This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Aside · 20 words“to infinity and beyond”. Am I talking about a space program or our deficit? Perhaps I am talking about both.Aside Claims · 208 wordsKids all over Canada look up to Buzz Lightyear and Chris Hadfield about the stars and what is beyond them. Whether they are real astronauts or fictional astronauts, Canadians look up to these role models. Canada has a great history being a part of our space exploration, such as the Alouette I, which was launched under former Conservative Prime Minister Diefenbaker, making Canada the third country to design and build a satellite; 1and the Canadarm, an impressive robotic arm used in the space shuttle and the International Space Station. Even Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, was educated right here in Canada.2 We have a lot of achievements to be proud of and Canada is certainly swinging well above its weight, including Newfoundland and Labrador.Partly on point In my riding, in the town of St. Lawrence, we actually have a launch pad. We have the NordSpace launch pad. Last year, many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and scientists from around the world gathered in St. Lawrence to watch NordSpace have its first test launch.3 The best part is the inauguration mission was called “Getting Screeched In”. NordSpace is a 100% Canadian-owned company, investing in our province and defence, with a planned expansion opening a new office in St. John’s for mission controls.4 Reasoning · 10 wordsThis is good because Canada needs a strong space force. Claims · 51 wordsGPS, Internet, communications and many essential components of society and our military are in space. We need to have the ability to provide those services and protect those services for Canadians. Space is no longer just about exploration and discovery. It is about national security, economic growth, scientific advancement and innovation. Reasoning · 65 wordsThe countries that lead in space will help shape the future. Canada was and always should be among those leaders. Our engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs have demonstrated time and time again that they can compete with the best in the world. However, what they need is a government that supports innovation responsibly, spends taxpayer dollars wisely and ensures that invested dollars provide value for Canadians. Claims · 42 wordsI have spent a few days researching NordSpace, its company and business models. It seems that it received a mere $10 million.5 With that money, it built a nice road, a nice spaceport, developed its technology and even had a test launch. Procedure · 10 wordsLet us compare that to the spaceport on everyone’s mind: ProcedureClaims · 280 wordsNova Scotia’s Maritime Launch Services. Maritime Launch Services was incorporated in 2016, 6but things did not get spicy until this year and Canadians are concerned. We have heard that there is a $200-million deal with Maritime Launch Services, 7but we seem to have very little detail on what that includes. So far, all that seems to be included in this $200-million deal is a concrete pad in the middle of a gravel pit. Being the inquisitive man that I am, I got on a plane and went to Canso, Nova Scotia, to see this launch pad for myself. After a short three‑kilometre walk, it was easy to see some of the concerns. Being only three kilometres away from the town, I could actually see homes from the launch pad. I can see why the people of the town of Canso are raising concerns. There were signs all over town petitioning against the construction of this launch pad so close to their homes. In addition, there was not much there. It was an underwhelming experience. There was a sea can, a work trailer and a small concrete pad. Honestly, it was no larger than my driveway. It is not much of a piece of land. It sure seems to be an expensive piece of land at that. The company is renting the land from Nova Scotia for less than $15,000 per year and then it seems like it is billing the Department of National Defence $20 million a year and National Defence will not even own it when it is completed.8 To add fuel to this rocket, I am hearing that the federal government backdated this lease for a full year. Positioning · 4 wordsHow does that happen?Positioning Aside · 34 wordsI would be the happiest landlord in the world if I had tenants who said, “I will backdate my lease and pay for a full year before I move in.” That would be fantastic.Aside Claims · 28 wordsCoincidentally, this lucrative lease came just in time to save the day. It is rumoured that this company was on the verge of bankruptcy before receiving this deal. Procedure · 6 wordsIf that is not bad enough, ProcedureClaims · 38 wordsas soon as the deal got signed, some shareholders cashed out and dumped that stock at a ballooned price. Not only did they get bailed out, but they also got rich. They got rich off Canadian taxpayer dollars, Reasoning · 7 wordsand that is exactly why transparency matters. Claims · 26 wordsCanadians are not opposed to investing in infrastructure. Canadians are not opposed to investing in innovation. Canadians are not opposed to building a stronger space industry, Reasoning · 75 wordsbut Canadians are opposed to writing a blank cheque without being told where the money is going. When governments spend public money, they have a duty to show their work. They have a duty to explain the costs, justify their decisions and demonstrate the results. If this project is truly in the best interest of Canadians, the government should have no problem releasing the details of that lease and letting the facts speak for themselves. Procedure · 29 wordsI am not here just to complain and point fingers. I am here to ask questions, to raise the issue, to get to the bottom of this for Canadians.Procedure The ask · 63 wordsReally, I am standing here to give the Liberals a chance to explain themselves, a chance to release the lease, a chance to release the details of this funding, to explain to Canadians how they can justify spending over $200 million on a space pad in Nova Scotia while a nearly identical one was built in Newfoundland for only 5% of the cost.9 Reasoning · 6 wordsCanadians have a right to know. Claims · 81 wordsThese are large amounts of money we are talking about here. This is not a $16 orange juice or even a $200,000 luxury airplane room service for the Prime Minister’s private jet.Off point This is $200 million, million with a capital M. This spaceport is costing Canadians over $54,000 a day for the next 10 years, 10and $54,000 is more than what an average Canadian makes in a year. The median salary for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians is less than $35,000 a year.11 Positioning · 21 wordsConservatives know that Canadians have a right to transparency, a right to know how the Liberal government is spending their dollars.Positioning The ask · 30 wordsI am sincerely hoping the Liberals can stand up and tell Canadians, convince Canadians, show Canadians that this is not another Liberal green slush fund or another Liberal WE scandal, Claims · 11 wordswhere Liberal insiders and Trudeau’s family receive millions of taxpayer dollars.Off point Procedure · 1 wordsHowever, ProcedurePositioning · 13 wordsso far, from this side of the House, things are looking pretty fishy.Positioning Claims · 12 wordsMany Canadians would even argue that this entire spending is a waste. The question · 32 wordsWhy should the Canadian taxpayer pay for a second launch pad in Atlantic Canada, when there is a perfectly functional and nearly identical launch pad already constructed and used in Atlantic Canada? Claims · 19 wordsCertainly, it would cost much less than $200 million to transport those rockets to the spaceport in my riding. Procedure · 22 wordsThese are the questions, the simple questions Canadians are asking, and we want to hear good answers, so let us hear it.Procedure The ask · 29 wordsIf there is a sound business case, let us see it. If this is truly a wise investment, then release the details to allow Canadians to judge for themselves. Claims · 20 wordsUntil then, Canadians will continue to wonder why so much money is being spent with so few answers being provided. Aside · 17 wordsUnfortunately, rockets are not the only thing going to infinity and beyond. It is also Canada’s deficit.Aside Claims · 66 wordsWe spend more money on interest payments than the federal government spends in health care payments.12 We spend more money servicing the deficit than we receive in GST.13 This means the 5% we all spend on everything at the store goes straight to the bankers. The Prime Minister’s budget has generational debt. By 2029, over 12% of our budget will be used to service the debt.14 Reasoning · 16 wordsFor every eight dollars we take in, a dollar will be used to service the debt.Off point Procedure · 3 wordsThis is massive.Procedure Claims · 14 wordsDebt is looming over the next generation of Canadians, risking our entire economy’s future, Reasoning · 10 wordsand it is not because Canadians are not paying taxes. Claims · 8 wordsWe are paying way more than enough taxes. Reasoning · 20 wordsIt is because the taxes are not being used wisely. This, my friends, is why this economy is not flying. Aside · 6 wordsIt is simply falling with style.AsideOff point
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