Debates of March 30th, 2010

David Tilson Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Mr. Speaker, as part of Canada's economic action plan, our government has implemented economic policy designed to increase job growth in the midst of the worst global recession since the 1930s.

Under the leadership of our Prime Minister, our government has lowered corporate taxes, encouraged investment, and most important, created jobs.

With this in mind, could the Minister of Industry please inform us of the wonderful news that we heard today out of Alliston, Ontario?

Tony Clement Minister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, indeed I am pleased to rise in the House today and announce that Honda Canada is expanding production at its plant in Alliston, Ontario, creating more than 400 new jobs.

This, of course, is testament to Honda's strong commitment to Canada and confirms that our government is on the right track. While the opposition ponders how to raise taxes on businesses like Honda, this government has successfully created a low-tax environment that is creating jobs in this country.

Peter Kent Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question, but I fear she exaggerates. The question has been completely explained, but I will add that building a strong Canadian north is an essential part of building our nation. The government clearly understands the potential of the north more than any other government before it.

While the previous government talked an awful lot about the Arctic, we are taking action.

Jean Crowder Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC

Mr. Speaker, the old colonial attitude of this government toward first nations is disturbing.

Buried on the INAC web page yesterday was an announcement that the government had signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States on how to deal with indigenous peoples. This came as a surprise to many aboriginal people here in Canada.

Can the minister tell us what consultations were undertaken with the indigenous peoples of Canada who would be affected by this memorandum of understanding, and what impact will it have on their lives?

Chuck Strahl Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a very good day. I met with Secretary Salazar here.

We have had discussions since I was down in Washington last year, talking about ways his government and ours can share best practices on things that we have learned on both sides of the border and errors that have been made on both sides of the border, so that we can make sure we design programs and work with aboriginal people. We have talked about everything from the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the apology that was made here in the House of Commons and many other things.

It was the first time ever that the United States government and the Canadian government came to such an agreement. It was a great moment for aboriginals.

Pierre Paquette Joliette, QC

Mr. Speaker, on February 26, 2010, the Quebec Forest Industry Council and its partners proposed to the Prime Minister that Canada should build 2,000 houses for Haiti. Since then, the industry has been calling on the government to promote this project at the conference on the reconstruction of Haiti, which begins Wednesday in New York. The forestry industry has yet to receive any response to its proposal.

Can the government tell us if it plans to promote that project at the conference in New York on the reconstruction of Haiti?

Bev Oda Minister of International Cooperation

Mr. Speaker, the member is quite right that, on Wednesday, the countries of the international community that have been working in Haiti will be meeting. We will be reviewing, along with the government of Haiti, the next steps forward. We will be renewing our commitment to Haiti and to the Haitian people.

We will be coming back with advice and decisions that Canada will make as to the best contribution it can make.

Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC

Mr. Speaker, the government promised to fast-track family class applications in order to help the people of Haiti. The minister has said that he still has not received the 3,000 new applications from Quebec. But I am talking about the 1,600 applications that are already on his desk, waiting to be processed.

When will the minister issue clear directives to expedite the reunification of Haitian families?

Jason Kenney Minister of Citizenship

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her question.

I share her concerns about families of Haitian origin that want to be reunited with relatives from Haiti. That is why we put in place measures to expedite family sponsorship applications. I am happy to announce that we have already process several hundred such cases and that our officials have added resources to process these sponsorship applications much more quickly.

Anthony Rota Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON

Mr. Speaker, yesterday's budget bill finally saw the results of the government's flawed deal on softwood lumber: a punitive $68 million tax on softwood for producers from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

We were falsely told that the softwood lumber deal would end litigation and penalties and hardship for Canadian companies. Litigation is up, and we are now losing lawsuits instead of winning them.

Why is our lumber industry forced to pay for the government's incompetence through yet another tax increase in budget 2010?

Peter Van Loan Minister of International Trade

Mr. Speaker, the softwood lumber agreement continues to provide tremendous benefits for Canada. As a result of the softwood lumber agreement, $5 billion in taxes that had been collected by the Americans were repatriated to Canadian businesses.

There is a reason the softwood lumber agreement continues to have the strong support of all the provinces and the industry, and that is it is a good agreement that works in the best interests of Canadian softwood lumber companies and workers.

Anthony Rota Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON

Mr. Speaker, the softwood lumber industry has been devastated by the recession. Tens of thousands of jobs have been lost since the industry peaked in 2007. Companies have closed. Some communities have lost their biggest source of jobs. And what is this government doing? It is forcing producers in four provinces to pay for its $60 million mistake.

Once again, why is the government making the forestry sector pay for its mistakes, when this sector cannot afford to do so?

Peter Van Loan Minister of International Trade

Mr. Speaker, the softwood lumber agreement has been working well for over three years. It provided access to the U.S. market, gave the industry the certainty it needed and enabled Canadian softwood lumber producers to recover more than $5 billion in duties.

The provinces and the industry support the agreement because it is working well for companies and for workers.