House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2011, with 71% of the vote.
Government Expenditures February 27th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, in fact, that is what we are having this discussion about. There will be a vote in the House and that there will be regular reporting to Parliament because the Liberals have put our government on probation. So there is a mechanism to assure the member that the expenditures of the money are properly done on a quarterly basis.
If the member wants other briefings, I would be happy to provide those briefings to him.
Government Expenditures February 27th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the member is entitled to go to the briefings as well. There is a criterion and there is a parliamentary vote that authorizes it. This whole discussion is about a parliamentary vote that will flow the $3 billion on April 1, or soon thereafter, instead of in June so we can meet the demands of that member who said that he wanted the money to flow sooner. He is simply speaking out of both sides of his mouth. He does not want to see the money flow.
Government Expenditures February 27th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the member could have taken the time to come to the briefings and her questions would have been answered.
I am prepared to assure her that the same criteria are in place to safeguard the expenditure of that money. Plus, the Liberals have put this government on probation. We have to bring a report back to the House. If the Bloc member can rest assured that having a Liberal probation officer is a sufficient criteria, I think we are in good shape here.
Government Expenditures February 27th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I can understand that the member wrote her question before I gave the last answer, so I will just repeat the last answer. The same criteria are in place. We agree with Judge Gomery that we cannot simply shovel money out without criteria.
What we are doing here is ensuring that the money moves earlier; instead of the June date, the April date. The same criteria are in place. We agree with Judge Gomery.
Government Expenditures February 27th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the member was not listening to the answer I gave earlier. The same controls exist on the $3 billion if it goes out in April or if it goes out in June.
If the member would only read the material that has been put out, if she would attend the briefing sessions that my department and the Department of Finance has provided to members, she would understand that.
Government Expenditures February 27th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, what the government is doing is advancing the output of this money from the June date to an April date. The same controls apply to this. The reason why we are putting the money out earlier is so that there can be a stimulus in the economy.
The coalition kept on saying it had a plan to get the money out quicker. The only plan it has is to block Canadians' access to money for infrastructure.
Government Expenditures February 27th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, the stimulus of $3 billion and the moving up of the expenditure of that money from the June date to the April date is exactly in response to demands from the opposition that money move quickly. Nothing has been done in any way in terms of diminishing the oversight of how money will be spent and the projects determined.
This will be an appropriate way of ensuring that Canadians see the effects of our budget on a timely basis as requested by the opposition.
Research and Development February 27th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, I think the member has his facts wrong. If he were to look at the numbers, he would find that this government is committed to scientific research. He would find that we have been putting unprecedented amounts of money into the scientific research area.
Pay Equity February 26th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, it is amazing having that member lecture me in respect of how we ensure that Canadians, whether they are women, men, families, or children, get to have a secure economic future when that individual stands up and votes against the economic stimulus package.
We are very concerned about the rights of women, the rights of children, the rights of men, and the rights of families in order to ensure that their economic future is secure. One of those mechanisms is the pay equity legislation that we stand behind.
Access to Information February 26th, 2009
Mr. Speaker, what about the lousy record of the Bloc standing in the way of the economic stimulus package that Canadians are expecting this Parliament to deliver? Bloc members have consistently stood in the way of ensuring that Canadians are assured of their economic future.
With respect to the information act, this government has taken more steps than any government has in the past.