House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2019, with 34% of the vote.
Sponsorship Program October 28th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, to hear the ludicrous suggestion that Canada is somehow slipping behind in terms of economic performance is absolute rubbish. We moved from the bottom of the G-8 countries, in the first part of the 1990s, to the top of the G-8 countries. We have the best record for fiscal responsibility, the best record for job creation and the best record for economic wealth.
Natural Resources October 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I indicated earlier that the government continues to work very hard with the Government of Nova Scotia on these issues.
I have in that regard the very able assistance of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. I have the ample cooperation of the provincial minister of energy. We continue to work at it constructively. It might be helpful if the opposition were constructive.
Natural Resources October 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, in the last couple of days I have had some very useful discussions with Premier Hamm and also with Minister Clarke in Nova Scotia. Those discussions are ongoing in a very cooperative and constructive spirit. I expect we will be able to arrive at a very satisfactory conclusion.
The Environment October 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, indeed in the fiscal system over the last number of years the balance has been improving between the government's treatment of the petroleum sector compared to the renewable and alternative sectors, for example.
I would point out to the honourable gentleman that we have a very strong recommendation in our platform, which is repeated in the throne speech. Part of the policy of the Government of Canada is to move forward with very significant new investments in alternative and renewable fuels, like wind energy, for example, ethanol and a variety of others.
The Environment October 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the importance of the environment is very powerfully signalled in the government statement in the Speech from the Throne. It is also signalled by the selection of the current Minister of the Environment to lead that portfolio.
The government is very intent upon moving this forward. For example, we have dedicated a very substantial portion of the proceeds from Petro-Canada to environmental and sustainable development technologies. In a whole variety of ways, both through the tax system and through our expenditures, we intend to make decided progress on the environment.
Taxation October 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, I would point out to the hon. gentleman that one of the premiers, among several yesterday, made the observation that they had made more progress in dealing with the financial relationships within Confederation in the last 22 weeks than they had made in the previous 22 years.
Taxation October 27th, 2004
Mr. Speaker, the combination of the contributions the Government of Canada is making in new money in health and new money in equalization will add up over the next 10 years to $74 billion more in funding for the provinces across the country. That is the largest change ever.
It is extremely important to help the provinces meet the requirements that they have to face within their jurisdiction.
At the federal level, we continue to work on the needs of children and families. We work on the needs of cities and communities. We work on the needs of senior citizens--
Natural Resources October 21st, 2004
Mr. Speaker, both the Prime Minister and I indicated to Premier Williams and to Mr. Sullivan that we would pursue this matter with great diligence and that we wanted to see a conclusion by the 26th if at all possible. We continue to work toward that objective.
I must say that I have had nothing but goodwill from Minister Sullivan. I have had great cooperation from the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Fisheries on this side of the House in pursuing a successful conclusion to this. I hope that we will all be able to celebrate a very happy result.
Natural Resources October 21st, 2004
Mr. Speaker, work is ongoing very vigorously. As late as last evening I was in a conversation with Minister Sullivan in Newfoundland, as I was earlier in the day yesterday with Minister Clarke in Nova Scotia. The work is being pursued very diligently by the two provinces as well as by the Government of Canada. We hope we will achieve a successful result.
Petro-Canada October 21st, 2004
Mr. Speaker, we tried very hard to be inclusive of all the regions of the country and we succeeded in that. There were firms from western Canada, there were firms from Ontario, there were firms from Atlantic Canada, and indeed there were two very strong and successful firms from the province of Quebec that made a very large contribution to the success of the most important transaction of its kind in Canadian history.