Pablo Rodriguez

[Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec Act, May 30th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to address the hon. members of this House at third reading stage of Bill C-9, an act to establish the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec.

This legislation has prompted excellent debate within this House and in committee on the major issues surrounding regional economic development. This is a very important time for all those interested in the economic development of the regions of Quebec.

Bill C-9 sets the parameters by which the Government of Canada intends to contribute to the economic development of Quebec. Consideration of this bill began last fall.

Collectively, we face many challenges. We are reminded of this each and every day in the current economic situation, whether one of our companies finds success abroad or a plant has to close its doors for lack of viable markets for its products.

Businesses are at the heart of economic development for the regions of Quebec and lead the economic development of each region. For us, giving support to business translates into more dynamic and more competitive companies that can create more wealth and jobs in the regions.

Moreover, the bulk of new jobs created in Quebec were in businesses with fewer than 100 employees.

Today, we have multiple possibilities for creating wealth, and also for increasing productivity, inventiveness and flexibility. A number of businesses and sectors of activity in Quebec are still too vulnerable to the ups and downs in the world economy. It is therefore the duty of a responsible government such as ours to support these businesses and to orient them so they may adapt or transform their approaches, their manufacturing procedures and their products.

I need only refer to the difficulties in our textile sector to convince you of the importance that all of us, whether executives and employees of businesses, community volunteers, stakeholders in regional development or government, must assign to innovation and improving the productivity of our businesses.

We are not, moreover, the only ones to hold this view. In its study, “OECD Territorial Reviews: Canada”, the OECD concluded that “for the Quebec economy to move to a higher trajectory, the productivity of small businesses must be improved, management performance upgraded, and efficient technologies acquired.”

Through its IDEA-SME, program, Canada directly supports businesses involved in targeted projects, including export and innovation, thereby moving into the future.

I would like to take a moment to quote the words of Mr. Yves Goudreau, Director of Business Development at Premier Tech Ltée, a firm located in the Lower Saint Lawrence area. When he appeared before the Standing Committee on Industry, Natural Resources, Science and Technology he said, and I shall quote:

The loans granted by CED for the development of innovative technologies have allowed Premier Tech to create one of the most important private regional research and development centres....

Without these amounts, we would have, without any doubt, directed our product development to the partial improvement of products. In the middle term, this delay would have caused the withdrawal of our products from the market, because of the constant optimization of the products of international competitors, who are continuously working on the development of new, innovative concepts.

Since 1997, CED loans to Premier Tech have enabled more than 400 direct jobs to be created, and close to 200 innovative products developed. As a result, the company's sales have grown from $50 million to $300 million.

This is very eloquent testimony to the importance of the assistance provided by Canada Economic Development and of its clear impact on the development of a business.

In general, the businesses that have benefited from CED funding have significantly increased their sales and staff. More than three-quarters of them would have been unable to implement their projects had it not been for the agency's assistance, while others would not have been able to see their projects through on the same scale or to complete them within the same timeframe. Moreover, the agency's average cost recovery is 75% of the repayable contributions. That is one of the best in the government.

By devoting itself to the start-up and development of small businesses, Canada Economic Development helps create and maintain jobs, besides having an impact on the restructuring of local economies. That is why, through its support of businesses in Quebec, it is also promoting the economic diversification of communities and helping to ensure the economic stability and vitality of the various regions of Quebec.

These figures speak for themselves and tell us loud and clear that this government is right to rely on assistance provided to businesses in all the regions of Quebec.

Take for example Sixpro inc., of Sainte-Clotilde-de-Horton, in the central Quebec region. In January 2005, a repayable contribution of nearly $400,000 was made to this business to implement a project designed to improve its productivity.

This metal colour coating company will acquire new equipment and improve its operating methods. This important undertaking will allow 200 jobs to remain in the Sainte-Clotilde region and some 20 more may be created.

This support from Canada Economic Development is another solid example of what we mean when we say we want to have everything in place to promote optimum productivity and thus better business performance.

I would also like to mention another example, the firm BCH Unique Inc. of Saint-Martin, Quebec, which got $200,000 in support last February in order to improve its productivity.

The company will reconfigure its assembly line and acquire some high tech equipment in order to eliminate bottlenecks and improve the working conditions of a number of employees.

Canada Economic Development's tangible commitment to the economic development of SMBs in Quebec has to be seen as an investment in the future and prosperity of a business in Quebec and as a major contribution toward improving the quality of life of many people in a community.

You will agree that this mandate is very important, and Bill C-9 will make it possible for us to do what the people of Quebec want done to carry it out.

I would therefore invite all members of Parliament to vote in support of Bill C-9 and in solid support of the development of Quebec's businesses and regions.

In closing, I move, seconded by the member for Pontiac, that the question be now put.

[Committees of the House, May 19th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(f), the committee has carried out a study on bilingualism and official language use in the federal public service and agreed, on Thursday, May 18, 2005, to report its findings and recommendations to the House.

[An Act to authorize the Minister of Finance to make Certain Payments, May 19th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would like to seek the unanimous consent of this House to table a report by the Standing Committee on Official Languages, which received the unanimous approval of all members of the committee.

[Supply, March 10th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question. In fact, he has answer it in part when he said that the Liberal caucus had spoken out against their closure. I too have spoken out against the closure of the RCMP detachments, and the hon. member for Brome—Missisquoi has been very active on this file.

As far as I and the members of the caucus are concerned, we would rather a different decision had been made.

[Supply, March 10th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for a Charter of Rights and Freedoms viable reverse onus of proof in the proceeds of crime cases.

Currently, the Criminal Code does allow for the forfeiture of proceeds of crime allows the forfeiture of the proceeds of crime, upon application by the Crown, and after a conviction for a designated offence. Once culpability has been proven, the Crown must show on a balance of probabilities that the property is the proceeds of crime and that the property is connected to the crime.

If no connection between the offence for which the offender was convicted and the property is established, the judge may order the forfeiture of the property if he or she is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the property is proceeds of crime.

Although these provisions have been in force for quite some time and have in fact been successful to a significant degree, we need to work towards ensuring that criminals, especially those primarily motivated by financial benefit, do not profit from their ill-gotten gains.

Committing crime for financial benefit is the hallmark of organized crime. Whether these crimes involve drugs, prostitution, fraud or whatever, organized crime is fuelled by greed.

It is the proceeds of this criminal activity which allow organized criminals to commit further crime, recruit further members and facilitate generally the criminal operation of these groups. Organized crime demands specific, focussed and sustained responses.

We as a Liberal government have taken significant steps over the past few years in the fight against organized crime, first with Bill C-95, in 1997, and, most recently, in 2001, with Bill C-24.

Bill C-24, which came into force in 2002, included a simplified definition of “criminal organization”, three new criminal organization offences and tough sentencing and parole eligibility provisions.

These amendments also improved the protection from intimidation for people who play a role in the justice system and broadened law enforcement powers to forfeit the proceeds of crime and seize property that was used in a crime.

This clearly demonstrates that this Liberal government is committed to combating organized crime.

These and other tools found in the Criminal Code are being used by law enforcement and prosecutors in the fight against organized crime.

Despite significant legislative activity in this area recently, we need to evaluate whether prosecutors have all the necessary tools to advance on this front, as organized crime groups are now becoming increasingly sophisticated, complex and adaptive in their criminal ventures.

Clearly, this assessment should examine whether a reverse onus in proceeds of crime cases would contribute to the disruption of criminal organizations. In my view it would.

As this matter advances, it is important to have the views of the provinces on this issue. In many cases, their prosecutors are the ones bringing the proceeds of crime applications, given their authority to prosecute most Criminal Code offences.

As a government, we have taken a step in the right direction. In January 2005, federal, provincial and territorial ministers for justice discussed proposals to change the Criminal Code to create a reverse onus for the proceeds of crime regime.

According to joint news release issued, and I quote:

All Ministers agreed that the ability to obtain the forfeiture of proceeds of crime is needed and the federal justice minister said he intends to move forward as quickly as possible with changes that meet charter requirements.

The federal-provincial-territorial forum is useful in gauging provincial support on issues such as these. Based on the outcome from this meeting, it appears there is general support for the need to advance a reverse onus provision that is within the parameters of the Charter.

The requirement that any advancement in this area be viable from a charter perspective is a very important one. A balance must be struck in crafting a reverse onus scheme which represents a useful tool for prosecutors, over and above what is now available under our current proceeds of crime scheme, while doing so within the limits prescribed by the Constitution.

This is a very important consideration as charter viability will ensure that our prosecutors will have this tool, and that it will be effective to take away criminal profits for years to come.

This motion is directed at ensuring that criminals are not permitted to financially or materially benefit from the commission of criminal offences. It is one which is targeted at fighting crime in the most effective way—by taking the profit out of it.

[Parental Leave, March 7th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, last week, the government concluded a final agreement with the Government of Quebec concerning parental leave.

Can the minister explain to us what this agreement represents, both in terms of federal-provincial relations and socially, for Quebec parents?

[Anjou Peewee Tournament, February 14th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I want to point out the huge success of the 29th edition of the Anjou national peewee hockey tournament.

Year after year, for 29 years, this remarkable tournament has been a gathering point where young people from all over Quebec and even further afield meet in healthy competition and camaraderie.

Quite a few National Hockey League players once skated in this prestigious tournament.

For all those who will not reach the major leagues, this event is still an enriching and unforgettable experience.

Without the dedication of organizers and other volunteers, these young people would not have such an opportunity to take to the ice and demonstrate their talent and energy.

And so, here in this House, I want to express my most sincere congratulations to all the players, organizers and volunteers in this unparalleled event.

[Supply, February 8th, 2005]

No, Mr. Speaker, I will support the motion.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

[Supply, November 16th, 2004]

Mr. Chair, I would like to take a few minutes to talk about a subject of great interest to me, literature. I know that a good number of my colleagues here share the same passion.

You all know that Canadian literature has grown remarkably over the past 25 years. Thirty years ago, foreign editors had taken over nearly the whole market, and foreign books dominated on the shelves of Canadian bookstores. Today, Canadian owned publishing companies have recovered a substantial part of the Canadian market.

They have increased their share by 26% in 20 years and they now control more than half the domestic market. Compared with 25 years ago, there are three times the number of publishers owned by Canadian interests, four times the number of books published every year and five times the number of Canadian authors recognized nationally and internationally.

As Alice Munro said in her words of thanks Thursday night at the Giller Prize ceremony—and the minister was there—Canadian literature has come a long way since the time when she was working in a Victoria bookstore and clients were telling her, with some pride unfortunately, that they were not reading Canadian authors.

Today, Canadians are proud to read Canadian literature and understand the importance of Canadian fiction. Nowadays, Canadian literature is one of the richest in the world. In both official languages, our children's literature tells stories taking place in Canada, illustrates our values and is a testimony to our history. In addition, our fiction publishing is of unparalleled quality thanks to the major publishing firms belonging to Canadian interests, such as Boréal and McClelland & Stewart. The Canadian stories published by these firms are of vital importance to our nation because they reflect the regional, linguistic and ethnocultural vitality of Canada and remind us of our common values.

The money paid by the government to Canadian authors and publishers has contributed to creating a niche for these stories and, by and large, to the success of Canadian books.

Canadians are now thrilled by Canadian literature and celebrate our authors and their work through award presentations including the Giller Prize, the Athanase-David Prize and the Governor General's literary awards as well as through literary festivals and book fairs held throughout Canada every year. It is important to mention that.

In fact, this week, on Thursday, November 18, the 27th Annual Salon du livre de Montréal will open its doors. I will certainly be there. This bookfair is not only the most important French fair in North America, it is also the second largest francophone event of its kind in the world. The ever-increasing interest for awards and fairs, such as the Salon du livre de Montréal, is another monument to the success of Canadian literature.

Canadians love Canadian books because they are diverse enough to please all readers.

The unprecedented success of Canadian literature and the important part played by the government in that success are absolutely undeniable. However, the problems that our publishers face while developing literary content for a population as small and diverse as Canada's are also very real.

I would like the Minister of Canadian Heritage to tell this House how the government can ensure that our book industry can continue to meet these challenges and to maintain its status as a world-renowned producer of literature.

[An Act to establish the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, November 15th, 2004]

Madam Speaker, I would say that the involvement of Canada Economic Development at the regional level is highly relevant.

I myself had the opportunity of seeing this last week. To answer the member's question, I could enumerate numerous initiatives where Canada Economic Development plays an important role in the various regions of Quebec. It responds to community needs and consultations. We have the support of mayors, stakeholders and developers.

Last week, for example, I went to La Macaza to make an announcement in support of the report project at that level. All the local stakeholders attended and clearly said that this bill was long overdue and that they are pleased with the involvement of Canada Economic Development.

This is one initiative, but there are many others. What is clear is that there is a consensus in Quebec for the agency to continue to play its role. I would appreciate it if the member would recognize that also.