Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Act  Madam Chair, what an astounding example of a failure to address the question posed to the member. In fact, he was stuck on the last scandal. I was talking about the next scandal which is the government's refusal to come clean on its plans with respect to the location of the Department of National Defence.

Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Act  There were many actions, that is true.

Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Act  Madam Speaker, I rose in the House of Commons some days ago to pose a question to the government with respect to the Prime Minister's direct involvement in the sponsorship scandal. It is now clear, with the evidence that has come out, that the Prime Minister was intimately involved in securing contracts and other rewards for his very close friends and supporters.

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, the Government of Quebec has definitely removed the Bellechasse site from consideration for the new hospital because of its poor location, contaminated soil and the movement of dangerous goods nearby. How does the minister explain that he is ready to spend $25 million to locate it 500 metres away, along the same tracks, in his riding?

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government likes to play politics in provincial jurisdictions and neglect its own responsibilities. The Minister of Transport himself has made this clear. Today he is the one endangering the main rail access to the port of Montreal by encouraging construction of a hospital next to the tracks.

An Act to establish the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec  Madam Speaker, first, I want to thank the hon. member for his speech. He talked about provincial jurisdictions. I wonder if he is as concerned about the individual's role. In economics, there are several schools of thought. I believe individuals create opportunities through their business activities.

An Act to establish the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec  Madam Speaker, the hon. member is correct. The people did read this party correctly and that is why 64% of Canadians voted against the Liberal Party in the last election. The Canadian people understand that their money is just that; it is their money. They can invest and spend their money more intelligently than a politician or a bureaucrat can.

An Act to establish the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for her speech. In that we are talking about enterprise and innovation I would like to quote one of Canada's greatest entrepreneurs. Frank Stronach once said that the government cannot give us anything without first taking it away. It is impossible for government to create economic activity on the one hand without taking away economic activity on the other.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, it is an honour today to rise in the House to introduce a widely supported petition on the subject of whistleblower protection in the public service. Being an Ottawa area MP, I, of course, have thousands of constituents who work in the public service and have been denied this kind of protection by the government for many years.

Santa Claus Parade  Madam Speaker, I rise today with a crucial announcement. Father Christmas has been seen and he chose my riding of Nepean--Carleton to make his first presence known of this Christmas season. This past Saturday I had the honour of participating in the very first Barrhaven Santa Claus parade along with the Southpointe Community Association, which won the best float award.

Mirabel Airport  Mr. Speaker, last Sunday, the people of Quebec saw the curtain come down on a sad vaudeville act that had been playing for more than 30 years. The social and economic costs of this Liberal fiasco just kept rising: tenant farmers, decimated families, businesses destroyed. Will there ever be a minister with enough courage to show a little respect for all those who have been hurt by Liberal planning errors?

Canadian Flag  Mr. Speaker, yesterday Canadians were outraged that the member of Parliament for Richmond—Arthabaska in Quebec would put politics ahead of patriotism. He told Richmond's Royal Canadian Legion that it would not get a Canadian flag for Remembrance Day. The Conservative Party of Canada is proud of our veterans and those who continue to make sacrifices for our country around the world.

Assistance to Hepatitis C Victims  This is federal money. This is money you paid.

Assistance to Hepatitis C Victims  Mr. Chair, it has not worked that way. The dollars were earmarked. They were specifically set aside for this purpose and they were redirected to other purposes. Those moneys have been stolen. Let us not mince words. The moneys were specifically meant to compensate for the medical costs associated with this tragedy.

Assistance to Hepatitis C Victims  Mr. Chair, in my constituency I have a number of citizens who have been afflicted with this terrible tragedy. I have visited them in their homes and they have been to my office. They have come to me to tell me their stories. That is why I felt it so important at this late hour to come to the House of Commons to tell those stories to all members.