Debates of June 4th, 2010

Christian Paradis Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, this is completely untrue. Contrary to what we saw in the Ottawa Citizen this morning, let me quote appendix C of the Drilling Program Guidelines respecting drilling programs. It states:

Operators are expected to identify an alternate drilling installation for relief well purposes and provide a description of its operating capability, its location, contractual commitments, state of readiness...

It has not changed since 1990. That rule must be followed everywhere in the country and we expect our regulators to take appropriate actions to ensure workers' safety and the environment are protected everywhere—

The Speaker Peter Milliken

The hon. member for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek.

Wayne Marston Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canada's municipalities have in the most significant way added their voices to the growing list of those calling for an overhaul of Canada's pension system.

Over 1,200 delegates, from across Canada, last week at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Toronto voted overwhelmingly to support an increase to GIS, an expansion of the CPP and a pension insurance system, the very same New Democrat measures that the House unanimously endorsed last year.

Will the government finally get serious about fixing the pensions crisis in Canada and implement the New Democrat pension plan?

Ted Menzies Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I will tell the House how serious this government has been about dealing with retirement income for Canadians, serious enough that we have consulted with Canadians. To the member's credit, he has contributed to that consultation, unlike the Bloc and Liberals who have contributed zero to the pension consultations. I am not sure if they do not care about their constituents, but this government does.

The finance ministers from the provinces and territories will be meeting this month with the federal finance minister. Those consultations will come together. That will be to the benefit of retirees in our country.

Wayne Marston Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see the parliamentary secretary acknowledges that the New Democrats have worked on this file since the beginning of 2008-09. In the winter we had round tables with experts on pensions. We did our research for months and followed that with an opposition day motion that passed unanimously in the House. I have held over 30 meetings across the country, listening to the concerns of seniors.

New Democrats know what is needed and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities knows what is needed: an increase to GIS, an expansion of CPP and a pension insurance system.

Will the government drop the usual pat answers we get and help the NDP—

The Speaker Peter Milliken

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance.

Ted Menzies Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, speaking of helping Canadians, I would think the hon. member would encourage his NDP colleagues to pass our budget bill. There is legislation in the budget bill that needs to be passed and needs to be passed soon. We are committing to fully fund the benefits of the pension plans that may be terminated. That is putting the pensions of Canadians in jeopardy. That is embedded in this bill. It is very important we get it done. Let us get it passed to help Canadians.

Rick Norlock Northumberland—Quinte West, ON

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in committee, the member for Ajax—Pickering's motion to derail Bill C-391 and keep the long gun registry as is passed with the support of all opposition parties. This vote by the opposition parties proves that when it comes to the wasteful and ineffective long gun registry, the opposition is more interested in playing political games than doing the right thing and standing up for their constituents.

Could the parliamentary secretary update the House on the Conservative government's continued commitment to end the wasteful and ineffective long gun registry?

Dave MacKenzie Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his strong support regarding this wasteful and ineffective long gun registry. Unlike members across the way, I know he is standing up for his constituents. I hope the members for Malpeque and Yukon will follow his lead and do the same.

The choice is clear for all MPs, especially those Liberal and NDP members who voted for the bill at second reading. We either vote to scrap the long gun registry or keep the long gun registry. No more political games. The constituents of those 12 NDP and eight Liberal MPs deserve better. It is as simple as that.

Scott Brison Kings—Hants, NS

Mr. Speaker, Conservative staffers are running from the law. For days now, a bailiff has been trying to serve Dimitri Soudas, the Prime Minister's chief spokesperson, with a subpoena, but the Prime Minister's Office will not let the bailiff in the building.

Canadians work hard. They play by the rules and they expect their government to do the same. Why are the Conservatives acting like they are above the law?

Pierre Poilievre Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Mr. Speaker, the committee has ignored all of the rules of fairness by announcing the summons to the news media before it was actually delivered. The committee knows the rules for summonses. The committee should begin to follow them. This is especially true of the committee chair.

On this side, we respect ministerial responsibility. We call on the Liberals and the other coalition parties to do the same.

Gérard Asselin Manicouagan, QC

Mr. Speaker, Quebec's shipbuilding industry is afraid it will be forgotten. The president of Groupe maritime Verreault pointed out, for example, that the repositioning expenses for repairing ships in Quebec puts Quebec at a disadvantage, given that repairs at the Irving family shipyards will incur little or no transportation costs.

Will the government eliminate the transportation expenses policy and ensure that Quebec gets its fair share of the shipbuilding contracts?

Jacques Gourde Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister of National Revenue

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the hon. member has given me the opportunity to remind the House that yesterday we announced our government's national shipbuilding procurement strategy. Our strategy will create over 75 million person-hours of employment and inject $35 billion into Canada's shipbuilding industry. It will bring predictability to the federal ship procurement process by relying on Canadian sources to meet the needs of Canadians and the requirements of the shipbuilding industry.