House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2011, with 29% of the vote.
CFB Bagotville June 14th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, on the weekend, Colonel Pierre Ruel, Commander at CFB Bagotville, said that the restoration of the primary runway was his top priority since the structure has almost reached the end of its operational life. He went on to say that the future of 3 Wing Bagotville depended on it.
Why did the minister responsible for regional development announce that the work would begin in 2009, when the base commander said that for safety reasons the work needs to start right away?
National Defence June 8th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, are we to understand that the new access to information guidelines in effect at the Department of National Defence have a single objective, and that is to extend deadlines in order to protect the Minister of National Defence? For the past two months the minister has shown his inability to inform this House appropriately on the increasing number of cases of torture among detainees in Afghanistan.
National Defence June 8th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I find it ironic that the Minister of National Defence is using the Access to Information Act to build on his culture of secrecy. We learn that officials at the Department of National Defence are using the Access to Information Act to unduly extend deadlines for publishing documents that have already been evaluated, thereby denying the public's right to information.
How can the government, which claims to be transparent and accountable, accept such behaviour from the Minister of National Defence?
Festivals and Special Events June 5th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Status of Women is still saying that the new festivals program will not be ready until the end of the summer. There are already two major events in my riding, the Festival international des rythmes du monde and the Festival Saint-Honoré dans l’vent, that are counting heavily on these grants.
Does the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Status of Women realize that through her stubborn refusal to transfer funds to the Quebec government, she is putting many festivals at risk in all the various regions?
Gilbert Fillion May 29th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, we were very sad to learn about the death of Gilbert Fillion, former member of the Bloc Québécois, after a long battle with cancer.
A city councillor from 1981 to 1993 for the city of Chicoutimi, Gilbert was known for never giving up on those he represented and the issues that mattered to him.
As a staunch sovereignist, he was elected with the first team of the Bloc Québécois in the riding of Chicoutimi in 1993, and sat as a member in the House of Commons until 1997.
During his long battle with the disease, I had a few opportunities to speak with him. Even if his situation was not always easy, he always gave came across as a man who loved life and was prepared to put up a fight.
The Bloc Québécois would like to offer his wife, Louise, his family, his friends and his former colleagues its most sincere condolences during this difficult time.
Alcan Inc. May 18th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, Alcoa has set its sights on the Alcan aluminum company. Alcan's American rival has plans to create a world aluminum giant. This takeover is raising a lot of concerns in Quebec and the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region.
Alcoa has offered some good guarantees with respect to maintaining primary aluminum transformation activities, thanks especially to the Government of Quebec, which is insisting that certain conditions be met before it offers any help.
However, with regard to research and development, which are crucial for long term economic development, Alcoa's guarantees cover only primary transformation. The people of the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean are worried about the development of initiatives in the secondary and tertiary aluminum transformation industry and about the future of Alcan's research centre.
I would like to remind the Minister of Industry that he is no longer a spokesperson for the Montreal Economic Institute. I would like him to recognize that he is responsible for industrial development.
Business of Supply May 17th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, I would have liked to have had more information, such as the budget and the infrastructures, but I see that the minister says that that will come a little later. I will finish up now to give my colleague an opportunity to ask other questions.
Business of Supply May 17th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government promised, in the last election campaign, to establish a certain number of battalions.
The Conservative government promised to establish a batallion in my riding of Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, in Bagotville to be exact. Can the minister advise us of the schedule for establishing this batallion in Bagotville?
Business of Supply May 17th, 2007
Mr. Speaker, the government promised to recruit more soldiers. How does he intend to assure us that this promise will be kept?
Business of Supply May 17th, 2007
Mr. Chair, in 2006, the Conservative government announced sweeping changes that would see several thousand more people hired over the next five years. The Canadian Forces indicated that such an increase was vital if they were to be able to meet operational requirements.
In May 2006, the Auditor General reported that in four years, National Defence had succeeded in recruiting 20,000 members, but that its ranks had grown by only 700 soldiers who were trained during that same period. The Auditor General added that recruitment and attrition problems were putting the Canadian Forces' expansion plans at risk.
Can the minister say how personnel are being recruited at present?