House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2015, with 43% of the vote.
Health October 26th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, while the opposition was busy fearmongering in preparation for today's question period, our health minister was announcing to Canadians, and to pregnant women in particular, that they will have access to that vaccine, that it will be available because of the extraordinary efforts that she and her department have made.
That is what we are doing. We are not fearmongering. We are acting to protect the health and safety of Canadians.
Health October 26th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, we are distributing the vaccine across the country, in Quebec and in all the provinces and territories. We support the use of the vaccine. We have said it is important for everyone and all Canadians will have a chance to get vaccinated.
It is important that every Canadian know that this is important for his or her own health and safety and for his or her family's health and safety. We have been crystal clear on this point. I wish it were the same for the opposition as well.
Health October 26th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the hon. Minister of Health is doing an excellent job of communicating to Canadians about the H1N1 flu situation. She has said that the vaccine will be available to every Canadian who needs and wants it. The Minister of Health and the Chief Public Health Officer are urging Canadians to get the vaccine. This is the best way to protect our health and the health of our loved ones.
Despite the fearmongering on the other side, we are focused on protecting the health and safety of every Canadian.
Questions on the Order Paper October 23rd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), the knowledge infrastructure program, KIP, is a federal initiative created to renew Canada’s college and university infrastructure. By making large-scale investments in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is providing significant short-term economic stimulus in local communities across the country.
The program design of the KIP targets all Canadian post-secondary educational institutions that grant degrees and post-secondary credentials. Just as there were no predetermined provincial allocations, there was no allocation specifically set aside for funding of aboriginal-controlled institutions.
The KIP received 912 proposals in total. Of these, 25 proposals were received from 21 aboriginal educational institutions across Canada.
In response to (b), as of June 18, 2009, two projects have been awarded funding through KIP: Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in Merritt, British Columbia and Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, SIIT, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
In response to (c), additional funding announcements continue to be made. All proposals received to date, including those received from aboriginal institutions, are being considered for the remaining funding.
In response to (d), to date, two proposals from aboriginal educational institutions have been awarded funding: Nicola Valley Institute of Technology in British Columbia, $739,000 from KIP, with matching funding from the Province of B.C. and the institute itself; and Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, SIIT, in Saskatchewan, $1,072,000 from KIP, with matching funding from the Province of Saskatchewan.
Nortel October 22nd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, of course there has been a lot of market turmoil around the world, not only in Canada, that has put enormous pressure on many pension plans and many pensioners in this country.
The fact of the matter is that this particular pension plan is registered and regulated by the province of Ontario. Therefore, it falls within provincial responsibility.
Having said that, my colleague, the Minister of Finance, and I are working together. We have included cross-country consultations to look at comprehensive changes to the federal pension framework. Obviously we are working with the provinces and territories to make a better pension system, whether it is private or public, not only federally but across the country.
Industry October 22nd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his advice, as always. Indeed, we are studying the CRTC decision very closely.
Most observers have seen it to be an appropriate balance between the interests of the consumers and also the ability of the providers to provide the services we expect on the Internet, but I am watching those providers very closely. I do not want to see a situation where consumers are put at risk in terms of their access to the Internet.
This will be ongoing, but we are on the side of the consumer, most assuredly.
Industry October 22nd, 2009
Actually, Mr. Speaker, I think the amendment the hon. member is referring to is off the table.
The hon. member, the NDP caucus and the Conservative caucus have been collaborating very well on the anti-spam legislation, despite the efforts of the Liberals and the Bloc to cave in to corporate interests.
We see this legislation as consumer legislation to protect the consumer against some of the ne'er do wells involved in the Internet. I appreciate the backing of the hon. member's party as we continue to make sure this legislation comes through and is successful for Canadians.
Nortel October 22nd, 2009
Nortel's situation is part of an international process that is before Canadian courts and also before the courts of the U.S. and Great Britain. There is a process taking place that we must respect. At the same time, we must respect provincial jurisdictions. I am surprised to hear the Bloc member asking the federal government to intervene in a provincial jurisdiction.
Nortel October 22nd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, as I said yesterday, pensioners across Canada are facing challenges. That being said, my colleague, the Minister of Finance, has put in place a process to consult the provinces, territories and Canadians on comprehensive changes that would improve our federal pension plan.
Infrastructure October 22nd, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the member conveniently does not reference the announcements that I made in Sault Ste. Marie on behalf of the Government of Canada to help the infrastructure of that city, and the announcements that I made in Thunder Bay for the same thing, infrastructure for that great northern Ontario city as well.
However, here is what George Smitherman had to say. He explained it when he said:
--the fact that there are 450 municipalities, many of them small, meant that there were more requests in the mix for smaller communities.
This means that they had to be distributed a little bit more to rural Ontario. We have been fair and equitable. That is what the deputy premier--