National Defence  Speaker, the members opposite are always willing to talk a good game when it comes to our military, but the reality is they did not deliver. For 10 years they underinvested in our military, depriving them of the equipment and the care necessary to do their job. I am proud of the Minister of National Defence and the leadership he has shown in giving to our troops the support and the care they need to be able to serve their country, both at home and overseas.

National Defence  Mr. Speaker, 10 years of actions speak louder than words. Unfortunately, the previous government underinvested in the kind of equipment and care for our military that the men and women in the Canadian Forces deserve.

National Defence  Speaker, the defence minister is leading the way on giving the equipment and the care to the troops that we need after 10 years of dismaying underinvestment by the members opposite when they were in government. I can highlight that it was with tremendous pride that the Minister of Veterans Affairs was there at the fundraiser last night to highlight the extraordinary service in Afghanistan of so many Canadian Forces members.

National Defence  Speaker, I agree with the member opposite in that actions speak louder than words, and that is why 10 years of neglect of our forces, of underinvestment by the previous government, needs to be met with the kinds of investment and care that the members of the Canadian Armed Forces deserve. They want to show leadership and service to their country at the highest level at home and abroad.

National Defence  Speaker, today the minister of defence presented to the public our approach to defence, which highlights that, for 10 years, the Conservative government underfunded our military, depriving them of the equipment they need. On this side of the House, not only do we stand up for our military, but we are going to give them the equipment and support they need to serve Canadians.

Democratic Reform  That is exactly what we are working hard to do by offering to take more questions every week as Prime Minister or by improving the accountability of this House by ensuring that we are lessening the use of prorogation and omnibus bills. We are making sure that nobody can do what Stephen Harper tried to do to Canadians for 10 years. The fact is that we are improving this democracy and we are glad to accept recommendations and suggestions from all members in this House.

Aerospace Industry  It is the only thing her previous government did for transit. Instead, we are investing $25 billion over the next 10 years in public transit. We are also committed to evidence-based policy. When what the member promised would happen did not happen, which was it was not an incentive that led to more public transit ridership, we looked for other ways to invest in public transit that would help everyone, including and especially low-income transit users.

Small Business  Mr. Speaker, we know what our small businesses need: economic growth. Following 10 years of a government that failed in this area, we are working to put more money in the pockets of the middle class and create opportunities for our small businesses. By connecting our small businesses to global markets, especially through the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, which the previous government was unable to conclude but we managed to do so, we know that we are creating opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses every day.

Government Accountability  Tomorrow we will be presenting a budget that will create growth for the middle class, opportunities for Canadians, investments in the future of this country that we know, after 10 years of slow growth under the Conservative government, will turn our growth path around. This is about giving opportunities to Canadians. I am always happy to talk about the important things the Canadian government is doing for the middle class.

Finance  That, unfortunately, demonstrates that they still do not understand that Canadians need investments in the middle class and support for the middle class, not for the wealthiest, like they did for 10 years.

Finance  The fact is that, on Wednesday, everyone will see a budget focused on the growth of the middle class and on the assistance that Canadians so sorely need after 10 years of Conservative government.

Government Accountability  We are putting forward legislation that lowered taxes on the middle class and raised them on the wealthiest 1% and put forward a Canada child benefit that gives more money to nine out of 10 Canadian families. We have an awful lot we need to get done for Canadians to grow the middle class after 10 years of neglect by the previous government, that wanted to give tax benefits to the richest Canadians. That is why Conservatives voted against the Canada child benefit and lowering taxes on the middle class.

Taxation  Speaker, it is wonderful to see the member opposite back in the House, but he did not use his downtime to understand what the Conservatives did not understand for 10 years in government, which is that investing in reducing our carbon emissions, in a cleaner economy, is actually a way of creating opportunities for Canadians and opportunities to grow the economy.

Ethics  Of course, we take our responsibilities very seriously and continue to demonstrate the kind of openness and transparency Canadians expect of this government, particularly after 10 years of a government that did not do a good job at that.

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, for almost 10 years, we in the House watched the previous government wrap itself in the flag while it nickelled and dimed veterans, completely botched the procurement processes, and did everything it could to talk a good game, but not deliver for the men and women of the Canadian Forces.