Debates of Dec. 12th, 2011

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

Order, please. I am not sure that kind of reference is helpful.

The hon. Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

John Duncan Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

Mr. Speaker, there was no factual basis to any part of that question, so there is no need for a response.

Bob Rae Toronto Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, in three separate reports, the former auditor general, Sheila Fraser, made it very clear that in her view the third party management system was dysfunctional, it did not work, it did not produce additional capacity, it did not help solve long-term problems and it did not deal with the underlying conditions with respect to housing and water supply.

Why did the government ignore every single finding of the Auditor General of Canada with respect to the management of these questions when it came to dealing with the crisis in Attawapiskat?

John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, anyone seeing the situation at Attawapiskat would know that the status quo was not an option. That is why the minister and this government took decisive action.

Our government has acted to ensure that the residents of Attawapiskat have access to safe and warm shelter for the coming months. We have already delivered urgent funding to support housing and shelter to ensure that the people of Attawapiskat can deal with the harsh winter. That is why the minister is taking such decisive action to ensure that help is on the way.

Bob Rae Toronto Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, the question remains unanswered because the minister did not answer my question and everyone knows it.

The Auditor General published three reports—one in 2003, one in 2006 and one in 2008—as well as a final report when she left office. In all these reports, she clearly states that everyone agrees that the current system, the status quo, does not work and that the third party management system is dysfunctional because it does not enhance people's capacity.

Why are the reports not being acted upon?

John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, quite honestly, the status quo was not an option.

Since the third party was appointed by the minister and by the government, we have seen $500,000 in emergency funding. It will help renovate five homes for families in urgent need of shelter. We are working quickly to provide temporary and long-term housing for more than 20 families. Our government, working with our partners, has already sent 10 composting toilets, 20 high-efficiency wood stoves and other basic necessities. In the coming days, more supplies will be flown in.

That has happened since the minister appointed the third party manager.

Bob Rae Toronto Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, because the Federal Court has ruled with respect to the Wheat Board question that the minister acted outside the framework of the law, I wonder if the government could tell us why it is proceeding with the legislation in the Senate when the matter is now back before the courts. Why not wait for the matter to be disposed of by the courts before pursuing this law any further?

John Baird Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I will quote Justice Campbell who said:

The Applicants confirm that the validity of Bill C-18, and the validity and effects of any legislation which might become law as a result of Bill C-18 are not in issue in the present Applications.

What we are doing is something remarkable. We are telling western Canadian farmers that they have the same rights as farmers in every other part of the country to sell their wheat and their barley. The Liberal Party wants to make it legal to sell marijuana and illegal to sell wheat.

Jim Flaherty Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has made it clear that he thinks it is necessary to continue to reduce deficits in Canada, and we entirely agree. Indeed, in the economic action plan, the emergency plan that we brought forward in January 2009, every year we had deficit reductions leading up to balanced budgets in the medium term. The Parliamentary Budget Officer supports that track, Canadians support that track, and we are not going to make the mistakes the European countries did with big deficits and big public debt.

Surely that lesson has been learned, except by the NDP opposition.

Peter Julian Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Speaker, we take no lessons from the government, because we know the job numbers that it throws out are—

The Speaker Andrew Scheer

Order, order. The hon. member for Burnaby—New Westminster has the floor.

Peter Julian Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

They do not like to hear the truth, Mr. Speaker.

Canadians are also starting to see very clearly that the government has problems managing money. The PBO report is clear. The Minister of Finance is refusing to publish important information on trade, taxation and GDP. The PBO says that its fiscal projections are $10 billion off.

We need real numbers to make a jobs plan work. Why are the Conservatives hiding the numbers, when will they commit to fiscal transparency and when will they provide an effective jobs plan in this country?