Speech (House debate)

{
    "time": "2009-02-03 10:20:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Ms. Judy Foote (Random\u2014Burin\u2014St. George's, Lib.)",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p data-HoCid=\"1265095\" data-originallang=\"en\">Madam Speaker, when governments bring down budgets, people affected prepare for both good news and bad news, hoping naturally that the good outweighs the bad. No one could have prepared themselves for the bad news inflicted on the people of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265096\" data-originallang=\"en\">We all know there was much more the government could have done to stimulate the economy of the country, like, for example, recognizing the importance of the need to diversify the economy in provinces where traditional industries continue to experience difficulty. The fishery is one of those industries, yet there is no mention of the fishery in the Conservative budget.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265097\" data-originallang=\"en\">While the government was undertaking its budget consultations, I wrote to the <a data-HoCid=\"128709\" href=\"/politicians/gail-shea/\" title=\"Gail Shea\">Minister of Fisheries and Oceans</a> and the minister responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador, bringing to their attention the need in the riding I represent for infrastructure to grow the aquaculture industry. This was an opportunity for the government to help stimulate the economy in an area of Newfoundland and Labrador that had suffered immensely because of the collapse of the ground fishery.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265098\" data-originallang=\"en\">I now know any optimism I had that the government would look favourably on helping the people of Newfoundland and Labrador was foolhardy.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265099\" data-originallang=\"en\">Not only has the government decided not to help Newfoundland and Labrador weather the recession, but it has done irreparable harm by removing hard fought and hard won benefits under the Atlantic accord. According to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the province will lose $1.5 billion as a consequence of the actions of the Conservative government in the budget. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265100\" data-originallang=\"en\">Such a move will have a devastating impact on the people and the finances of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The loss of $1.5 billion will see the per capita debt per person in the province increase by $3,000. Newfoundland and Labrador already has the highest per capita debt in the country.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265101\" data-originallang=\"en\">The <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">Prime Minister</a> is on record saying that every region of our country has to be treated fairly. Where is the fairness for Newfoundland and Labrador? What would motivate a government to introduce a measure that would be so harmful to one group of Canadians? </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265102\" data-originallang=\"en\">Is it possible that the <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">Prime Minister</a> is seeking revenge against a group of people that exercised its right in the last federal election to vote against the government and send six Liberal MPs and one NDP MP to represent them in Ottawa? While that has to be disappointing for a Prime Minister, surely he would not stoop to penalizing those people. The logical approach would be to try and regain the trust of those people, which is why I question the Prime Minister's motives.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265103\" data-originallang=\"en\">Clearly the <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">Prime Minister</a> has underestimated the will of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador to come together in a crisis. This move by the government has galvanized Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to the point that their preference today, as a result of the government's actions, would be to take the country into an election.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265104\" data-originallang=\"en\">There is time for the <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">Prime Minister</a> to right this wrong. Acknowledging that a mistake has been made and grievous damage done as a result of that mistake, which he cannot allow to stand, would be the magnanimous thing to do, especially if he is sincere in his comments that every region of the country must be treated fairly.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265105\" data-originallang=\"en\">Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are proud people who have worked hard for every benefit that has come their way. To ask they accept such an injustice that has been perpetrated on them by the government is simply too much to ask.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265106\" data-originallang=\"en\">Anyone who knows the province's history, the hardships that people have endured and the injustices it has experienced over the years, would have to understand the reaction of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to this decision by the government.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265107\" data-originallang=\"en\">I am calling on the <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">Prime Minister</a> to think of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and how this budgetary decision will impact them. He is the Prime Minister of all Canadians, regardless of how they voted, just as I am the member of Parliament for everyone in the riding of Random\u2014Burin\u2014St. George's, regardless of how they voted.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265108\" data-originallang=\"en\">If I were to follow what appears to be the <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">Prime Minister</a>'s example, I would only work on behalf of those who voted for me, and the <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">Prime Minister</a> knows as well as I do that that would be wrong. I am the representative for all the people of Random\u2014Burin\u2014St. George's, just as he is the Prime Minister of all Canadians. The time has come for the Prime Minister to show it.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"1265095\" data-originallang=\"en\">Madame la Pr\u00e9sidente, lorsque les gouvernements pr\u00e9sentent des budgets, les personnes touch\u00e9es se pr\u00e9parent \u00e0 recevoir et de bonnes et de mauvaises nouvelles en esp\u00e9rant \u00e9videmment que les bonnes l'emporteront sur les mauvaises. Personne n'aurait pu se pr\u00e9parer pour les mauvaises nouvelles qui ont frapp\u00e9 la population de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265096\" data-originallang=\"en\">Nous savons tous que le gouvernement aurait pu en faire beaucoup plus pour stimuler l'\u00e9conomie du Canada. Par exemple, il aurait pu reconna\u00eetre l'importance de la diversification de l'\u00e9conomie des provinces o\u00f9 les secteurs industriels traditionnels sont toujours aux prises avec des difficult\u00e9s. La p\u00eache est un de ces secteurs; pourtant, les p\u00eacheries ne sont pas mentionn\u00e9es dans le budget conservateur.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265097\" data-originallang=\"en\">Lorsque le gouvernement a entrepris ses consultations pr\u00e9budg\u00e9taires, j'ai \u00e9crit au <a data-HoCid=\"128709\" href=\"/politicians/gail-shea/\" title=\"Gail Shea\">ministre des P\u00eaches et des Oc\u00e9ans</a> et au ministre responsable de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador pour porter \u00e0 leur attention les besoins de ma circonscription en infrastructure permettant de stimuler le secteur de l'aquaculture. Le gouvernement avait la possibilit\u00e9 de stimuler l'\u00e9conomie d'une r\u00e9gion de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador qui a beaucoup souffert en raison de l'effondrement de la p\u00eache au poisson de fond.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265098\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je sais maintenant que l'espoir que j'avais de voir le gouvernement aider la population de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador \u00e9tait t\u00e9m\u00e9raire.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265099\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le gouvernement a d\u00e9cid\u00e9 de ne pas aider Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador \u00e0 traverser la r\u00e9cession et, en plus, il a caus\u00e9 un tort irr\u00e9parable \u00e0 la province en \u00e9liminant les avantages arrach\u00e9s de haute lutte dans l'Accord atlantique. Selon le gouvernement de la province, celle-ci perdra 1,5 milliard de dollars en raison des mesures prises par le gouvernement conservateur dans le budget.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265100\" data-originallang=\"en\">La situation aura un effet d\u00e9vastateur sur la population et les finances de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. La perte de ce milliard et demi de dollars fera augmenter la dette par habitant de la province de 3 000 $. Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador a d\u00e9j\u00e0 la dette par habitant la plus \u00e9lev\u00e9e du Canada.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265101\" data-originallang=\"en\">Le <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">premier ministre</a> a d\u00e9j\u00e0 d\u00e9clar\u00e9 que toutes les r\u00e9gions du Canada devaient \u00eatre trait\u00e9es \u00e9quitablement. O\u00f9 est l'\u00e9quit\u00e9 pour Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador? Pourquoi le gouvernement a-t-il d\u00e9cid\u00e9 d'introduire une mesure si n\u00e9faste pour un groupe de Canadiens?</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265102\" data-originallang=\"en\">Est-il possible que le <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">premier ministre</a> cherche \u00e0 se venger d'un groupe qui a exerc\u00e9 son droit de voter contre le gouvernement et d'envoyer six d\u00e9put\u00e9s lib\u00e9raux et un n\u00e9o-d\u00e9mocrate \u00e0 Ottawa lors des derni\u00e8res \u00e9lections? Cela est certainement d\u00e9cevant pour un premier ministre, mais pas au point d'aller jusqu'\u00e0 p\u00e9naliser ce groupe. La chose logique \u00e0 faire aurait \u00e9t\u00e9 de tenter de regagner la confiance de ces gens; c'est pourquoi je m'interroge sur les v\u00e9ritables intentions du premier ministre.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265103\" data-originallang=\"en\">Il est \u00e9vident que le <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">premier ministre</a> a sous-estim\u00e9 la volont\u00e9 de la population de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador de se rallier en temps de crise. Cette d\u00e9marche du gouvernement a galvanis\u00e9 les gens de cette province au point o\u00f9, aujourd'hui, en raison des actions du gouvernement, ils pr\u00e9f\u00e9reraient provoquer des \u00e9lections au pays.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265104\" data-originallang=\"en\">Il est temps que le <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">premier ministre</a> r\u00e9pare cette injustice. S'il reconnaissait qu'une erreur a \u00e9t\u00e9 commise et que de graves dommages ont \u00e9t\u00e9 caus\u00e9s par cette erreur, il ferait preuve de magnanimit\u00e9, surtout s'il est sinc\u00e8re quand il dit que toutes les r\u00e9gions du pays doivent \u00eatre trait\u00e9es \u00e9quitablement.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265105\" data-originallang=\"en\">Les gens de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador sont fiers et ils ont travaill\u00e9 fort pour b\u00e9n\u00e9ficier de tous les avantages qu'ils ont obtenus jusqu'\u00e0 pr\u00e9sent. Ce serait trop leur demander que d'accepter une telle injustice qui leur a \u00e9t\u00e9 inflig\u00e9e par le gouvernement.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265106\" data-originallang=\"en\">Quiconque conna\u00eet l'histoire de la province, les injustices dont elle a \u00e9t\u00e9 la victime et les \u00e9preuves que ses habitants ont d\u00fb endurer au fil des ans comprendrait parfaitement la r\u00e9action de ces derniers \u00e0 la d\u00e9cision du gouvernement. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265107\" data-originallang=\"en\">Je demande au <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">premier ministre</a> de tenir compte des gens de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador et des r\u00e9percussions que sa d\u00e9cision budg\u00e9taire aura sur leur vie. Il est le premier ministre de tous les Canadiens, peu importe comment ils ont vot\u00e9, tout comme je repr\u00e9sente tous les gens de la circonscription de Random\u2014Burin\u2014St. George's, peu importe comment ils ont vot\u00e9.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"1265108\" data-originallang=\"en\">Si je devais suivre ce qui semble \u00eatre l'exemple du <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">premier ministre</a>, je travaillerais seulement au nom de ceux qui ont vot\u00e9 pour moi, et le <a data-HoCid=\"78738\" href=\"/politicians/stephen-harper/\" title=\"Stephen Harper\">premier ministre</a> sait aussi bien que moi que ce serait r\u00e9pr\u00e9hensible. Je suis la repr\u00e9sentante de tous les habitants de Random\u2014Burin\u2014St. George's, tout comme il est le premier ministre de tous les Canadiens. Il est temps que le premier ministre le prouve.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/debates/2009/2/3/judy-foote-1/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/judy-foote/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/1040/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "2577413",
    "h1": {
        "en": "Government Orders",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "h2": {
        "en": "The Budget",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "h3": {
        "en": "Financial Statement of Minister of Finance",
        "fr": ""
    },
    "document_url": "/debates/2009/2/3/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fdebates%2F2009%2F2%2F3%2F"
    }
}