Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar for her speech, which so eloquently outlined the challenges Canada is facing during these uncertain economic times. Could the hon. member point out some of the measures she believes will be beneficial fo

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today for the first time to participate in the budget 2009 debate. I will be splitting my time with the member for Edmonton—Leduc. I will begin by thanking the good constituents in Huron—Bruce for putting their faith in me on Octobe

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out to the hon. member that the Minister of Human Resources has taken an unprecedented approach to this budget with respect to employment insurance. She consulted with numerous groups from coast to coast. She heard recommendations, and they have

The Budget  Mr. Speaker, I can tell the member what this government is not going to do. We are not going to balance the budget on the backs of provinces and municipalities, as the previous government did. We are not going to make cuts to health care, as the previous government did. This go

Budget Implementation Act, 2009  Madam Speaker, that was a very entertaining speech that we just heard from the member for Mississauga South. We all know that the oracle of Omaha is Warren Buffett. He has been a very successful investor over the years. I heard the hon. member comment during his speech that dur

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I would like to clarify for the hon. member for Mississauga South and the hon. member across the way about the employment insurance premiums. The member does make a good point. The rates have gone down in the past 12 years. We have seen employment increase all tho

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Niagara West—Glanbrook. I welcome this opportunity to speak to the motion by the member for Hamilton Mountain. I can assure the hon. member that we are aware of the gravity of the economic recession and its effects on

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, the hon. member and I had a nice discussion yesterday. He told me that his home town is Wesleyville. I have friends from Wesleyville, so that was nice to hear. To try to answer his question, I would like to point out what a previous member of his party, much befor

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I would like to point out to the hon. member that the minister travelled across the country as part of our consultative process in putting together the budget, Canada's economic action plan. Before those members actually read the budget, the NDP said it would vote

Guaranteed Income Supplement  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's comments, but what strikes me as interesting is she mentioned the lowest income earners, those in the most need. In our economic action plan we enhanced our working income tax benefit. We added dollars to retrofit affordable housing, to cr

Guaranteed Income Supplement  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to contribute to the debate on Motion No. 300, which purposes that the government introduce legislation to make amendments to the Old Age Security Act with respect to the guaranteed income supplement. We all share the aim of doing all we can to help our

Young Canada Week  Mr. Speaker, today marks the 60th year the Goderich Lions Club has hosted the annual Young Canada Week hockey tournament. This tournament first began in 1950 during spring break. Back then it was a one day tournament and 12 teams participated. Now more than 66 teams take part fro

Secure, Adequate, Accessible and Affordable Housing Act  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my voice against Bill C-304, the bill that seeks to create a national housing strategy. In fact, the only thing this bill would do is handcuff the efforts of this and future governments to continue to respond to the housing needs of Canadians in a

Employment Insurance Act  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the issue of EI with respect to Bill C-241. Meeting the needs of Canadians in these increasingly uncertain economic times is a priority for our government. To determine these needs, our government engaged in the most e

Afghanistan  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise in the House today to recognize a few of my constituents who serve in the Canadian armed forces in Afghanistan: my lifetime friend Ryan Crawford, Justin Lyon, Cameron Bruce, James Kirk, Kieran Kirk, Damon Arbour, Chris Farrish, Judd