From Members Statements today in the House of Commons:
Mr. Rodger Cuzner (Cape Breton—Canso, Lib.) (left): Mr. Speaker, I have a quiz for the House today. Where is the most famous and iconic lighthouse in all of Canada?
Some hon. members: Peggy's Cove!
Mr. Rodger Cuzner: Peggy's Cove. I did not hear anything from that side of the House, not because Conservatives do not know but because they are embarrassed they cannot find $25,000 to paint that international landmark.
Being a good Nova Scotian, I will offer them a few ideas. I will offer them a few suggestions. How about this? Fire the republican spin doctors they hired for one month's work. That is $25,000 right there.
Fire the psychic “style” consultant the Prime Minister has. The way they missed on the budget projections, they are not listening to her anyway.
Shrink the size of cabinet. If they shrink the size of cabinet, they could paint the Peggy's Cove lighthouse 156 times.
Slash the $1 billion that they have been using for consultants. They could paint 40,000 tourist landmarks with that one move alone.
The lighthouse is on over there but nobody is home. It is time to come out of the fog and paint the lighthouse in Peggy's Cove.
Later, during the daily Question Period which follows Members Statements, Conservative MPs James Bezan and Nova Scotia Gerald Keddy had this exchange of lob-balls on the subject:
Mr. James Bezan (Selkirk—Interlake, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the lighthouse at Peggy's Cove and the entrance to St. Margaret's Bay is recognized by all Canadians and citizens of many countries around the world.Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade assure the House that this national icon will indeed receive the upkeep it needs?
Mr. Gerald Keddy (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the lighthouse at Peggy's Cove is in my riding of South Shore—St. Margaret's, and it is a tourist destination for nearly one million people a year.It should be noted that it is also near the monument to Swiss Air 111, which was erected in memory of the 229 men, women and children who perished in 1998 on Swiss Air 111.It should be noted that I spoke directly to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans about this last fall. She has given clear orders for the lighthouse to be painted. It was not painted last fall. It will be painted this year.