John Baird

[Infrastructure, October 20th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I will tell the member opposite a number of things. When we arrived in government in this place and when I arrived on Parliament Hill, I was absolutely astonished by the neglect of the nation's capital by the previous government.

We are facing some unprecedented economic challenges and I am very proud to be part of a government that is making investments to improve the quality of life for our public servants all over the national capital region.

As we restore hope and opportunity and create jobs, we need the Liberals to stop voting against these important investments in infrastructure.

[Infrastructure, October 20th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear in this place that neither me nor my office had anything to do with the awarding of this contract. It was done by a crown corporation operating at arm's-length.

The member opposite is making rather scurrilous allegations. If he has any facts with respect to this issue, I invite him to place them before the House, or he should have the guts to say what he wants to say outside this place.

[Infrastructure, October 20th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, our government has made significant investments in every region of this country to ensure that our bridges are safe. The decisions are made by the corporations responsible for those bridges. Those corporations are truly independent of this government and they have to operate openly and transparently.

[Business of Supply, October 19th, 2009]

He was a very successful leader of the opposition.

[Transportation, October 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I know the member opposite has spoken to me repeatedly on this issue. We are working very diligently with our Olympic partners to provide a secure environment with the very minimal possible disruption to neighbouring regions of the province of British Columbia. This is a significant challenge.

Our commitment is to work in co-operation to ensure we do enough to ensure our athletes and the travelling public are safe. That is our objective.

It is interesting to note that the NDP did not want to support the Olympics taking place in Vancouver-Whistler. That is something that those of us on this side of the House strong supported.

[Infrastructure, October 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier in question period, this government takes the health and safety of Canadians, particularly those in Quebec City and the bridge in question, very seriously. A legal issue with the bridge arose under the previous government, which has led to litigation.

We are committed to working with the Province of Quebec, Canadian National and all the parties involved to ensure we can come up with an agreement that is in the best interests of Canadian taxpayers and that will benefit the people of Quebec City.

[Infrastructure, October 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this government needs members of Parliament to stand and vote in favour of our economic action plan. This government needs the support of members of Parliament to support our infrastructure investments right across the country.

There is nothing wrong with members of Parliament fighting for good projects in their regions. There is nothing wrong with members of Parliament fighting to have cleaner water through sewer investments, better roads, better bridges, better public transit and better projects like the project in Halifax that we announced. Working with the NDP government and the city of Halifax, we are helping to build a brand new library right in downtown Halifax.

We are getting the job done and we have nothing to apologize for.

[Infrastructure, October 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, when it comes to health and safety, this government gives directives to our crown corporations to make sure that our transportation systems are safe. We do not apologize for that at all.

In addition to having signed cheques, not signed cheques because they are not signed yet, I have to get them to sign after question period, we have the member for Malpeque's picture signing a cheque. We have the member for Richmond Hill who has actually signed the cheque and we also have the Liberal member for Scarborough—Agincourt. If any more of them want to stand up, I have plenty more.

[Infrastructure, October 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the government does not have to make apologies for making accessibility improvements to federal government workplaces across the country and in P.E.I.

I have seen the Liberal Party members on their feet many times today complaining about cheques. The member for Malpeque explicitly talked about a project in Kensington.

I would not use a prop, Mr. Speaker, but I have in my hand a picture of the member for Malpeque with a cheque, “a cheque for Kensington”, his smiling face and the grant recipient. I have it right here. I would be pleased to table it right after question period.

[Infrastructure, October 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, at one moment the member opposite claims that we are keeping numbers a secret. I think those numbers were all in the newspapers this morning. That is generally the research bureau of the Liberal Party.

More than half of the money the member opposite talks about is the cost to print the document, the report to taxpayers that she herself demanded that this government follow.

We do not apologize for being accountable to Canadian taxpayers. We do not apologize for having our Prime Minister speak to Canadians in every corner of the country. That is a responsibility that this government responds to and we are up to the challenge.