John Baird

[National Defence, May 14th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, what the government is doing is seeking to ensure that the men and women of the Canadian Forces, those whom this Parliament sends abroad to defend Canadian values, to defend Canadian interests, have the tools to get the job done.

The Liberal Party appointed General Rick Hillier to be the Chief of the Defence Staff, and the man that they appointed to lead the Canadian Forces called the Liberal tenure in office “a decade of darkness”.

Canadians know who is on the side of our Canadian Forces. It is the Conservative government, the Prime Minister, and especially the Minister of National Defence, who has done more to support the Canadian Forces than certainly any Liberal has done in the last 150 years.

[The Budget, May 14th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, what we are doing is making government more accountable, living within our means and focusing on the priorities, which is what Canadians elected us to do.

We are keeping taxes low. We are increasing funds to hospitals, health care and education. These are the priorities that Canadians have identified.

Why should taxpayers have to pay for more than 10 reports promoting a carbon tax, something that the people of Canada have repeatedly rejected? That is a message the Liberal Party just will not accept. It should agree with Canadians. It should agree with the government to no discussion of a carbon tax that would kill and hurt Canadian families.

[The Budget, May 14th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the third party knows that there is another path. We could let spending get out of control. We could see Canada become the welfare capital of the world. We could see unemployment skyrocket. That is his record as Premier of Ontario.

The member opposite talks about the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. It has tabled more than 10 reports encouraging a carbon tax. Now we know why the Liberal Party holds that organization so dear: because the Liberals truly want to bring in a carbon tax on every family in this country. Well, those of us on this side of the House will not let them do it.

[The Environment, May 14th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, what the government has done is provide the proposal to Parliament to actually help people get back to work. That is exactly what we are doing. We are presenting measures before Parliament so they can be debated and discussed. This will ensure we can move forward on long-term economic prosperity. That is why we have seen the creation of 750,000 net new jobs over the past two and a half years. That is a record of real leadership.

The NDP's response to the budget was to engage with one member speaking for three full days. Shame on the New Democratic Party.

[The Environment, May 14th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I will tell you what the budget does have something to do with. It has to do with creating jobs, creating a climate where there are more jobs, more hope and more opportunity. That is exactly what our economic action plan does. We will maintain strong environmental protections. At the same time, these environmental studies have to lead to conclusions. That is why we brought forward to Parliament some proposals for debate in the House of Commons, to discuss them. What did the NDP do when that happened? It spent 11 hours filibustering it, showing utter contempt for all members of this place.

We are going to continue to focus on the priorities of Canadians--jobs and economic growth--so people can provide for themselves and their families.

[The Budget, May 14th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister, this Minister of Finance and this government are focused like a laser on the economy. They are focused on economic growth and job creation, not on partisan games.

When we presented an economic action plan, a plan for long-term economic growth, what did the NDP do to show respect for Parliament? It engaged in an 11-hour filibuster, making a mockery of Parliament, making a mockery of parliamentary debate and virtually almost stopping the Liberal Party from being able to represent its constituents.

We will continue to focus on jobs. That is why we are pleased with the more than 50,000 net new jobs created just last month.

[National Defence, May 11th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, let us be very clear. The men and women of the Canadian Forces did an exemplary job on behalf Canada. They helped to defend civilians on the ground in Libya. They did an exceptional job. The minister came forward with the costs associated with the mission. He tabled them in this House.

There are obviously incremental costs and obviously costs with respect to the assets that were used, that were already in Canadian ownership before the initiative.

The good news is that the Canadian Forces did an exemplary job defending innocent civilians on the ground in Libya. We should all be tremendously proud of them.

[National Defence, May 11th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it will not come as any surprise to the member for Wascana that I do not share the premise of his question.

Let us look at what the minister did. He tabled substantial documents before Parliament, as he is required to do. He has been fully open and transparent.

Let us look at a backgrounder on the website of the Department of National Defence dated July 8, 2009, which explains the whole project. Let us look at the MERX listing from April 11. It indicates very clearly a Leopard 2 conversion to an AEV, not transmission equipment.

The minister has been completely open and completely transparent on this file.

[Ethics, May 11th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, I will be very clear. I had a constituent approach my office asking for support for a project to help people with disabilities. I was very happy to inform my colleague, the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, that this organization does good work. That was the extent of any involvement I had.

Members of Parliament from all sides of the House regularly represent their constituents, and good for them. That is their job and that is their responsibility.

[Government Appointments, May 11th, 2012]

Mr. Speaker, it seems that we have a new poet laureate in the House today.

There are strict rules in place concerning hiring to ensure that agencies run their own competitive processes free of political interference. These rules are tremendously important and must be respected.