House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 56% of the vote.
Minister of Public Works and Government Services October 24th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, we are proud of what Mr. Fortier is doing for the city of Montreal and for the province of Quebec.
What the member for Hull—Aylmer just said about the committee this morning is not at all true. I know because I was at the committee meeting; the member for Hull—Aylmer was not.
Justice October 24th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, over my time as the member of Parliament for the tri-cities, no issue has been more frequently raised by my constituents than the frustration over the seeming injustice in our justice system.
I and this Conservative government have heard those concerns and we are taking action to make our streets safer.
For example, we have introduced tough new legislation. Bill C-9 will limit or eliminate house arrest for dangerous violent criminals. Bill C-10 will establish a mandatory minimum amount of jail time for gun violence. Bill C-19 will create a new Criminal Code offence for street racing. Bill C-22 will raise the age of protection to 16 and protect tens of thousands of children from sexual abuse.
In our budget we committed millions toward tougher border security and millions more toward hiring new police officers from coast to coast.
The first responsibility of the state, before all else, is to protect law-abiding citizens from those who would do them harm. For 13 years the Liberals did nothing and for 13 years the NDP encouraged the Liberals to soften our already soft laws on crime.
This Conservative government is getting tough on crime and protecting Canadian families.
Business of Supply October 19th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, with the budget cuts that we have announced, it is important to put everything in perspective. Some of the language we have heard from the Liberals, during the course of this debate and over the past couple of weeks, has been hyperbolic at best. We are talking about cutting less than one-half of 1% of the federal budget. That is it.
My colleague and some members of other parties in the House have mentioned programs. There is no question they are sincere in the concern about what these cuts will mean to some specific programs. However, to describe this as somehow meanspirited and draconian, as the Liberals describe, is insincere and wrong. This is a very small cut. We are cutting, for example, a number of programs where money was allocated but never spent. For example, $20 million was set aside for fish farms, polluting dirty fish farms, in Nova Scotia. That money was allocated but never spent. It is hardly draconian cutting spending that was never in fact done; it was just allocated.
The most important aspect of the Conservative fiscal plan is that we are paying down the debt by over $13 billion. When I was first elected to this place six years ago, I was 24 years of age. The big issue in that campaign, and it continues to be for young Canadians, is that the federal government has to pay down the federal debt so future generations of young Canadians are not hammered economically because of the broken and failed promises of politicians they have never met.
We have made the largest debt paydown in Canadian history, over $13 billion. It is to the benefit of young Canadians. We have done this with small cuts to programs, which are reasonable cuts. It is less than one-half of 1% of the federal budget. If we cannot do that, then the Liberals are saying there is no way we can possibly pay down the debt if we cannot even get that done.
What we are doing is entirely fiscally responsible. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says so. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce says so. My constituents are saying so. They applaud the fiscal measures. Just because the federal government has a surplus, it does not mean the money is being spent well. There is no better expenditure for young Canadians than to pay down the debt and give them a better future.
Asia-Pacific Gateway October 19th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, from the Hudson's Bay Company to the St. Lawrence Seaway, to FTA and NAFTA, and now the Pacific Gateway, Canada is and always has been a trading nation.
The next chapter of our international opportunities lies in our ability to capitalize on the unprecedented economic growth that is occurring in the Asia-Pacific region. We are at the geographic crossroads between the massive economy of the United States and the rapidly emerging economies of China, India and indeed, all of Asia.
Our Conservative government recognizes this opportunity and we are taking action. We have invested $591 million in key infrastructure projects across British Columbia and western Canada, improving security, making transportation efficient, and working with all levels of government to make the Asia-Pacific Gateway a national success story.
Conservatives believe in free trade, reaching out, seeking global opportunities, and we believe in creating Canadian jobs through world sales. We promised to take action, to lead on the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and we will make it a success story for all Canadians.
Defence Construction Canada October 16th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table this document.
In accordance with section 8 of the Alternative Fuels Act, I wish to table in this House two copies of the Defence Construction Canada's annual report in both official languages.
Access to Information Act and Privacy Act October 6th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32.(2) I wish to table in the House two copies of Public Works and Government Services Canada's Access to Information Act and Privacy Act 2005-06 annual reports.
Public Works and Government Services October 5th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, in file after file, what we are doing for Canadian taxpayers is what we promised to do in the election campaign. We are getting value for Canadian taxpayer dollars. That is what Canadians sent us here to do. That is what we will do for Canadian taxpayers, we will get value.
When the next election campaign comes, Canadians will reward a government that keeps its word and gets value. It will not matter who is leading that party, if it is Bob recession Rae or the honourable academic from Massachusetts.
Petitions October 4th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by a number of Canadians from across the Lower Mainland, Abbotsford, my constituency, Richmond, West Vancouver and elsewhere.
The petition deals with an issue on which I have fought hard for the past six years as a member of Parliament and that is to have tougher laws to fight the cowards who use date rape drugs to abuse women.
I present this petition to be sent to the justice committee.
Federal Accountability Act October 4th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, today is day 105 of the Liberal Senate's foot dragging and filibuster on the toughest anti-corruption law in Canadian history. It is shameful that the Liberal Senate is deliberately delaying the passage of the accountability act after this House passed it in a mere 72 days.
Canadians remember the sponsorship scandal as a terrible stain on our country's history, yet when Canada's new Conservative government acted immediately to clean up the Liberal mess and restore the public's trust in government, the Liberal Party did nothing but play games.
Canadians want to know why the party of corruption has done nothing to help move forward the federal accountability act. Canadians want action. Canadians want an end to corruption. Canadians deserve better than these games that are being played by the Liberal Party of Canada.
Petitions September 27th, 2006
Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls on the federal government to get aggressive with regard to date rape drugs, which is an issue that I have pushed over the years as a member of Parliament.