Debates of March 22nd, 2007

The Speaker Peter Milliken

Order, please. The hon. member for Halton has the floor and we will have a little order, please.

Garth Turner Halton, ON

I think what Canadians want us to talk about is them, not us, Mr. Speaker, and I will do exactly that.

If the markets are right and if mortgage rates go up by just half a point on a $300,000 mortgage in Whitby or Calgary, the average payment per year will go up by $960, which more than wipes out the benefit for a family of four.

Does the finance minister not get it?

The Speaker Peter Milliken

We are wasting a great deal of time. The hon. government House leader has been recognized and he now has the floor. We will have order, please.

Peter Van Loan Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, we are happy to accept his resignation on behalf of the government and we encourage you to do the same.

After the member for Halton became an independent member, he held a town hall meeting in his riding to ask what he should do. Forty per cent of the people said that he should stay independent while others said that he should negotiate with the Conservative Party. Does the House know how many said that he should join the Liberal Party? Zero per cent.

Gordon O'Connor Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to protecting the Afghan detainees. As I have said previously, we have recently entered into an agreement with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission which is undertaking to monitor the activities of the detainees. If there is any abuse, the commission will report it to us.

Claude Bachand Saint-Jean, QC

Mr. Speaker, does the Minister of National Defence understand that, not only is our soldiers' safety compromised, but they are also in a vulnerable situation, because they could be brought before international tribunals for failing to respect international conventions? If the minister cannot understand that, when will he resign?

Gordon O'Connor Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, we will not take any advice from the Bloc on human rights. We stand by human rights, we believe in human rights and we are enforcing human rights. Our men and women in Afghanistan carry the values of Canadians. They do not abuse human rights. We are ensuring that the Afghan government does not abuse the detainees.

Mario Laframboise Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

Mr. Speaker, the recent Senate report on security comes down hard on the state of security in Canada's airports. It says, and I quote, “What you may find shocking is that so many of the gaping security holes we drew attention to in 2003 are still gaping holes more than four years later”.

Will the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities admit that his government just talks about security, but does nothing about it?

Lawrence Cannon Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we have taken concrete action. We have invested money to implement security systems that were not there in 2003, not there in 2004, and not there in 2005. However, thanks to the Minister of Finance, we have obtained the necessary funding to make security a priority.

The government is taking action and that is what Canadians expect from us.

Serge Ménard Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC

Mr. Speaker, everyone should stick to what they know. The material security of planes, mechanical inspections and pilot competence are responsibilities of Transport Canada. However, preventing terrorist acts and protecting the public from organized crime is police business. The expertise is in the public safety department. It is time to transfer this important file to the department with the expertise and the will to take action.

Is the Minister of Public Safety prepared to accept the responsibility of making this important matter a true priority?

Lawrence Cannon Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, as you know, this House adopted aviation security legislation, which required a legislative review. The review was done and the report was tabled in December.

The Liberal Senate, with senators from that political party, also tabled a report. We are in the process of reviewing the recommendations therein. It is important to note that we took action by investing money in order to correct the mistakes of the past.