Vic Toews

[Supplementary Estimates (A), 2009-10, June 19th, 2009]

moved:

That the supplementary estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, be concurred in.

[June 19th, 2009]

Mr. Chair, I wish to give the following assurance that the form of the bill is essentially the same as was passed in the previous supply period.

[June 19th, 2009]

moved:

That the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, less the amounts voted in Interim Supply, be concurred in.

[Main Estimates, 2009-10, June 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I can reiterate some of the other programs. I do not want to boast about how efficient we have been in respect of working with municipal and provincial governments. All I can do is reiterate the general statement that the Premier of Manitoba, a New Democrat who works with this government as opposed to opposing everything like the federal New Democrats, said, that we have increased the number of construction jobs in the province of Manitoba from 36,000 to 38,000.

This is in the middle of a recession. He has clearly indicated that it is a direct result of the stimulus funding that we have instituted in cooperation with the provincial government and municipalities. We will continue to work with NGOs like the president of the University of Winnipeg, Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, who praised this government for the funding, indicating that the shovels are in the ground. The work is happening.

So I can only agree with the member. The person from Nanaimo who indicated that things are not getting done in his riding needs to perhaps speak to one of the ministers over here to make sure that things are getting done in his riding if he cannot get those done by himself.

[Main Estimates, 2009-10, June 19th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, I find the member's comments rather surprising. In fact, all across this country, work is being done. Why it is not being done in his particular riding I do not know. I think he will have to approach the ministers, which he apparently has not done, and ask why certain projects have not proceeded.

The issue is not so much whether the money is flowing; the issue is whether the work is being done. We are not simply going to shovel money out the door, as has been done with some past governments. We are saying to our provincial, municipal, private sector and NGO partners that we are prepared to partner with them. We have negotiated contribution agreements and we are continuing to negotiate them.

On the basis on the contribution agreements, such as the one we did with the University of Winnipeg or the one we did with the Province of Manitoba for the Letellier bridge, that means the work can commence immediately, and the work is commencing immediately. The money will flow in due course. We are very pleased. Our public servants have moved this ahead of the regular schedule by six to nine months.

[Main Estimates, 2009-10, June 19th, 2009]

moved:

That the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, less the amounts voted in Interim Supply, be concurred in.

Mr. Speaker, a few short months ago, this government began the monumental task of implementing budget 2009 and Canada's economic action plan, a plan designed to counter the effects of the global recession here at home.

In that time we have used every tool at our disposal to ensure the plan stays on track and that the money gets to where it needs to go. In the course of this time we have provided the largest, fastest stimulus package in the G8. We have increased tax relief for Canadians and we have expanded support for Canadians hardest hit by the recession. Our goal has been to ensure that we are able to respond quickly and effectively while ensuring accountability, and we are succeeding.

In just over 70 days, our government has put into place 80% of the largest economic recovery program in Canadian history. We have been taking unprecedented action in every region of Canada. In the course of this, we have permanently reduced the tax burden on Canadians. We have provided tax relief, improved access to financing for Canadians and their businesses. We have assisted unemployed workers through extended EI benefits and skills training. We have supported home ownership and created jobs through housing construction and created jobs through a massive injection of infrastructure spending.

In addition, we have supported the industries and communities hardest hit by the global recession. We have invested in the jobs of tomorrow through new supports for research and technology. Implementing our action plan has been our top priority. Our plan was possible because of our position of relative financial strength. In fact, as has been already stated today by some of the other speakers, Canada is being recognized as a leader by international financial people.

The World Bank president recently said:

Canada’s experience offers lessons to others, especially its strong financial and regulatory environment that is helping it manage the shocks of the downturn, particularly in the banking sector.

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Secretary-General Angel Gurria said:

Effectively, Canada will be one of the first to come out of the recession.

The International Monetary Fund said:

Canada is better positioned than many countries to weather the crisis. It entered the crisis from a position of strength, reflecting a track record of strong policy management that has supported underlying macroeconomic and financial stability.

It also highlighted that Canada's total government deficit as a percentage of GDP is the lowest in the G7. Canada's debt as a percentage of GDP is also the lowest in the G7.

The World Economic Forum ranked Canada's banking system out of 134 countries, first.

I am very pleased that our economic action plan is already making a difference and that this is being recognized on the world stage. More importantly, it is being recognized right here at home by Canadians.

We took a number of steps to get the funding flowing as quickly as possible. One of these measures was the creation of vote 35, a special, time-limited central vote in the main estimates allowing the Treasury Board Secretariat to approve up to $3 billion for budget implementation.

This vote has allowed the government to provide initial funding for ready-to-go initiatives in advance of the normal parliamentary supply schedule. This vote was necessary because of the proximity between the tabling of budget 2009 and the tabling of main estimates.

We recognized that the short timeframe simply did not allow enough time for departments and agencies to seek the necessary funding in the main estimates for initiatives outlined in our economic action plan. This funding has allowed programs to move forward quickly, programs that would have otherwise had to wait for up to six or more months for funding.

As the Prime Minister noted in his report to Canadians last week, 80% of the plan's general funding has been committed and it is now being implemented across the country. As the Prime Minister indicated, 3,000 projects are underway and with the passing of these estimates and other money bills, we will see even more being implemented.

The funding is creating and protecting jobs. It is building infrastructure, easing the tax burden on families and supporting Canadians who have lost their jobs. It is also helping threatened industries.

Last week, I had the pleasure of announcing a number of infrastructure projects in the province of Manitoba. I was with the Premier of Manitoba, who is a New Democrat. I must say that he has been responsible in his approach to the recession. He has worked with the federal government to ensure that the stimulus money flows. In fact, he indicated this stimulus funding was working.

For example, in Manitoba alone, last year there were 36,000 construction jobs. This year, there are 38,000 construction jobs, directly attributable to the stimulus funding that is going on through the programs of this government. I want to thank the premiers, like Premier Doer and others, who are in fact working with this government to ensure that this succeeds.

There is virtually no area of our economy that this funding does not touch. It is being used to invest in the skills and knowledge of Canadians. For example, last month we introduced the knowledge infrastructure program, a two-year $2 billion economic stimulus measure to support infrastructure enhancements at Canadian post-secondary institutions.

In fact, I had the pleasure of being with Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, the president of the University of Winnipeg, who praised this government's initiatives in respect of the stimulus funding. People can go to Winnipeg today and see the holes being dug in the ground. Dr. Axworthy and his staff are thankful for the initiative of our government to help the university move along with that $18 million grant provided to it, which was matched by the provincial government.

Just this week our government announced $1 billion to support environmental improvements for the pulp and paper industry, not to mention all the funding for roads, bridges, recreational and community facilities. For instance, there is a bridge on a main road through the entire southern portion of the province of Manitoba. That bridge was virtually falling and, indeed, is still in danger of virtually falling into the Red River. The Liberals did absolutely nothing in that respect.

We brought forward money together with the province. There will be a brand new bridge built and it will not only facilitate commerce, farming and other traffic throughout the southern part of Manitoba but will provide an alternative route during the flooding.

The member from P.E.I., the former minister of agriculture, asks about farmers. I can inform him that farmers in my riding have been calling for that kind of funding for years. It was not until this government partnered with the provincial government to get that bridge underway. We are also seeing success for farmers, to help them in their work.

I appreciate the support that the Liberals have given us to date. I wish the support had come a little earlier but better late than never. It is certainly much better than the New Democrats who have consistently opposed measures for every single sector in my province and, indeed, right across this country.

[Health, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, as the regional minister for Manitoba, I find it amazing that the member has the audacity to come here and advocate on behalf of her constituents asking for improved infrastructure, health care, educational facilities, and yet on every opportunity she votes against it. Let her explain to her constituents why she continually votes against their interests. Why does she not help them with health care? Why does she not help them with education? Why does she not help them with infrastructure? Instead, she says “no”.

[Conservative Government, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, the government follows very clear guidelines in respect of what type of advertising it is allowed to do. It does not engage in partisan advertising. If, in fact, the member has any examples of that, I would like to see them, rather than him making those kinds of general allegations that are clearly misleading.

[Employment Insurance, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, who is misleading the House, but that member. That member is misleading the House when he says that. In fact, who will negotiate all of the contribution agreements when the government falls? All of those negotiations end at that point.

There are hundreds of negotiations on projects going on at this very moment and the irresponsible decision by that opposition party to bring down the government brings those jobs, those projects and our economy into jeopardy.

[Infrastructure, June 16th, 2009]

Mr. Speaker, let us make this perfectly clear for Canadians across the country. If the opposition votes to bring down the government, the infrastructure negotiations, the contribution agreements among provinces, municipalities, NGOs and private sector organizations will immediately cease. Tens of thousands of jobs will be in jeopardy and our economic recovery will be in jeopardy.

The opposition members are being irresponsible. Shame on them.