Maxime Bernier

[Tourism Industry, June 14th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the work of the Canadian Tourism Commission. The people there are very efficient. They are doing a good job.

However, the one thing that the Liberals do not know is that, when we give money to the Canadian Tourism Commission, it is money that comes from our pockets, the pockets of Canadian taxpayers. That is why it has to be well administered, and it is well administered by them. We do not want to have big government spending money. We want to have a government that will be responsible toward the taxpayers.

[Intergovernmental Relations, June 13th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is simple. We respect the Constitution of Canada and we signed administrative agreements with the Government of Quebec a few years ago regarding the management of this money.

I remind my colleague that Ms. Marois, the Premier of Quebec, was a member of the Landry and Bouchard governments when we signed these agreements. These agreements are in accordance with the Constitution. They were in accordance with the Constitution at the time and they are in accordance with the Constitution now. We will continue to sign agreements along these lines.

[The Environment, June 12th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that the tourism industry is very important. That is why we will continue to invest in the Canadian Tourism Commission.

With regard to the specific case raised by my colleague, we know that attracting tourists from all across Canada must be done a certain way. It involves promoting the tourism industry through the Canadian Tourism Commission. That is what we are doing. I would like my colleague to support us in that.

[Tourism Industry, May 27th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, to attract tourists, the Canadian Tourism Commission advertises in countries where people have expressed an interest in coming to Canada, in emerging countries, in developing countries and in traditional countries such as the United States and European countries.

I would like to tell my colleague that hotel occupancy rates increased considerably last year compared to the previous year. Spending on tourism increases year over year in Canada. We are working with all stakeholders in the tourism industry to ensure its success in the coming months.

[Tourism Industry, May 27th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, we have been working with the tourism industry for several months.

A few months ago, we introduced the federal tourism strategy. This major strategy has been endorsed by all stakeholders in the tourism industry. We will soon be releasing a public report on the first year of the strategy's implementation.

I would like to say that this report will be very positive and well received, also by my colleague opposite, I hope.

[Foreign Affairs, May 24th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, for the past few weeks, our government, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, our highest-ranking diplomat, has been campaigning to ensure that the International Civil Aviation Organization's headquarters remains in Montreal. His campaign has paid off: Qatar has decided to drop its bid to move the headquarters from Montreal.

I can now assure Montrealers and Quebeckers that, thanks to this government's hard work, the International Civil Aviation Organization's headquarters will remain in Montreal.

[Tourism Industry, May 8th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, our government and I understand that keeping taxes low for Canadians and properly managing public funds to achieve a balanced budget result in jobs and wealth.

At the same time, we want to ensure that organizations such as the Canadian Tourism Commission have the funds required to promote our country abroad.

I would like to say to my colleague that spending on Canada's tourism industry has increased in the past 10 consecutive quarters. That is good news. He should be pleased about that.

[Tourism Industry, May 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I just want to let my colleague know that the mandate of the Canadian Tourism Commission is not to promote tourism in Canada. It is to promote Canada outside our country; it is to promote our country to our visitors. That is the mandate of CTC. He must know that and it is doing that very well. The numbers are increasing. We have more visitors from abroad and I am very proud of the work done by the CTC.

[Tourism Industry, May 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell my hon. colleague that I recently had the opportunity to travel to India with the Canadian Tourism Commission. I saw Canadian exporters selling their goods to Indian buyers and inviting them to come to Canada. I can say that the number of foreign visitors, especially from India, is on the rise, as is the number of visitors from China.

We asked the Canadian Tourism Commission to focus its efforts on these emerging markets because people who come to visit Canada from those countries stay longer and spend more money visiting the wonders of Canada.

[Pensions, May 7th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we are using appropriate fiscal measures to work for all Canadian workers.

I invite my colleague to vote in favour of the budget. He will still have an opportunity in the coming days to vote in favour of the legislative measures that will enable the government to support Canadian workers and help them find jobs. As for the labour-sponsored funds, I would like to remind my colleague that $8.8 billion was allocated to labour-sponsored funds in Quebec, in order to invest in businesses, and that amount will remain.