House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 35% of the vote.
Manufacturing and Forestry Industries November 1st, 2007
Mr. Speaker, perhaps the Bloc Québécois members have not read the latest polls as we have. They would have seen that things are not so rosy for them.
That said, we know there are problems in the forestry sector. This was clearly indicated in the Speech from the Throne. People know that when the Prime Minister makes a promise like the one he made in the Speech from the Throne—he said he was going to address the forestry situation—he keeps his word.
Manufacturing and Forestry Industries November 1st, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know where the Bloc Québécois was in 1993 when the forestry crisis first broke out. What did they do at the time to convince the Parti Québécois to take action?
I also want to remind hon. members that we took action in the softwood lumber industry by investing $400 million in innovation in forestry. We corrected the fiscal imbalance. We gave $4.1 billion to Mr. Charest's government to take action in sectors under its jurisdiction, sectors like forestry.
Manufacturing and Forestry Industries November 1st, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Bloc Québécois must have asked 6,000 questions since he became a member of Parliament. What does he have to show for it? What has he achieved with all his questions? We are taking action.
We have acted on softwood lumber. We have invested $400 million in innovation in the forestry sector. We have also corrected the fiscal imbalance. And this is what manufacturers and exporters in Quebec had to say about our economic statement this week:
The reduction of federal corporate tax rates is an important measure that will enable Canada to maintain the level of private investment and attract foreign investment. We are therefore preserving our long-term global competitiveness—
Manufacturing and Forestry Industries November 1st, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I see that the leader of the Bloc Québécois is very good at asking questions in this House, but that unfortunately he forgets to listen to the answers.
What did we do this week? We announced our economic statement. We told Canadians that we were going to reduce the GST by 1%, which means that even people who do not pay tax will benefit from this cut.
We also announced individual and corporate tax cuts. Once again, we will all benefit from these measures.
Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act October 29th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, members will recall that certain amendments were made. We will respect the will of the House. Our intention is to send this bill directly to the Senate, if members so wish.
Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act October 29th, 2007
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, the Wage Earner Protection Program Act and chapter 47 of the Statutes of Canada, 2005.
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the special order made earlier, I would like to inform you that this bill dealing with wage earner protection is in the same form as Bill C-62 was in the previous session at the time of prorogation.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Charter of the French Language October 22nd, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I also had the opportunity to meet with our partners at banks and in areas under our jurisdiction in particular. At our meetings, I asked them in which language they offer their services in Quebec. The partners we consulted told us that in Quebec, in Quebec's regions, the language of service is French. When their headquarters do business with Canada as a whole or other countries, both official languages come into play.
Charter of the French Language October 22nd, 2007
Neither the Canada Labour Code nor the Quebec Code deal with the issue of language. It is our responsibility to deal with labour standards. It is in this context that the Canada Labour Code covers workers under our jurisdiction in Quebec.
However, I went into some banks on the weekend. There are no banks in Jonquière that provide people with service in English. We were served in our own language, in French.
The Bloc Québécois is trying to start arguments. That is the only reason they try to ride along, in this House, trying to pick fights with all of us.
Metallurgy Industry October 19th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I do not understand why the member does not support a $2 billion investment in Quebec. A large part of that money will go to the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region to implement Rio Tinto Alcan's new AP50 technology.
Rio Tinto has also promised to contribute $200 million to charities. Furthermore, the company's headquarters will remain in Montreal.
Members of the government, including the Minister of Industry, made this decision because it really is in Canada's best interest.
Metallurgy Industry October 19th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, France, Australia and Quebec all agreed to this transaction. The Minister of Industry also approved Rio Tinto's acquisition of Alcan because it will benefit Canada. Rio Tinto committed to investing $3.9 billion in Canada, $2 billion of that in Quebec. Furthermore, the company's headquarters will be in Montreal, and most of the senior executives will be in Canada.