House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 64% of the vote.
Trade February 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the leader of the NDP asks what would be wrong with policies that have us just buy here. What is wrong with it is we are a world trading leader. We can compete with the best in the world. We can sell around the world and we want to sell around the world. That is what our policy is designed to have us do.
Trade February 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, we believe strongly that the proposals before the American Congress violate its trade obligations. We have a global slowdown. All the countries of the G20 have committed themselves to working together to provide stimulus packages to stimulate not just their own economies, but the world economy.
The leader of the NDP suggests we respond to this by starting a trade war with the United States. This is not advice that we will be taking.
Forestry Industry February 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, this is the sectarianism Mr. Sarkozy talks about.
The budget provides $1 billion for the community adjustment fund, another $1 billion for the community development trust, money to boost forestry industry competitiveness and other money for FPInnovations, research and development, the Canadian wood fibre centre and renewable energy, biomass and biofuel. I could go on, but the Bloc should support that.
Forestry Industry February 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we have measures tailored to the individual, unique circumstances in every industry and community. A spokesperson for the Forest Products Association of Canada had this to say about the budget: “The government has clearly heard the message and embraced our vision of becoming the producers of the best quality, most innovative and greenest forest products in the world.” The Bloc should support those measures.
Trade February 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, this is the government that fixed the softwood lumber dispute with which the previous government could not deal. This is the government that dealt with the BSE issue. This is the government, due to the hard work of our diplomats, that recently got changes to the country of origin labelling. This government and the diplomats of this government have been on top of this issue, weeks before the official opposition even heard about it.
Trade February 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, let us be absolutely clear. These are not measures targeted at Canada. They are measures that are of concern to all trading partners of the United States.
At the G20 meeting, as the member will know, we all agreed that we had to have a global response to the recession, which would include stimulus packages in all major countries and the avoidance of protectionism, and certainly not protectionism in a stimulus package.
Our officials at all levels have been in consultation with their counterparts in the American Obama administration. We believe they share many of our concerns.
Trade February 3rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the American political process is very long and complicated. Our diplomats are working very hard to protect our interests. The measures in the U.S. Congress' stimulus package raise serious concerns for everyone, for all G20 members and for all industrialized nations. We will obviously be pursuing our efforts to change that decision before the end of the process.
Pay equity January 29th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I will tell the House what the only sad contrast is around here these days. It is the leader of the NDP, who a month ago was prepared to support the mission in Afghanistan, prepared to support corporate tax cuts, prepared to support development of the oil sands and now wants to go back and try to pretend he is a left wing ideologue all over again. It is his problem. He made his bed. He can sleep in it.
Pay equity January 29th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, Canadian women will benefit from all the measures in this budget. Under this government, we have more funds available for women's programming than ever before and we will have a pay equity system that will serve women better than ever before.
The NDP should get on the side of women and support the budget.
Pay equity January 29th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the proposals in the budget concerning pay equity will ensure that decisions about equity will be made much more quickly than they are now. In addition, these are the same measures that were adopted in Manitoba and Ontario by New Democrat governments.