House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2011, with 54% of the vote.
Point of Order March 31st, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I just want to correct the record. The member for Etobicoke Centre was misrepresenting the facts. The visa requirement that was lifted was done by the citizenship and immigration minister of the Conservative government and the many stakeholders who worked very hard on that issue. It was not due to a press release sent out by that member's office.
The Economy March 13th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar for the question and her ongoing concern about the west.
We are investing in the west. During these economic times, we are investing in trade, technology and commercialization. We are partnering up with the provinces and, as of next week, I will have signed four agreements with four prairie provinces that will be a $200 million investment in the west.
A stronger west is a stronger Canada. I would remind the member from British Columbia, who made the request about the games, that Western Economic Diversification Canada has invested in those games.
Business of Supply March 9th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the member was not here when we presented probably the biggest budget in knowledge and in the knowledge-based economy that this country has ever seen. It was called “the knowledge advantage”. Our investments were in research and science, and we continue that. Regarding the stimulus package, after we had consultations from coast to coast, many stakeholders wanted to see us invest in universities.
The member talked about the investment per capita by the President of the United States. I wonder if she did the math, because I understand it is $21 billion, and we have exceeded that in our investments in science and technology. As well, how can she compare a country that has many more people than we do?
I wonder if she would like me to recite some of the quotes we have from the associations, universities and colleges, applauding us for what we have done for the graduate scholarships. Brock University said that the $5.1 billion investment in science and technology in 2009 will help further innovation and competitiveness. I would like the member to acknowledge that there has a been a long-term commitment by this government to science and technology specifically.
Business of Supply March 9th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I just would like to ask the member which one of these investments she would not agree are good investments for science and research: the knowledge infrastructure program, $2 billion; the clean energy technologies, $1 billion over five years; the Canada Foundation for Innovation; the Canada Health Infoway, $500 million; modernizing the federal laboratories; the industrial research assistance program; the Canadian Space Agency; the Canada graduate scholarships; the industrial research and development internships; the Arctic research; the transformative technologies program, FPInnovations; or the Institute for Quantum Computing. That is $5.1 billion.
I would like to ask the member if she understands how important those are for our economy, as she said, and to have new technologies for a clean environment. They are all contributors to some of the shortcomings that she has spoken about in her speech.
Business of Supply March 9th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, does the member realize that in the last three years the government has invested $205 million in the granting councils in order to provide researchers with stable, predictable and long term funding? I want to know if she knows that in budget 2009 we provided an additional $87.5 million to the granting councils to expand the Canada graduate scholarship program, that we are investing $200 million at the NRC to expand the industrial research assistance program, and that the granting councils identified areas within their organization where funding could be used more effectively, areas that they identified that changes had been made.
Business of Supply March 5th, 2009
Madam Speaker, I was just thinking of people in my riding who have been talking about employment insurance, people who work in small and medium size businesses. They have some of concerns about the increase in premiums. They find it very difficult with the different taxes and deductions they have to match.
I want to know if the member has any response to, for example, the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, which says it supports the government and the steps it is taking to ensure unemployed Canadians have access to the EI benefits they need without increasing the cost to employers. I am wondering if the member understands the difficulties businesses and employers have when premiums go up, and whether those difficulties are acknowledged in some of the suggestions he is making for the changes he desires.
The Budget January 29th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, we know that families and communities in British Columbia are going through challenging times. As the new Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification) I cannot tell the House how upsetting it is to see some of the devastation that has happened. That is why in the last budget our government invested a lot of money toward the pine beetle infestation in British Columbia.
Many agreements have been signed through CEDI, a community economic development initiative. Many programs, different initiatives and projects have been brought forward through many communities in northern British Columbia to the tune, I think, of about $33 million. Many projects are in place in these communities and going forward.
In this budget we have also announced an extra $1 billion for the communities that are--
The Budget January 29th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the $1 billion that is going to be given to that region is very important. Southern Ontario is going through some very tough times with the auto industry. We all know this is a slowdown in Canada, but these are tough times internationally. Southern Ontario is hurting badly and that fact was recognized. That is why the particular program being introduced in the budget is important. I really appreciate the support the Liberals are giving us with respect to the budget.
The Budget January 29th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to speak to budget 2009 and I will be splitting my time with the hon. member for Kitchener Centre.
The Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and all the members on this side of the House have talked about the importance of our budget, our economic action plan. But as Canadians know, this is more than just a budget. This is an economic action plan for Canada. This is a plan that will help us, together, weather the global economic storm and ensure our long-term prosperity for the future.
We presented Canadians with a bold, multi-year approach that will provide real support and real results for real Canadians.
The economic conditions that we find ourselves in are unprecedented. That is why our economic action plan responds to this reality and provides the stimulus our economy needs, the jobs our communities depend upon, and puts the money our families and our seniors deserve back into their pockets.
Let me briefly speak to a few specific aspects of our action plan that are particularly important to my responsibilities in western economic diversification.
Last week, I had the opportunity to visit three of our four western provinces. I saw first hand just how out government's investments are diversifying and strengthening our western economies for the future.
In Vancouver, I visited FPInnovations, a forest research institute that is changing the way forestry companies do business in order to stay competitive. FPInnovations is transitioning this important traditional sector for a stronger, more sustainable future. Jim Dangerfield, executive vice-president of FPInnovations, said, “So I…Minister, I really want to thank you and your government for your commitment to this, for your commitment to the forest industry”.
Through innovation in wood products, creativity in pulp and paper, and with the support of our government, we are providing real solutions for our forestry sector challenges.
In Winnipeg, I visited the Composites Innovation Centre and a new Centre for Aerospace Technology and Training, both of which are creating a competitive edge for the aerospace and manufacturing sector.
By investing in centres like these, we are creating high paying, highly skilled jobs right here in Canada. What struck me most is that this new aerospace technology and training centre, in which our government invested, will bring work back to Canada that is currently done overseas.
The Hon. Andrew Swan, Manitoba's Minister of Competitiveness, Training and Trade, said, “--we're looking very, very forward to having you back time and time again as you see the products of the tremendous partnership that we've extended, continued this morning”.
In challenging economic times like the ones that face us today, these types of investments and partnerships are a key factor for job creation, job sustainability and job prosperity.
In Saskatoon, I proudly entered into a $50 million western economic partnership agreement with the province of Saskatchewan which will stimulate the economy by investing in new businesses, new ideas and new jobs. As the Hon. Lyle Stewart, Saskatchewan's Minister of Enterprise and Innovation, said, “Well I think [the minister's] priorities and mine are pretty much in lockstep”.
Together with our four provinces, through the western economic partnership agreements, over $200 million will be invested in the west. These agreements will grow. They will diversify and strengthen the western Canadian economy at a time when families and communities are facing serious challenges and uncertainty due to the global economic slowdown.
At western economic diversification and in our government, our priority is to create new jobs, support new businesses and grow new ideas. As the Minister of State for Western Diversification, I can say with confidence that our government's economic action plan has the tools and the programs we need to ensure that the west remains strong, because I know that a stronger west will mean a stronger Canada.
Small businesses drive economic growth and job creation in the west and they are critical. They are a critical economic engine. Our western provinces are home to an astonishing 800,000 small businesses. That is about 36% of all such enterprises in Canada.
Our small business owners employ about 2.3 million western Canadians, nearly half of all the jobs in the region, and they create an average of 37,000 new jobs every year.
In order to continue our support for small businesses as they start and grow, our government is providing $30 million over two years for the Canada business network. This network oversees the Canada business service centres. These resource centres are on the ground. They offer marketing solutions, business planning and financial services for western business owners.
Our economic action plan also includes significant investments for building our communities. This is a move that creates jobs for Canadians now while providing the growth that we need in the years to come.
Pipes and pavement projects across western Canada have received $278 million through the municipal, rural infrastructure program. Today I am working closely with my colleague, the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, to administer the communities component of the building Canada fund.
We are committed to accelerating shovel-ready projects in construction, engineering, science and technology. This will create new jobs and new opportunities in other industries.
What I am most excited about, being from rural Saskatchewan, is our government's $500 million investment in Canadian recreation community centres. We will work hard with our provinces, municipalities and the private sector to identify shovel-ready projects and get moving on these important facilities that mean a lot to our children and to western families and communities.
I know the importance of our community recreation centres, rinks and pools first hand. I spent many weekends watching my own children, my daughters' skating lessons at our local rink.
We are investing in our families and our communities by providing $500 million across Canada to support our community recreation facilities.
These are trying times for Canadians and some of our communities are hit harder than others. Our government recognizes this reality and we are doing something about it.
The $1 billion community adjustment fund will foster new opportunities in the regions of Canada that are most vulnerable. This fund will support communities in their transition from single industry towns into competitive and diversified communities, robust with science, technology, research and innovation.
Our government has played a key role in helping our communities adjust during times of challenge. We are currently working with communities impacted by the mountain pine beetle infestation, so that they can invest in new opportunities and industries to diversify and sustain their local economies.
Our economic action plan for Canada has many measures that will grow, sustain and bring future prosperity to our western economies. My department, along with our Conservative government, will continue to build on our record of results for the west.
We will also continue to build on relationships with our provincial and municipal colleagues to strengthen the economy of the west. The strength of the west in Canada depends not only on meeting today's challenges but also on building a dynamic economy that will create better jobs and opportunities for the future.
Our plan is an action plan that will meet those challenges. It contains priorities for westerners, and these are priorities that westerners asked for and deserve, enabling us to work together. Together we will build a stronger west. We will build a stronger Canada.
Committees of the House June 18th, 2008
Mr. Speaker, I just want to know if the opposition has ever done an analysis on the importance of our tackling crime bill.
Many people were happy with the government for taking impaired drivers off the road. Canadians have long complained about drunk driving laws that had too many loopholes.
We improved the legislation on identity theft. Many vulnerable Canadians, including seniors, have been victimized by credit card theft. We improved the legislation on car theft operations and youth crimes.
I wonder if members opposite did a gender analysis when they voted against our tackling crime bill. If they do not like us that much, why do they keep us in power.