Mathieu Ravignat

[Shawville Fair, October 7th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, on Labour Day weekend past, the Pontiac Agricultural Society celebrated the 155th anniversary of the Shawville Fair. This event has been bringing the community together longer than Confederation.

I believe that agricultural fairs like the one in Shawville are a time to celebrate and recognize an industry that is so important to our lives and also to thank farmers themselves for all their hard work keeping quality nutritious food on our tables.

Since William Clark and his directors held the first Shawville agricultural fair, many changes have occurred over the years. However, the essential goal remains the same: creating a showplace for local products and allowing farmers to interact with their urban cousins.

Of course, the fair could not exist without hundreds of volunteers. I want to congratulate and thank them for making this such a great success.

This being harvest season, I would also like to take this opportunity to salute all the farmers in my riding, from the pastures in L'Ange-Gardien and the fields of Gracefield, to the meadows of Fort-Coulonge: my sincere congratulations.

All hon. members are cordially invited to attend the 156th anniversary edition of the Shawville fair next year.

[Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act, October 7th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to congratulate my dear colleague on his first election at the federal level and on his first speech.

Last summer, the IMF concluded that when revenues are allocated more fairly, the periods of economic growth are longer and more stable. So why is there so little in this budget to address the inequality?

[Government Spending, October 6th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure that the Conservatives know their real role.

The Minister of Justice can boast about having one of the most expensive websites in the world: $73 million in just over 10 years. That is expensive, especially when compared to the Public Safety website, which has cost $500,000 in seven years.

Clearly, the Conservatives like to blame the Liberals, who are also expert spendthrifts. But is the government's excuse for everything the fact that the Liberals did worse? When will this government understand that money does not grow on trees?

[Government Spending, October 6th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, taxpayers deserve better than an out of touch government that believes it does not have to follow the rules.

Since 2006, the Conservatives have spent more than $10 million on press conferences, not to mention the travel expenses of ministers who jet across the country to eat lobster. There are two press rooms on Parliament Hill, and ministers can make announcements at any time in the House of Commons.

Why is this government wasting so much taxpayers' money on self-promotion?

[Keeping Canada's Economy and Jobs Growing Act, October 5th, 2011]

Madam Speaker, I have a question related to nuclear energy. As we know, Chalk River has very old facilities. Some of those facilities are 50 years old. I would like to ask the member whether she thinks this is a viable solution for energy needs.

[International Trade, October 5th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, first the U.S. slapped protectionist buy American provisions into the American jobs act. Now the Conservatives claim to be “monitoring the situation” while the U.S. moves forward with a punitive $140 tariff on goods coming through B.C. ports. Seventy-five billion dollars worth of annual trade and 130,000 jobs are at stake.

Why is the Minister of International Trade letting the Americans run roughshod over Canadian trade interests? When will the minister start doing his job?

[International Trade, October 5th, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, once again, the United States is planning to impose a special tariff on Canadian businesses. This time, an extra $140 will be charged on each container carrying goods from British Columbia when cargo ships dock in the United States. This news came to light on the eve of the announcement of a co-operation agreement between the two countries.

Will the government stand up to our American neighbour and refuse this latest attack on our trade interests?

[Parliament of Canada Act, September 30th, 2011]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-306, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (political affiliation).

Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to thank my colleague, the member for Sackville—Eastern Shore, for seconding this bill and for the excellent work he has done for a number of years on bills that are important to Canadians. I am honoured and very pleased to introduce my first bill in this House regarding political affiliation. This bill follows up on one of my party's election promises: to ensure that politicians are held accountable for the choice made by their constituents, and to prevent them from playing politics to benefit their personal careers by changing political parties when they feel like it.

With it we are helping to fix Ottawa.

The bill provides that a member's seat in the House of Commons will be vacated and a by-election called for that seat if the member was elected to the House as a member of a political party, as the case may be. However, the seat will not be vacated if the member, having been elected as a member of a political party, chooses to sit as an independent.

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

[Government Spending, September 23rd, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, this government is wasting money by creating a shadow public service. It is an insult to our government employees, it is an insult to our taxpayers, and it is another way for the government to reward its special friends. It does not make any sense to spend money to reduce expenses.

Why is this government refusing to invest in job creation but throwing hundreds of thousands of dollars out the window on expensive consultants?

[Government Spending, September 23rd, 2011]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has one of the best trained and most productive public services in the world. By blowing money on unnecessary high-priced consultants, the Conservatives are throwing money at a problem that does not exist.

At a time when the government is preaching restraint, why is its budget for consultants totally out of control?