John Baird

[International Co-operation, February 28th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, the minister has made a great contribution in providing assistance and doubling our aid to vulnerable people in Africa. Under the Prime Minister's leadership, she has provided a great amount of work with respect to the maternal and newborn health initiative and with respect to the cause of women in Afghanistan.

Let us look at what her own deputy minister said before committee:

The inclusion of the word “not” is just a simple reflection of what her decision was, and she has been clear. So that's quite normal.

That was said by her own deputy minister.

[International Co-operation, February 28th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, let us look at the facts. The officials made a recommendation. The minister has been very clear that in this government, elected officials, ministers, make decisions. The minister, after considering the advice of her department, made a decision not to provide support to this organization, as is her right.

I personally believe and those of us on this side of the House honestly believe that it was the right decision. It was a courageous decision. It was the best decision for Canadian taxpayers.

[International Co-operation, February 28th, 2011]

Let us look at the facts, Mr. Speaker.

[International Co-operation, February 28th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, last December the minister appeared before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. At that committee she said, I think some 11 times, that she was the one who made the decision not to provide the funding to this non-governmental organization.

I know it is a bit interesting for Liberals. Only Liberals would charge that someone got into a scandal by not giving a grant.

[International Co-operation, February 28th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I believe it was a former leader of the Liberal Party who said that MPs were a bunch of nobodies only 100 metres from this place.

The minister made a decision not to provide funding to a particular non-governmental organization, as is her right. She made a difficult decision. It was the right decision. She has made a great contribution to international development right around the world and she has a record all Canadians can be proud of.

[International Co-operation, February 28th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, it will not come as a surprise to the House or the member opposite that I do not share the characterizations that he made in his preamble.

The minister had a decision to make on whether she wanted to award a $7 million grant to a particular non-governmental organization. She made a decision not to provide that funding, as she is entitled to properly do.

The minister has done an outstanding job in Africa. She has done an outstanding job in promoting the rights of women and children in Afghanistan. When the people of Haiti needed a friend, they certainly had one in the minister.

[Libya, February 28th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 7 of the Special Economic Measures Act and section 4 of the United Nations Act I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of an order in council and regulations implementing the United Nations resolution on Libya and taking special economic measures which are in regard to the sanctions against Libya and Moammar Gadhafi formerly announced on February 27, 2011 by the Prime Minister.

[Public Safety, February 18th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, the information that we tabled before Parliament yesterday is in response to the questions the Liberals asked.

One of the bills that will cost a significant amount of money is the truth in sentencing bill. This is the terrible situation where criminals get a two-for-one benefit to their sentencing.

Interestingly enough, when the bill passed Parliament on June 8, the Liberals made no request for how much this would cost. They are now asking how much it will cost after they voted for it.

Why did they not do their job and ask these questions before they supported this important legislation?

[Public Safety, February 18th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I wish, for once, the Liberal Party would talk about the costs of crime to the victims who suffer from crime.

We tabled in the House a response to the questions that the Liberal members requested. What about the cost to insurance? What about the cost to victims when their cars are stolen, particularly in the city of Winnipeg where the number of automobiles that are stolen is incredibly high?

I would like to ask the Liberals, would they for once consider the cost to victims of crime?

[International Co-operation, February 18th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I think the minister has been very clear that she was the one who took the decision with respect to not providing the $7 million grant to an organization.

Let me read a quote from her deputy, the president of CIDA, a well-respected public servant, who said:

This is quite normal, and I certainly was aware of her decision. The inclusion of the word “not“ is just a simple reflection of what her decision was—

I do not know what kind of stand the New Democrat Party would like to take, but in this party and this government, elected officials make decisions, and that is the way it should be.