Statement made on 26 June 2011 by Senator Pierrette Ringuette
Hon. Pierrette Ringuette:
Honourable senators, I would like to digress a little and talk about the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance.
Honourable senators, the Senate will lose a very important person in the fall. I am referring to the Honourable Senator Lowell Murray, who was chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance for a number of years.
When I started sitting on the Finance Committee eight years ago, he was an unofficial mentor to me, guiding me through all of the rules, showing me the ropes, and helping me identify issues concerning Atlantic Canada, which were so important to us.
I would like to point out that in the bill before us, millions of dollars are allocated to recreational facilities in Southern Ontario, while in other regions of the country, this funding has been completely eliminated from the budgets of regional economic development organizations.
I should also point out that this bill provides $44.9 million for the Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians program. Once again, honourable senators, I would like to mention that the funding for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for this particular program has been cut.
In conclusion, I would like to thank Senator Lowell Murray from the bottom of my heart for serving for so many years on the Finance Committee, not just for the good of the Senate, but for the good of Canadians across the country. Thank you, Senator Murray.
Please click here to read the full text of this debate