Questions Passed as Orders for Returns  What was the government's total contribution, monetary and non-monetary, to the 2005 World Police and Fire Games in Quebec City?

Points of Order  Mr. Speaker, in question period today, the Minister of International Trade called me dishonest for raising facts that came out this summer in the international trade committee hearings on softwood lumber. He said it twice. It is unparliamentary and inappropriate language for the House of Commons.

Softwood Lumber  Incredibly, Mr. Speaker, the government is now intervening in court to stop Canadians from winning once and for all on softwood lumber. Winning means that the illegal tariffs come off and every penny has to be repaid. There are no more appeals. We are months away from winning.

Federal Accountability Act  Mr. Speaker, the member from Windsor West asks a question about a pretty fundamental issue. Indeed, money should not be the preponderant influence in politics. Someone should not be able to donate $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, $20,000 or $30,000 to an election campaign. We have made substantial improvements.

Federal Accountability Act  Very clearly, Mr. Speaker, what we have seen is an initial bill that had flaws and holes and was not perfect by any means. Members of the opposition, working together, and indeed, members from all four corners of the House working together, have succeeded in substantially improving the legislation.

Federal Accountability Act  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise on behalf of the NDP in support of this important legislation. We owe a real debt of gratitude to Ed Broadbent who was the original architect of fundamentally transforming our federal legislation so we could look at accountability and look at the starting to renew the public's confidence in federal institutions.

Federal Accountability Act  Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed the speech by the hon. member, but I do have to disagree with him on a number of points that he made. I will reference the Toronto Port Authority scandal as just one of the many. He talked about the sponsorship scandal and the scandal involving André Ouellet.

International Bridges and Tunnels Act  Mr. Speaker, it is with some surprise I heard the parliamentary secretary talk about consultation within the bill. Very clearly the amendment continues that process of centralizing power within the minister and the ministry, rather than providing for the broad base consultation the NDP has been calling for, consultation with the municipalities that are impacted and also with the provinces that are impacted.

International Bridges and Tunnels Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member, my colleague from the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, for his comments on Bill C-3. The NDP tried several times to improve this act. Indeed, consultation is not mandatory, although this is an extremely important element when it comes to bridges and tunnels.

Softwood Lumber  Mr. Speaker, 112 softwood lumber companies have taken legal action against this government, because it is preventing Canadian companies from winning their case before trade tribunals and receiving full reimbursement. The National Association of Home Builders in the United States confirms that the agreement would have had disastrous consequences.

Softwood Lumber  Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary should ask the Alberta industry how it feels about that. The Conservatives failed. They botched the deal because they are horrible negotiators. What government hands over all the cards to the other side before negotiations begin? That one does and the Conservatives are flogging a dead horse, which is worrisome, because it means they will sign anything to try to save this badly botched deal.

Aeronautics  Mr. Speaker, Canadians demand nothing less than a totally safe transportation system. Yesterday, four Air Canada Jazz mechanics were suspended for daring to reveal the fact that roughly once a week a Jazz plane flies with serious mechanical irregularities. In the meantime, the minister wants to eliminate all transparency and give the airlines carte blanche.

Aeronautics  It is clear, Mr. Speaker, with that minister, it is safety last. We learned last week that more than 80,000 Canadians have been put at risk over the last five years due to near misses. Fatal aircraft accidents have increased almost 50% in Canada. What is the response from the minister?

Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt that the B.C. lower mainland is growing. It is harder for people to get to work. The solution is more investment in rapid transit and better planning for greater Vancouver. Instead, we have seen the B.C. provincial government pushing the twinning of the Port Mann bridge.

Transport  Mr. Speaker, consultations are not action. Last week, the Minister of Transport said that the railway system did not have any problems that would justify an inquiry. A series of accidents in the Mauricie has shown just how costly the privatization policies of the previous Liberal government and then this government have been both for the environment and in terms of human lives.