John Baird

[Polar Bears, May 12th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, protecting the iconic polar bear is a concern for our government because Canada is home to two-thirds of the world's polar bear population. We will not wait to act. Last week Environment Canada agreed to work with the U.S. Department of the Interior to protect the future of the polar bear. I am pleased to note that last week's meeting ended with a signed commitment between our two countries to work toward the long term protection of Canada's polar bears. I was pleased to include the Inuit leader, Mary Simon, in these discussions, because we have a great deal to learn from Inuit traditional knowledge and from their firsthand experience.

We are committed to protecting the polar bear.

[Manufacturing Industry, May 12th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I do understand one thing. I understand that a whopping gas tax increase, a tax on home heating fuel, a tax on people who are heating their homes with natural gas, and a massive new Liberal tax on electricity would do great damage to Canadian working families and it would do great damage to seniors living on fixed incomes.

I do not want any seniors to have to face the choice between filling their refrigerators, filling their prescriptions or filling their gas tanks. That is what the Liberal Party will do to Canada.

[Trent-Severn Waterway, May 9th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I am shocked by that question from this member.

Because of the hard work of the member for Simcoe North, we are finally getting around to making some major repairs. It will cost $63 million to support the restoration of the Trent-Severn Waterway. It has been backed consistently by that member and members of this caucus.

I think this is nothing more than a blatant attempt to change the subject from the Liberal Party's new gas tax and also a tax on home heating fuel, electricity and natural gas, something that will hurt middle class families and seniors living on fixed income.

[Heritage Waterways, May 9th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I say to my friend from Ottawa Centre: yes and yes.

[Trent-Severn Waterway, May 8th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, because of the hard work of the member for Simcoe North, I am pleased to say that our government will be making a five year commitment of more than $63 million to support the Trent-Severn Waterway.

People have known for many years that the member for Simcoe North works hard and now is just another example that he gets results.

[The Environment, May 8th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the French Prime Minister has been asked publicly if he thought this applied to Canada, and he said no.

[The Environment, May 8th, 2008]

No, Mr. Speaker.

[The Environment, May 7th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, we provide funding on an annual basis to groups that submit requests. There are obviously always more requests than there are funds. What this really does point out is that for 18 long years the Bloc Québécois has been in this place and has been able to exercise no power because it is on the opposition side of the House, not like 11 strong Conservative MPs who are working hard for Quebec and delivering the goods.

[The Environment, May 7th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, Environment Canada provides a whole series of supports to environmental projects and objectives right across the country. We think it is important not to do everything in-house but to work cooperatively with others to seek help in protecting the ecosystems and biological diversity of this country, and that is something we will continue to do.

[Ethics, May 7th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the only poll that matters is the one on election day.

The last time the people of Canada were asked did they want to re-elect a crooked, corrupt Liberal government, 70% of Canadians voted against the Liberals and threw them out of office.