House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 64% of the vote.
The Economy February 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, our situation and that of the United States, and consequently our respective plans, are different. For example, the Obama plan has lots of money for state and municipal governments. We solved the fiscal imbalance two years ago. That is one difference. We acted earlier than the United States.
Aerospace Industry February 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, that question is another example of the Bloc's sectarian strategy. Yesterday in Montreal, the Minister of Industry announced a major investment in the Canadian Space Agency. Other announcements will be made in the weeks to come. One thing is for sure: the Bloc will never be able to take real action to help Canada's aerospace industry.
Aerospace Industry February 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, the government has made commitments to this industry and we are going to keep our promise, as usual. The aerospace industry is a vital part of Canada's economy. The government has invested $350 million in the CSeries alone, and there are other investments to come.
The Budget February 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, obviously, there have been major changes in the mining sector. The Minister of Industry is in negotiations with this company in order to ensure that jobs are preserved in the long term.
We are in a period of unprecedented global economic downturn, and it is our intention to continue to work to ensure Canadian jobs.
The Budget February 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the government just put forward a budget, another step in our economic action plan, that involves tens of billions of dollars of stimulus to this economy. Obviously, we will see how things unfold in the months to come.
It is important that we proceed with a plan, that we act on a plan and that we do not change our plan every week.
If the Leader of the Opposition believes there should be changes, I would invite him to do something he never did in the prebudget period, which is to actually provide some economic policy suggestions to Parliament.
The Budget February 10th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, last week the leader of the Liberal Party supported the budget. This week he is criticizing the budget.
I can assure him that both I and the Minister of Finance agree that we do not change budgetary policy once a week.
Employment Insurance February 5th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the budget contains very important measures for workers and the unemployed. These people and their families need an opposition, the NDP. Even though the NDP does not accept the election results, people have the right to expect the opposition to read the budget before deciding on its position.
Employment Insurance February 5th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, once again, this government went across the country, consulted people on the measures that are necessary in this budget and took those measures. The leader of the NDP has absolutely no credibility when he criticizes measures that everyone knew he had no intention of supporting in the first place.
Employment Insurance February 5th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the measures contained in the budget include a wide range of measures to assist those who are unemployed and those who will be looking for work, including an unprecedented extension of employment insurance benefits. Those 7,000 people and all of their families deserve an opposition in the House that will actually take the time to read the budget before deciding on its position.
Taxation February 5th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the government is following recommendations from an expert panel.
Today, instead of working together to improve the economy, the leader of the Bloc has again proven his intolerance for people who have opinions that differ from his own. The leader of the Bloc insults the French president and the Quebec members in this House and divides Quebeckers with his sectarian ideology. He constantly forgets that a fundamental value in Quebec is respect for others' opinions.