House of Commons Hansard #52 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was language.

Topics

The EnvironmentOral Questions

11:25 a.m.

Bloc

Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Mr. Speaker, the real changes did not come from the Conservatives, they came from this side of the House, from the Bloc Québécois.

All the industries that emit nitrogen oxides must reduce their emissions by 8% to 65% by 2015, with the exception of companies exploiting the tar sands. They can even increase their nitrogen oxide emissions by 5% for the same period.

Will the minister stop pandering to the oil companies and finally impose pollution emission reduction standards on them in order to ensure the survival of our lakes?

The EnvironmentOral Questions

11:25 a.m.

Langley B.C.

Conservative

Mark Warawa ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, the reality is that this government has turned the corner on no action. This government is a government of action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and cleaning up the environment.

Unfortunately, we have a contest between the Bloc and the NDP on who can be Captain Bluster. In reality, the Bloc has never got it done.

Government ContractsOral Questions

11:25 a.m.

NDP

Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, we will never get the politics out of polling if we let ministers and their political staff dole out lucrative contracts to their political friends.

The Conservatives used to scream bloody murder over Liberal polling mischief. Now Senator Porkchop wants to allow a system that invites abuse and political interference, all hidden behind the secrecy of cabinet confidence.

Why do the Conservatives not clean up public opinion polling once and for all and keep their hands off and their nose out of the tendering practice for public opinion polling?

Government ContractsOral Questions

11:25 a.m.

York—Simcoe Ontario

Conservative

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for that question because, as he observed, it is a really tough job cleaning up the mess we inherited.

The Federal Accountability Act went a long way but the job still is not done. We discovered, to our alarm, that there was still an extraordinarily high amount of public opinion polling being done at the bureaucratic level. We think that is far too much spending on public opinion polling being done, which is why we are moving to significantly reduce the amount of spending now that we have been able to uncover where it is.

We will continue to do that to ensure that taxpayer dollars are respected and polling is minimized and used only in ways that are appropriate.

Government ContractsOral Questions

11:25 a.m.

NDP

Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, notwithstanding the abuse in polling contracts, the Minister of Finance is supposed to be the guardian of the public purse, the protector of the nation's finances. What are Canadians to think when he squanders $122,000 on a single speech in an untendered contract to an old political crony?

When it comes to the rules, the Minister of Finance has broken every one. He threw the rule book right out the window when it came to tendering.

I want to know what kind of sanctions, what kind of discipline is being meted out on the Minister of Finance for breaking every rule in the book when it comes to tendering contracts.

Government ContractsOral Questions

11:25 a.m.

Macleod Alberta

Conservative

Ted Menzies ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, we have talked about these contracts before.

The hon. member certainly underestimates the amount of work that went into putting the budget speech together, in fact, the entire budget for 2007. I would invite the hon. member to look on the website. These are all detailed in obvious fashion for the hon. member to see.

What we do not see detailed is the expenditures of the Liberal Party, the $40 million that we are still looking for. We cannot find that on any website.

InfrastructureOral Questions

February 15th, 2008 / 11:25 a.m.

Liberal

Paul Zed Liberal Saint John, NB

Mr. Speaker, today, the Leader of the Opposition announced that all future surpluses over and above a $3 billion contingency fund will be used to address the massive infrastructure deficit facing Canada. This funding will be over and above the gas tax transfer, the GST rebate and all other future infrastructure programs.

Will the transport minister finally see the light? Will he see that his failing Canada plan is simply not enough and will he endorse the Liberal plan for Canada's infrastructure future?

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Fort McMurray—Athabasca Alberta

Conservative

Brian Jean ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, there is no question that the Liberal plan would put us into a deficit situation.

However, let us talk about something that was said by the FCM president, Gord Steeves. He said:

[The Prime Minister] received a warm reception from our delegates, who responded enthusiastically to his government's important investments in infrastructure.

That is probably because $33 billion is the most allocated by any government in Canada's immediate history. That is Conservative managed dollars, unlike Liberal managed dollars. We know what happens that way; a million dollars to this friend, a million dollars for that Liberal election. That is not going to happen--

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

The hon. member for Saint John.

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

Paul Zed Liberal Saint John, NB

Mr. Speaker, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has already passed judgment on this Liberal plan. It likes what it sees.

Just moments ago the FCM president, Gord Steeves, had this to say about the plan, “Bold, visionary and with the potential to change the face of our country”. He did not say that about the Conservative plan.

The Liberal plan is exactly what municipalities want and what our country desperately needs.

Why does the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities not trust our mayors to invest in our communities?

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Fort McMurray—Athabasca Alberta

Conservative

Brian Jean ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport

Yes, Mr. Speaker, there is no question that it would change the face of Canada because it would put us into a huge deficit.

We were elected more than two years ago to run this country and we are doing so. Let us look at what is happening in Toronto, for instance. The previous Liberal government left us with a $130 billion deficit across the country. What are we doing for Toronto? We have already put in $2 billion for transit.

We are answering the question for municipalities and Canadians. We are getting the job done.

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC

Mr. Speaker, according to Statistics Canada, the average age of treatment plants in Quebec is the highest in the country, and this, of course, poses a threat to our streams.

Moreover, as if the collapse of the Concorde overpass had not been a clear enough signal for this Conservative government, 62% of all bridges and overpasses in Quebec have exceeded their useful life.

The minister told the mayor that the federal government had already done enough for infrastructures, and that he should go and knock on other doors.

When will the Conservative government stop treating our mayors as if they were beggars?

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Fort McMurray—Athabasca Alberta

Conservative

Brian Jean ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.

I want to stress the fact that the Conservative government is providing $33 billion for Canada's infrastructure. The Conservative government supports Canada in this area.

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Liberal

Francis Scarpaleggia Liberal Lac-Saint-Louis, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Quebec government does a lot for its infrastructures. Premier Charest just announced a plan of close to $3 billion for its highway infrastructure.

The previous federal government was aware of the importance of municipal infrastructures, and it took action through the gas tax transfer.

Why is there not any Conservative plan for infrastructures?

InfrastructureOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Fort McMurray—Athabasca Alberta

Conservative

Brian Jean ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the previous Liberal government did nothing but leave us with a $130 billion infrastructure deficit across the country. We know that and Canadians know that.

The government is getting results: $33 billion, the most ever allocated toward infrastructure. We are getting positive results for Canada. We have to clean up the mess the Liberals left us with.

Manufacturing IndustryOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Bloc

Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC

Mr. Speaker, Quebec's statistics institute confirmed yesterday that the manufacturing industry has not been the one with the largest number of jobs since 2005. In concrete terms, this means that, in Quebec, 79,000 jobs have been lost in that industry just in the years since the Conservatives took office.

What more proof does this government need that Quebec and the manufacturing industry need the assistance package to be increased to $3.5 billion using the $10.6 billion surplus forecast for this year?

Manufacturing IndustryOral Questions

11:30 a.m.

Oshawa Ontario

Conservative

Colin Carrie ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, clearly the Bloc Québécois does not understand the manufacturing industry. That explains why it will never be able to help that industry.

Had the Bloc done its homework, it would know that, in January, nearly 18,000 new jobs were created in that industry. Unlike the Bloc, this government provides real support and help to the manufacturing industry.

Manufacturing IndustryOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc understands very well the manufacturing industry, as its workers will show in the next election.

For the past year, the Bloc Québécois has been urging the government to take serious action to support the manufacturing industry and its workers.

At a time when Canada's net exports are plummeting due to the economic slowdown in the United States, does the government not understand that the manufacturing industry needs much more than $1 billion over three years in order to go through this crisis?

Manufacturing IndustryOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Oshawa Ontario

Conservative

Colin Carrie ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, let us deal with specifics. How many jobs has the Bloc created? None. How many jobs will the Bloc create? Not one. This Conservative government is the one that is there for the workers and the communities.

Quebec Film IndustryOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Luc Malo Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC

Mr. Speaker, the 26th Quebec film festival called the Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois opened yesterday in Montreal. The Quebec film industry, still not acknowledged by this government, has seen its market share decline since the Conservatives came to power. There has been no significant increase in funding, which has prevented a good number of productions from going forward.

Does the Minister of Canadian Heritage intend to exert pressure on her colleague, the Minister of Finance, to ensure that $50 million is added to the Canada Feature Film Fund in the next budget?

Quebec Film IndustryOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Calgary Southeast Alberta

Conservative

Jason Kenney ConservativeSecretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question. I will speak to officials at the Department of Canadian Heritage and to the minister in order to reply to this question as soon as possible.

Quebec Film IndustryOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Bloc

Luc Malo Bloc Verchères—Les Patriotes, QC

Mr. Speaker, I will give him another suggestion. In recent years, documentary feature films have become increasingly popular. Take for example Les voleurs d'enfance, Le dernier continent, and L'erreur boréale.

What is the government waiting for to establish a $10 million documentary feature film fund? Can documentary filmmakers expect to see this money in the next budget?

Quebec Film IndustryOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Calgary Southeast Alberta

Conservative

Jason Kenney ConservativeSecretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)

Mr. Speaker, I see that the hon. member is very passionate about this matter. He will have to wait until the budget is tabled later this month. I hope he will support the budget because there will be investments and tax cuts for Canadians, including Quebeckers. I urge the hon. member to await the budget.

Canadian Nuclear Safety CommissionOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Liberal

David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON

Mr. Speaker, Linda Keen is taking the government to court over her abrupt firing a month ago.

Ms. Keen did not remain silent when the Minister of Health and the Minister of Natural Resources broke the rules and interfered in a quasi-judicial decision. And she has no intention of remaining silent now.

Since the government could find nothing wrong in Ms. Keen's performance of her duties, how does it intend to defend the indefensible?

Canadian Nuclear Safety CommissionOral Questions

11:35 a.m.

Cypress Hills—Grasslands Saskatchewan

Conservative

David Anderson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board

Mr. Speaker, one of the great things about our country is we have access to a fair court system. Ms. Keen has taken the opportunity to access that. Because it is before the courts, we have no comment on this issue.