Debates of June 18th, 2007

Canada Elections Act

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Royal Galipeau]

It is with regret that I interrupt the hon. the parliamentary secretary, but the time provided for the study of government bills has now expired. When we return to the study of Bill C-31, there will be six minutes left for the hon. the parliamentary secretary to make his presentation and 10 minutes for questions and comments.

Housing

[Peter Goldring, Conservative, Edmonton East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in Edmonton, Mayor Mandel says that the number one concern for the city is affordable housing. For Alberta, Premier Stelmach said the same.

While much has been done by this government to improve shelters and non-profit housing, the private sector rental industry remains in crisis. Over the past 30 years across Canada, the newly built private sector rental housing numbers have fallen from 90% of new construction of multiple housing units to less than 10%, not even beginning to meet market demand.

In overheated markets the remaining stock of rental units are being splashed with paint and sold as condos at several times the cost of even four years ago.

What caused this collapse of a once viable rental industry? The cities, the provinces and Ottawa must work together to determine the cause and to find solutions. We owe it to all to help.

School Speaking Tour

[Maurizio Bevilacqua, Liberal, Vaughan, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the students, staff, parents and teachers who participated in my school speaking tour. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to listen to and speak with over 80,000 students and have benefited greatly from their input.

During this year's tour, the message from the students to the Prime Minister was crystal clear. They want the government to step up its efforts in a number of key areas, by making investments and designing a comprehensive plan of action to address the challenges we face as a country, including our environment, foreign aid, homelessness, immigration, health care, education, poverty, taxation, crime, research and development, community safety, infrastructure, drug abuse, gun violence, animal cruelty, aboriginals, seniors and Canada's place in the world.

The students of the city of Vaughan acknowledge that they live in a city with an exceptional quality of life and standard of living. Their gift is their ability to have a national view of our country and a global view of the world.

I am very impressed by their knowledge and willingness to accept responsibility and seize opportunities to make our country and our world a better place in which to live.

EcoKids Prize

[Robert Vincent, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to rise in this House and congratulate the staff and students at École Jeanne-Mance in my riding on winning the EcoKids prize for the greenest school initiative.

The children have taken tangible steps to protect their environment. For example, they have scheduled times at lunch for washing the reusable dishes the school purchased. In addition, the students throw nothing away: leftovers are composted and packaging rinsed and recycled. Some students are using recycled materials to make games that will later be displayed at the Biodome in Montreal, while others are decorating the school corridors with flower boxes. The students hope to make their own recycled paper next year.

When it comes to the environment, the students at École Jeanne-Mance have things to teach this government, which is not even concerned about their future.

Palestine

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Mr. Speaker, tragically, the Palestinian unity government has collapsed. Never in 40 years had a Palestinian political body brought together the views of so many Palestinians. All major political movements were included.

Instead of seeing the unity government as a unique opportunity to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the Conservative government shamefully boycotted, undermining the advocates of compromise, compounding political divisions within Gaza and the West Bank and increasing the insecurity plaguing the lives of Palestinians and Israelis.

The only viable government in Palestine is one that represents all Palestinians. Peace cannot be achieved without Hamas at the table. It is a fraud to pretend otherwise. It is imperative for the Canadian government to provide leadership and push for a unified, multilateral diplomatic front.

The current strife and tragic loss of life in Palestine and Israel will only be stemmed when a policy of peace and inclusive dialogue replaces the politics of militarism, boycott and division.

Millennium Excellence Award

[Colin Mayes, Conservative, Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to advise the House that six Millennium Excellence Awards have been awarded to students in my riding of Okanagan—Shuswap for the academic year 2007-08.

The Millennium Excellence Award program is one of Canada's most prestigious national scholarship initiatives. This program is directed at Canadians preparing to enter college or university for the first time. The program's entrance award plays a crucial role in the recognition and encouragement of excellence in the classroom and beyond.

Congratulations go to Erin Crockett of Kalamalka Secondary, Mary Howie of Pleasant Valley Secondary School, Aneil Jaswal of United College of South East Asia, Jasmine Patrick of W.L. Seaten Secondary School, Kam Phung of Pleasant Valley Secondary School and Amanda Shelley of Kalamalka Secondary.

Award recipients, job well done.

35th Annual Tournament of the Northwest Firefighters Association

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity today to congratulate everyone who took part in the 35th annual tournament of the Association des pompiers du Nord-Ouest, which took place in Saint-Basile.

I have great admiration for the members of this association and the work they do to make our communities safer. These firefighters do not hesitate to risk their own lives when a fire breaks out, and they deserve recognition.

At the tournament banquet, I had the opportunity to speak to the firefighters, and I again pledged my support for Bill C-219, which proposes to reduce taxes for volunteer emergency workers, including volunteer firefighters.

I want to congratulate the Green River brigade, which won the 35th annual tournament and will represent the northwest region at the provincial tournament.

I also want to thank all the volunteers and the organizing committee members for all their efforts in planning this memorable event.

The Environment

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as the session draws to a close, I would like to talk about the leadership this government has shown by announcing a number of initiatives to fight greenhouse gas emissions. One thing that comes to mind is the ecoenergy retrofit incentive.

Our incentive goes further than all the other programs proposed by the previous Liberal government. In fact, 140,000 households can benefit from a grant of up to $5,000, a 25% increase over the previous program.

Under our incentive program, for every dollar paid out, 90¢ goes into the pockets of homeowners, compared to 50¢ under the old program. The average grant will be 40% higher than it was before.

In conclusion, I would like to say that our incentive program will also help fund a broader range of measures to reduce energy consumption in the home.

Once again, while the opposition is complaining and living in the past, we are taking action and proposing concrete, realistic and responsible initiatives to protect our environment.

Georges Thurston

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Georges Thurston, known as Boule Noire, died last night at age 55, after a rich artistic career spanning 30 years.

He did not have an easy life. Abandoned at birth, he was raised in an orphanage, then went from one foster home to another, only to become a drifter for years. In his autobiography, published only a few days ago, he admits that music is what saved him.

He worked as a musician or music arranger for artists such as Charlebois, Roman, Dubois, Lautrec, Pagliaro and Workman, in addition to producing his own songs, many of which were recorded by the group Toulouse.

I would like to commend Georges Thurston's courage and determination in his battle with cancer, which he fought very publicly, in order to inspire others who are also battling incurable diseases.

He will be sadly missed.

The Environment

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, on June 15, I along with the Minister of Natural Resources and the chair of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology had an opportunity to tour Encana's CO₂ sequestration site located in my riding just south of the city of Weyburn, Saskatchewan.

Encana's Weyburn oil field operation covers 70 square miles and on this site it has Canada's largest commercial scale carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery project and the world's largest geological CO₂ sequestration project.

By the end of 2005, it had safely injected seven million tonnes of CO₂. This is the equivalent of taking one and a half million cars off the road for a year.

Also in my riding, near Estevan, Saskatchewan, prospective plans are being developed to build the world's first near zero CO₂ emission coal-fired plant where the CO₂ will be captured, stored and used to increase oil production, and all of it done in an environmentally friendly manner.

These initiatives represent a bright future for not only my riding of Souris—Moose Mountain but for all of Canada. It is good for the environment, it is good for the economy and it is good for all of Canada.

Somali Week International Soccer Tournament

[Roy Cullen, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw to the attention of the House the Somali Week International Soccer Tournament held each year at Centennial Park Stadium in Etobicoke and hosted by the Somali Sports and Cultural Association.

This year the number of teams participating from June 28 to July 15 has grown from 12 to 16 teams. These teams come from Europe, Britain, Sweden and Holland, the United States Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Minnesota and Columbus, Ohio, and Canada, Ottawa, Toronto, Mississauga and Calgary.

The Somali week tournament was established in the early nineties in order to: first, entertain the community during the summer; second, to create an environment where the community can mix together to build social cohesion; and third, to provide youngsters with exercise and camaraderie for a positive, constructive experience.

To date the tournament has been run without financial backing from federal, provincial or municipal governments.

Good luck to all the teams participating. We will see them there.

British Columbia

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in last year's election we promised we would stand up for British Columbia and deliver results: promise made, promise kept.

We promised dredging on the Fraser River, done. We promised to back the 2010 games, done. We promised to back the Pacific Gateway, done, and with $400 million in extra money. We promised to cut taxes and pay down Canada's debt, done. We promised action on softwood lumber and the pine beetle, done. We promised to get tough on crime, done. In fact, we have tabled more meaningful justice bills in the last year than the Liberals did in the previous 13 years. We promised to protect our coast, done. With new coast guard vessels and a ban on sewage and pollution dumping on our coast, we took action.

The facts are clear. Conservatives know British Columbia. We are standing up for B.C. and we are getting results for all British Columbians.

The Environment

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is long past time for the government to start cleaning up the air in my community of Hamilton.

Just a week ago, residents of the beach strip in my riding observed a tall column of black coming their way from across the harbour. This was no tornado. Residents observed this black cloud form and grow as it passed over the coal piles of Stelco and Dofasco.

Soot fallout is so regular in the north end of Hamilton that residents are trying everything from access to information requests to find out what is being done to pursuing legal action to clean up the air.

Randle Reef in Hamilton Harbour needs $90 million to clean it up, but in the last budget it received a mere $11 million of the toxic sediment cleanup fund.

It is estimated that poor air quality in Hamilton causes 300 deaths a year. Hoping that air quality concerns will just blow away is costing the Conservative government hundreds of millions of dollars in health care costs each and every year, not to mention the environmental impact.

Whether natural or man-made, whether local, regional or international in cause, it is time for the government to step up, work with all parties and all stakeholders, roll up its sleeves, take out its pocketbook and clean up Hamilton Harbour.

Canadian Skills Competition

[Nancy Karetak-Lindell, Liberal, Nunavut, NU]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate all the team Nunavut participants in the 13th Canadian Skills Competition held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan from June 6 to 9, where they were received with very warm hospitality.

Sixteen talented students and apprentices from across my riding showcased their skills in a variety of skilled trade and technology contest areas, from carpentry to baking to graphic design.

Nunavut received two silver medals. I would like to congratulate Lucy Idlout, in post-secondary hairstyling, and the TV and video production team of Lauren Solski and Bjorn Simonsen, all from Iqaluit. Lauren and Bjorn also received the prestigious “Best in the Region” award.

Thanks to all the instructors, advisers, sponsors and volunteers.

I ask all my colleagues in the House to congratulate these talented competitors, along with all my constituents of Nunavut.

Constitution Act, 1982

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, to mark the 25th anniversary of the proclamation of the Constitution Act, 1982, the National Assembly of Quebec unanimously adopted a motion on June 13, 2007, reaffirming its position on this matter. It reads:

That the National Assembly of Québec recall that, 25 years ago this year, the Constitution Act, 1982 was enacted without Québec's approval, and that it formally reaffirm that it never acceded to this Act, whose effect was to diminish the powers and rights of Québec without its consent, and that the Constitution Act, 1982 still remains unacceptable for Québec.

This Conservative government must understand that simply voting in favour of a motion recognizing Quebec as a nation is not enough to show full respect for Quebec. In the past few months alone, the Bloc Québécois and National Assembly of Quebec have had to remind this government on several occasions that Quebec's jurisdictions must be respected and that Quebec is still not a signatory to the Constitution Act, 1982.

The Franco-Ontarian Festival

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Speaker, from Friday night to Sunday, Ottawa hosted the 32nd Franco-Ontarian Festival.

Young and old, francophones and their friends turned out in great numbers at Festival Plaza in the heart of the city.

This festival is a collective expression of inexhaustible vitality. It features local as well as international talent and is characterized by good humour, camaraderie and pride.

Local artists such as Véronic DiCaire, as well as stars from other countries, such as Patrick Bruel, thrilled our community.

Kudos to the volunteers, congratulations to the organizers, thank you to the sponsors and partners. Thanks as well to Mother Nature, but above all to the community, which made the 32nd festival a resounding success.

Justice

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been calling for justice reforms for over a decade and finally they have a government that is listening and acting.

Since coming to office, our government has advanced over a dozen criminal justice reforms that will protect Canadians and their families.

With the support of opposition members in this House, many of these bills have been passed on to the Senate for its consideration before becoming law.

However, the Liberal-dominated Senate seems to be maintaining its hard-earned reputation for stalling and delaying by employing unreasonable tactics to deny Canadians the protection they so rightly deserve.

It is so bad that even provincial justice ministers are demanding that the Senate do the right thing and pass these bills right now. Alberta's justice minister, Ron Stevens, is adding his voice of support, saying that the goals of our federal justice reforms to deter and denounce serious offenders are consistent with the desires expressed by many Albertans during recent public consultations.

I call on all Liberal senators, but specifically Alberta Liberal senators, to do the right thing and pass these important bills so that Albertans and Canadians can have this protection.

The Environment

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, last week another damning report for the government indicated that its plan for reducing greenhouse gases cannot work. The C.D. Howe Institute said that with this plan, emissions will increase not only until 2012, not only until 2020, but until 2050.

My question is very direct and it is for the Prime Minister, and I am asking him to answer honestly for once. What does he have to say about the report of the C.D. Howe Institute?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of the Environment is developing an effective plan. We are currently consulting with the provinces and industry to finalize the rules for the new regulatory system. Our system is consistent with the systems in the other major countries around the world.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, maybe the Prime Minister could read that report and the Pembina report, which said that his plan is less effective by six to seven times than the Liberal plan his government killed, or the Deutsche Bank report, which said that indeed with his plan emissions will go up in Canada until at least 2020, or the Tyndall report, which said that the government's targets are weaker than what the oil sands industry had decided to do anyway.

It is time for the truth. With all this evidence, will the Prime Minister admit that his plan is set to fail and that it is a fraud?

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the entire world knows that the member opposite did not produce a plan in an entire decade.

This government has produced a plan. This government is in consultation with the provinces and industry on implementing the regulations, which we expect will be put in place this fall.

We obviously will look at the C.D. Howe report and other reports to make sure that we do in fact meet the targets, because we finally have a government with a plan committed to meeting the targets, just like the rest of the world, and that is a big change.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister should definitely read these reports. He will learn that he killed a Liberal plan six to seven times more effective than the plan he is presenting.

He knows this plan is a fraud. That is why he shut down the environment committee last week, as he did before with the official languages committee, following the dirty tricks manual they have: committee manipulation for dummies.

It is time for the truth. Will the Prime Minister allow the committee to do its work, to hear Professor Jaccard and the C.D. Howe Institute and to complete a detailed examination--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The right hon. Prime Minister.

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I honestly do not know what the hon. member is even talking about.

What I can say is that the entire world knows and every expert knows that the member could not produce an emissions reduction plan in 10 years.

In a few months, this Minister of the Environment has produced a plan. We obviously will be refining that plan and we will be moving ahead with the world to meet global targets. The world is moving ahead. It has left that member behind.