John Baird

[Border Services, March 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, why do the member opposite and his party always take the dim view when it comes to the leadership of President Barack Obama?

We have confidence that, as these challenges arise, we can tackle these challenges and we can ensure that the free flow of people and goods continue to go forward.

I have confidence in Barack Obama, and I am surprised that the official opposition is waging a war of words about the president's leadership.

[Border Services, March 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, obviously we have been working very closely with our counterparts in the United States to ensure the free flow of travel and of goods.

I can say the efforts and leadership shown by the Prime Minister with the beyond the border plan have already had a favourable impact on the Canadian economy. As the sequestration process goes forward, we are going to keep a close eye on it and will take the necessary actions.

I can say, having personal experience, having gone across the border, that there has been no unusual delay since it happened.

[Employment, February 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, we take very seriously the plight of young workers, young Canadians and all Canadians who are looking for work so they can provide for themselves and their families.

I know the member opposite has a lot of experience in having a part-time job. I read in the paper recently that in addition to taxpayers paying him more than $150,000 a year, he is moonlighting at the CBC at the same time as he is sitting on the Canadian heritage committee. Maybe he should explain that to Canadians.

[Employment Insurance, February 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, if only the hon. member had listened to all those chambers of commerce when they spoke out so loudly and clearly against his plan to impose a huge carbon tax on Canadians, if only the leader of the NDP listened to Canadians, we would not have his plan for a $21.5 billion carbon tax.

[Employment Insurance, February 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Service Canada employees do not have quotas which would carry negative consequences for staff who fail to meet them. What we are trying to do is ensure that Canadians who work hard and play by the rules, who pay the premiums, get the benefits that they are entitled to, and nothing more.

[Employment Insurance, February 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the last time this government and this party consulted rural Canada with a widespread consultation, it was a record bumper crop. It is because of the leadership of this Minister of Agriculture.

[Employment Insurance, February 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians who have worked hard and paid into premiums should be entitled to the benefits they require. We have a substantial number of well-qualified public servants who are prepared to provide support and help Canadians achieve and obtain the benefits they have paid for. However, we would encourage the member opposite's constituents to work with the hard-working public servants, to ensure they get the benefits they so justly work for and so justly paid into.

[Employment Insurance, February 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, our vision for Canada is a strong economy, one that is creating jobs so that people can provide for themselves and their families.

Under the economic leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance we have seen the creation of some 900,000 net new jobs. More work remains to be done. That is why the government is providing a significant level of employment supports to help people find the dignity of a job and the pride of independence. That is why we are taking reasonable measures to ensure the system is sustainable for those hard-working workers who pay the freight.

[Employment Insurance, February 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, our fundamental responsibility is to ensure that there is integrity to all the programs the Government of Canada administers.

We are working to ensure that Canadians who have worked hard and paid the premiums get the benefits they need when they need them. That is why we are taking some reasonable measures to ensure that inappropriate payments are not paid out. This can save workers literally hundreds of millions of dollars.

Our fundamental responsibility is to create an economy that will create jobs so that everyone can provide for themselves and their families.

[National Defence, February 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP leader wants to talk about unelected people making decisions. I could not make this up. The leader of the NDP claimed that he wanted to abolish the Senate, but just yesterday in the House he proposed a private member's bill giving the Senate new and unprecedented power. Look at what he has done. In his private member's bill, he is now going to make the Parliamentary Budget Officer not just appointed by the elected House of Commons, but it is going to need to have the support of the unelected Senate.

The NDP leader should make his choice. Does he want the unelected Senate to have more power, or does he want to join this government in bringing real reforms?