John Baird

[Employment, September 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development has done an outstanding job, travelling across the country, listening to those who are unemployed, listening to what our government could do better to support them. That is why we have come forward with some pretty comprehensive reforms to the employment insurance system.

Through our economic action plan with respect to infrastructure, we have seen more than 12,000 projects supported in every corner of the country.

We are working hard. We have always been fair and reasonable with our friends in the provinces and territories and we will continue to do so.

[Employment, September 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I remember the New Democratic approach in the province of Ontario. Everything that was supposed to go down was going up and everything that was going up was supposed to be going down.

We have seen the creation of 430,000 net new jobs. That is nothing more than a good start. We must remain focused on the economy, focused on job creation.

That is why this fall we have the opportunity to debate more trade deals so we can have more jobs in the export sector. That is why we will be working hard this fall on the economy.

[Government Spending, September 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. Canada's economy, among all the OECD countries, the industrialized world, is the bright spot. It is the one that is creating jobs. It is the one where there is more hope. It is the one where there is more opportunity.

The Government of Canada is running the most fiscally responsible government in the western industrialized world. On every initiative that this government has taken to ensure that we live within our means, the Liberal Party has said, “spend more, tax more”, and that is not what Canadian families want.

[Government Spending, September 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, this government has made jobs and the economy our number one priority. That is why we have seen the creation of some 430,000 net new jobs. That is tremendous good news, but the job is not done. We remain focused. That is why this fall, the Minister of Finance, this entire government and entire Parliament is focused on jobs and the economy, doing more to get even more results.

However, with respect to the decision about an open and transparent process, this is what one individual said, “The decision announced by the government is the culmination of the selection process undertaken between 1997 and 2001 by the Liberal government. That is when Canada decided to join the F-35 program and invested $165 million”.

Jacques Saada, former—

[Government Spending, September 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, our government is focused on one big thing. It is jobs and the economy. It is what we can do to ensure that Canadian families have jobs, well-paying jobs, and that remains our top priority.

However, let me be very clear. We do believe we also have an important responsibility to our men and women in uniform. The planes that are being purchased will replace planes that will be more than 30 years old. These planes will last to 2040. That is why we are taking a different approach. We actually strongly support our men and women in uniform and want to equip them with the very best.

[Sittings of the House, September 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I would like to sincerely thank the member for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel for correcting me on my evil ways.

[Sittings of the House, September 23rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties and given that the installation of the new Governor General will take place next Friday in the Senate Chamber at 11 a.m., which is at the same time we normally have question period here in the House of Commons, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion.

I move: “That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, on Friday, October 1, 2010 the House shall meet at 8:30 a.m. and the order of business shall be as follows: Private Members' Business from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Statements by Members from 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.; Oral Question Period from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; Routine Proceedings at 10:30 a.m.; and that the House shall adjourn at the conclusion of Routine Proceedings, or at 11:45 a.m., whichever is earlier”.

[Privilege, September 22nd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, on the same point, I noticed that after question period the member for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour stood up and expressed concern about a word that the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development used. In the interest of raising the discourse in this place and trying to raise the bar this fall from what had become a rather raucous session in the spring, the Minister of Human Resources immediately stood up. She did not even wait to hear whether it was actually ruled as a point of order by you, Mr. Speaker. She did the right thing.

I would hope that no member of the House, and certainly not the member for Portage—Lisgar, but no Liberal member, no NDP member, no Bloc member and no government member would actually believe that the member for Portage--Lisgar, or for that matter any member, would believe that the serious problem, the serious concern in virtually every community in this country of domestic violence is not a crime. It is not just a serious crime, but it is a heinous crime.

I think the member spoke very eloquently, with a great amount of precedent. We will get your judgment on the question of privilege, Mr. Speaker, but I think it would be in the best interests, if we want to raise the discourse in this place, for the Leader of the Opposition on behalf of his party and on behalf of his staff, one, to take full responsibility, and two, to do the right thing and offer a sincere apology to the member for Portage—Lisgar.

[Government Spending, September 22nd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I must correct the hon. member across the way. The Government of Canada gave $500 million to revitalize Toronto's waterfront, which is a separate matter from the Olympic Games portfolio. If Quebec City ever has the honour of representing Canada as an Olympic city, the government will be quite proud to support it strongly, as it did for Calgary and Vancouver.

[Seniors, September 22nd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I think people in the member's constituency will rightly see this for what it is, an attempt to change the channel.

I have a brochure that the member put out, a householder he sent to his constituents, "Fighting for the North - Working for you”. In it he says, “Promise made: promise kept. [MP] fulfills commitment to vote down the long gun registry”.

The member has a chance. He can stand with his constituents. He can stand with his principles and he can do the right thing at 5:30 today.