John Baird

[National Defence, March 10th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, there is no denying that the new jet fighters that our air force so desperately needs to replace the CF-18s, which will be 40 years old, will have a price.

Let me say this. The men and women in the Canadian armed forces are prepared to pay the ultimate price. They are prepared to sacrifice. They are brave. What do they count on? They count on the government to provide them with the tools they need. If that means it is going to be $50 a year, or $1 a week, to provide for Canadian sovereignty and to give our men and women the tools they need to do the job, it is a price that we are prepared to pay.

[Government Accountability, March 10th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear that we will comply. We are working on that right now.

What is absolutely shocking is that the leader of the Liberal Party is trying to distract Canadians from their priorities. Everywhere I go in my own riding and right across Canada, Canadians are concerned about jobs. They are concerned about the economy. They are concerned about themselves and the future of their families. All we have from the Liberals are these distractions.

We are going to stay focused on jobs. We are going to stay focused on the Canadian economy, even if the Liberals do not want us to.

[Government Accountability, March 10th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, we have tremendous respect for you, your office and your ruling yesterday.

We had considered the information that we had provided to the House and believed that it responded in substance to the request that had been made by the House. Let me assure you, Mr. Speaker, that we will make every effort to comply with your ruling. That is our commitment.

[Interparliamentary Delegations, March 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, my friend from Ottawa South was unsure what I said in the second motion I presented.

It was Bill C-61, an act to provide for the taking of restrictive measures. I just wanted to clarify that for him.

[Enhanced New Veterans Charter Act, March 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, in relation to Bill C-55, An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act and the Pension Act, the report stage motions in the name of the Minister of Veterans Affairs be deemed adopted and the bill deemed concurred in at report stage; that the bill be allowed to be called for the third reading stage later today; and that, during the debate at the said stage, not more than one member from each recognized party may speak for not more than 10 minutes, after which the bill shall be deemed read a third time and passed.

[Freezing Assets of Corrupt Regimes Act, March 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, Bill C-61, An Act to provide for the taking of restrictive measures in respect of the property of officials and former officials of foreign states and of their family members, be deemed concurred in at report stage and allowed to be called for the third reading stage later today; that, during the debate at the said stage, not more than one member from each recognized party may speak for not more than 10 minutes, after which the bill shall be deemed read a third time and passed.

[Business of Supply, March 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I have three motions and I believe you would find unanimous consent for all three. First, I move:

That for the supply period ending March 26, Standing Order 81(5) be amended by replacing the words “three sitting days” with “one sitting day”, provided that supplementary estimates be reported, or shall be deemed to have been reported, not later than 1 p.m. on the said sitting day; that 24 hours' written notice shall be given of a notice to restore or reinstate any item in the supplementary estimates.

[Political Financing, March 9th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal leader was very brave and made all kinds of accusations against someone who has never been charged with anything. However, when he stepped outside this place and was asked to repeat exactly what he said in here, he lacked the courage of his convictions. He did not have the guts. He scurried out of the press scrum faster than he could.

Let him show the courage of his convictions, let him stand outside this place and repeat that outrageous accusation.

[International Co-operation, March 8th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, today is International Women's Day. What an opportunity to talk about the accomplishments of the Minister of International Cooperation.

Whether it is young girls in Afghanistan who are finally being able to realize the dream of going to school or the millions of women and children in Africa who will benefit from the maternal and newborn initiative brought forward by this government, the Minister of International Cooperation has always stood up for women around the world. She has done an outstanding job and we should celebrate her success today on International Women's Day.

[Citizenship and Immigration, March 8th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, earlier today the Liberal member for Papineau put out a press release written in his parliamentary office.

When I went to the website, right above his press release about Elections Canada was an invitation to donate to the Liberal Party.

When will he do the right thing and stop fundraising out of his own office?