The Speaker

The hon. Minister of Transport.

Hon. John Baird (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to working co-operatively with the Government of British Columbia on the Evergreen line. The one big hurdle in the Evergreen line getting funded is the NDP voting against our budget.

The member opposite should support the government, support public transit and support British Columbia.

Mr. Bernard Patry (Pierrefonds—Dollard, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, Genome Canada will run short of funding to honour its 2010 commitments, and what is more, it will be unable to fund long-term projects scheduled to begin this year. Since its inception in 2000, Genome Canada has received dedicated funding in each budget, but not this year.

Do the Conservatives realize that, in this time of crisis, some 2,000 highly skilled individuals working on 33 research projects will lose their jobs thanks to them?

Hon. Gary Goodyear (Minister of State (Science and Technology), CPC)

Mr. Speaker, let me be as clear as I was yesterday. In fact, I spoke to the chair of Genome Canada, Dr. Calvin Stiller, and he assured me that he was very satisfied and happy with the budget. In fact, this morning on the website it says, “Genome Canada is pleased with the federal government’s 2009 budget”. It goes on to say, “This is good news for the scientific community across the country”.

Mr. Bernard Patry (Pierrefonds—Dollard, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of State should have a look at today's Globe and Mail.

Dr. Martin Godbout, president and CEO of Genome Canada, says that government funding does not coincide with project funding. Genome Canada cannot even ask anyone to propose research projects if it does not have money in the bank.

What does that mean? It means stagnation or, in other words, an end to growth in the cutting-edge research sector and an end to the creation of jobs of the future. What are Canadians going to believe: what Genome Canada says or the Minister of State's blah, blah, blah?

Hon. Gary Goodyear (Minister of State (Science and Technology), CPC)

Mr. Speaker, I would certainly believe the facts. I would not do my research through newspapers. I would do my research through pure facts.

This government is absolutely committed to the scientific community across this nation: researchers, infrastructure, labs. That is why, prior to this week, we put 2.4 billion new dollars into science and technology and this week we put $3.5 billion into the science and tech community. I appreciate the member agreeing to support this budget.

Hon. Gerry Byrne (Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, during the budget lock-up, federal finance officials informed provincial finance officials that the federal government will amend the O'Brien formula through its yet-to-be-delivered budget implementation act by deleting the option of a province to exclude 50% of its non-renewable natural resources, thereby leaving only the 100% exclusion option.

Is this true? I remind everyone that other changes to equalization were previously announced, like the GDP-based cap. However, this one is very different. It was never before discussed. Is it true?

Mr. Ted Menzies (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, I know the hon. member from western Labrador is representing his constituents by asking that question. Let me state the facts. This government continues to respect the Atlantic accords. In fact, Newfoundland and Labrador will receive a projected $1.2 billion in offset payments between 2009-10 and 2011-12. This $1.2 billion is on top of the $2 billion upfront payment for Newfoundland and Labrador in respect of the 2005 accord.

Hon. Gerry Byrne (Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, Lib.)

Mr. Speaker, west Labrador is a beautiful place, but so is Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, where I come from.

All Canadians are looking at their government, their ministers and parliamentary secretaries, the ones who are responsible for this budget, to lead us in a time of crisis. That leadership is missing. Providing straight answers to direct questions is what this is all about. It is what Canadians expect.

The O'Brien panel of experts made one specific, key recommendation concerning the handling of non-renewable natural resources: “A 50% exclusion option strikes the right balance”. Yet, this is the very recommendation, the one option now apparently being deleted by this government. This is not the time—

The Speaker

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.

Mr. Ted Menzies (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, my apologies to the hon. member. I guess it just proves that I need to spend more time in Newfoundland and Labrador. My apologies for that.

In fact, the transfers continue to climb for Newfoundland and Labrador, as a matter of fact, $372 million this year alone through the Canada health transfer. That is an increase of $11 million. The Canada social transfer which is $164 million on top of $3 million last year. However, let me quote Premier Williams: “The have-province role in fact means more money for us. We receive less money from—”

The Speaker

The hon. member for Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques.

Mr. Claude Guimond (Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, BQ)

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative government expects to revive the Quebec economy with this new budget. However, there was not one word about development of the regions, such as the Lower St. Lawrence, which have already been affected by cuts to non-profit economic organizations announced by this government .

Will the Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec) restore funding to non-profits such as Technopole maritime du Québec and Corporation de soutien au développement technologique des PME?

Mr. Jacques Gourde (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec) will work in partnership with all economic stakeholders from every Quebec region in order to implement a strategic plan to stimulate the Quebec economy.

Mr. Claude Guimond (Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, BQ)

The government has given more handouts to Ontario, in particular by creating a southern Ontario development agency. When can we expect this government to adopt a comprehensive and constructive approach for Quebec regions by restoring funding to these organizations?

Mr. Jacques Gourde (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, cooperation and solidarity are values promoted by the Quebec nation. I urge Bloc members to adopt these values and to vote for this budget in order to put in place the stimuli to create employment as quickly as possible.

Mr. Robert Vincent (Shefford, BQ)

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of State (Science and Technology) said yesterday that Genome Canada had the funds it needs to carry out its mandate. Yet according to that organization's president, there is still a shortfall, varying between $60 million and $160 million, that will affect calls for tenders for new projects.

Can the minister confirm today that the budget's silence does not signal a definitive cut to this organization's funding?

Hon. Gary Goodyear (Minister of State (Science and Technology), CPC)

Absolutely, Mr. Speaker, I can confirm that there are no cuts to Genome Canada. In fact, let me read one more time: “Genome Canada is pleased with the federal government's 2009 budget--”. That is from the board of directors of Genome Canada.

This is good news for the scientific community across this country. This government is absolutely dedicated to the science and technology community, but the member over there intends to vote against all that support for our scientists, for our universities, for our colleges. That is a shame.

Mr. Luc Desnoyers (Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, BQ)

Mr. Speaker, the President of the Treasury Board gave a convoluted answer yesterday when he was asked for clarifications about the government's intentions regarding public sector compensation.

Are we to understand that, from what is stated in the budget, the government intends not only to force new salary conditions on the public sector in the future, but also to reopen collective agreements that have already been signed, as clearly indicated in last November's economic statement?

Mr. Andrew Saxton (Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board, CPC)

Mr. Speaker, it is the Treasury Board's intention to treat public service workers equally and fairly during these difficult times, with responsible collective bargaining.