Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Winnipeg South Centre for her comments on the throne speech. Even though they seemed a little long, I still appreciate her comments. One concern I do have is in regard to the Canadian Wheat Board. Of course farmers across the Prairies h

Icebreaker  Mr. Speaker, I stand in the House today to thank the voters of Prince Albert for the honour of representing them. I would also like to thank my wife Jerri, my two children Alysia and Brock, and my dad Ivar for their love and unconditional support. I would like to commend the Pr

Public Safety  Mr. Speaker, there are no members of society who are more vulnerable than the children and youth of Canada. We as a government have a responsibility to protect children from the dangers that threaten them every day. The vast majority of children now have access to the Internet an

Canada Grain Act  Mr. Speaker, I must say it has been a really interesting morning. Of course, I am a member of the agriculture committee. We were in agriculture committee talking to some farmers from Alberta and Quebec. I would have thought that the member for British Columbia Southern Interior,

Canada Grain Act  Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to listen to this debate. It shows the lack of understanding of the opposition parties in how things work in the grain system. I get concerned because my constituents are farmers. They are my friends and neighbours. They do not want to be driving

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, all the top economists in the world agree that raising taxes during these economic times is absolutely the worst thing to do to help our economy. Yet, that is exactly what the Liberal Party is proposing. As revealed just last week, the Liberal leader said, and I quo

Agriculture and Agri-Food  Mr. Speaker, our farmers are facing real, tough issues. The U.S. has enacted discriminatory labelling rules, the EU and South Korea are breaking WTO rules by not allowing our beef into their markets, and input prices are all over the place. Yet, what is the National Farmers Union

Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, many of Canada's hockey rinks and other community rec centres were built over four decades ago as part of a special national program to help celebrate Canada's centennial year. Over the past four decades these facilities have served as gathering places for friends, f

Agriculture  Mr. Speaker, there is a belief among those who live and work on the Prairies that the NDP and its leaders are out of touch with the realities and values of rural Canada. It is now clear that this belief is a definite reality. One only has to look at the recent NDP mail-out to my

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, our government's economic action plan is delivering real results for Canadians. They have asked for leadership from their federal government, and that is what we are providing. At this critical time, when families need it the most, we are reducing taxes on Canadians

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada  Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Liberal Party said that Canada is the laughingstock of the world. Is he really in touch with Canadians and their needs? He has been away for 34 years. He has called himself an American. He has called our flag a pale imitation of a beer label and he

Biofuels  Mr. Speaker, today is a significant day for the advancement of biofuels in Canada. For one month, starting today, regular gasoline purchases at the Shell service station on Merivale Road here in Ottawa will contain 10% cellulosic ethanol, ethanol made and pioneered in Canada at i

Petitions  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to present 25 petitions signed by over 1,300 people residing within and around the constituency of Prince Albert. The signatories believe that the long gun registry is not working because it targets hunters and farmers and t

Employment Insurance Act  Madam Speaker, I am happy to start the wind-down to the second-reading debate today on Bill C-50. This is part and parcel of our government's efforts to help hard-working Canadians through these difficult economic times. Our government is focused on what matters to Canadians: fin

Employment Insurance Act  Madam Speaker, as I said, it is hard to come from Saskatchewan and talk about employment insurance, because our province is doing so well. Maybe we should be looking at the differences between Saskatchewan and Quebec and his region. Look at my region, for example. We had a pulp