, on Thursday, April 30, 2009, after Question Period, no dilatory motions or requests for unanimous consent shall be received by the Speaker, and that any recorded division that is deferred to or requested on Thursday, April 30, 2009, be deferred or further deferred, whichever the case may be, to the end of Government Orders on Monday, May 4, 2009.

I would remind members that this means the House will be sitting this Friday, January 30.