Lawrence Cannon

[Expenses of the Former Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, June 12th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, we are deeply concerned by the Auditor General's report, and we are reviewing her observations and recommendations.

Of course, Canada's new government is committed to accountability and transparency. Its goal is to produce real results and ensure that taxpayers' money is well spent.

[Infrastructure, June 8th, 2007]

The truth, Mr. Speaker, is that not only has the government committed to communities and cities in the last budget, budget 2007, we extended the gas tax to its maximum amount, which is going to see us flow over $8.2 billion to our cities and communities.

Last week I was in Calgary at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities meeting, where I had the opportunity of announcing the government's commitment to an urban transit strategy for Canada in the coming years.

On the contrary, we are getting the job done where they did not.

[Transportation, June 8th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague has mentioned, there are so many answers that we could give here concerning blocks and inertia, but as I have mentioned to my colleague, I will look into the matter and I will be very pleased to come back with an answer.

[Transportation, June 8th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is raising an issue. I will be pleased to look into this matter. I presume that these measures were very likely taken under the previous government. Since I am not certain about this, I will verify everything and report back to this House.

[1995 Referendum, June 8th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the opportunity to be in Quebec City to take part in the swearing-in of the new Lieutenant Governor, with my former National Assembly colleagues.

When I saw my former National Assembly colleagues, I remembered the 1980 referendum, when the Parti Québécois government flooded Quebec with advertising and signs with slogans such as “Je m'attache au Québec”. Has a figure been put on those expenditures?

[1995 Referendum, June 8th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about something that happened 12 years ago. The government has changed since then. Canada now has a government that is working closely with the Government of Quebec in the spirit of open federalism. That open federalism is resulting in positive solutions for all Quebeckers and Canadians.

[Transportation, June 5th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the member speaks of a double standard. Poor Bloc Québécois, poor Bloc Québécois.

In the past 16 months, this side of the House has been able to steadily deal with several issues, including the fiscal imbalance, calmly and efficiently. In 17 years, our friends in the Bloc Québécois have not been able do anything.

We will deal with issues as they arise.

[Transportation, June 5th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, what a marvellous comeback. What a reincarnation. Now the Bloc Québécois is the great defender of high-speed train service, not between Montreal, New York City and Quebec City, but between Quebec City and Montreal. You will recall that the Duceppe Express was to travel to New York City.

[Option Canada, June 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, once again, we are being attacked by the Bloc Québécois. What does the Bloc Québécois want? The Bloc Québécois wants to rewrite history. It cannot change the fact that, twice now, when Quebeckers were asked, they chose to remain in Canada. They decided to continue to work within the Canadian federation to improve their future. Following the last election in Quebec, not only will there be no referendum, but whoever takes over as leader of the PQ—

[Option Canada, June 1st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, let us all take a look at what the new Government of Canada has achieved since coming to power. We recognized that Quebeckers form a nation within a united Canada, we resolved the issue of Quebec´s presence at UNESCO, we resolved the fiscal imbalance issue. This concrete and positive action demonstrates very clearly that, together, Quebec and Canada are progressing just fine, thank you.