Josée Verner

[Aid to Africa, May 31st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, to complete the answer on the subject of our aid to Africa: when he was at the G-8 last year, the Prime Minister made a commitment to invest up to $450 million to strengthen health systems in Africa. This year, again, we announced an innovative project in cooperation with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation concerning the fight against HIV-AIDS. We announced $120 million at the beginning of December for some 20 projects, specifically in Africa to combat AIDS. The member should pay attention to the great announcements that we are making.

[Aid to Africa, May 31st, 2007]

I must also point out that last year the government made a commitment to invest between $100 million and $150 million for educational needs in Africa.

[Aid to Africa, May 31st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as the member knows very well, in our 2007 budget, international aid was increased by 8%. That 8% will make it possible to double our funding for international assistance by 2010-11 from 2001 levels. The Liberals voted against that measure.

[Afghanistan, May 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the real bungling is on the other side of the House.

With respect to development in Afghanistan, let us recall the position of the previous Liberal government, which approved only dwindling sums for Afghanistan. We increased the budgets. We delivered the goods. We are continuing to work very hard in Afghanistan, particularly in Kandahar, as all our partners in Kandahar can confirm.

[Afghanistan, May 29th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I find the hon. member's comments rather curious, when he said he would not be partisan when it comes to Afghanistan.

How many times have those on the other side of the House changed their minds about our mission in Afghanistan? How many times have they contributed real support to the people of Afghanistan?

We have made a number of announcements. This year alone, $139 million has been spent in Afghanistan: $39 million in Kandahar, as well as food aid programs, women's programs, heath programs and children's vaccination programs, to name only a few.

[Afghanistan, May 29th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question is extremely surprising considering that the previous government did not commit the funds needed for development in Afghanistan. Last year, it spent only $5 million in Kandahar. This year, in Kandahar alone, we, the Conservatives, have spent $39 million, or nearly eight times more.

Now, concerning the Senlis Council report, I would like to quote the director of the World Food Programme:

“It is untrue that there has been no substantial food assistance to the province since March 2006”.

[Air Canada Public Participation Act, May 28th, 2007]

The member says it is a Liberal project. From what we hear from the Liberals these days, now that they are in the opposition, it seems that they were on the verge of implementing projects, but, as it was often the case, they did not deliver, and it is too bad.

[Air Canada Public Participation Act, May 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, that will be enough to tell my colleague from the opposition that those who showed disrespect to minority communities are the Liberals and the members of the NDP who voted against our budget measures for the country's minority communities. They voted against investing $30 million in our youth and against money for the construction of community centres.

[Air Canada Public Participation Act, May 28th, 2007]

He refers to claims dating back to 1996 and I would invite him to express his griefs to the government that was in office at the time.

For our part, we announced an additional $30 million for communities and we intend to ensure that these $30 million are well spent to promote the Canadian francophonie.

[Air Canada Public Participation Act, May 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, of course, Bloc members would have been better to support Bill S-3 in the fall of 2005. I believe it is through this action that they could have shown French-speaking communities outside Quebec that they were willing to support them. Now, the member refers to claims dating back to 1993--