Finance  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this first opportunity to congratulate all my colleagues on their election and to thank the people of Mégantic—L'Érable for the trust they have put in me. I rise today for them. I know they have concerns. They are concerned that the government is unable to explain who will pay for all the spending announced during the election campaign and in the Speech from the Throne and repeated yesterday by the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister, not to mention how.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, let me congratulate you on your appointment. It will be a pleasure to work with you to make the House a place where, with your assistance, my hon. colleagues from all ridings across the country will provide Canadians with a voice. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the voters of Mégantic—L'Érable for placing their trust in me on October 19.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, I am somewhat surprised by this question. We should remember that we weathered an unprecedented financial crisis and that Canada came out the other end in better shape than any other country because we made good decisions. It is easy to make endless promises in order to get elected.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, as a mayor, I dealt with all kinds of situations in the community. Sometimes, I would come across people looking for work, but I also come across employers who were unable to find workers to fill jobs. Throughout our region back home, in Lac-Mégantic, Plessisville or Thetford Mines, our big problem is unfortunately that we do not have enough workers to fill the jobs.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, that was an excellent question that covered all of my answers.

Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, the government's decision to eliminate the toll on the Champlain Bridge will cost between $3 billion and $5 billion over the next 30 years. That is over $100 million a year. Can the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities tell us whether this shortfall has been included in the Minister of Finance's projections, or is that just going to add to the deficit, which keeps getting bigger and bigger under the Liberals?

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I listened closely to my colleague's speech, and I congratulate her on her election win. Since the beginning of the week, since arriving in the House of Commons, I have heard the government go on and on about promises that will cost Canadians dearly. Because of those promises, deficits will be not just modest but extremely modest.

Economic Diversification  Mr. Speaker, Thetford Mines was hard hit by the closure of diamond mines, but is getting back on its feet. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business ranked Thetford Mines the third easiest city in which to do business in Quebec. The recovery is fragile and the Government of Canada must continue to support economic diversification initiatives in order to create jobs.

Labour  Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign, the Prime Minister had a lot to say about transparency. Yesterday, the Liberals announced plans to repeal two pieces of legislation critical to union transparency: one on secret ballot voting and the other on union boss accountability.

Labour  Mr. Speaker, during an announcement by the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, we found out that union members were paid to appear as props alongside the Prime Minister during the election campaign and that the Liberals had to pony up $2,300. We also know that union members were involved in at least two other events during the campaign.

Finance  Mr. Speaker, we want to know what the Minister of Finance has to say. Today the House is debating an opposition motion that stems from the “Fiscal Monitor” put out by the Department of Finance, which clearly indicates that the Conservative government left a surplus. However, members of this government continue to deny the truth.

Finance  Mr. Speaker, Canadians support infrastructure investments, but few Canadians support the unnecessary deficits that result from Liberals funding their pet projects. We know that as deficits increase, confidence in the government's ability to manage decreases. There is every indication that the government is going to post a deficit of more than $20 billion.

Canada Labour Code  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-4. Every time I speak in this place, as each of us does, I remind myself that I do so as the representative of the constituents of Mégantic—L'Érable. As a newly elected member, I could easily get swept away by our magnificent nation's capital and its surroundings.

Canada Labour Code  Madam Speaker, you are right, and I am sorry. Let me get back to that question: “Why do we have to dump the Conservatives?” I found some quotes, and here is one of the best ones: Get involved! Take the time to help make change happen! We are looking for volunteers in various ridings.

Canada Labour Code  Madam Speaker, I will ask myself a question since no one else has asked me one. Do I think that unions are the only organizations that should be publicly accountable? The answer is no. We would not want a charitable organization to invest in the stock market, for example, and then give half of what it makes to its directors as bonuses.