Lawrence Cannon

[Minister of Foreign Affairs, May 12th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Leader of the Bloc Québécois asked a question about the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City. He asked about the Minister of Foreign Affairs's relationships. Who knows, maybe tomorrow he will turn to the tabloids for his information, but again, this is a strictly private matter involving the individual concerned and we have no further comment on this.

[Infrastructure, May 9th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I need not walk down the street to see that. As members know, I have quite a bit of experience from the municipal sector, having walked down the streets in Ottawa, but also in Gatineau on the other side of the river.

This government acted at the very beginning and during the last budget we decided to extend the gas tax that is going to help municipalities from coast to coast to coast to support infrastructure needs in their communities. That is something this government believes in, plus the $33 billion that we put on the table.

[400th Anniversary of Quebec City, May 9th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, no one here is denying the existence of the nation. We even had to force the Bloc Québécois, against its will, to vote for the Quebec nation within a united Canada. Why? Because twice Quebeckers have said “yes” to Canada. What does it not understand? It is common sense: Quebeckers want to remain a part of Canada.

[400th Anniversary of Quebec City, May 9th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, again, our colleagues from the Bloc Québécois seem to want to get a lot of mileage out of the 400th anniversary celebrations. For our part, we are very proud to have not only contributed financially, but also to have very actively participated in the 400th anniversary celebrations. All of the Conservative members from the greater Quebec City area who were voted in during the last election will be there. And they will be there to celebrate Quebec as a part of Canada.

[Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport, May 8th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I have received representations from both that colleague as well as the colleague from Lachine on this specific issue.

We know that l'Aéroport international de Montréal is responsible for the flight patterns. It is also responsible for determining how things are going. It has put forward another option and it will be looked at. Over the course of the next couple of weeks, it will be in consultation with the people who are interested parties in this file.

[400th Anniversary of Quebec City, May 8th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Bloc Québécois wants to rewrite history again. He would like to turn his back on a glorious history and a unique destiny.

It is well known that the Leader of the Bloc Québécois is one of the most senior MPs in this House. However, he cannot claim to have taught Champlain about sovereignty.

[400th Anniversary of Quebec City, May 8th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, there is one thing I know and that is that Quebec City was not founded by sovereignists, and that is clear. Quebec City was founded by courageous people, people with a far-reaching, wide-ranging vision. Champlain himself travelled through and mapped Acadia, he saw New England, he saw the St. Lawrence valley and Georgian Bay.

It is not hard to understand: Champlain was the founder of Quebec City and a forerunner of Canada.

[National Security, May 8th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, if the leader of the Bloc Québécois were a Conservative, one thing is certain: he would be able to make good on his promises to Quebeckers, as we are doing.

I have taken note of the fact that the leader of the Bloc Québécois did not threaten any reporters.

[National Security, May 8th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, can the leader of the Bloc Québécois assure this House that he never took part in a teleconference with reporters or threatened them if they did not go along with his story today?

[National Security, May 8th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is doing remarkable work in a very difficult job in our country. He deserves our encouragement and support. He definitely does not deserve this suspicion and these insinuations.