Steven Blaney

[Budget Implementation Act, 2009, February 9th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the hon. member for Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup.

I listened to his speech and was surprised that he did not support this budget, given the wide consensus around it in Quebec. We need only think of Mouvement Desjardins, for example, which acknowledges the fact that this budget stimulates the economy in Canada and Quebec as it goes through uncertain times. The member's stand is poles apart from the wide consensus in Quebec around the issue, particularly with respect to credit support.

In its budget, the government plans to provide up to $200 billion through the extraordinary financing framework designed to improve access to credit for consumers and allow businesses to get the financing they need to reinvest, grow and create jobs. This goes to show that there are concrete measures in this budget.

Does the hon. member not feel that he is letting Quebec families and workers down at a time when they need a government that supports them, as we are doing right now?

[Points of Order, February 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we could keep playing word games, but this is a matter of basic respect. I am appealing to the leader of the Bloc Québécois' sense of honour and asking him to use parliamentary language and behave appropriately in the House. If he wants to end up in Quebec's National Assembly one day, he needs to know that what he says here in Ottawa does not—

[Points of Order, February 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate you on working so hard to bring a little decorum to this House. We are just beginning a new session and we have passed a budget. Some members seem to be frustrated, and they are saying most unfortunate things, things that would not be tolerated in Quebec's National Assembly.

I would formally request that the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie, the leader of the Bloc Québécois, withdraw his unparliamentary remarks.

Let us behave like mature adults, shall we? Words like “idiot”, “stupid” and “chicken” have no place in either Quebec City or Ottawa. The leader of the Bloc Québécois should stop being such an embarrassment to Quebeckers and parliamentarians, and stop insulting voters, parliamentarians and the people listening to us today.

I would ask him to withdraw his remarks. Let us have a little decorum in the House. I would like him to apologize immediately.

[Public Safety, February 4th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, two days ago I was surprised when I received a message from the member for Ahuntsic in my personal e-mail account. She sent a series of articles and videos about the recent conflict in Gaza to all MPs. What shocked me the most was the fact that some of the 27 attachments applauded the actions of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. This is the same member who, in 2006, claimed in a false statement that Israel had committed war crimes in Lebanon.

Can the Minister of Public Safety inform the House of the official status of these groups and—

[The Budget, February 3rd, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, our government has one priority, and that is to protect Canada during this world economic recession.

Young families are at the core of our economy. They represent this country's future. This is why we are giving them particular attention in the 2009 budget, our plan of action and economic stimulus.

To families in Bellechasse, Lévis and les Etchemins who work for Exceldor in Saint-Anselme, Rotobec in Sainte-Justine, Équipements Laliberté in Sainte-Claire, for la Maison Crowin bakers of Sainte-Rose, or for Scierie Audet, we are offering a residential renovation credit of up to $1,350 for home renovations, up to $750 reimbursement of costs relating to the purchase of a new home, or the possibility of withdrawing an additional $5,000 from their RRSPs for the purchase or construction of a first home.

I am proud to support this Conservative budget, which serves Canadian families first and foremost, and that is why I am calling upon all hon. members to follow suit and support, on this occasion at least, this 2009 budget.

[Agriculture, January 27th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, many Canadian farm families strongly supported our government in the last election because they know that we keep our promises. And they can expect nothing less at this time. In addition to stimulating the economy, creating jobs, and investing immediately in roads, buildings and bridges, I expect the economic action plan to produce concrete results for farmers and to protect those who have been hardest hit by the recession.

Farmers should have access to new funding to increase their slaughter capacity. This is the perfect opportunity for our government to support our beef and pork industries, as well as other producers. Our economic action plan should include a flexible program for agriculture. Such a program should help farmers tackle the challenges of the market and exploit significant opportunities in each province and territory.

I am very honoured to work with the Prime Minister and our Conservative government for farmers and for all Canadians.

[Points of Order, December 3rd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, tempers are flaring. Not everyone will have the same opinion regarding how to address the economic situation facing our country. Various concrete measures can be proposed, but we must always show respect for the political functions and for the highest political function here, which is that of our Prime Minister.

During question period, the hon. member for York Centre used the expression “pathological inability" to describe what the Prime Minister said, and I think that those words are unparliamentary. Our government and our Prime Minister are very competently navigating through the crisis that is facing our country at this time. I respectfully ask the hon. member for York Centre to withdraw his comments.

[The Political Situation, December 3rd, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Bergeron of Lévis wrote to me today to condemn the political situation. She said:

This attempt to overthrow the government looks to me like a coup d'état. People I have talked to feel the same way. We simply refuse to allow a coalition to take (and steal) power without having been elected by the people.

The separatist coalition is playing a very dangerous game. Making separatist leaders Jacques Parizeau and Pauline Marois happy just to slake a thirst for power is totally irresponsible and can only result in instability.

Canada needs a responsible, experienced government with just one pair of hands on the wheel.

That is the kind of leadership our Prime Minister and the Conservative government have to offer.

[Quebec Nation, November 27th, 2008]

Madam Speaker, “the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada”. Two years ago today, the House of Commons unanimously passed this motion, a motion that the Bloc Québécois opposed until the last minute, but one that was fiercely defended by Conservative members from Quebec and across Canada.

It was a gesture of recognition and reconciliation that serves to remind us all that Quebeckers were integral to the founding of Canada and have played an important role in its development—with a distinct language and culture—while making an especially rich contribution to our progress and collective heritage.

Like Canada as whole, Quebec faces a number of challenges, particularly on the economic front. The people of Quebec know that within a strong and united Canada, and with open federalism, we will get through this crisis.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, November 27th, 2008]

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate you on your appointment. You are the member for Victoria and you are also bilingual. It is a pleasure for a Quebecker like me to see a bilingual woman heading the business of the House. We are very proud of your appointment, Madam Speaker.

It has been two years since the Quebec nation was recognized in this House and, with the outcome of this election, it must be said that our government's policy of open federalism is getting results. During his speech, my colleague from Montmagny—L'Islet commented on this. On the one hand, we can see that more Quebeckers are responding positively to the federalist policy being put forward and, on the other hand, that fewer Quebeckers are responding positively to the Bloc's restrictive ideology and lack of pragmatism.

I have a question for my colleague. I would like to ask him why he is not supporting the Speech from the Throne when it contains three concrete examples of open federalism.

First, we want to limit federal spending power, which is one of Quebec's traditional requests, notably in areas of exclusive jurisdiction. We want to protect copyright, which is extremely important for culture, and we want to remove tariff barriers so that our businesses can engage in trade. We have outlined concrete measures for the environment and we want to invest in infrastructure.

How can my colleague vote against a Speech from the Throne that is advantageous for Quebec, risk plunging the country into another election and ignore Quebec's best interests?