Maxime Bernier

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, December 7th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, if you read the Speech from the Throne carefully, you will see that it is economic suicide. The Liberals believe that the country will prosper if they spend more money, but that is absolutely false. An increase in spending will not stimulate the economy; it will sedate it.

What Canadians do not realize is that the people who will benefit the most from the tax cuts are the members of the House of Commons who earn between $89,000 and $200,000 a year. That is the most discouraging thing about the tax cuts for the middle class outlined in the throne speech.

I am therefore asking the Prime Minister why he will not really help the middle class by cutting taxes for the real middle class. Why will he not manage the economy properly by cutting spending and giving people more leeway? That is what will allow Canadians to generate wealth in this country.

[Tourism Industry, June 18th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, we support the hundreds and thousands of small business owners across Canada who work in tourism. We brought in a plan three years ago.

Now we are taking action for the tourism industry and doing everything we can to meet their needs. That is why, a few weeks ago in Niagara Falls, people from the tourism industry were so happy to hear our announcement of an additional $30 million over three years for Destination Canada.

[Tourism Industry, June 18th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I think that the member was not at the meeting in Niagara Falls a month ago with all the representatives of the tourism industry in Canada. What did they say? They said that this year is the best year for the tourism industry. They were very happy with the investment from our government, $30 million over three years, to invest in the U.S. to make sure Americans will travel to Canada to visit our great country.

[Tourism Industry, June 15th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder where my colleague was.

A few weeks ago in Niagara Falls, we made a major announcement about an additional $30 million investment in Destination Canada to promote our country. The entire tourism industry was very happy about that announcement.

The figures the member quoted are completely false. We have increased the budgets for the Canadian Tourism Commission and Destination Canada. We believe that they will do their job and attract even more visitors to Canada.

[Tourism Industry, June 15th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what the member just said, which is false, we did not cut any money from the Canadian Tourism Commission; we increased the budget by $30 million. This is an investment in U.S. tourism, which will ensure that we have more travellers from the U.S. visiting our nice country.

[International Trade, June 10th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, our government has signed free trade agreements with nearly 37 countries and we have always protected the supply management system.

It is also important to point out that we signed those agreements because they were good for consumers, small businesses and families, in other words, for all Canadians. We will continue to apply that same logic in the future.

We are going to continue to sign free trade agreements that are good for all Canadians and all industrial sectors.

[Tourism Industry, June 4th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, first, I want to thank the member for Wild Rose for his leadership as the chair of the parliamentary tourism caucus.

The Prime Minister announced an additional $30 million over three years to Destination Canada for it to reach out to more visitors from the United States. This funding will be matched by the provincial tourism organizations, by the territorial organizations and also by the private sector. We will be able to reach more visitors from the U.S. to come to our country.

[International Trade, June 4th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, farmers in Mirabel, Beauce and all across Canada, milk producers, cheese producers, and egg and poultry producers can count on this government to protect supply management, as it has done in the past when it signed other free trade agreements.

[International Trade, June 4th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, since 2006, our government has signed free trade agreements with more than 37 countries. We never tampered with the supply management system when we signed all of these agreements. Future agreements will be no different. We will continue to maintain supply management and all other industrial sectors, since this agreement is important. Canadian producers and exporters will have access to more than 800 million consumers without any tariffs or quotas.

It is important to sign this agreement, which will benefit all industrial sectors.

[International Trade, June 3rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, yes, we will continue to preserve supply management.