John Baird

[Conservative Government, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I will not engage in such a harsh language when it comes to my leader of the opposition. My leader of the opposition is right now working with my Prime Minister to do the right thing for Canadians, to make things happen, to create jobs, so we have just a little more hope and a little more opportunity in this country.

[Questions on the Order Paper, June 15th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I am informed by Transport Canada that in response to a) There was no official approval by the government on or before December 17, 2007, for this project.

In response to b) There has been no official approval by the government since December 17, 2007, for this project.

In response to c) The province of Newfoundland and Labrador formally submitted this project in September 2008 for consideration under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund, CSIF. No decision has been made to date.

[Employment Insurance, June 15th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we are making significant advancements and investments in public transit in Toronto. The Prime Minister and my premier made an important announcement with respect to the Sheppard line. We are investing in Union Station and we are investing in the Spadina subway.

However, we must be cautious because no investment can be made if that member and members of the Liberal Party vote no to flowing additional funds for infrastructure.

We will face an importance choice on Friday. We hope all members of the House will do the responsible thing and vote yes, freeing up even more money to create jobs, hope and opportunity in this country.

[Infrastructure, June 12th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, in this period of economic uncertainty, what my electors, the people I work for in Ottawa West--Nepean, expect is their political parties to put aside partisanship and to work together for the benefit of the country, the province and the city.

There is a great partnership going on between this federal government, led by the Prime Minister, and the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty, my premier. We are working constructively with the city and the other two levels of government on a $160 million plan with the Ottawa Congress Centre.

We put the shovels in the ground this morning. Jobs are being created. Hope and opportunity are in the future. Already 50 conventions have been booked.

[Persons with Disabilities, June 12th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, when the member opposite looks in totality at the important investments we are making in infrastructure, he will see we are making significant investments in Newfoundland and Labrador, and none of that money has gone into government ridings.

He will see that we made substantial investments in the city of Windsor, which is undertaking very serious unemployment challenges. He will see we are making substantive investments in Ottawa—Vanier, where we turned the sod on a project just this morning.

We are putting partisanship aside. We are working constructively with Liberal, Conservative and New Democratic governments around the country. We hope the hon. member will also put aside partisan politics and do what is right for the Canadian people.

[Finance, June 12th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I wish that the member for Ottawa South could be more like his brother Dalton.

Yesterday, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador announced that it currently has 107 tenders out for projects totalling $1.6 billion, creating an estimated 1,500 jobs. I hope the member opposite will join me in welcoming those important investments. We are working well with not just my premier, we are working well with the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, Danny Williams.

[Infrastructure, June 12th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we are making millions of dollars of investments right across Quebec. We have the gas tax, which this government committed to doubling as of April 1, and we honoured that commitment. Instead of paying out the first of that money in July, this government advanced those payments to April to get money on the ground.

The mayor of Sherbrooke said just this week, “The government has shown a commitment to co-operation and flexibility that will create jobs, and the economic stimulus plan moving forward will create new jobs and invest in the foundations of our economy, of quality of life”.

That was from the president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the mayor of Sherbrooke.

[Infrastructure, June 12th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we have made significant investments in every region of Quebec. I can give some examples: we have invested in Anjou, Beaupré, Blainville, Cabano, Gaspé and Gatineau. We are taking action and working hard in Quebec, and this will produce real results.

We feel it is absolutely crucial that we respect provincial jurisdictions and that is why we are taking action in Quebec. The Prime Minister, my colleague from Pontiac and I will continue working with the Charest government to produce positive results for the people of Quebec.

[Infrastructure, June 12th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, what we have seen with respect to building Canada is that more than half of the money has now been completely committed, projects are under way right across the province and right across the country. We have new infrastructure spending that is going on to stimulate the economy, to stimulate economic growth. More than 80% of the initiatives in the budget are now well under way. Step by step, we are getting the job done. This time requires strong leadership, cooperation in partnership, and not the criticism of the NDP, who did not even read the project and the proposals in the report that came out last week. That is a shame.

[Infrastructure, June 12th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the member comes from Hamilton. We have announced, with our partner the Government of Ontario, with my Premier Dalton McGuinty, more than 1,200 projects in every corner of the province, and we are going to see more than $3.5 billion worth of projects go forward. Engineers, architects, plants that make materials for construction, are already well at work. Shovels are going in the ground as we speak, and we are getting the job done.