Lisa Raitt

[Forestry Industry, November 26th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I have to admit this is the most I have been up and down in a long time and I am enjoying the exercise in the House today.

In terms of how the programs that the government introduced have been responded to and have been received, I can say that the mayor of Port Alberni in British Columbia had the following to say this October about funding available through the community development trust:

We are really pleased to be receiving these funds. This will put some of the laid-off forest industry workers in our community to work at a good wage--

This applies to all regions of Canada. This applies to all workers. These programs are there to help the people of Canada and we are delivering them.

[Forestry Industry, November 26th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times already in the House in the past week, our government understands that these are difficult times for forestry workers. We have invested in the past. We have invested in the short-term. We have addressed the matters that are going on with the mill closings. We understand that it is a very difficult time for people in this transition.

In the future, we look to how great this industry is and how resilient it is. We will invest in innovation. We will help to expand new market opportunities. We will continue to deliver those corporate tax cuts which will keep the mills competitive in this country.

[Forestry Industry, November 26th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I am informed that I have been invited to the area by the government House leader, since it is his constituency. So I thank the member very much for the invitation as well.

We are very concerned about the damage caused to our forestry industry by the mountain pine beetle. We know that this devastation is felt by families and communities. That is why we invested in it. We are responding and we are getting the job done.

[Forestry Industry, November 26th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, we have provided support in British Columbia with respect to the mountain pine beetle infestation to restore the long-term well-being of effective communities through the forest industry long-term competitive program. We are dealing with innovation. We are investing in innovation and we are expanding new market opportunities.

There is no question these are difficult times for the industries. I am speaking to my caucus colleagues about it and I am hearing it loud and clear from the members opposite, but what I want Canadians to understand is that the government understands it, knows it, and will fix this problem.

[Forestry Industry, November 26th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, we know how awful it is when a mill closes. Every family, every store, and every corner of the community is affected by it. That is why we have a comprehensive plan to address this. We are thinking about the future. We are investing in innovation. We are introducing new market opportunities. We are cutting corporate taxes to keep these mills open. We are dealing with this in the short-term and we are going to fix this in the long-term.

[Government Programs, November 26th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, our government is helping homeowners, small businesses and industry to make wise choices to save energy, money and help clean up our environment. We will continue to work with all parties to bring that about and put in sensible policies that consumers can use, and that will improve our environmental well-being. We will help Canadians become more energy efficient as well with amendments to the Energy Efficiency Act which will cover more products more effectively.

[Forestry Industry, November 25th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I know that the members opposite are well aware of the strong support that the government is giving to workers and families in forestry communities. After all, the mayor of Terrace, B.C., had the following to say about the community development trust:

We are pleased to receive these funds, and they will provide both an excellent employment opportunity and the community will benefit from the improvements provided by these projects.

We know these are difficult times for the workers and their families. We are going to get the job done.

[Forestry Industry, November 25th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, the best way to protect forestry workers is to ensure that this great Canadian industry remains competitive and has the tools it needs in order to succeed. Through the forest industry long-term competitive strategy, we are supporting innovation, we are supporting new markets, and we are creating jobs. I remain committed to working with my caucus colleagues to ensure that these programs will work for individuals in affected communities, including in British Columbia.

[Forestry Industry, November 24th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, that is why we have acted to support the workers with the creation of the community development trust. Let me share with the House how the creation of this community development trust is helping workers and families in the forestry industry. Frank Everitt, President of the United Steelworkers Local 1-424, said:

This program has helped our members and other forest workers in the north make the early transition to retirement possible, and in the process created job opportunities for others--

We are getting the job done.

[Forestry Industry, November 24th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, we understand the pressures on hard-working Canadians, especially those facing transition in times of economic instability.

In the Speech from the Throne, we committed to continuing assisting their industries through new market opportunities and through investments in innovation. We understand that Canada's traditional industries, like forestry, sustain the economic well-being of many regions and communities, and that is why we will get this job done.