Mr. Chair, it is hard to speak when there is a constant cacophony from the other side.
House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 43% of the vote.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, it is hard to speak when there is a constant cacophony from the other side.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, I have dealt with that number. However, again, what we are doing is standing up for Canada's interests against an unscientific, discriminatory objective which undermines Canadian jobs.
What I find astonishing is that this party would have—
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, as I said, I am proud of every visit that I have made to promote Canadian jobs, and frankly we are very pleased with the progress. There is 70% of the American public who are onside with Keystone. All the governors to whose states the pipeline would go are in favour of it. A majority of the Senate and a majority of the members of the House of Representatives are in favour of it.
However, the members opposite go down there, using taxpayer money, to undermine our message.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, I am really astonished that the NDP would bring up this subject because its members have travelled to the United States to thwart development. They have travelled to the United States to undermine our projects that are going to create jobs and economic growth. What a waste of money that has been.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, I am proud to say that I and a number of my cabinet colleagues have travelled to the United States. I have travelled to Chicago, Houston, New York and Washington. We are promoting a Canadian environmental and development interest. We are conveying our responsible development of resources, and we are promoting projects that would create jobs in Canada, across the country.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, our government has shown strong support for the north. We signed a revised royalty sharing agreement between our government and the Government of Yukon.
Throughout the north, mining projects are providing well-paying jobs for Canadians. There are nine producing mines in the north, including Yukon’s own Minto. This one, Wolverine and Keno Hill, are providing opportunities for thousands of Canadians today, and 24 advanced natural resource projects representing more than $20 billion in investments have the potential to provide opportunities for thousands more.
We established the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, which will help with this development. Earlier this year, we opened its permanent headquarters—not, I might add, in Ottawa or Gatineau, but in Iqaluit. One of its most important responsibilities is the northern projects management office. As in the south, we want to ensure a single window for industry in dealing with government.
We need thorough, balanced, science-based environmental assessments conducted on a timely basis and in accord with the principle of one project, one review so that opportunities like this one can be realized across the north in a responsible manner.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, I would like to thank the member for Yukon very much for his insightful and moving remarks, and also for his very relevant question.
The natural resource sector is the largest private employer of aboriginal peoples in Canada. In 2012, more than 32,000 aboriginal people worked in the sector, which is 8.3% of all aboriginals employed in Canada, with 13,500 in the energy sector, 10,200 in minerals and metals, and 8,500 in the forestry sector.
Over the next 10 years, more than 600 major projects representing over $650 billion in potential new investments are planned across Canada. Most of this development is located on or near aboriginal communities, and much of it is located in northern Canada.
To further enable aboriginal peoples to take advantage of these opportunities, budget 2013 would provide over $600 million to support aboriginal education, skills development and community infrastructure. These efforts will ensure that aboriginal Canadians can share in the tremendous benefits offered by the development of our natural resources.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, as I said earlier this evening, 42% of NRCan's indeterminate employees occupied scientific or technical positions before the implementation of savings measures under budget 2012. After the resulting workforce adjustment, 43% of NRCan's indeterminate employees are occupying scientific or technical positions.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, the geo-mapping for energy and minerals program commenced as a five-year $100 million initiative as part of the government's plan to lay the foundation for sustainable economic development in the north by providing modern fundamental geo-science knowledge. Natural resource development remains at the centre of the government's economic agenda. The geo-science knowledge created by the GEM program is directly contributing to economic development objectives in Canada's north.
BUSINESS OF SUPPLY May 21st, 2013
Mr. Chair, the person to whom the hon. member was referring is Scott Vaughan and let me quote from his report. He said:
For me, this report has been a model of cooperation with senior government officials, both in terms of working through some difficult files [but also]...in...the government accepting our recommendations...
Another comment he made was:
I don't have the slightest doubt that this government is absolutely focused on closing the gaps we've identified.
Finally, he said:
—this is how the system is supposed to work. We've identified...gaps, and the government is committed to closing them.