John Baird

[Canadian Wheat Board, December 12th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I will quote Justice Campbell, who said:

The Applicants confirm that the validity of Bill C-18, and the validity and effects of any legislation which might become law as a result of Bill C-18 are not in issue in the present Applications.

What we are doing is something remarkable. We are telling western Canadian farmers that they have the same rights as farmers in every other part of the country to sell their wheat and their barley. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to sell marijuana and illegal to sell wheat.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 12th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, quite honestly, the status quo was not an option.

Since the third party was appointed by the minister and by the government, we have seen $500,000 in emergency funding. It will help renovate five homes for families in urgent need of shelter. We are working quickly to provide temporary and long-term housing for more than 20 families. Our government, working with our partners, has already sent 10 composting toilets, 20 high-efficiency wood stoves and other basic necessities. In the coming days, more supplies will be flown in.

That has happened since the minister appointed the third party manager.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 12th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, anyone seeing the situation at Attawapiskat would know that the status quo was not an option. That is why the minister and this government took decisive action.

Our government has acted to ensure that the residents of Attawapiskat have access to safe and warm shelter for the coming months. We have already delivered urgent funding to support housing and shelter to ensure that the people of Attawapiskat can deal with the harsh winter. That is why the minister is taking such decisive action to ensure that help is on the way.

[The Economy, December 12th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, the only plans and proposals the NDP puts forward to help create jobs are to simply raise taxes and spend more. Those have been devastating policies in the United States and they have caused major problems in parts of Europe. That is why this government is focused on our economic action plan.

The next phase of that plan is focused on low taxes, on a competent regulatory environment and making strategic investments in the economy. Canada is doing so much better than the other G7 countries because we have had strong economic leadership from the Prime Minister and especially from the Minister of Finance.

[The Economy, December 12th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, the economic action plan has been a great success but the reality is that far too many Canadians are looking for work, which is why we remain focused on job creation and economic growth.

One of the things we see causing problems for the world economy, whether it is in the United States or in the eurozone, is governments that do not live within their fiscal means. Reckless spending and out of control debt are key problems.

This government is taking some reasonable measures to ensure that we return to a balanced budget, that we focus on job creation and that we focus on economic growth. That is the plan on which we will continue to work diligently.

[The Economy, December 12th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, my friend, the Leader of the Opposition, can quote the Parliamentary Budget Officer. I can see that bet and raise it by quoting the Minister of Finance who, I might add for her and this House, this past year, was voted as the best finance minister in the world.

Our low tax plan is helping create jobs. That is why the provincial NDP Government of Manitoba is working with us and why Ontario's Liberal government is working with us.

We have a plan and that plan is working. That low tax plan has led to the creation of almost 600,000 net new jobs since the bottom of the recession. That is a good start. We remain committed to doing even more.

[Afghanistan, December 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, with the combat mission in Afghanistan now complete, I am pleased to inform the House that our government has signed an arrangement with the Obama administration to facilitate the transfer of detainees, captured by Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, to U.S. custody at the detention facility in Parwan. The U.S. operates this facility with the full agreement of the Afghan government and detainees can be prosecuted under Afghan law.

Canadian officials will continue to be present on the ground to monitor all Canadian transferred detainees until they are sentenced or released. From the onset of our engagement in Afghanistan, our government has consistently adapted processes for transferring detainees in Afghanistan to ensure that we met our international legal obligations. We have determined--

[Canada-U.S. Relations, December 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, we have been very transparent. We have tabled the entire agreement, the entire action plan that will help to create jobs and opportunities, right here in the House of Commons.

We have seen a decline in the number of tourists in many border communities since 9/11 and since the passport requirements. What this will do is make it easier for more Americans, our biggest market for tourism, to come to Niagara Falls, more Americans to come to Vancouver, more Americans to visit Quebec City and more Americans to visit the Maritimes.

We are very pleased with that. The tourism industry is excited about this initiative. We will continue to move forward and create more jobs.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, December 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, this agreement is all about jobs, economic growth and trade with the United States. I know our NDP friends do not support free trade with the United States.

Why does the member opposite not trust Barack Obama, the president of the United States? Why does the member believe that he will do malicious things with information? That is really surprising.

[Democratic Republic of the Congo, December 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I will first acknowledge the interest of my colleague in this important issue. We are obviously very concerned with the violence and the significant amount of protests there have been as a result of the elections in the Congo. We want to see the most open and transparent election possible and the reporting of those results.

I completely agree with the member opposite. Canada would be very pleased to support such a request.