House of Commons Hansard #78 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was appointments.

Topics

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

An hon. member

In your dreams.

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

An hon. member

It's a bare-faced falsehood.

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Some hon. members

More.

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Order, please. There seem to be a lot of calls for more. There will be more but we need to have silence so we can hear it.

The hon. member for Willowdale has the floor.

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Martha Hall Findlay Liberal Willowdale, ON

Mr. Speaker, that was a brave attempt to avoid the question.

The only centre capable of meeting this funds criteria has on its board of directors the finance minister's wife, his executive assistant and, formerly, the finance minister himself.

The only consultation that HRSDC did for this fund occurred in Whitby and the national Office for Disability Issues was not even aware of it. Is that a coincidence? The wording of the criteria is directly drawn from the material of the Whitby group. Is that a coincidence?

InfrastructureOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Medicine Hat Alberta

Conservative

Monte Solberg ConservativeMinister of Human Resources and Social Development

Mr. Speaker, the member is completely wrong in her assertions. The fact is that all proposals for the enabling accessibility fund will have the exact same terms and conditions.

However, it is very low when members on the other side stoop and start to attack a world-class facility that supports people with disabilities simply because it is in a member's riding.

EthicsOral Questions

April 14th, 2008 / 2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Diane Marleau Liberal Sudbury, ON

Mr. Speaker, tapes seem to be the Conservatives' nemesis. The Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity) was taped speaking about the Sikh community. Senator Angus was taped speaking about Bill C-10. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons was taped speaking about homosexuals. The Prime Minister was taped speaking about the Cadman affair.

Why do they say one thing in private and another in public?

EthicsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

York—Simcoe Ontario

Conservative

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

Mr. Speaker, that is not the case at all. What is being referred to, by and large, are imaginary scandals that the Liberals conjure up for one very simple reason: they do not have any policy to talk about. When they do have a policy to talk about, they change their position on it the next week. Then, when they change their position on it, they do not even bother to show up to vote on it the next week. Sometimes they even walk out of this House.

All of those things are shown on videotapes that Canadians see, which is why Canadians have no confidence in a Liberal Party with no leadership, no vision, no policies and taking Canada nowhere.

EthicsOral Questions

2:45 p.m.

Liberal

Diane Marleau Liberal Sudbury, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Cadman affair has caused problems for the Prime Minister but the problems are of his own making. If the Prime Minister had simply put a stop to Conservative attempts to offer Mr. Cadman a bribe, he would not be facing these repeated questions.

What were those financial considerations for Mr. Cadman, which the Prime Minister referred to explicitly on the tape?

EthicsOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam B.C.

Conservative

James Moore ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics

Mr. Speaker, as we have said a number of times, the only offer we made to Chuck Cadman on May 19, 2005, was to rejoin the Conservative caucus, run for us as a candidate and get re-elected as a Conservative.

However, as the House leader has said, we know why the Liberals are repeatedly asking these questions. It is, frankly, because they have run out of steam. They have run out of steam on their own policy and on their own leader. It is evidenced every day here in the House of Commons.

We have spoken the truth on this issue. The Liberals continue asking these questions and we know why. It is because, frankly, they have nothing else to do.

Broadcasting IndustryOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC

Mr. Speaker, there is still disagreement between Paris and its francophone partners regarding the appropriate place for the multilateral channel TV5 Monde. Belgium is threatening to withdraw, as did the Swiss government last week, if France continues with its plans to integrate the francophone television channel into the proposed France Monde.

What pressure is the Canadian government putting on France to ensure that TV5 remains a multilateral resource for francophone countries?

Broadcasting IndustryOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Louis-Saint-Laurent Québec

Conservative

Josée Verner ConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, for several months now, government officials have been in talks with the various partners, including French officials, and we will continue to work together.

Broadcasting IndustryOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Bloc

Johanne Deschamps Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC

Mr. Speaker, in response to the British Prime Minister's proposal to include the food crisis on the agenda for the next G-8, will the government take the initiative to put this subject on the agenda of the Sommet de la Francophonie, since a number of Francophonie countries are seriously affected by this crisis?

Broadcasting IndustryOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Durham Ontario

Conservative

Bev Oda ConservativeMinister of International Cooperation

Mr. Speaker, this is a question that has been having intensive discussion, not only domestically in Canada but internationally. We continue to have discussions and I know there are important conferences coming up over the next few months.

Canada will be fully engaged and work with its partners around the world to address the situation as it develops.

Court Challenges ProgramOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, now more than ever, it is clear that the court challenges program is vital to this country's minorities.

Marie-Claire Paulin, who just won a long and important battle against the RCMP to uphold linguistic minority rights, said that without this program, she never could have defended her rights all the way to the Supreme Court.

Why is this government refusing so stubbornly to reinstate the court challenges program? This is a simple question. Why go against the will of the linguistic minorities?

Court Challenges ProgramOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Louis-Saint-Laurent Québec

Conservative

Josée Verner ConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, as we have said many times, the case is currently before the courts. Our government has made its submissions, but no judgment has yet been handed down.

Sealing IndustryOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Allen Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans promised to ensure the safety of our Canadian sealers. He stood in the House a week ago and told us charges would be pursued against the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and that our government would not tolerate the reckless antics of these money-sucking manipulators who threaten the safety of Canadians while posing as conservationist.

Over the weekend the government did the right thing and the vessel, the Farley Mowat, was seized and brought to port.

Would the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans please provide an update?

Sealing IndustryOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

St. John's South—Mount Pearl Newfoundland & Labrador

Conservative

Loyola Hearn ConservativeMinister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, Canada has laws in place to ensure the safety of our citizens. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society broke those laws and in so doing, put the lives of our sealers at risk. Laws have broken. Action has been taken. A boat has been seized. Charges have been laid. It is that simple.

Paul Watson can continue with his PR exercise to siphon more money from the unsuspecting public. In the meantime, I will stand up for our sealers and our laws.

HealthOral Questions

2:50 p.m.

NDP

Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, Canada's only safe injection site does not lead to crime or increased drug use, but in fact reduces health risk, saves health care costs and, most important, saves lives. Those are the findings from the minister's own hand-picked advisory committee. It cannot find anything wrong with Insite. To the contrary, all indications point to its success, including the city of Vancouver and the B.C. government.

It is time for the minister to honour and support the extensive research that has been done. Will he commit today to keep Insite open, to make the downtown east side a safer and healthier place.

HealthOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia Manitoba

Conservative

Steven Fletcher ConservativeParliamentary Secretary for Health

Mr. Speaker, on October 2, the minister advised Vancouver Coastal Health Authority that its exemption under section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act would be extended until June 30.

The exemption is for the purpose of research into the impact of such sites on prevention, treatment and crime. Our government will review the research very carefully. No decision has been made.

HealthOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

NDP

Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, how much more research can be done? It is all out there, all the scientific and medical evidence. In fact, we have concerns regarding the editing of the minister's own expert panel report.

The NDP obtained an internal copy of the report prior to its release and it appears that changes were made. The original text stated, “Insite may have prevented about nine cases of HIV”, but the edited version removed that text for no apparent reason.

Will the minister investigate this substantive edit, which covers up concrete conclusions, and report back to the House?

HealthOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia Manitoba

Conservative

Steven Fletcher ConservativeParliamentary Secretary for Health

As I mentioned, Mr. Speaker, our government will review the research very carefully. No decision has been made.

However, as I have the floor, I am reminded that the Liberal Party and its leader have no policy, no leadership and no vision for the country. That is why the people said “no” to a Liberal government.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Speaker, this is a critical week for Brenda Martin as the Mexican legal system rules on her freedom. To date she has received indifference and incompetence from the government.

For the Minister of Foreign Affairs who has had to take over this file from his inept Secretary of State: What is Ms. Martin's current condition and what is the government doing to bring her back home, now?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Calgary Southeast Alberta

Conservative

Jason Kenney ConservativeSecretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)

Mr. Speaker, her condition is that unfortunately she continues to be detained in the Mexican penal system. This government is doing is everything it possibly can to bring her home as soon as possible. This has been raised at the highest possible levels.

I met with senior Mexican officials and obtained, only three weeks ago, their assurances that they would do everything possible to see her case expedited. Hopefully this will result in her acquittal. We hope for that. If not, we will work very closely with the Mexican officials to secure a transfer to Canada as soon as possible.

Human Resources and Social DevelopmentOral Questions

2:55 p.m.

Conservative

Merv Tweed Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB

Mr. Speaker, thanks to the leadership of this Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, Manitoba is experiencing near record growth. The unemployment rate is 4.3% and 21,000 new well-paying full time jobs have been created in the past year alone. Clearly the hard work of this government is paying off for the people in Manitoba.

Despite this great news, we know employers are experiencing great demand for workers with the necessary skills to fill these new jobs.

Could the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development tell this House what he is doing to help meet the labour demands in Manitoba?