October 2009 Parliamentary Report

PARLIAMENTARY REPORT  
                                         

 

PARLIAMENT RESUMES

 

Parliamentary sittings resumed the week of September 4 and once again the Government is pursuing a robust agenda, focusing on protecting Canadian families and businesses from the effects of the global economic downturn.

 

The first order of business was the presentation of a Ways and Means bill to implement certain provisions of the Economic Action Plan.  The Liberal Party supported the budget that these provisions implement, and offered agreement to them in principle.  All the Liberal Party members voted against these provisions to pursue Mr. Ignatieff's recent decision to try to bring this Parliament to a halt.

 

EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE REFORM

 

The next major work of the House was passage in principle of a bill to extend the duration of E.I. benefits for almost 200,000, long-tenured, Canadian workers experiencing unemployment as a result of the global recession.  This was a compromise for many, since it fell short of some demands and since it puts more upward pressure on the deficit.  However, the Government proposed this measure because it was right in principle to extend this lifeline and to make Parliament work.

 

These measures were supported by the NDP and Bloc members.  Again, the Liberal Party members voted against them in order to pursue Mr. Ignatieff's decision to try to bring this Parliament to a halt.

 

ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN REPORT

 

Pursuant to his earlier agreement with the Liberal Party to make Parliament work, Prime Minister Harper delivered the third report card on the Economic Action Plan.  It revealed that 90% of the infrastructure stimulus funds have been processed and committed.  Projects are underway around the country.

 

Even before the Report was delivered, the Liberal Party announced that it would move a motion of non-confidence based on the Report.  The Government survived this attempt to bring Parliament's work to a halt, with the aid of other opposition members.

 

CITY OF KITCHENER STIMULUS

 

A recent CBC report suggested that the Government of Canada has delayed funding infrastructure stimulus.  This is patently false.

 

Since June the City of Kitchener  has received guaranteed commitment of funding for eleven projects which it has agreed to complete no later than March, 2011. 

 

I have extended a standing invitation to the City of Kitchener to contact me immediately if there is any undue delay in payment of the bills as they come in.  If that happens, I'll be on the case right away.  Except for comments in the unfounded CBC report, I've received no complaint of any delay to date.

 

The Government of Canada does not, of course, tender these projects and supervise the construction.  That is the City's job and the City has full control over how quickly the money is spent.  I'm certain Mayor Zehr is pushing the money out the door as quickly as humanly possible.  If he isn't doing that I'm sure there are good reasons.

 

MAKING PARLIAMENT WORK

 

The Government is focused on protecting Canadian families and businesses from the effects of the global recession.  Prime Minister Harper has consistently made great efforts to make Parliament work by offering legislation that a majority of Parliament and a majority of Canadians support.