Josée Verner

[Access to Information, November 1st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, civil servants process access to information requests and they do so by enforcing the relevant exemptions under the Access to Information Act. Section 14 of the act states that they may:

refuse to disclose...information the disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to be injurious to the conduct by the Government of Canada of federal-provincial affairs.

That is what those who processed this request did by applying this section.

[Quebec City Arena, October 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the truth behind what the hon. member is saying is that funding was granted at the time to revitalize and clean up the shoreline, not for Olympic facilities.

[Quebec City Arena, October 4th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, as we have said a number of times, the government has received the report from Ernst & Young commissioned by Équipe Québec. This report is still under review, but we have commented on it.

First, Mayor Labeaume indicated that he would like to make a decision on the Olympic bid by the end of the year. For the rest, the Prime Minister has been clear: he would like the private sector to contribute its fair share. I would like to point out to my Bloc colleague that on the weekend, the Parti Québécois' Pauline Marois also called on the private sector to contribute.

[Infrastructure, September 30th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, although we are clear on this matter and we are fans of professional sport, financing of such facilities is primarily up to the private sector.

If the federal government were to invest in these types of infrastructure, it would do so in a fair and affordable manner throughout the country.

[Quebec's Priorities, September 21st, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, our government has done more for Quebec than any other previous government and much more than the Bloc members who are just spectators here and cannot deliver on anything for Quebec.

We have limited the federal spending power and restored fiscal balance with Quebec and with the other provinces. We invited the Government of Quebec to take part in UNESCO. We recognized the nation of Quebec within a united Canada and the list goes on.

[Government Spending, September 20th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, our position has not changed.

When it comes to bidding for Olympic games, the federal government has always invested in Canadian cities that qualify.

I would like to remind the member for Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord that in October 1993, his Bloc colleague, the member for Québec, said in Le Soleil that public moneys should not be used to fund such projects.

[Government Spending, September 20th, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, the government has been very clear on this subject. Although we are big professional sports fans, the private sector must take the lead. That being said, if our government is to play a role in funding sports infrastructure within its means, it will do so fairly across the country.

[400th Anniversary of Quebec City, May 3rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for giving me the opportunity to say once again how successful the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of Quebec City were. Unfortunately, I have to say that the Bloc members did not contribute to that success. That said, the surplus generated by the festivities will be reinvested in the Quebec City area.

[International Co-operation, May 3rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, every year, between 350,000 and 500,000 women die in childbirth in developing countries. Our government wants to do everything it can to try to save those lives. The government has been very clear: it will never reopen the abortion debate.

[International Co-operation, May 3rd, 2010]

Mr. Speaker, as I said last week, our government wants to try to save the lives of mothers and children in developing countries. Our initiative will include training and support for front-line health workers, better nutrition and provision of micronutrients, screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, proper medication, family planning and immunization. Every G8 country will identify its own priorities.