Tony Clement

[Nortel, September 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, in fact, we did do a national security review on this particular auction and transaction. I did consult with the Minister of Public Safety on that review, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The conclusion was unanimous, which was that there were no national security issues in this case. In fact, one of the reasons was that all of the technology which is currently available is shared by at least 100 countries.

[Bankruptcy, September 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I know the hon. member was not up late last night. He had his cup of hot cocoa and went to bed early, but at midnight last night, the bill came into effect.

[Nortel, September 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to go through this again.

There is a law in this country and it is called the Investment Canada Act. The law has a threshold for review. The threshold for review is $312 million based on the assets of the company. This particular transaction was $182.5 million underneath the threshold. Therefore, it is not reviewable, unless the Liberals want to have different laws for different transactions. If that is their idea of an economic policy, it stinks.

[Nortel, September 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the hon. member is suggesting. Is he suggesting that this government has already taken a position that the particular transaction he mentioned is not reviewable? If he is under that misapprehension, it is indeed a misapprehension.

[Taxation, September 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, all I know is when she and her party were given a chance to lower the GST by two points, she and every member of that caucus voted against it. To the shame of their tax-fighting credentials, they are certainly a wolf in sheep's clothing.

[Taxation, September 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I encourage the hon. member, if she feels very strongly about this, to run for a position in the British Columbia legislature. That is the place that makes those kinds of decisions, as does the Ontario legislature. Our place is merely to facilitate decisions that have already been made by provincial legislatures. That is our place in this.

Her party, however, whenever it gets a chance, wants to increase taxes, wants to increase the burden on businesses, as well as individuals. That is her record. Thank goodness it is not this government's record.

[Health, September 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth.

British Columbia health officials, who are working with the Public Health Agency of Canada, have indicated that the hon. member's statements are based on an inflammatory article that is not accurate.

Health officials in British Columbia are aware of these cases. We are working with British Columbia first nations and first nations communities across the country to protect citizens of our country, and we will continue to do so.

[Health, September 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Kildare over there.

We rely on the advice of public health professionals and on the advice of the Chief Public Health Officer, all of whom are medical physicians. We have a plan that can protect the Canadian public. It is based on the best advice of public health officials and epidemiologists. I will take their advice over that member's advice any day of the week.

[Health, September 18th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, we support the health department's action plan.

We support what the health and public safety departments and the Chief Public Health Officer are doing. They have a plan of action based on a plan that this government has put in place in conjunction with our North American allies and the World Health Organization.

This plan aims to protect the Canadian public as best we can. Working with our international partners, we are doing just that.

[Industry, September 17th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, we are helping companies that are international, like RIM, by applying the law equally here in Canada.

If we did not do so, if we sided with the protectionist impulses of the Liberal Party, the effect would be that when RIM or other companies went across the border or around the world seeking to do their own foreign investment, those countries would say, “You are not doing the same in your country. You are applying the rules differently in different situations”.

We will not do that because that is not in the best interest of Canadians and it is certainly not in the best interest of Canadian business.