Claude's Posts

Mr. Speaker,

 Reasonable voices across the country are standing up to this government’s support of deadly asbestos.

 Here’s just one, and I quote:
“I have made the decision that the production and export of asbestos is contrary to the best interest of Canadians.”

 Mr. Speaker, do you know who said that?

Dona Cadman, the former Conservative member for Surrey North.

Mr. Claude Gravelle (Nickel Belt, NDP): 
    Mr. Speaker, earlier, the Bloc Québécois member said that people who used to work with asbestos do not all die of cancer caused by it. He is right in that respect, just as smokers do not all die from lung cancer. Earlier, I read a list of Quebec doctors who agree with us that asbestos should be banned.

 Mr. Speaker, the hypocrisy of the government continues. It heralds free trade with the European Union and yet is threatening to take the European Union to the WTO to protect big oil companies and the oil sands.

     The international community is concerned about the environmental costs of the oil sands. Instead of acting to address this, the Conservatives just keep giving larger and larger subsidies to these highly profitable companies.

 Mr. Speaker, tax cuts for major corporations do not create jobs in the north. FedNor is a real economic driver in northern Ontario, and it would not cost anything to make this agency independent and protected from ministerial interference.

 When will the minister make FedNor independent, like the other development agencies in Canada?