Marcel Proulx

[Small Business Week, October 22nd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this week we mark the 30th anniversary of Small Business Week, organized by the Business Development Bank of Canada.

This event started in 1979 in British Columbia and went national two years later. This year's theme is “Your dream, your business, your passion”. This anniversary edition of this annual celebration is held until October 24, and events are taking place from coast to coast to coast.

For the 22nd year, the Young Entrepreneur Awards were handed out to entrepreneurs under the age of 35 in each of the provinces and in one territory. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them. You have a brilliant future ahead of you. This award proves that your dreams can come true. In business, it is not your age but your ideas that will set you apart from your competitors.

Small businesses are the pulse of our economy, which is why it is so important for our country to keep the jobs related to them. When one is the owner of a small business, one understands all the sacrifices that need to be made to achieve success.

[Infrastructure, October 20th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, another huge sign has been put up nearby, at St. Andrew's Tower.

Can the Conservatives tell us the costs of this project, which, according to their own information, consists in removing the tiles from the floor of the mechanical room?

How many jobs did this project create?

And how much did this sign cost taxpayers?

[Infrastructure, October 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, on the one hand, the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities says that the Bridge Corporation is independent. On the other, we just heard the Minister of Public Works and Government Services say that the Conservatives gave the Bridge Corporation policy direction.

Who is telling the truth?

[Canadian Heritage, October 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, this is misleading the public again.

The strike by the 420 employees of the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum has entered its third week. These employees are simply asking to be paid the same as other Canadian museum employees. The Conservatives' cuts to culture are starving our museums.

When will the minister help these two museums find solutions, so that their employees can have fair working conditions?

[Canadian Heritage, October 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, last year's Conservative strategic review caused a loss of $4 million for the Museum of Civilization and the War Museum. This reduction makes it very difficult for management to fulfill its responsibilities and protect the well-being of employees. So much so, that subcontracting is widely used, thus depriving employees of job security.

When will the Conservatives direct the management of the museums to go back to the table to negotiate an end to the strike that damages the reputation of these two national emblems?

[Points of Order, October 8th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, immediately before question period, when members were making statements under Standing Order 31, the member for Beauport—Limoilou and parliamentary secretary for the status of women, when reading a statement that had been prepared for her by the Prime Minister's Office, alluded to the absence of a member in the House. I would like to quote a passage from page 522 of Marleau and Montpetit, which is very clear:

It is unacceptable to allude to the presence or absence of a Member or Minister in the Chamber.

I suggest that you ask the member to apologize and assign her to read Marleau and Montpetit so that she knows the rules.

[Free Public Transit for Seniors Act, September 30th, 2009]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-449, An Act regarding free public transit for seniors.

Mr. Speaker, today I am tabling a bill that would help seniors across Canada break free from their isolation. We know it is good to encourage seniors to live active social lives, and for them to break out of the isolation they may experience. We also know that it is difficult for many seniors in Canada to get around, and often public transportation is their only option.

I am tabling a bill to allow the Minister of Finance to make direct payments to a fund established to help the provinces, territories and municipalities offer seniors across Canada free local public transportation, outside peak hours.

I am calling on all the members of the House to support this bill and to ensure it is passed as quickly as possible.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Made in Canada Act, September 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I have no objection with the member splitting his time, except that within the Standing Orders, my impression is that he has to have the unanimous consent of the House.

[Health, September 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we learned today that dozens of residents of Vancouver Island have contracted the H1N1 flu. The authorities have told doctors to stop testing for the flue because they are already overwhelmed.

When will these people get the help they need? When will this insensitive government finally accept its responsibilities?

[Health, September 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the investments in housing that he mentioned have resulted in one house per community in Manitoba.

The children have returned to school and the parents are worried. We know very well how preparations are coming along in first nations communities: they have stalled. The Conservatives have had the whole summer to prepare the country for this pandemic, but they could do no better than to send body bags to Manitoba.

Do they not understand that it is their responsibility to protect the health of all Canadians?