Debates of April 16th, 2010

Daniel Petit Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice

Mr. Speaker, our government's position is clear: we will not reopen the abortion debate.

Bruce Hyer Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

Mr. Speaker, a major environmental climate change conference starts in Cochabamba, Bolivia in only three days. More than 70 countries, such as France, Russia and Spain, will be there, including the majority of those least developed nations, those whose populations will bear the heaviest burden from climate change.

The government has not indicated how Canada will be represented at these important international talks. Will the minister please explain who will represent Canada or will our seat at the table be empty again?

Mark Warawa Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, the member well knows that our government, along with 117 other countries representing over 90% of the world's emissions, have signed on to the Copenhagen accord.

This week the IEA executive director, Nobuo Tanaka, praised Canada's recent climate change targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020. We already know that our emissions are going down. Under this government, we are getting it done.

Nina Grewal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC

Mr. Speaker, at the human resources committee on Wednesday, the member for Beaches—East York confirmed that the Liberals want to take away choice in child care from Canadian parents. However, we should not be surprised. The Liberal leader has said that he would get rid of the UCCB, and the Liberal MP for St. Paul's said that mothers who stay at home to raise their kids do not have “a real job”.

Could the minister inform this House how our Conservative government's approach to children and families differs from that of the Liberals?

Diane Finley Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development

Mr. Speaker, our government does not agree with the Liberals on the issue at all. We believe that a strong family is part of the foundation of our great country. We believe that parents know what is best for their children, which is why we are providing choice in child care, $100 a month with the universal child care benefit, because we know that parents know that our Conservative government is the only one that will stand up for choice for them.

Todd Russell Labrador, NL

Mr. Speaker, for eight long months hundreds of workers in Labrador and thousands in Sudbury have been out on strike at Vale Inco operations. Families are suffering, communities are hurting. The Conservatives have taken a hands-off approach, abandoning workers, while in Labrador scab labour keeps filling the pockets of the company.

When foreign interests take over, they are supposed to ensure a net benefit to Canadians.

Will the government stand up for Canada's interests and hold foreign companies accountable? Will the government stand up and tell Vale Inco to get back to the table, negotiate in good faith, and demonstrate there truly is a net benefit to Canada?

Mike Lake Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned previously to an hon. member, we do continue to monitor the situation. We hope that it gets resolved quickly in the interests of the people of Sudbury and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The hon. member rightly points out that this is an issue of provincial jurisdiction.

We continue to monitor the situation and continue to look out for the best interests of all Canadians.

Jean-Yves Laforest Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC

Mr. Speaker, in the budget implementation bill, the Conservative government is trying to slip in a provision to make outgoing international mail accessible to the competition, thereby attacking Canada Post's exclusive privilege and opening the door to full deregulation of the crown corporation.

Does the government realize that by avoiding debate on the issue, it is being anti-democratic? Will it agree to remove this provision from Bill C-9?

John Baird Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, we support the important role that Canada Post plays in Canada not just for individuals and families, but also for Canadian businesses and the Canadian economy. We certainly have no intention to deregulate that one now.

Jim Maloway Elmwood—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, with regard to the government's aid to Chile in the wake of the earthquake that rocked the country on February 27, 2010, I would like to know the government's complete list of commitments to current aid for the victims in Chile along with other efforts still under consideration.

When will the Canadian government match dollar for dollar the personal donations of Canadians for the victims of the earthquake in Chile as it did for the earthquake in Haiti? When will the government give the same treatment to Chile as it gave to Haiti?

Jim Abbott Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation

Mr. Speaker, the people of Canada were exceptionally generous in the situation in Haiti. The Government of Canada matched that kind of generosity.

The difference is the difference in the economies, the difference in the countries. The approach the Government of Canada is taking with respect to Chile is significantly different from the approach with respect to Haiti.

The member's question belies the fact that he does not recognize the difference between the two societies and the two situations.

The Deputy Speaker Andrew Scheer

I would like to draw the attention of members to the presence in our gallery of Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, the Roll Back Malaria Partnership Special Representative.