Job Creation  Mr. Speaker, our economy in Canada is booming under the leadership of our Prime Minister and this government. In my riding I know that jobs have been created, yet in the construction industry some contractors are having a tough time actually getting enough employees to fill these jobs.

The Environment  We have met with the Commission on Environmental Cooperation, with large emitters in Washington, and with the United Nations under the leadership of the Prime Minister in New York. We are committed to working on real global action on global warming, something that would see countries like the United States, China and India take action, but something that also would see Canada finally begin to take action, something that member's government did not do for 13 long years.

Business of Supply  Inspired by this desire of the people, our government is pursuing the mission with which Canadians entrusted it in January 2006. Our government, under the leadership of our Prime Minister, shall not stray from this policy. And that is to the full advantage of Quebec, Canada and Canadians.

Business of Supply  As I was reading this motion over initially, I was actually rather proud of him, at the start. He advocates the lowering of taxes. This government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the finance minister, has lowered taxes by a whopping $41 billion. My colleague calls for a reduction of the debt. Our government has managed to pay down an astounding $27.4 billion in less than two years.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  With this in mind, our government is pursuing the mission Canadians entrusted us with in January 2006. Our government, under the leadership of our Prime Minister will not deviate from this course.

Government Accountability  After passing the toughest anti-corruption legislation in Canadian history, the Federal Accountability Act, and other measures to strengthen accountability in government, we did just that. This year I am proud to say that under the leadership of this Prime Minister Canada has reversed the trend and is now ninth in the world on the clean government index. However, we are not yet satisfied. We will continue to take action and make our institutions more democratic and accountable to ensure Canada is a leader on the world stage when it comes to transparency, openness and accountability in government.

Resumption of debate on Address in Reply  When he does, I will tell him that the federal spending power as he described it in the throne speech falls short of the present limits to that power that I myself, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Chrétien, introduced in the throne speech of 1996. More importantly, the proposed limits fall short of the social union agreement of which I was the architect. To continue with my exercise in humility, I will add that no federal politician placed greater limits on the federal spending power than I did, but I did so without reducing its usefulness.

Address in Reply  In this throne speech our government has identified five more priorities and we will deliver. Canadians are happy. The opposition is not. Regarding our economy under the leadership of our Prime Minister and our government, our economy is strong, and it is growing. We have the lowest unemployment rate in 30 years.

RESUMPTION OF DEBATE ON ADDRESS IN REPLY  They complement each other and reinforce the goals. I am confident that, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the new Conservative government, with its clear focus and accountability to citizens, will ensure that Canada's priorities that were enunciated in the throne speech both at home and abroad will be fulfilled.

Business of Supply  We are actually adding to it because of Canada's great economy at this time under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance. We need to concentrate on the great successes of this country. Canadians go to work every day and pay their taxes. We are reducing the debt burden on those Canadians.

Business of Supply  I proudly stand here today as a member of a Conservative government that, under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence, has recognized the dire situation of the Canadian Forces and has taken drastic action to restore Canada's military. One of the things I found so disheartening about the neglect shown to the Canadian Forces in the 1990s was how these cuts limited Canada's sovereignty.

Business of Supply  Chair, I will try to answer these questions as quickly as possible in light of the time constraints we have experienced, but I want to thank my colleague for his excellent question. As he said, under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister of National Defence, this government has undertaken a major effort to increase the independence of action of the Canadian Forces. I think its most notable development thus far has been this government's decision to acquire four C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifters.

Softwood Lumber  Speaker, I would like to remind my hon. colleague that the agreement signed under the leadership of the Prime Minister was backed by Quebec. The Government of Quebec is behind us, Quebeckers are behind us and the forestry industry is behind us. I do not understand the opposition and criticism from the Bloc Québécois.

Ukraine  Speaker, 15 years ago Ukrainians overwhelmingly chose to once again become an independent nation. The following day Canada, under the leadership of our prime minister, the Right Hon. Brian Mulroney, was the first country to recognize the newly sovereign Ukraine. This Wednesday night, the Order of Kniaz Yaroslav the Wise is being awarded to the Right Hon.

The Budget  They just want to know that their needs will be met in the most efficient way. Our new Government of Canada, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, has tried to bring things back into focus so that the most efficient ways of getting the dollars to people are achieved, which is why we will be working with the provinces in many areas and passing the transfer dollars on to them so they can meet the needs of the municipalities.