John Baird

[Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, June 1st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that the leader of the NDP wants to make derogatory comments about people who work in the public service and who work in the benefit of Canadians. What is increasingly clear is that maybe it will be the leader of the NDP who is looking for a job before anyone else in that regard.

[Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, June 1st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, just about every pension plan in every corner of the world is facing the reality of the economic downturn that has taken place right across this continent and around the world. Canada's economy is doing demonstrably better than most countries.

Patricia Croft from RBC Asset Management said, “Canada continues to be the envy of the world in regard to our fiscal position, and we can get out of it without having to raise taxes”. That is an important message for Canadians, and it is a very important message for the leader of the Liberal Party, who wants to raise taxes on hardworking middle-class Canadians.

[Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, June 1st, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, by law, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board operates independently and at arm's length from the federal government and the provincial governments across the country. That is something the member opposite has not put on the floor. But it also deals with taxpayers' money, and any compensation for its executives should reflect that reality.

[Official Languages, May 26th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we very much appreciate the excellent work done by the commissioner over the past year. He has examined the areas of concern and has advised this government. I met with the commissioner a few weeks ago and I am ready to take action. He gave me the figures concerning those two major Canadian airports, I am prepared to take action to ensure that all Canadians will receive quality service in the official language of their choice.

[Infrastructure, May 26th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I can say that the very first stimulus projects we announced anywhere in the country were in the province of British Columbia. I can also say that I know one member from Vancouver Island who has worked very hard to deliver infrastructure projects to his riding. I am talking about the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.

I will make one promise to the member. If he were to phone the Liberal leader in British Columbia, Premier Gordon Campbell, and ask him if he is pleased with the speed with which this government has moved on infrastructure, he would get a very supportive answer.

[Infrastructure, May 26th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, in recent months we have made commitments for more than 1,000 projects in every corner of this country. This program is getting set up faster than any program the Liberal government ever had.

I would ask the member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca to listen to this: “We voted on a budget that contains a very substantial injection of stimulus into the economy. We voted for it in April. It is not coherent intellectually or economically for me to come out in May and say put another $30 million in. I am perfectly willing to come back in September and October.”

Does he know who said that? His own leader.

[Infrastructure, May 25th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is very interesting to watch another example of the Liberal Party following the NDP. That question was just asked by the NDP member for Outremont.

We will be meeting with the old Port of Montreal shortly after question period. Its officials have an exciting proposal with respect to infrastructure spending and it has the very active consideration of the government. I am meeting with them in 20 minutes and I am looking forward to learning more about it.

[Infrastructure, May 25th, 2009]

As I said, Mr. Speaker, I will be meeting in 20 minutes with the head of the Port of Montreal. Officials with the port put forward a stimulus program grant that would not have gone forward if it had been up to that member because he voted against the budget. He said that he did not want any money to go to Quebec or to Montreal. Thank goodness we have a strong minister responsible for Montreal who is ensuring that the job is getting done.

We will ensure that every effort is made to support projects in Montreal. What we will not do is raise taxes, which is what that member and the leader of the Liberal Party would have us do.

[Infrastructure, May 25th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to emphasize how hard the Old Port of Montréal Corporation is working.

I should tell the member that I will be meeting with the chair of the corporation's board of directors in 20 minutes.

[Employment Insurance, May 25th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, it is this government, not the NDP, that has brought forward a range of services and support to help seniors. It is this government that brought forward specific tax cuts to specifically support seniors and increases and changes to the guaranteed income supplement to help those seniors who are most vulnerable. It is no surprise that all this party wants to do is raise taxes one day and then have summits the next.

I can say that this side of the House is committed to an economic action plan that will give more jobs, more hope and less taxes to Canadians, unlike the Liberal leader and his friend in the NDP.