Jean-Pierre Blackburn

[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.

[Maritime Labour Convention, October 17th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to table in this House two copies, in both official languages, of the report on the Maritime Labour Convention adopted by the International Labour Conference in February 2006.

[International Labour Organization, October 17th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Article 19 of the International Labour Organization’s Constitution, member States are required to bring recently adopted conventions and recommendations to the attention of the competent authorities.

[Forest Industry, June 15th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the forest and softwood lumber industry is restructuring. Quebec is in the midst of a serious crisis. As the government, we took real action by settling the softwood lumber dispute, which allowed companies in Quebec to receive $1 billion. That said, stakeholders are discussing stumpage fees and royalties with the Government of Quebec.

We are continuing to support secondary and tertiary processing in this sector. We have introduced six new tools to help the different regions of Quebec.

[Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, June 13th, 2007]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-62, 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.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, June 13th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, indeed, the Alma airport did receive a contribution through one of the six new tools we have implemented called community economic facilities for the regions. The same goes for the others, like Sept-Îles, which enlarged its wharf.

The role—the purpose—of the Economic Development Agency of Canada is to help vulnerable regions and regions in difficulty.

The budget for Abitibi-Témiscamingue went from 4% to 7% this year; for the Eastern Townships, it went from 5% to 8%; for Quebec City, growth ranged from 7% to 22% because of the 400th anniversary and so forth. We are helping regions in difficulty.