Public Accounts committee  The report of the Auditor General talks about elevated risks. So the Agency needs to provide clear answers, especially on its action plan. Do you require additional resources? We are being told that the present government provided some, but I get the impression that other needs are not being met.

Public Accounts committee  Then we can build on specific plant health issues as well. We do have a plan of action that we tabled with the committee. It is clear we need to make that more precise. As Dr. Evans works through this over the next few months, we are happy to come back to the committee to table further information. We certainly will be dealing with the Auditor General and her colleagues to keep them apprised of the plans we have as we develop them in more detail.

Natural Resources committee  Okay. I just wanted to make that clear. I think my time is up, Mr. Chair.

Public Accounts committee  I think I'm convinced that the CFIA is doing that. There were some problems in here, and it's very clear that they were identified under the previous government after severe cuts to the CFIA. They always say about a problem that the first step is admitting you have one, and the CFIA has acknowledged that it needs to do better and is committed to doing better.

Health committee  We've seen them do it in other places, and we're confident that they could do it here too. It's an opportunity, like you said, to send a clear signal, to direct the market in a direction that does prevent unnecessary hazards.

Tobacco Act  Some may say they are trying to attract adults with this, but in any event, the intention behind this marketing is really very clear. Flavouring tobacco products obviously encourages people to take up smoking by making their first puffs sweeter and more pleasant. They have chosen attractive packaging. Catching people’s eye, the visual aspect, is very important.

Public Accounts committee  I find them to be extremely dedicated, competent, working around, doing whatever they can do to do their very best. So I want to make it clear that although we recognize there are lacunae and things to do, I can tell you that the agency, in terms of people on the ground who work on this program, are extremely dedicated to making sure this program works the best it can.

Health committee  It's cheap, imported, junky stuff that I think too easily gets through the kinds of screens, even with more inspectors, that, if we had more efficient ways of saying “just don't use that in food and drink containers”—in the same way that we are saying “don't use bisphenol A in any food and drink containers”, not just the baby bottle thing, because we have enough evidence to say don't do that.... I don't know whether I'm being clear there, but I'm trying to get at the notion of being more efficient and just saying categorically, in certain ways, especially when it's food and drink and it's directed to kids, “don't use it”—categories, rather than one product at a time, one substance at a time.

Public Accounts committee  There are many parts to this, so let me take them in order. One thing I do want to make very clear, and the Auditor General will correct me if I don't have this right, is that this is not a health-of-people issue. This is an issue about pests, about potential risk to Canada's forests and crops, but we were not interpreting it, with all due respect, as a health issue.

Transport committee  With an understanding of the makeup of our industry and the significance of concrete to construction, it's clear that our industry is a necessary and central part in the government's effort to renew the infrastructure across Canada. In fact, the federal government's economic stimulus plan, in its commitment to make historic investments in Canada's infrastructure, is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend historically large amounts of money, but spend them wisely.

Natural Resources committee  Regulatory issues have to be addressed, including the ability to handle and control nuclear materials and waste management. The United States, for example, Mr. Chair, has made it very clear that with regard to long-term solutions--not short-term, but long-term solutions--they want those reactors to function on low-enriched uranium in order to control the risk of nuclear proliferation.

Public Accounts committee  Our action plan, which has been shared with the committee, outlines short-term and long-term initiatives. Although not a formal recommendation, the report says that the CFIA needs a clear champion to address these issues in a timely way. I agree. I have asked Dr. Brian Evans, the agency's executive vice-president and chief veterinary officer, to oversee this action plan.

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  I would like to point out that we asked many of the witnesses if they would amend the bill if they could and an overwhelmingly majority said that we should scrap it and start over. They actually said “scrap it”. However, despite that clear message, the NDP has proposed an amendment to strike clause 3 of the bill because it is our duty to try to make this bill better. Perhaps we do give up some of our principles by engaging on the amendments but it is the responsible thing to do.

Points of Order  Speaker, in answering my question regarding Toronto streetcars, the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities claimed that they would not be made in Canada. I just want to make it clear for the record that these streetcars will be made by Bombardier in Thunder Bay and, the last I checked, Thunder Bay is part of Canada.

Canada Media Fund  Yesterday, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister said that he wanted to put everyone on a level playing field. I would like a clear answer from the minister. Will Télé-Québec be excluded from the Canada media fund or not?