Bradley Trost

Madam Speaker, the Liberals' first budget goes out of the way to discriminate against the Province of Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan receives less than 1% of federal funding for transportation infrastructure in this budget, even though it represents 3% of the population of Canada.Under the Conservative government, transportation funding was allocated on a per capita basis.Why is the government shortchanging the people of Saskatchewan?

Mr. Speaker, big city Liberals think that imposing a carbon tax on Canadians will mean that more Canadians take their bikes to work, but in Saskatchewan it is difficult to take bikes to work, especially when the weather is -30°. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation calculated that if the Liberals have their way, their carbon tax of over $300 per tonne will cost over 90¢ per litre more.Why are the Liberals determined to make it impossible for Saskatchewan families to make ends meet?

Mr. Speaker, Canada's steel industry provides 22,000 direct jobs, with an average salary of $75,000 per year. Another 100,000 indirect jobs are associated with the industry.According to Canadian Steel Producers Association, the value chain stretches all the way back to eastern Canada, to where iron ore is mined in Quebec and Labrador before being poured into primary steel forms in Ontario.Why are the Liberals killing jobs in our steel mills, mines, and factories across Canada that benefit from new pipelines?

Mr. Speaker, farmers, like all businesses, under the Liberals are facing higher taxes and more expenses. Their competitors in the United States and Australia will have a massive advantage because they will not be paying a carbon tax. The Prime Minister's promise of returning farmers' carbon taxes to the provinces rings hollow because farmers, like all Canadians, need to pay for their goods to be moved by trains and trucks, whether it is grain or fertilizer. Why are the Liberals making it harder for all Canadian businesses to survive with the imposition of a carbon tax?

Mr. Speaker, steelworkers are excited for the job security that comes with over 1,100 kilometres of high-grade steel for the northern gateway pipeline. Thank goodness for energy east, its 4,600 kilometres of steel pipe and the 14,000 construction jobs that come with it. However, wait, the Liberals voted against energy east, and the Prime Minister killed northern gateway.Why are the Liberals saying no to building new pipelines and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs?

Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister and President Obama now said that a new softwood lumber agreement would be made within 100 days. Well, the clock is ticking. Time is running out.Over half of Saskatchewan is forested. Forestry is northern Saskatchewan's largest industry. It generates $1 billion in forest product sales, $800 million in exports, and directly employs 4,000 Canadians.What is the Minister of International Trade doing to keep forestry workers in Saskatchewan employed by securing U.S. market access?

Mr. Speaker, the member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands stood in this place and asked what the government is doing to secure the release of Kevin Garratt and his wife Julia. They have been held, now, by Chinese security forces for over a year.What did theMinister of Foreign Affairs say in response? He said, “We have communicated how much we disagree with the situation...”.I am not sure that the minister's bureaucratic tone is grabbing the attention of the Chinese.When is the Minister of Foreign Affairs going to make the Garratts' release a priority?

Mr. Speaker, big city Liberals think that imposing a carbon tax on Canadians will mean that more Canadians take their bikes to work, but in Saskatchewan it is difficult to take bikes to work, especially when the weather is -30°. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation calculated that if the Liberals have their way, their carbon tax of over $300 per tonne will cost over 90¢ per litre more.Why are the Liberals determined to make it impossible for Saskatchewan families to make ends meet?

Mr. Speaker, farmers, like all businesses, under the Liberals are facing higher taxes and more expenses. Their competitors in the United States and Australia will have a massive advantage because they will not be paying a carbon tax. The Prime Minister's promise of returning farmers' carbon taxes to the provinces rings hollow because farmers, like all Canadians, need to pay for their goods to be moved by trains and trucks, whether it is grain or fertilizer. Why are the Liberals making it harder for all Canadian businesses to survive with the imposition of a carbon tax?

Mr. Speaker, steelworkers are excited for the job security that comes with over 1,100 kilometres of high-grade steel for the northern gateway pipeline. Thank goodness for energy east, its 4,600 kilometres of steel pipe and the 14,000 construction jobs that come with it. However, wait, the Liberals voted against energy east, and the Prime Minister killed northern gateway.Why are the Liberals saying no to building new pipelines and tens of thousands of high-paying jobs?

Mr. Speaker, Canada's steel industry provides 22,000 direct jobs, with an average salary of $75,000 per year. Another 100,000 indirect jobs are associated with the industry.According to Canadian Steel Producers Association, the value chain stretches all the way back to eastern Canada, to where iron ore is mined in Quebec and Labrador before being poured into primary steel forms in Ontario.Why are the Liberals killing jobs in our steel mills, mines, and factories across Canada that benefit from new pipelines?

Madam Speaker, the Liberals' first budget goes out of the way to discriminate against the Province of Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan receives less than 1% of federal funding for transportation infrastructure in this budget, even though it represents 3% of the population of Canada.Under the Conservative government, transportation funding was allocated on a per capita basis.Why is the government shortchanging the people of Saskatchewan?

Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister and President Obama now said that a new softwood lumber agreement would be made within 100 days. Well, the clock is ticking. Time is running out.Over half of Saskatchewan is forested. Forestry is northern Saskatchewan's largest industry. It generates $1 billion in forest product sales, $800 million in exports, and directly employs 4,000 Canadians.What is the Minister of International Trade doing to keep forestry workers in Saskatchewan employed by securing U.S. market access?

Mr. Speaker, the member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands stood in this place and asked what the government is doing to secure the release of Kevin Garratt and his wife Julia. They have been held, now, by Chinese security forces for over a year.What did theMinister of Foreign Affairs say in response? He said, “We have communicated how much we disagree with the situation...”.I am not sure that the minister's bureaucratic tone is grabbing the attention of the Chinese.When is the Minister of Foreign Affairs going to make the Garratts' release a priority?