Lawrence Cannon

[Transport, February 26th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the committee is free to call whomever it wants to shed light on the matter.

To date, Canada's civil aviation system is the best in the world. It provides the Canadian public with the necessary measures and an additional system, a safety factor, to make all citizen feel safe.

[Transport, February 26th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, once again, my honourable colleague in leading us down the wrong path.

I will quote Captain Brian Boucher, senior director of flight operations, Air Canada Pilots Association, who said:

We understand that the rationale for the Bill is to enhance the safety of Canada's aviation system...We deal daily with the operational implications of the Air Regulations. It is not an exaggeration to say that flight safety IS our world.

[Infrastructure, February 22nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, as a government, we have committed to an unprecedented $16.5 billion in infrastructure money in budget 2006. We have committed $1.3 billion to improving urban transit in our country. We have helped a lot of communities through the gas tax.

My colleague, the Minister of Finance, will be able to look at that in the coming days.

[Infrastructure, February 22nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, last night I had the opportunity to meet with the mayors from Atlantic Canada. As well, my colleague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with them this morning. These people have indicated to us that they have never seen a more clairvoyant government in terms of handling the issues they face.

We will be able to see, as my colleague, the Minister of Finance tables his budget, where this government will lead the country and municipalities.

[Aviation Safety, February 22nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, raising his voice does not make my hon. colleague right. I simply want to say that his claims are unfounded. We are continuing to protect the safety of people who use the airways every day. Not only are we continuing to do so, but we are doing it better.

[Aviation Safety, February 22nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure my hon. colleague and the members of this House that this claim is completely inaccurate and mistaken. It is not true.

We are maintaining the required level of service and inspection. We are also adding a safety factor in the form of a security management system. The member knows this. Yesterday, we were able to answer questions about this. Our goal is the safety of Canadians who use the airways.

[Airline Security, February 21st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, surely it is not my hon. colleague who knows aviation safety the best.

We have been working extensively on this file. We are putting in new layers of protection. We are ensuring that our inspectors are doing the job.

Incidentally, we have just appointed a review panel to look at railway safety in the country. We are acting and that party is not doing anything.

[Airline Security, February 21st, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the facts are the following. We are putting in place a security management system that basically calls upon everybody who is involved in the industry to add on an additional layer in terms of security and safety to those who take our airlines.

In that sense, we are continuing to be the safest airways, not only in Canada but throughout the world. I call upon my colleague to support these actions. They are good actions for Canadians.

[Quebec Bridge, February 14th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, Canada' s new government is taking all possible steps to have CN fulfill its obligations and responsibilities. That is why, today, we filed a motion seeking a permanent injunction for damages against CN.

I hope that these legal proceedings will enable us to ensure that work on restoring the bridge is completed. As we have stated so many times, the federal Liberals did nothing; the Bloc cannot take action; we are taking action.

[Air Transportation, February 14th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly why we undertook consultations. I should add that as part of the consultations, we met with all organizations, intermediary bodies and individuals with a vested interest in this matter and gave their comments due consideration.