John Baird

[Public Transit, June 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it has been the leader of the NDP who has been standing up in this place and asking for a buy Canadian policy. Seventy-five per cent of these streetcars are not made in Canada.

There are 3,700 municipalities in Canada. We have one program for all 3,700. Look at what one individual said: “There are important projects in my city that we did not submit because they weren't eligible. It's really unfair for any municipality that held back projects that didn't qualify”. Who said that? Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell.

[Infrastructure, June 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition and every single member of the Liberal caucus, every single Liberal MP, voted for a stimulus plan that would last for two years.

This government has been very committed to supporting public transit in Canada's largest city. We are supporting the Spadina subway extension. We are supporting major investments in GO Transit. We are a third partner for the Sheppard line. In the budget we also included significant new resources to help clean up the most important building in the province, Union Station.

[Infrastructure, June 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, what we are doing is we are supporting Canada's economic action plan. The Leader of the Opposition voted for that economic action plan.

One of the requirements of that stimulus fund is that we get projects moving quickly and that they conclude within the next two years. That was the plan this House supported. That was the plan the Leader of the Opposition supported. We are moving aggressively to create jobs in Toronto now, not in the next 5 or 10 years.

[Public Transit, June 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we are committed to supporting public transit and the city of Toronto. We have shown an unprecedented commitment to do that. We have announced substantial support for the Spadina subway extension. We have shown significant support for GO Transit. The Minister of Finance cited Union Station in the budget.

Just a few short weeks ago, my Prime Minister and my premier were there giving more money to the Toronto Transit Commission to expand public transit for all citizens of Toronto, including the newest citizen of Toronto, the granddaughter of the leader of the NDP and the member for Trinity—Spadina.

[Public Transit, June 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, over in the NDP there is a two-headed NDP monster. One says “Buy Canadian”; the other one says, “Buy foreign”. One says, “Create jobs in the next two years”; the other one says, “Spread them out over 10 years”.

We are committed to working with the city of Toronto to create jobs in the next two years so that there is more hope, more opportunity and a much needed shot in the arm for the city of Toronto's economy. Step by step, we are committed to getting it done.

[Public Transit, June 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I always appreciate questions from the member opposite.

We are tremendously concerned about the unemployment challenges facing the city of Toronto. We do not want to create jobs on another continent. We want to create jobs right in the city of Toronto. We do not want the people of Toronto left out of our economic action plan. That is why we have made substantive investments in infrastructure from the Spadina subway to the Sheppard LRT. In the budget the Minister of Finance cited Union Station.

We are committed to working constructively with him and with the mayor to make things happen for the people of Toronto.

[Public Transit, June 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from my former premier.

Those of us on this side of the House are committed to ensuring that Toronto gets its fair share. The city is an important part of our economic action plan. The city has been hit very hard by the global recession. With any investment that we make in the city, our goal is to create jobs for the people of Toronto where they need them most.

We have made important investments in public transit. Just last month the Prime Minister was in Toronto with the Premier of Ontario making a large billion dollar investment on the Sheppard LRT. We are excited about that, and we look forward to more partnerships with the city.

[Manufacturing and Forestry Industries, June 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, federal and provincial governments are working very hard in all regions of Canada and Quebec.

Our budget included major measures, such as the gas tax. We have increased the municipal refund by 200%. We have already begun paying that money out to every municipality because we know that municipalities are at the heart of this country. It is critical that we support municipalities.

[The Economy, June 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is wrong.

It is absolutely crucial to have a real government to sign accords and detailed agreements. If the House is not sitting, if we do not have a real government, we cannot take action.

We are taking action; we are creating jobs across Canada and in all regions of Quebec. Quebec has a strong team working for it on this side of the House, one that is achieving real results for the province.

[The Economy, June 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question.

We are working very hard with the Government of Quebec. We are in the midst of signing a detailed agreement. It is absolutely crucial that we continue to work with the Government of Quebec and make the necessary investments to create jobs, because economic growth in Quebec and Canada is our top priority.