Income Tax Act  Madam Speaker, I did not have a chance the last time I spoke in the House to thank the constituents of Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame for putting me back in office. I would like to do that now. The vast majority of them have been doing so for five elections now. I keep testing the limit every time I run out there.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I cannot even begin to tell the House how much respect I have for my colleague. I have known him for quite some time. I sat on that side of the House for the entire tenure of the Conservative government. To my surprise, I heard him say that there should be a free vote within the House, and to my surprise, the member referred to the tyrannical majority government.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague from West Nova. I call him my fellow search and rescue MP because of I have Gander as a base and he has Greenwood, and they work together to save lives on the east coast, which they do valiantly. He is a rural MP like me. One of the major problems we have with an elderly population is that in many cases when there are surviving partners resulting from death, they live in the homes they have lived in for many years.

Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador  Mr. Speaker, next week is a special week for Newfoundland and Labrador. A gentleman by the name of Dwight Ball, whom I have known for many years, as many of us have, will be sworn in next week as Newfoundland and Labrador's next premier. It is a moment we have been waiting for for quite some time.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, I want to point something out. It is nice to know that the member and I went to the same institution. Because I had graduated from that institution, I used to think it was a little mediocre. However, knowing that the member has graduated from there also, it is now a much greater institution.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, I agree with the member that it is for the beneficiaries in this particular case. In most cases, I agree that is true. The first goal, and most important measure we need to take with respect to our short-term and long-term goals for employment insurance, is to ensure that the processing is quicker.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague and to say I am a fan is the biggest understatement I have mentioned today. Indeed, I did hear that, not only with respect to traditional industries but with respect to newer industries as well. I have mentioned forestry, fisheries, and mining.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, this is my first speech outside of questions and comments. It is my turn to reply to the Speech from the Throne, but before I begin, I want to thank the constituents of Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame for giving me the honour to be here. I want to thank the former constituents of Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor for providing the last 11 and a half years of representation.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, first of all, congratulations to the hon. member for his speech. I would like to talk about something that he talked about in his speech, which interested me greatly. Over the past five years, many international publications have stated that Canada is falling behind when it comes to investment and innovation.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, congratulations on your new position. It is a beautiful riding that you have. I know you are from Manitoulin Island, which I do believe is the largest freshwater island in North America. I want to also congratulate the member across the way from Prince George, with whom I share a lot of similarities despite the distance from one coast to the other.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, first off, I want to congratulate the member for Outremont, the leader of the NDP, for his election and, of course, his caucus colleagues. In the past, I have had many discussions about democratic reform with many NDP members. There have been many substantial conversations with former members and current members that I see here today.

Qausuittuq National Park of Canada Act  Mr. Speaker, with your permission, if we could revert to introduction of private members' bills, I have two bills that I would like to introduce.

Canada Elections Act  moved for leave to introduce Bill C-702, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Parliament of Canada Act (by-election duration and vacant seat). Mr. Speaker, this is unrelated and I apologize for including it, but I would like to assure the member for Essex that after 10 years I am indeed standing.

Search and Rescue Commemorative Monument Act  moved for leave to introduce Bill C-703, An Act to establish a commemorative monument for search and rescue personnel in Canada. Mr. Speaker, the bill calls for the creation of a search and rescue commemorative monument in order to recognize the services and contributions of search and rescue personnel across Canada.

Fisheries and Oceans  Mr. Speaker, now that the summer is here, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians feel they are not being treated fairly regarding the recreational cod fishery or the food fishery. For example, the season in our province is much smaller than the season in the other provinces, and this makes it very difficult for our citizens and also dangerous for them as well.