Debates of Oct. 22nd, 2010

Andrew Saxton Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board

Mr. Speaker, I think it is great that the Liberals are finally waking up on this file.

We have been on top of this for some time. The government expanded access to information to 70 new organizations. We have updated policies to ensure that public servants have the support they need to get these requests out the door.

Many government departments are already posting details of access to information requests online, and we are looking at some exciting initiatives to be rolled out shortly.

Meili Faille Vaudreuil-Soulanges, QC

Mr. Speaker, according to an Environics poll, Quebeckers feel that the federal government is not doing enough to provide adequate retirement income for our poorest seniors. Eighty per cent of respondents support increasing the guaranteed income supplement. The results of this poll clearly show that people are worried. If the government does not act quickly, more and more seniors will be living in poverty.

Why is the government refusing to increase the monthly guaranteed income supplement benefit by $110, which is what the Bloc Québécois and FADOQ are calling for?

Diane Ablonczy Minister of State (Seniors)

Mr. Speaker, the government has done no such thing. In fact, the GIS was increased in 2006 and 2007.

As I just mentioned in answer to a previous question, since 2006 we have taken measures that have increased the money in seniors' pockets by over $2 billion a year.

We continue to look at these measures. We are proud that only 6% of Canadian seniors are at the poverty level. This is a great improvement over previous years. We will continue to make sure that—

The Speaker Peter Milliken

Order. The hon. member for Edmonton—Strathcona.

Linda Duncan Edmonton—Strathcona, AB

Mr. Speaker, small and medium businesses have long been the backbone of the Canadian economy.

Edmonton—Strathcona houses many small businesses, including numerous energy efficiency entrepreneurs. These businesses were dealt a double blow, first by the recession and then by the Conservative government's cancellation of the home energy retrofit program.

To celebrate this year's small business week, will the government restore the home energy retrofit program and help small businesses in Edmonton and across Canada?

Christian Paradis Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, we were clear in our Speech from the Throne that we will review the entire suite of programs.

On the home energy retrofit program, I must add that $300 million is flowing until the end of the fiscal year. According to the NDP, no money will be flowing out.

Guy Lauzon Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Canada first defence strategy calls for the government to invest in equipment and defence infrastructure for our hard-working and brave men and women in uniform.

CFB Petawawa is the home of two great regiments, 1 RCR and 3 RCR, that have contributed so much to our efforts in Afghanistan.

I would like to invite the Minister of National Defence to tell this House and all Canadians what major equipment investments our government is planning for CFB Petawawa.

Peter MacKay Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, these types of defence investments contribute greatly to local economies as well as to the Canadian Forces.

Last December, we announced that our new fleet of Chinook helicopters would be based at CFB Petawawa. Today I am pleased to announce that a contract of almost $135 million has been awarded to construct new hangars to house these new Chinooks. These hangars will include maintenance bays, training schools, a warehouse, and a command suite. This construction will be a major boost to the local economy and will create jobs.

This investment is good for the forces and for surrounding communities. I thank the member for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke for her work.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

The hon. member for Mississauga—Streetsville.

Bonnie Crombie Mississauga—Streetsville, ON

Mr. Speaker, competitive nations are leaving Canada in the dust when it comes to using digital technology to unshackle the information needed for economic innovation.

Small businesses have the ingenuity to harness the economic potential of information in ways that government cannot.

How is it that the government can track 10,000 vanity billboards by GPS but it will not release government data to SMEs to spur economic activity, as Liberals propose in our open government initiative?

Andrew Saxton Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board

Mr. Speaker, this government has expanded access to information to over 70 new organizations. We have updated policies to ensure that public servants have the support they need to get these requests out the door. Many government departments are already posting details of access to information requests online, and we are looking at some exciting new initiatives to be rolled out shortly.

Bruce Hyer Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

Mr. Speaker, winter is almost here. Canadian families are worried about the cost of staying warm. The HST will raise the cost of home heating this winter.

Canadians know that home heating is not a luxury. Our government does not seem to. Even worse, the Conservatives cancelled the eco-energy home retrofit program, which helped families to save money and allowed new businesses to grow.

When will the government do the obvious thing and bring back the eco-energy home retrofit program?

Christian Paradis Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, we stated in the Speech from the Throne that we would review the entire suite of programs, and that until the end of the fiscal year $300 million would be flowing out to help people with energy retrofits.

Thanks to the NDP, however, no money will be flowing out. I ask the NDP members whether they will tell their constituents that they voted against all of these measures. This is what they did. Shame.

Monique Guay Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Mr. Speaker, the loss of the seat at the UN Security Council was a huge snub to the Prime Minister. This snub is not unrelated to the fact that this government cut funding for African countries, many of which are francophone. This purely ideological choice to no longer make Africa a priority for CIDA's bilateral development assistance was the main reason Canada was rejected by the international community.

Does the Prime Minister plan on reinstating funding for African countries, in particular the francophone African countries that have been hard hit by his ideological choices?