Canada Pension Plan  Mr. Speaker, my question relates to the one that the hon. member from the New Democratic Party raised, but I must say that I take somewhat the opposite approach to the question of foreign content. It seems to me that on principle we actually could defend zero per cent foreign content if we believed in autarky and no trade and so on and so forth.

Canada Pension Plan  Mr. Speaker, I have to comment upon the hon. parliamentary secretary's observation about two things. First, is with regard to the independence of the board. An equally independent board of outstanding individuals was put together for the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Eric Kierans served on that board in 1978.

Canada Pension Plan  Mr. Speaker, the hon. member talks about the benefits that will accrue to individuals by comparison to the number of dollars they have put in. He mentioned that some individuals have received $8 out for every $1 they have put in. I actually think that is not quite correct. I think that even for the people who put in for the shortest amount of time prior to receiving it the number was somewhat closer, unless they experienced extreme longevity.

Canada Pension Plan  Madam Speaker, while I agree with the general tenor of the caveats that the hon. member for Kings--Hants has put forward, I do want to express my concern about one thing he said in his latest response to the last question he was asked. This is the question of getting involved in non-publicly traded investments at an early stage.

Canada Pension Plan  Mr. Speaker, I will reprise that a little, taking into account what you just said. The quote continues: --Liberal leadership candidate...says...Money now going to the Canada pension plan should be channelled into a chain of regional funds across the country.” The following is a direct quote from the former finance minister who was then, as now, a Liberal leadership candidate.

Canada Pension Plan  Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to respond to government Bill C-3, formerly Bill C-58, an act to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act. The bill is being introduced at second reading because it was introduced, died on the order paper and has been reintroduced in this Parliament.

Official Languages  Mr. Speaker, three days ago the Commissioner of Official Languages stated that making Gatineau bilingual would be, “an important advance”. Yesterday, she indicated in the daily Le Droit that the federal government must give its blessing to identical linguistic services, at the municipal level, for the two minorities on each side of the Ottawa River, and that the federal government must also provide the financial assistance that will enable Gatineau to achieve this goal.

Official Languages  Mr. Speaker, I am astonished. Gatineau is forbidden by provincial law from declaring itself bilingual as Ottawa has done. Gatineau is forbidden to install bilingual signs by provincial law as Ottawa has done. Gatineau does not publish its bylaws in bilingual form as Ottawa has done.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, it is my honour today to present two petitions dealing with the subject of stem cell research. More particular, the petitioners draw the attention of hon. members to the fact that research in adult stem cells has the potential to assist in cures and therapies for a variety of debilitating illnesses.

Bilingualism  Mr. Speaker, in 2001 municipalities on both sides of the National Capital Region amalgamated to form the two cities of Ottawa and Gatineau. Since that time the Liberal government has been relentless in its pursuit of official bilingualism on the Ontario side, but only on the Ontario side.

Bilingualism  Mr. Speaker, the hon. minister is quite right that I represent an Ottawa riding, however I was born in Gatineau. The fact is the minority, of which I was once a member, is restricted in its rights by provincial law. Municipal services are restricted by provincial law. It is against the law in Quebec for the City of Gatineau to provide full services to its minority.

Speech from the Throne  Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Questions and comments are not prepared speeches. I cannot help but notice that the hon. member is reading from a prepared text--

Canada Pension Plan  Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. My amendment points out that there is an absence of information as to how this bill will affect the Canada pension plan. I am unaware, because I have not seen the 19th report and neither has anyone in the House, whether or not that is in fact addressed in the 19th actuarial report of the chief actuary.

Canada Pension Plan  Mr. Speaker, when I left off a couple of days ago, I was making reference to the way in which the legislation and this series of changes to the Canada pension plan was modelled by the former minister of finance, the member for LaSalle--Émard, to allow moneys in the Canada pension plan to be used for purposes other than the goal of achieving a maximum rate of return.

Employment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind the House that last September I brought to the attention of the minister responsible for employment insurance that department's inability to meet the service delivery standards it had promised in Kanata and other parts of eastern Ontario affected by the downturn in the high tech industry.