Lawrence Cannon

[Transport, October 17th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for his question, although he is a little late since this question was asked last week by the hon. member from the Bloc Québécois.

As I said then, this is not a witch hunt. The report is finished and we will be able to draw the appropriate conclusions in this matter.

[Committees of the House, October 16th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, I am pleased to table in Parliament, in both official languages, the government's response to the first report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages entitled “Application of the Official Languages Act to ACE Aviation Holdings Inc. following the restructuring of Air Canada”.

[Transport, October 6th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, for my colleague's information, she should know that Montreal's port authority acts entirely independently. Nonetheless, as far as security is concerned, and as mentioned yesterday in an FTQ news story, nearly $900 million in five years has been invested to rework and enhance the security of our ports. In that vein, we must recognize that this work has been done and, in this case, I think this is a matter that—

[Transport, October 6th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.

As we all know, allegations were made in the Journal de Montréal. I asked my officials to verify the allegations. As part of the verification, we are trying to communicate with the journalist who reported the information. This is standard procedure for airport protection and for our security measures everywhere. That is why we need the information.

[Ports and Harbours, October 5th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy that my hon. colleague has stood up for this issue. It is the first time he has done that.

This government made a joint $8.5 million commitment as the first step to clean up the Saint John harbour, and that was done under a Conservative provincial government.

[Appointment of Commissioner of Official Languages, September 29th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 111.1(2), I move:

That, in accordance with subsections 49(1) and 49(2) of the Act respecting the status and use of the official languages of Canada, Chapter O-3.01 of the Revised Statues of Canada, 1985, this House approve the appointment of Graham Fraser as Commissioner of Official Languages for Canada for a term of seven years.

[Taxation, September 28th, 2006]

Clearly, Mr. Speaker, the answer is yes.

[Canada Post, September 28th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I can assure the House and all Canadians that the government is strongly committed to rural Canada and that we will take any and all means necessary to ensure the quality of rural mail delivery and to ensure that quality continues from coast to coast to coast.

I met recently with the chairman of the board and with the president of Canada Post to ensure that message was clearly understood.

[Taxation, September 28th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, I would have preferred my honourable colleague to congratulate us on following up on Bill C-48. Particularly for Quebec, $670 million has flowed from this act. And we have already begun to restore the fiscal balance within the federation.

I invite my colleague to read the budget speech and also to await my colleague’s next budget.

[Taxation, September 28th, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, in case the hon. member did not clearly understand my colleague’s answer, I will clarify.

My colleague said that, since the recent budget, we have begun to restore the fiscal balance within the federation. A clear plan has been submitted. Moreover I wish this political party had recognized that there is a problem of fiscal imbalance within the federation. We recognized it. We will solve it, just as we have solved other issues to which we are committed.