Debates of April 27th, 2010

Jim Flaherty Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. We are respecting provincial jurisdictions in this matter. We confirmed this in budget 2007, budget 2008, budget 2009 and in this year's budget.

Irene Mathyssen London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, this year a record number of organizations that have previously qualified for funding from Status of Women Canada have been denied this essential funding for the first time in their histories. This includes groups such as the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, Womenspace, the New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity and CIAFT, among many more, whose projects meet the qualifying criteria.

Could the minister tell us who is responsible for the arbitrary allocation of funding and why has funding been denied to these eligible groups?

Rona Ambrose Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to inform the member, in fact, that our government has increased the funding to the women's program to its highest level ever.

However, when it comes to women's rights, I would like to ask the member why members of her party get up and ask questions about our troops in Afghanistan all the time, but never ask about women in Afghanistan. I was recently there. Before we went into Afghanistan, zero women were going to school. Today, over two million little girls are going to school and that is because our troops are there.

The next time members in the NDP get up and ask about our troops, I would like them to recognize all the good work they are doing on behalf of women.

Mike Allen Tobique—Mactaquac, NB

Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government is always interested in improving and modernizing our democratic institutions so Canadians will continue to have confidence in the democratic process.

Could the Minister of State for Democratic Reform give us an update on the democratic reform initiatives our government is taking?

Steven Fletcher Minister of State (Democratic Reform)

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we introduced legislation that will increase the number of advance polling days by two, including a day where all the polling stations in the country will be open. Moreover, we introduced legislation in the other place, and you may want to sit down for this, Mr. Speaker, where the legislature will encourage provinces to conduct elections of Senate nominees that the Prime Minister will be required to consider when making appointments.

Our government is making Canada--

The Speaker Peter Milliken

The hon. member for Vancouver South.

Ujjal Dosanjh Vancouver South, BC

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, we learned today from the commission that 93% of the documents that have been requested have not been disclosed to the commission. The government refuses to level with Parliament and Canadians.

Is this not the Conservative culture of deceit playing havoc with the government's duty of transparency? Why is the government allowing the culture of deceit to prevent the calling of a public inquiry?

Peter MacKay Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, as has been repeated numerous times, the government is co-operating with the Military Police Complaints Commission. In fact, today we have evidence from respected Brigadier General Richard Blanchette, who said:

We know full well that Canada's enemies are ready to use that kind of information against our troops that are deployed there. That is why there have been certain delays in producing those documents.

That is very clear. I wish the hon. member would keep that in mind when he is asking for disclosure of some of these items.

Serge Cardin Sherbrooke, QC

Mr. Speaker, the clock is ticking for the broadband Canada program. Both the Fédération des municipalités du Québec and the RCM of Les Appalaches have criticized the fact that the Conservatives are painfully slow. The project selection should have been announced four months ago.

Will the minister commit to announcing the projects chosen before May 1, to avoid unnecessarily delaying projects in municipalities and RCMs in Quebec?

Tony Clement Minister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, we will announce the investments as soon as possible. Obviously, we must consider the possibilities of the broadband Canada program across the country.

I can say to the hon. member that this is part of our commitment to increasing access for rural Canadians, for Canadians in remote circumstances. It is part of our way to make sure that we have a better economy. That is what the economic action plan is all about and that is why we are following through.

Glenn Thibeault Sudbury, ON

Mr. Speaker, when hundreds of jobs were cut last year at Xstrata and Vale Inco, violating agreements made under the investment Canada policy, the government did nothing. The do-nothing approach to northern Ontario favoured by Xstrata, Vale Inco and the government is being pursued by others.

In March, Loblaws announced the closure of its warehouse in Sudbury, eliminating 125 jobs. Loblaws has confirmed that it will not even offer the workers, many with 20 to 30 years of service, fair severance.

Will the government condone Loblaws' actions, or will it instead stand up for northern Ontario?

Tony Clement Minister of Industry

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, those kinds of issues are appropriate to the provincial legislature.

The hon. member should stand in his place and defend northern Ontarians, but unfortunately he is a member of the NDP. The NDP wants to raise taxes. It wants to reduce investment. It wants to pursue a protectionist policy. That is not good for northern Ontario and it certainly is not good for Canada.