Kevin Sorenson

[The Budget, March 23rd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, all Canadian farmers should be contacting their members of Parliament to tell them to support budget 2007 because our Conservative government is getting the job done for agriculture and the environment.

Budget 2007 includes $2 billion in incentives for renewable fuel production. The results will be a fresh energy supply and new jobs in our growing Canadian renewable fuel sector, including biofuels and cleaner air. This is a big boost for farmers, homegrown biofuels producers and our environment.

This measure will lead to over 20 new world-class biofuels facilities in Canada, create over 14,000 new jobs in rural communities, and provide a new market for over 200 million bushels of Canadian grains and oilseeds.

After 13 years of neglect and denying Canadian farmers, the current government is preparing for the agricultural opportunities of the future

[The Budget, March 20th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as a new member of Parliament, the member for Westlock—St. Paul certainly represents his constituents well. I want to commend him especially, as I know that this member, before this budget was announced, was one of the very strong advocates for helping biofuels, recognizing exactly what this does for the producers and the farmers in his riding. I know that he lobbied very hard for this.

I wonder if he could tell this House about the significance of this budget for Alberta farmers and farmers across the country. Perhaps there are a couple of things he could highlight.

I know that in the riding of Crowfoot many farmers are frustrated with the way the CAIS program is operating. This budget addresses that. It puts money aside and gives us a kickstart on a new program that I think will better serve the producers.

Also, as far as the capital gains exemption is concerned, this budget now allows farmers to go from a $500,000 maximum to $750,000. Perhaps he could talk about the importance of that to farmers and also about the biofuels and the many other things that this budget has for farmers.

[Justice, February 28th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Party of Canada is standing up for victims of crime and getting the job done to help prevent future victims.

We delivered the legislation to make our streets and communities safer.

We have brought forward bills to end conditional sentences for violent offences; increase mandatory minimum sentences for using a gun in a crime; raise the age of protection for sexual activity from 14 to 16 years; crack down on street racing; get tough with repeat offenders and impaired driving; and reverse the onus at bail hearings. We even have a bill to deal with the proceeds of crime.

There is more. We delivered the legislation providing tougher sentences and more effective management of individuals convicted of sexual or violent offences.

Canadians want stricter conditions on repeat offenders. The opposition parties will answer to voters for stalling and for reversing the positions they held on these criminal justice files during the last election.

Our government is making the criminal justice changes that Canadians voted for and that the Liberals refused to deliver, the changes that make Canadians safer.

[Committees of the House, February 22nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in relation to its consideration of the issue of cluster bombs.

[February 14th, 2007]

That's $100 an acre.

[Agriculture, January 30th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to farmers, the Liberals simply did not do the job. Even their own task force on agriculture admits that all they were able to accomplish after years in office was “a growing disconnect between them and rural Canada”.

I know that the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has his hands full with cleaning up this Liberal mess, but can he update the House with any new initiatives that the government has recently undertaken which provides much needed opportunities to our farmers and the agriculture sector as a whole?

[Committees of the House, December 13th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, two reports.

First of all, I present the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in relation to its study on Canada's role in complex international interventions that involve multiple foreign policy instruments, focusing on Canada's efforts in Haiti.

I also have the honour and the privilege to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in relation to the whole of government's strategy for failed states.

I wish all our clerks and everyone who worked on these reports a very merry Christmas. Mr. Speaker, I also wish you a very merry Christmas and all the best for the new year.

[Points of Order, December 7th, 2006]

I would ask you to table that. You'd better table that.

[Petitions, December 7th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of hundreds of Canadians who are in support of young Canadians volunteering in communities in Canada and all over the world.

We appreciate their efforts as Canada's new government is committed to working with the voluntary sector to promote citizen participation and engagement in Canadian society.

In budget 2006, Canada's new government ensured that we focus our support to front line volunteer organizations. We exempted donations by publicly listed securities to public charities from capital gains tax. Volunteer organizations will continue to receive funding from a broad range of government programs.

The petitioners want young Canadians to have the benefits and rewards from the experience that volunteer community work provides. They support Canada's new government taking legislative measures to assist in this effort.

[Business of Supply, November 28th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, in all fairness, this is the first time I have heard that wait times are longer for one gender over another gender. Part of the Canada Health Act says that there is universality, accessibility and all those things. It does not differentiate between one gender and another or one ethnic group and another. We expect there to be a high level of acceptance for all Canadians.

This government's approach to health care has four main points. First, it needs to have a consumer focus, a patient focus, which is the primary reason that we set up a formula for health care.

Second, it has service levels in primary care. In primary care there is a certain level, wait lists, health care and information for citizens and patients. Those are important in how we deliver health care and this government is committed to making health care better for all Canadians.